Opportunity for young musicians to hone music skills
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    Young musicians interested in enhancing their music proficiency and participating in cultural exchange activities can sharpen their music skills by joining the Music Office's bands, orchestras and choirs.

     The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is recruiting new members for its 16 bands and orchestras and two choirs. Training will begin in September and end in May, 2008. Deadline for applications is May 17.

     Young musicians aged 25 or under, and who have attained the required musical standard, are welcome to apply. In addition to weekly rehearsals, members can participate in various cultural activities and concerts and broaden their horizons by collaborating with musicians from the Mainland and overseas.

     Training is free, but young musicians are required to bring their own instruments (except for bulky ones) to rehearsals and performances and to pay for their uniforms and music scores.

     The 18 groups recruiting new members are the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Youth Strings, Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble, Island Youth Strings, Kowloon Youth Strings, New Territories Youth Strings, Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, Hong Kong Children's Symphonic Band, Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, Music Office Children's Chinese Orchestra, Music Office Youth Choir and Music Office Children's Choir.

     Leaflets and application forms are now available at all Music Office music centres or the Music Office website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.

     Qualified applicants will be invited to attend auditions in June or July, during which they will be tested on scales, a musical selection of their choice and sight-reading or sight-singing. They will be notified of audition results by mid-August.

     For enquiries, please call the Music Office's music centres at 2802 0657 (Hong Kong), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).

Ends/Monday, May 7, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:01

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