Music and Dance

Extensive efforts have been made by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to encourage public participation in music and dance, and organise world-leading events.

Crucial to the government’s promotion are the Music Office, the Cultural Presentations Section, Audience Building Office and Community Programmes Office under the LCSD, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council as well as the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund.

Music Office

Focused on promoting knowledge and appreciation of music in the community, the Music Office was established in 1977 and has been managed by the LCSD since 2000.

The Office provides training to more than 8 000 people each year through the Instrumental Music Training Scheme, Ensemble Training and Outreach Music Interest Courses.  It also organises international music exchange programmes, the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp, youth music interflows and promotional activities that attract about 170,000 participants every year.

Community Programmes Office

The LCSD’s Community Programmes Office organises city-wide festive events, carnivals and 18dART - Community Arts Scheme each year.  The free events on offer include Chinese and Western cultural programmes and popular programmes such as theatre, music, dance, Chinese opera and puppetry performances, pop concerts and visual/media arts, etc..

Audience Building Office

The Audience Building Office was established in 2000 to promote knowledge and appreciation of the performing arts at the community and school levels in cooperation with arts groups and educational institutions.

The Office’s school-focused programmes include, among others, ‘New to the Theatre: School Culture Day Scheme’, ‘Taking Centre Stage: School Performing Arts in Practice Scheme’ and ‘Exploring the Theatre: Arts Experience Scheme for Senior Secondary Students’.  At the community level, the Office organises audience building projects such as the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme.

Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Since 1995, the Hong Kong Arts Development Council has supported the development of the arts locally, including the literary, performing, visual and film and media arts. Its major roles are grant allocation, policy and planning, advocacy, promotion and development, and programme planning.

Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund

Established in 1980, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund awards scholarships to musicians and dancers of outstanding talent. The scholarship enables them to pursue further studies in music and dance.

Music and Dance Events

Hong Kong plays host to a variety of spectacular music and dance events, bringing vibrancy to this international metropolis where East meets West.  There is always something happening that will delight you.

Events Organised by the LCSD

The LCSD organises a wide range of quality music and dance programmes by renowned artists and arts groups at home and abroad all year round.  Programme of Western music include orchestral concerts, chamber concerts, recitals, jazz concerts, choral concerts and operas.  For Chinese music, programmes are curated to bring to the audience the best of traditional Chinese music from different regions.  Dance programmes also feature a spectrum of genres from the East and West, including ballet, modern dance, Chinese dance, ethnic dance, Flamenco and Tango, etc.

Hong Kong Arts Festival

The Hong Kong Arts Festival, organised by Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city by presenting leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts as well as a diverse range of Festival PLUS and educational events in February and March each year.  Music and dance are important components of the Festival.  Great artists in music who have been presented by the Festival include Cecilia Bartoli, Riccardo Chailly, Seong-Jin Cho, Gustavo Dudamel, Philip Glass and Yo Yo Ma.  Ensembles include the Royal Concertgbouw, the Chicago Symphony and the London Symphony.  The Hamburg Ballet – John Neumeier, the New York City Ballet, Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre are among the dance companies presented.

Beare’s Premiere Music Festival

Presented by the Premiere Performances of Hong Kong (PPHK), the “Beare’s Premiere Music Festival” brings together leading overseas, Mainland and Hong Kong artists in a series of world-class concerts every year.

Musicus Fest

Presented by the Musicus Society, the Musicus Fest provides a meeting point for renowned overseas and Hong Kong artists to join hands for world-class concerts every year.  It aims inspiring young generations with performances and side by side training with leading overseas artists during the festival.

Hong Kong International Piano Competition / The Joy of Music Festival

The Chopin Society of Hong Kong organises the Hong Kong International Piano Competition every three years and The Joy of Music Festival annually.  The Competition has established itself as a major event in Hong Kong’s musical calendar and is considered now as the top competition in Asia and among the premier competitions in the world, while the Festival acts as a linking event between the triennial Competitions.