Sands China Performing Arts Programme Presents: 'Macau Band Directors Association 30th Anniversary Concert'

Over 550 musicians from Macau and France recently came together for a landmark celebration of wind band music, marking the 30th anniversary of the Macau Band Directors Association (MBDA) and the 10th anniversary of The Parisian Macao.

The Macau Band Directors Association 30th Anniversary Concert took place on Saturday at The Parisian Theatre, drawing an audience of over 1,500 students, teachers, parents and members of the public. The event was presented by Sands China as part of its Performing Arts Programme, in partnership with MBDA.

An unprecedented line-up

The scale of the performance was historic for the association. The concert united 18 local performing groups across a diverse age range, from eight-year-old musicians through to 40-year-old MBDA alumni who have remained dedicated to music throughout their careers. Participating ensembles included four groups under MBDA, three award-winning chamber groups from the Macao Young Musicians Competition, and wind bands from 11 local schools.

The international dimension came courtesy of France's Amet family, making their first appearance in Macau SAR as special guests. Siblings Guillaume Amet (trombonist), Diane Amet (French horn) and Baptiste Amet (clarinet) are all aged 12 to 15 and have already garnered international recognition for their musicianship.

Four chapters of music

The concert was structured in four sections. It opened with three award-winning chamber ensembles from the Macao Young Musicians Competition, representing woodwind, brass and percussion. The Amet siblings then took the stage alongside Macau SAR youth ensembles in collaborative performances. The Macau Continuo Winds, a group of working professionals, followed, before the evening culminated in a massed performance by around 550 musicians.

The programme drew on a diverse repertoire of Romantic works, classical arrangements and contemporary wind band compositions. Participants from both Macau and France had spent months preparing, including joint rehearsals to refine their collective performances.

Sands China and MBDA also presented an extended "Charm de France Winds Concert" the following day at the Chapel of Santa Rosa de Lima English Secondary School, featuring the three young Amet musicians and Hong Kong pianist Dr. Cherry Tsang.