Themed “For a Special Year”, this year's Macao International Music Festival aims to relieve the public's anxiety through music during the pandemic. Two community concerts were already successfully held in August, bringing music to the community and allowing the public to experience the diversity of culture and music. The Festival will continue to host a wide range of community activities in September, in order to enhance the public's interest in music through the participation in these initiatives, as well as joy and satisfaction. All residents are welcome to participate.
The concerts “Chinese Music Camp” on 22 August and the “Late-Summer Music Camp” on 29 August were successfully held at the Iao Hon Market Park and in the area next to Flower City Park respectively, bringing the beauty of music to the public's everyday life, and drawing many spectators to enjoy the rhythm of music with the musicians.
The Festival will continue to offer a variety of community activities in September, taking music to the quotidian of the population. The concert “Family Music Camp” to be held on 19 September from 4pm to 7pm, in the Leisure Area of the Lok Yeong Fa Yuen Building, features a number of familiar musical pieces such as Howl's Moving Castle, Frozen and Doraemon presented by the Macao Band Directors Association, the Macau Philharmonic Association, the Macao A Cappella Association and the Dream Project Association, allowing the public to enjoy an afternoon of relaxing music.
The concert “Family Fun Music Day” to be held on 26 September, from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Municipal Park, features performances by local music groups, including Macao Chinese Orchestra, Macao Percussion Association, Water Singers Vocal Ensemble, Casa de Portugal em Macau and Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Association, presenting popular classics such as Peter and the Wolf, allowing the public to get to know and experience the power of music outside the concert halls.
In addition, the “Street Piano Programme” starts from today until 30 December, with pianos being placed at various parks and leisure areas in Macao and Taipa, as well as the Macao Science Centre, Macao International Airport (restricted area) providing a platform for people of all ages to play music freely. The pianos will be regularly sanitized with photocatalysts and residents are advised to wear masks and disinfect their hands with alcohol-based gel before playing.
The Culture Affairs Bureau will closely monitor the progression of the epidemic, strictly follow the related anti-epidemic guidelines of the health authorities and implement appropriate measures for cultural activities. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks and present a valid “Health Code”. For more information about activities of the Macao International Music Festival, please visit the thematic website at www.icm.gov.mo/fimm, IC’s official WeChat Account “IC_Art_Macao” and the “Macao International Music Festival” page on Facebook.