Art may not change the world, but it certainly can stir one’s soul and give us hope. Alumni and sisters Monique Pong Sin-yu (front) and Annike Pong Chau-ngan, founders of non-profit organisation Music Children Foundation, have a deep realisation on that. They founded the organisation in 2013 to provide free music education to underprivileged children.

 

Four years ago, School of Music alumna Monique Pong Sin-yu heard about an impoverished child who had received penalty mark at school because she could not afford a music textbook. Troubled and unable to sleep that night, she contacted Society for Community Organization the following day to volunteer her services. Motivated to do more, she decided to establish the Music Children Foundation (Foundation) with her sister, School of Drama alumna Annike Pong Chau-ngan, to provide underprivileged children with free music education. The pair have been committed to inspiring and assisting underprivileged children ever since.

 

The two Academy alumni have been privy to many sad stories over the years, and have been moved to comfort, help and truly make a difference. Among those whose lives the Pong sisters have become involved with through the Foundation are: struggling mother who regained hope and joy after seeing her children proudly go on stage and perform at concerts; underprivileged student who resolve to attend practices and performances despite the demanding intensity of his academic studies; and dedicated youngsters who have been inspired to give back to society when they grow up. 

 

Monique Pong believes the primary mission of the Foundation is not to lift children out of poverty or to cultivate another famous pianist Lang Lang, but to offer hope to every child. “Music cannot wipe out the economic gaps between the rich and the poor,” she notes, “but it can lift one’s soul and that is much more meaningful. It shapes one’s character and through their involvement in musical ensembles and choirs, different children and parents come together and support one another.”

While she harbours lots of ideals, she is without illusions that all this can come about effortlessly. The way she sees it, classical music takes persistence, and life is the same. “Every bar [of music] takes lots of time and effort to perfect. And by perfecting every bar, you perfect a whole musical piece. That is what I tell the parents and the children – all difficulties in life are to be tackled gradually.”

 

At the same time the Foundation has established a close relationship with HKAPA, with various Academy students and alumni having volunteered to teach instruments and take part in the organisation’s events. As an example: The Music-Children Musical that was the Foundation’s highlight show last year featured benefit performances from Academy alumni Chan Kwok-pong, Tyson Chak and Mimi Lo.

Annike Pong shares that none of the Academy students or alumni who have become involved with the Foundation has ever asked for monetary compensation; this is because everyone involved considered the experiences with the Foundation to be very much worthwhile. “I am grateful that we have gained a great reputation among our peers. Many of the instructors are deeply touched by the children’s enthusiasm in music, and that has re-awakened their memories of their own childhood music passion. And professional musicians are amazed by the freedom and intimacy they’ve experienced by taking part in our Sham Shui Po street performance.”

 

The Foundation now offers lessons for various classical music instruments, music appreciation, ensemble group and community choir. It also puts on the Music For Everyone Concert, a show for underprivileged children and kids with physical disabilities.

Some four years on since the establishment of the Foundation, Annike Pong still regards its first annual performance as the most unforgettable one. "It was the first time those children performed at a proper concert hall. They usually practised in a tiny and crowded space, so they were all surprised by the clear, advanced acoustics in the concert hall. I had to relax their muscles before they started to play!” 

Looking ahead, the Foundation has received funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and will expand their services from Sham Shui Po to the Yau Tsim Mong District. “We received help from others growing up as kids and we are both mums now. We really hope to keep contributing back to the society through music”, Annike Pong declared.

 

(The article was published in the Feb 2018 issue of Academy News. Click here to read the original story.)

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