There’s always been a strong emphasis on a holistic education at Malvern College Hong Kong. This includes extensive extracurricular activities that not only allow pupils to explore different programmes but also support them in building on their existing talents in new and interesting ways. And that’s exactly what these two current members of the Year 12 cohort have done. We spoke to them about how they’ve been able to seize the opportunities presented to them at school through an emphasis on holistic education and pursue their passions learning music and creating media projects.
Vianna Kwok – school photographer and founder of the MCHK Media Team extracurricular activities
Last year, in Year 11, I began volunteering to take photographs for Malvern College Hong Kong at assemblies and music and theatre performances. At any school event possible, you’d always see me crouching in front of the stage taking photos. Although it was a fun opportunity and also gave me a deep sense of fulfilment to serve the school community in this way, it wasn’t until I was appointed the official student photographer by the Head of the Arts Department, Mr Vezier, that I knew I wanted to make a greater change within MCHK’s arts community.
That’s why I started the MCHK Media Team. This is for pupils like me who want to be more engaged in the school community through the arts, but who didn’t have a tailored media club to join. Since the beginning of this school year, I’m proud to say that the Media Team has grown to be a passionate community of 30 members, including students from Year 7 to Year 11. The photography, videography, website design and website development divisions all work together to create, document and share the special memories here in MCHK.
One of the larger projects my team covered was MCHK’s annual Open Day. This was a jam-packed day full of student theatre and musical performances, sports matches, games, activities and much more. The event attracted nearly 800 visitors to the school, and my team and I were tasked with capturing the various activities and overall atmosphere on-campus. It was a great opportunity to gain experience following a brief, as well as using our creative license to showcase the school.
This was just one of the 15 other events we’ve had the opportunity to cover. In total, we’ve taken more than 2,500 photos since the establishment of the team. From being featured on the weekly Malvern Bulletin and official social media pages to covering events related to House competitions and performances, we’re excited for what’s in store for us in the future.
Danielle Lau – Music scholar and school concertmaster
I have been playing the violin for ten years, and the cello for six. One of the most asked questions I get when I tell someone I play these instruments is: What inspired me to start learning music in the first place?
Since I was little, I was exposed to a wide range of musical materials. My parents would often bring me to listen to musicals, classical concerts and even operas. This piqued my interest in the world of music at a very young age. They then allowed me to try out different instruments and explore first-hand what I was interested in the most.
Not long after, I picked up the violin because I was fascinated by how well virtuosic violinists could interpret different pieces of music. Next came the cello, as I was attracted to its thick yet rich musical timbre.
Now, in Malvern College Hong Kong, I’m a proud music scholar and also the concertmaster of the school orchestra. There are always numerous performance opportunities provided at MCHK that allow me to develop my skills and flourish strongly as a musician. At school, I’m not only able to perform as a soloist, but I also get the chance to collaborate with others in the school Senior Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, where we play for occasions such as assemblies and other school events. Last year, we were even given the rare chance to play with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. This allowed me to broaden my understanding of playing in a professional, world-class orchestra, and to connect with musicians I’d never played with before.
Through these wonderful opportunities, I’ve grown tremendously as an individual by learning how to play a range of music repertoire. I’ve also grown as a musician who collaborates and shares the joy of music with others.
Additionally, as this is my first year in the IB Diploma Programme, I am beyond excited to be taking the HL (Higher Level) Music course provided by the school. The music programme has pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and explore different works and different genres. We’re always surrounded by a positive and supportive atmosphere, encouraged by our teacher and our peers.
Looking to the future, I wish to continue playing at Malvern College Hong Kong and improve myself to be a well-rounded musician. I hope I can continue to resonate with my audiences, move them with my music, and share the essence of joy that can be found in music.
Is your child interested in learning music or exploring different extracurricular activities? Find out more about the opportunities at Malvern and its holistic education approach here.
Malvern College Hong Kong is at 3 Fo Chun Road, Pak Shek Kok, New Territories.
3898 4688
Enjoyed this? Find similar articles in our Education and Enrichment section.
