Cantonese Opera Teaching Award recognises creativity of music teachers in teaching the traditional Chinese performing art

In the last two decades, Hong Kong has seen a growing momentum to revive Cantonese opera, one of the most treasured traditional Chinese performing arts. To recognise music teachers who have demonstrated outstanding performance and creativity in teaching and promoting Cantonese opera, the Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera (RCTCO) of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, EdUHK, together with the Xiqu Centre of the West Kowloon Cultural District (WKCD), are jointly organising the “Cantonese Opera Teaching Award for Hong Kong Music Teachers 2022”, with support from the Rural Training College Alumni Association.

Teachers who are interested in participating in the competition are required to submit a teaching plan with a supplementary teaching video in a classroom setting (around 30-60 minutes). A panel of adjudicators consisting of professionals from academic and cultural sectors will evaluate each entry according to its content, creativity and teaching effectiveness.

A press conference was organised on 31 May to announce the details of the competition. Guests officiating at the conference included Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing, the Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and Chairman of the Xiqu Centre Advisory Panel under WKCD, and Professor John Lee Chi-kin, the Vice President (Academic) and Provost of EdUHK. Young Cantonese opera talents, including Mr Ng Lap-hei, Mr Lai Yiu-wai, Ms Janet Wong and Ms Cheng Nga-ki, and some in-service teachers in primary and secondary schools shared their performance and teaching experiences at the conference as well.

Professor John Lee, Chair of the Organising Committee of the Teaching Award, said, “Teachers play a crucial role in facilitating the transmission and sustainable development of the Cantonese opera culture. Through this competition, it is our hope to reward excellent teachers for their unfailing contributions in promoting this precious tradition and to stimulate more creativity in teaching the subject, benefitting both teachers and students in the long term.”

Dr Frankie Yeung said, “Xiqu is an art form that reflects the traditions of Chinese aesthetics and embodies the rich heritage of Chinese culture. The Xiqu Centre of the West Kowloon Cultural District is a realisation of the District’s objective to conserve, promote and develop Cantonese opera and other forms of xiqu. We are delighted to co-organise this meaningful Cantonese Opera Teaching Award with The Research Centre for Transmission of Cantonese Opera of EdUHK, which will encourage and acknowledge enthusiastic and creative music teachers to provide high-quality Cantonese opera cultural education for the next generation.”

Professor Leung Bo-wah, Director of the RCTCO and Professor of the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts, said of the RCTCO’s latest developments: “Many teachers in Hong Kong do not know how to get started in teaching Cantonese opera. Therefore, the University introduces techniques for and knowledge about singing, accompaniment, music theory and pedagogy to in-service teachers through a recently established teacher-training programme, which we hope bolsters their confidence in teaching Cantonese opera while incorporating life and cultural values into the subject.”

Details of the “Cantonese Opera Teaching Award for Hong Kong Music Teachers 2022” are available at the centre’s website. Online registration is open between 1 June and 30 September. Contestants must submit their teaching plans and videos between 1 October and 30 November.

The RCTCO aims to develop its local and international standing as a significant player in the field. It is devoted to innovating and enhancing the promotion and knowledge transfer of Cantonese opera culture through conducting research, utilising new technologies, and providing a bridge between Cantonese opera artists and schools.