A band of local young budding organists are keeping the organ's fiery reeds buzzing in Hong Kong.
Sixteen young people have been selected to undergo organ performance training at the massive 93-stop Austrian-built Rieger organ in August under the instruction of renowned organist of the Hong Kong Cultural Center Andromeda Chiu Siu Ling.
The Organ Education Program is funded annually by the Hong Kong government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).
The training is part of the summer activities organized based on the Hong Kong government's arts policy to "create an environment conducive to the freedom of expression and artistic creation and encourage participation in such activities."
It is such kind of program that enables young budding artists to have an early taste of their dream, that is, to be a professional organist.
"My aspiration is to study organ at university. And this is really the first time I have had the opportunity to play the real pipe organ," Clarence Lam, one of them told Xinhua.
Pau Yi Ting, another member of the budding artists said the program has given her a precious opportunity to top up her piano skills with organ training that not only demands players to play the four manuals with the hands but the pedal keyboard too.
Andromeda Chiu Siu Ling said, the training will give the students a first taste of how they can be used and mixed in order to artistically give the right ensemble or solo voices to paint the melody and re-create the composers' intended mood.
Chiu added that piano students with pipe organ training will learn how to appreciate symphony orchestras better.
She said this year the LCSD has managed to select higher quality students with genuine interest.
The program has certainly not shut the door on those who have already had some training in organ performance but want to hone their skills further with a virtuosi organist. Felix Yeung already has played the organ at church before, but never has touched an real pipe organ operated by mechanical action.
"It's great fun. The touch of the organ manuals is heavier, and they require more energy to play, when more stops are drawn. This is how a real pipe organ is different from an electronic organ," he said.
The program will run till November and culminate in a mini concert at the Cultural Center where a selected group of students will play on the 29th, said Chiu Siu Ling.
（Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2003）
