AISL Supports HKFYG in Spreading the Charms of Acapella Music to Mainland China

In holding to AISL’s pursuit of a holistic education and establishing our schools in the Greater Bay Area as a nurturing ground for musical talent, we are proud to be the supporting organisation of ‘HSBC X HKFYG Vocal Vibrato@Shenzhen’ which successfully brought the captivating world of acapella music to the region.

The event was spearheaded by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG), one of the largest youth services organisations in Hong Kong. Their annual Hong Kong International Acapella Festival, which has gained global recognition since its inception in 2008, expanded its horizons to mainland China this year for the first time, with the support of The Hongkong Bank Foundation.

The ‘Joyful Feast of the Voices’ acapella concert, one of the highlights of the festival, took place at Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai on 28 March 2024, where AISL Harrow students shared the stage with award-winning acapella performance groups from the United Kingdom, Austria, Japan and Hong Kong SAR. The afternoon was a dazzling display of vocal talent, showcasing the harmonious collaboration of voices in the absence of instrumental accompaniment.

Notable performers of the afternoon included: The Sons of Pitches from the United Kingdom, who won the championship in a music programme on BBC2 and have been on multiple tours; Beat Poetry Club from Vienna, which has garnered international acclaim, including the Golden Diploma at ‘Vokal Total’ in 2015 and a Special Prize in the ‘German A Cappella Contest’ in 2016. Rabbit Cat from Japan won the first National A Cappella Contest ‘Harmonaire Competition’ in Japan, with their social media platform views surpassing 600 million. LASH Vocals, from Hong Kong SAR, secured the runner-up position and Best Harmony in the open category of the 2023 Hong Kong A Cappella Contest, as well as being among the top ten in the 2023 Vocal Festival in Taoyuan A Cappella Contest. Also from Hong Kong SAR, 3H won the China Beatbox Battle World Championship and the Japan Chiba Beatbox Championship in 2017, establishing himself as one of the leading figures in Chinese beatboxing.

Students of AISL Harrow Schools in the Greater Bay Area had an invaluable opportunity to enjoy the concert as both audience and performers, fostering youth exchange and cultural dialogue through the universal language of music.

The concert, following the success of another high-profile music ensemble starring Vienna Boys’ Choir, Yao Jue, and the Hong Kong String Orchestra last October, further solidifies AISL's commitment to holistic education through creating a vibrant music educational environment in the Greater Bay Area.

As we reflect on this memorable afternoon, we look forward to the continued growth of music programmes in our GBA Schools and the positive impact they will have on the cultural landscape of the region.