Historical Milestones
We stand humbly as collaborative partners in pioneering community-engaged efforts
to promote knowledge and appreciation of the harp across diverse facets of society.
2006
Pioneer the first HK HarpFest
Raised funds for the HK Council of Social Service & the Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service to launch the first music therapy programs for the elderly in HK
South China Morning Post news coverage of HarpFest 2006's Beneficiary in Apr 2007
South China Morning Post Apr 2006
Our organizing team for the first Hong Kong Harp Festival included Hong Kong harpists Ann Huang, Barbara Sze, Amy Tam, Helen Tsoi, and Angela Yau. The event also featured guest performers Jung Kwak from Korea and YuYing Chen from Shanghai
2007
The second HK Harpfest
Raised funds for Médecins Sans Frontières
Encouraged by the enthusiastic support during the event, our co-founders, who connected through the festival, decided to further their efforts by establishing a registered charity called Friends of the Harp Ltd.
The charity embodies a desire to come together as a community for meaningful causes.
MingPao Mar 2007
2008
Lisa Living Magazine Oct 2010
Establish the first harp education scholarship in HK
after hosting the first Asian HarpFest with Shannon Chieh (Taiwan), Jung Kwak (Korea) and Katryna Tan (Singapore).
The event also featured guest performers from Taiwan - Shu-Hsin Chen, Meng-Lu Chiu, Fan-Fen Tai, Ann Yeung (USA), I-Sis Trio (Singapore), Si-Bei Weng (Shanghai), Teresa Suen and Amy Tam (HK), as well as speakers Barbara Tse and Dan Yu (HK), with special guests Kumiko Inoue (Japan) and the late Carrol McLaughlin (USA). The third HK HarpFest shared the same program
Smart Parents Nov 2010
2010
Host first ever 100-harp performance in Asia
at the fourth HK HarpFest in Harbour City. The performance was conducted by Jung Kwak (Korea).
We initiated regular harp outreach programs around this time, attended by our scholarship students. [Recently, we have expanded our efforts by relying primarily on the support of other volunteering students, teachers and harp practitioners]
A thank-you card from a SAHK sheltered workshop (Tuen Mun)
SingTao Daily Nov 2013
2011-2013
Introduce the first-generation local harp technicians in HK
Implemented HK's first local harp technician training under the Home Affairs Department's Social Enterprise Program. The training included hands-on practice at a harp factory in Italy and enlisted leading harp makers from the USA to come to HK as tutors.
Additionally, established the Young Harpist Overseas Scholarship Fund during this period
2014
The fifth HK HarpFest
Introduced HK's first harp exhibition and the inaugural NGO-collaborated harp tasting tent at the HK Cultural Centre Piazza.
In the same period, began supporting NGO-led music rehabilitation efforts at SAHK centers (Ma On Shan and Tuen Mun)
A pre-class harp tasting session @ a SAHK hostel (Tuen Mun). A volunteer provided a year-long series of group harp lessons there on a pro-bono basis
The photo shows our charity's noticeboard at our Jordan office, which was our last physical location before transitioning to a virtual operation in 2017. Since our charity's 11th anniversary, we have been able to run a leaner and more networked operation, with all our harps housed with NGO partners or in the studios of our volunteer teachers
2016
Introduce the first peer learning & practice sharing workshop for harp teachers
The workshop was facilitated by Maria Luisa Rayan (USA)
A partial list of schools attended by our scholarship recipients prior to 2017
2013-2017
Harp Scholarship expanded its reach to 8 different districts simultaneously -hosted by various NGOs & schools
Thanks to significant donations, the Harp Scholarship provided free harp lessons to nearly 100 students simultaneously during this period. NGO partners:
Baptist Church (Chai Wan)
Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (Tin Shui Wai)
Sheng Kung Hui (Kowloon City)
SAHK (Ma On Shan, Tai Po, Tuen Mun)
CCC Kei Chun Primary School (Lai Chi Kok)
Fr. Cucchiara Memorial School (Tsing Yi)
Additionally, the Harp Outreach effort expanded to become a monthly program
Thank-you cards from SAHK pre-school centers (Fortress Hill, Shatin)
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