Dr Yip Wai-hong (center), the music director and conductor of the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra, is joined by the conductor Gabriel M. Leung (right) and the young musicians while receiving flowers at a concert in Toronto on Sunday. (Li Na/ China Daily)

Under the theme of Tribute to the Golden Age, a concert featuring a blend of western and Chinese classical music was performed by the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto on Sunday.

Established in 1996, the symphony is comprised of musicians who range in age from seven to 18. They are recruited after participating in competitive open auditions. Over the years, the symphony has become a highly sought after performing-arts group with international acclaim. In 2009, the symphony gave performances in Ottawa and Toronto to raise funds for the Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association. Their return to Toronto and Vancouver this year is part of a five-stop North American tour.

Sunday's performance by the touring 75-member symphony served as a fundraiser for the Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation (YHCWF) in support of its senior programs and services. It was also part of the Hong Kong: Asia's World City presentation and supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Toronto (HKETO).

"The concert is to recognize the contributions made by our seniors over all these years, and many thanks to the young musicians from Hong Kong who bring the two generations closer together through music," said Stephen Siu, president of YHCWF.

"Serving as Hong Kong's youth ambassador, the symphony's visit this time will again highlight the importance of care, love and friendship among people and generations," said Gloria Lo, director of HKETO.

Apart from showcasing the musical talent of Hong Kong's youth and fostering cultural ties between Canada and Hong Kong, the concert also to honored the symphony's music director and conductor, 84-year-old Dr Yip Wai-hong. He was cited for his dedication to children's music education in Hong Kong and Toronto over the last four decades.

Known as the Father of Children's Choir, Yip is an icon in Hong Kong's music education. He has worked tirelessly to popularize choral and symphonic music for children, and to build international bonds through these performances.

"The goal of children's education is not about producing musicians, but to develop them into well-rounded persons. If however, a musician is nurtured through this means, it would be a very pleasant surprise," said Yip, who has founded Yip's Canada in Toronto, a music education institution for children.

The symphony performed one of George Gershwin's most notable pieces An American in Paris and other golden songs, including Chen Gan's Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, and China Sea, a song composed by Yip. The symphony also fulfilled its educational mission through a music symposium on July 26 at Richmond Hill Christian Community Church.

The concert was co-organized by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association, Asian Business Network Association, and the Toronto Hong Kong Lions Club, and supported by the Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library of the University of Toronto.

renali@chinadailyusa.com