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With this year marking the 20th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Drum Festival, Chinachem Group (the Group) and the renowned Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) are joining hands for the first time to present a series of activities titled “One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum” organized by the HKCO. The aim is to infuse society with positivity through the sound of drumming, both online and offline, in the wake of the recent epidemic.

"One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum" covers a series of public drumming activities in different forms, including "Connecting the community through drumming" training and performance filming that spans all 18 districts of Hong Kong. Collaborating with various District Offices, District Councils, and instructor networks, HKCO will provide training for the local community including special groups such as ethnic minorities and young persons in custody. They will assign instructors to train the groups and design a two-minute filmed drumming performance based on the ages and levels of participants. The resulting videos will be shown online and at the "One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum" carnival and concert presented by Chinachem Group on 14 October at West Kowloon Cultural District.

A launch ceremony for the 18 districts drum events was held in Henry G. Leong Yaumatei Community Centre on 8 July. This was followed today by the first of the district drum events in Tsuen Wan, where Chinachem Group's headquarters are located. Assistant District Officer of Tsuen Wan Sean Lee Soeng Him, Chinachem Group Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi, Chinachem Group Chief Business Impact Officer Sylvia Chung, HKCO Council Chairman Dr Benjamin W K Chan, HKCO Executive Director Dr Chin Man Wah, as well as Angus Ting, Mable Cho, and Emana Leung from the "Midlife, Sing & Shine!" Singing Contest, were on hand to support the event.  Under the guidance of HKCO percussion virtuoso Chan Lut Ting, who is also instructor of the Tsuen Wan District drum teams, a drum team formed by students showcased their skills in a live performance.

“Chinachem Group believes that the power of the arts can create shared value for the community,” said Chinachem Group's Executive Director and CEO Donald Choi. “We are honoured to collaborate with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in presenting “One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum", aiming to enhance people’s wellness, connect all walks of life, and reach out to the world. “By providing the chance for residents to learn and enjoy drum music, we hope to inject positive energy into society and create community value, supporting our Triple Bottom Line approach of benefiting People, Prosperity and Planet."

HKCO Council Chairman Dr Benjamin W K Chan says, "The Hong Kong Drum Festival" combines performances, education, and community engagement in its mission to uplift spirits through drum music. Over the years, it has embraced participation from various sectors of society, including the elderly, youth, underprivileged communities, young persons in custody, and ethnic minorities, showcasing the indomitable spirit of Hong Kong. HKCO expresses gratitude for the unwavering support from Chinachem Group, allowing us to deepen the cultivation of drum music across all 18 districts of Hong Kong and ignite a passionate #DrumChallenge wave in the digital realm Through healing drum beats, they bring smiles to society and consistently connecting the world through music." 

Other exciting activities in "One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum" programme include online drumming performances by world drumming teams; Percussion Workshops at Central Market and Nina Mall; the "One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum" carnival and concert at West Kowloon Cultural District; and a Music Wellness Workshop at Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West. All these activities demonstrate the Group’s care for supporting society through music and its efforts to promote social inclusion. The drumming culture embodies and highlights China's rich music culture, while a performance by drumming teams listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of China and drumming masters from the five major continents is perfectly in line with the city's large-scale tourism promotion programme "Hello, Hong Kong," establishing Hong Kong's reputation as an events capital and a centre for cultural and artistic exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

For more information about the Hong Kong Drum Festival 20th Anniversary events, please check the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra website at www.hkco.org or the Facebook page.