Hong Kong – Hong Kong suona and jazz music light up Chengdu Music Festival and World University Games cultural activities (with photos)

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Chengdu (CDETO) and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Chengdu Municipal People’s Government invited the Hong Kong music group Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird to participate in the 2023 “Chengdu International Sister Cities Youth Music Festival” (Music Festival) in August. The music group performed in “When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts” and as part of the cultural activities of the Chengdu 2021 FISU World University Games (World University Games).

     Jointly presented by Ma Wai-him, Principal Suona of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and Jazzbird band, “When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts” was a crossover of suona and jazz through a mixed genre of traditional and pop pieces from China and overseas. The concerts showcased Hong Kong’s cultural strengths in blending East and West, as well as traditional and contemporary elements.

     Speaking at the concert, the Director of the CDETO, Mr Enoch Yuen, said the National 14th Five-Year Plan has expressed clear support for Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The CDETO aims to foster a closer relationship with and facilitate culture and youth exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The office will also seek to bring more high-quality cultural and art events from Hong Kong to places within the region under its coverage.

     Besides performing two “When Suona Meets Jazz Concerts”, Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird also played at the closing ceremony of the Music Festival and interacted with musicians from all over the world. During the cultural activities of the World University Games, the performance by Ma Wai Him & Jazzbird received a rapturous reception from the audience.

     The CDETO will continue to foster exchanges and collaboration in trade, culture, youth and other aspects between Hong Kong and the Mainland in the provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions under its coverage, namely Sichuan, Chongqing, Shaanxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet and Qinghai.