“MACA Music Scholarship” as Encouragements for Local Students Music Creation

(Macau, September 29th, 2020)“MACA Music Scholarship Ceremony” was held by the MACAU ASSOCIATION OF COMPOSERS, AUTHORS & PUBLISHERS (MACA) on September 29th 2020 (Tuesday) at 5:00 pm. The event took place at the Movie Theater of the Academic Complex (Unit R, Macau University of Science and Technology campus, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau). “MACA Music Scholarship” was initially launched in the academic year of 2011/2012 and MACA has been cordially inviting all the Secondary schools in Macau to participate in this scheme. Guests attending the event included Tam In Man, Department Head of Intellectual Property Rights of Macao Customs, Macao SAR Government; Si Tou Lam Lai, Department Head of Tourism Product and Events of Macao SAR Government Tourism Office; Ho Hoi Ieng, Supervisor of Centre of Educational Resources of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Macao SAR Government; Kuong Chon Mei, Division Head of Planning and Developing Cultural and Creative Industries, Cultural Affairs Bureau of Macao SAR Government; Samantha, Chiang Siu Ling, Vice Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Arts of Macau University of Science and Technology; Raymond Mok Kin Yee, Associate Professor of School of Arts of Macao Polytechnic Institute; Sou Wai Leong, Vice President of Supervisory Board of Macao Federation of Trade Unions; Ian Heng Wa, Officer of the Culture and Recreation Committee of Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations; Lau Sut Man, Director of Macau Deaf Association; Cheng Ka Man, Vice-President of Executive Committee of Macao Youth Federation; Ao Hoi Ian, Secretary General of Macao New Chinese Youth Association; JOÃO KRUSS GOMES (chairman of MACA board of directors) and Ung Kuoc Iang (C.E.O of MACA).

As this year’s awarding ceremony was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, JOÃO KRUSS GOMES (chairman of MACA board of directors), in his speech, expressed his sincere gratitude to the participant schools for their supports and cooperation towards the event as well as the schools’ display of values for nurturing their students’ musical potential. MACA has been devoted into promoting music events and encouraging local musical creations. Every academic year, one student with outstanding academic performance in music is nominated from each participant school for the “MACA Music Scholarship”, additionally, a new award known as the “New Original Music Award” was added last year for students with exceptional performances in vocal and instruments. The awarded students and their submitted works were reviewed and selected by the board of directors as well as professional music judges. The aim of the awards was to cultivate the musical talents of local students, and encourage them to pursuing the field of music production. This year, MACA will be continuing the “Studio Workshop”. By inviting the awarded students and the school representatives to the studio, the workshop presents the opportunity for students to experience the procedures and operation of music production, as well as the joy of creating music.

This year, the number of students awarded the “New Original Music Award” has increased significantly compared to the previous year. During the review, it was stated by the professional judges that the level and quantity of the students’ musical creations have risen substantially over the years, and as the present music production trends towards the younger generations, an increasing number of schools and students competing over the “New Original Music Award” in the near future is very much anticipated. Meanwhile, the scholarship is intended to enhance the schools efforts in fostering and supporting students interested in music, which encourages students to create more original musical works. Awarded students from Instituto Salesiano, Keang Peng School and Academia de Música S. Pio X, were invited to perform their musical pieces on the day of the awarding ceremony, which received numerous positive feedbacks from parents and teachers who have attended the event.

The awardees for “MACA Music Scholarship 2019/2020” were from 39 schools, including (in no specific orders) Kwong Tai Middle School Macau, Macau Pooi To Middle School, Escola Católica Estrela do Mar, Escola Luso-Chinesa Técnico-Profissional, Saint John de Brito School, Colégio Diocesano de São José 6, Concordia School For Special Education, Affiliated School of the University of Macau, Escola Tong Sin Tong, The International School of Macao, Sacred Heart Canossian College Macau (English Section), Lingnan Secondary School, Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima (English Secondary), Escola dos Moradores de Macau, Sacred Heart Canossian College Macau, Escola Portuguesa de Macau, Pui Va Middle School, Instituto Salesiano de Macau, Escola Tong Nam, Macao Baptist College, Escola Oficial Zheng Guanying, Saint Paul School Macau, Pui Ching Middle School, Our Lady of Fatima Girls School, Colegio Mateus Ricci, Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima (SC), Hou Kong Middle School, Escola Caritas de Macau, Keang Peng School, Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes, Escola Choi Nong Chi Tai,Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College, Escola Dom Luís Versiglia, Kao Yip Middle School, Millennium Secondary School, Yuet Wah College, Yuet Wah College (English Section), Academia de Musica Sao Pio X, Escola Xin Hua. Furthermore, the awardees for “New Original Music Award” were from 12 schools, including (in no specific orders) Instituto Salesiano de Macau, Academia de Musica Sao Pio X, Keang Peng School, Millennium Secondary School, Escola Caritas de Macau, Colegio de Santa Rosa de Lima (SC), Affiliated School of the University of Macau, Chan Sui Ki Perpetual Help College, Kao Yip Middle School, Escola Tong Nam, Colegio Mateus Ricci, Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes.

Picture: Guests and the awarded students

Picture: Chairman JOÃO KRUSS GOMES (Left 1), C.E.O Ung Kuoc Iang (Right 1) and guests