The 8th Arts Ambassadors-in-School cum Outstanding Arts Teachers Recognition Ceremony 　 Commending 1,304 Students and 287 Arts Teachers

A total of 1,304 arts ambassadors from 675 primary, secondary and special schools attended the 8th Arts Ambassadors-in-School cum Outstanding Arts Teachers Recognition Ceremony today (22 July) at Queen Elizabeth Stadium to make a pledge showing their commitment to the arts and to share the joy of arts with others. The Ceremony also recognised 287 outstanding arts teachers for their tireless efforts in promoting arts education.

The Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) has launched the Arts Ambassadors-in-School Scheme (AAiSS) since 2008 to recognise students with artistic excellence and enthusiasm and encourage them to contribute their arts talents to the community. In its eighth year, the scheme has amassed more than 8,000 arts ambassadors.

Co-organised with the Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 2, the Recognition Ceremony was officiated by Ms Hui Hiu-fai, Florence, Under Secretary for Home Affairs; Dr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred, Chairman of the HKADC; Vice-chairman Ms Yan Hau-yee, Lina and Ms Au Lai-ngar, Jace, Acting Assistant Director (Radio & Corporate Programming) of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). Singers JW and local music band New Youth Barbershop also performed at the ceremony to show their support.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Wilfred Wong, Chairman of the HKADC, encouraged ambassadors to explore their interest and talents in different art forms, and also to share their enthusiasm with families and friends.

Following the inauguration ceremony, there were an array of performances staged by the arts ambassadors and artists. These included:1. Opening Performance: Making Sound・Making Sense

1. The Creative Electronics Puzzle Band, formed by eight arts ambassadors and two emerging multi-media artists Andio Lai and Cat Wing Lam, performed with DIY electronic music instruments, traditional string music, live recorded sounds, as well as original visual effects to create fresh sensory experience.
2.  Modern Dance: Steps of Youth
   Led by local dancer Rebecca Wong, 11 arts ambassadors performed contemporary dance and present their dream and passion on the stage through their own dance language.
3. Cantonese Opera: White Dragon Pass
   In the Northern Song Dynasty, Emperor Taizu of Song was imprisoned by Prince White Dragon of the Northern Han. The story is about how General Huyan Shouting and his younger sister, Jingding, save the Emperor and the love dilemma between Jingding and Prince White Dragon. Tutored by artist Doris Kwan, Leung Sum-yee, arts ambassador of the 3rd edition and actor of the Cantonese Opera Young Talent Showcase, performed with this year’s arts ambassador Hon Tak-kwong to inherit the spirit of passing on the arts.
4. The Drummers
   Tutored by Angus Fu, Administrative Director of local percussion group “Four Gig Heads”, nine arts ambassadors in collaboration with New Youth Barbershop brought a performance full of power and fun to the audience by making use of everyday objects such as brooms and rubbish bins to create rhythmic beats and body movements.
5. Handbell
   To recognise the arts teachers, four arts  ambassadors performed “Ode to the Good Teacher” with EdRingers Ensemble to pay tributes to teachers with beautiful handbell music. The performance was led by Zerlina Wong, Founder and Artistic Director of EdRinger’s Ensemble.
6. Chinese Music x Sand Painting: Yang Chun Bai Xue
   Yang Chun Bai Xue is a piece of classic pipa music which portrays the vibrant scene of new spring through lively and smooth rhythms. Arranged by Alfred Wong and directed by Ng Cheuk-yin, five arts ambassadors performed with pipa, yangqin, guzheng, zhongruan and dizi. The performance brought a brand new visual experience with the sand art of Ma Wing-cheung (Ma Chai).
7. Musical: The Little Mermaid – Part of your world, She’s in love
   The musical, The Little Mermaid – Part of your world, She’s in love, is adapted from the classic Disney animation of the same title. It tells the story of how an adventurous princess full of curiosity, Little Mermaid, longs for living in the human world and falls in love with a human prince. Directed by Ralph Cheung and choreographed by Cyrus Hui, 10 arts ambassadors presented the classic with pop singer, JW.
8. Mini Arts Stage
   Four mini stages were set up for arts ambassadors to showcase their artistic achievement, including recycled wood creation, electronic arts creation and electronic version of “Community Arts Map”.

The ceremony came to a finale with a declaration ceremony. Led by Ms Florence Hui and witnessed by parents, teachers and other guests, the ambassadors made a pledge showing their commitment to the arts and to share the joy of arts with others.

Over the past few months, the arts ambassadors participated in various arts activities and sharing of arts experience through newspapers and radio programmes. To encourage ambassadors to participate and acquire in-depth knowledge of their selected art form, the Scheme first launched “Arts Training Enhancement Courses” this year. The courses included “Shocking Innovation Club”, “Multi-dimensional Musical Training Programme” and “Wooden Neighbours – Wood Sculpture Programme”. Through integrating theory and practice, 148 ambassadors from primary and secondary schools were given the opportunity to explore their artistic talents.

For ambassadors’ listing and details of the Scheme, please visit www.aaiss.hk.