Trip to Hong Kong 2016
In June 2016, we traveled to Hong Kong and Macau as part of our annual international trip. The trip celebrated the strong links between Trinity College Dublin and Hong Kong, and in particular Ming Hua Theological College.
We departed Dublin Airport on the 9th of June and detoured via Istanbul before arriving in Hong Kong. We spent most of Friday the 10th getting accustomed to the climate and sleeping off the jet lag, before rehearsing in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong in advance of Mattins on the Sunday morning.
The choir in rehearsal for Mattins in St John's Cathedral (photo Laura Eaton)
Organ Scholar Cillian Long discusses registration with Felix Yeung, Director of Music at St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong, and Dr Kerry Houston, Director of Chapel Music (photo Dr Alex Heinze)
Organ Scholar Cillian Long accompanies Chapel Choir conducted by Andrew Burrows in a rehearsal for Mattins in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong (photo Laura Eaton)
On the Saturday the 11th of June we had the privilege of singing at a symposium in the Ming Hua Theological College on the subject of ‘A Life in Prayer and Music’. We provided musical interludes to reinforce the content of talks given by Felix Yeung, Director of Music at St John’s Cathedral Hong Kong, and our own Dr Kerry Houston, Director of Chapel music Trinity College Dublin. That evening it was to a 5-star restaurant for the choir meal where we were wined and dined by the timid Mr Wong. The Michelin-starred food proved a highlight for many.
The Choir enjoying the atmosphere at Mr Wong’s (photo Laura Eaton)
On Sunday morning we left early to be at St John’s Cathedral to sing Mattins at 11:45. Treated to some nice dim sum by the Dean thereafter, many of us took to exploring the city. The lights glowed a lumen brighter during the light show and the sight of dragons on boats proved a delight.
Hong Kong island as seen from Kowloon (photo Laura Eaton)
The following day was concert day in the Cathedral. We rehearsed in the mercifully air-conditioned Chancel before the concert began at 19:30. Cathedral packed and concert very well received!
The choir in rehearsal for the concert in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong (photo Laura Eaton)
On Tuesday 14th we traveled to Happy Valley, a place famed for its numerous graveyards, and sang at a reception hosted by Irish Consul, Mr Peter Ryan. Alto Paula Dempsey played a blinder reading from James Joyce’s Ulysses. Chat, amhráníocht, and trad. What better way to celebrate Bloomsday with the Irish community in Hong Kong?
One of our altos, Paula Dempsey, reading from Ulysses with members of the Irish Consul and community looking on (photo Caitríona Sheil)
The choir with members of the Irish Consul of Hong Kong and Macau in Hong Kong Football Club (photo Caitríona Sheil)
On Wednesday we traveled to St Philip’s Church in Western Kowloon to perform as part of a fund-raising concert for the parish social outreach centre. The rector, Revd Cindy Kwok spent part of her ordination training in Dublin where she had placement in Trinity College Chapel.
Our conductor Andrew Burrows conducting the combined forces of St Philip's Choir and TCD Chapel Choir (photo Caitríona Sheil)
On Thursday we went to the former Portuguese colony, Macau which is an hour’s boat journey across the bay from Hong Kong. Macau is heralded as the Las Vegas of Asia for its numerous casinos. We had just enough time to check out some of these these and to grab lunch before meeting at St Paul’s (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) before heading to Ricci College. Matteo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit missionary who worked in China having entered through Macau in 1582.
One of our basses, Liam Lonergan, playing some trad on the concertina in Ricci College (photo credit Irish Consul of Hong Kong and Macau)
The choir with members of the Irish Consul in front of the ruins of St Paul’s
We dodged some deluges before assembling to sing at the Military Club, Macau where the Macau Secretary of Culture was in attendance.
Portuguese architecture in Macau (photo Cillian Long)
The choir with Macau Secretary of Culture, Alexis Tam Chong Veng, and Irish Consul, Peter Ryan, after our performance in the Military club, Macau (photo Irish Consul, Hong Kong and Macau)
We caught a homeward-bound flight at 22:45 on Friday 17th June and arrived back in Dublin at 09:50, tired but happy to have been afforded the opportunity to discover a lovely corner of Asia.
