The Renaissance Foundation (RF) is pleased to announce the launch of the Ear Up Music Global program, a new music scheme sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, to provide young music talent in Hong Kong with the opportunity to perform on the global music stage, and increase international exposure for more established music acts.

Six budding music acts will be selected and matched with four experienced music acts in a mentee/mentor relationship. Each pair will not only perform at a leading international music festival, but also engage in cultural exchanges with native music professionals and institutions in each respective city. Upon returning to Hong Kong, all pairs will participate in a sharing session and concert to share their experiences and learning with local audiences.

The first two pairs selected under the program are acclaimed “book rocker” Jing Wong and his mentee singer-songwriter Linda Chow, and instrumental rock band tfvsjs and their mentee experimental pop songwriter Adrian Lo. Wong and Chow will be heading to Seoul, South Korea to perform at Zandari Festa (29/09 – 01/10) while tfvsjs and Lo will play at Sound of Munich Now(11/11 – 12/11) in Munich, Germany. Both mentees Chow and Lo are alumni of the 2016 edition of the Ear Up Record Label Creation and Incubation Program, another program organized by the Renaissance Foundation and sponsored by CreateHK that helped empower 12 young Hong Kong music talent through education and mentorship. Also, in collaboration with Redress, the winner of the Hong Kong Best Prize of EcoChic Design Award 2017 will specially design an outfit made with waste-reducing methods for Linda Chow to wear for her performance at Zandari Festa.

Started in 2012, Zandari Festa has quickly established itself as Korea’s largest music showcase festival. The annual event takes place in Seoul’s Hongdae area, the epicenter of youth culture in Korea and ground zero for the country’s indie music scene. For three days each October, Zandari Festa brings together acts and music industry professionals from around the world for concerts and conferences at more than 10 unique venues around Hongdae.

The Sound of Munich Now, established in 2009, is an annual music festival that happens at Feierwerk, a cultural performance hub that is located in Munich, Germany. Featuring the best of Munich’s musical offerings as well as overseas music acts, the two-day event sees over 30 bands, DJ’s and music groups take to the stage each year.

Other collaborating music festivals that are part of the program include Noise Pop Music & Arts Festival in San Francisco, United States, and more. The remaining two pairs of the program will be announced at later dates.

 

文藝復興基金會於二零一七年九月十一日發佈「Ear Up Music Global」項目計劃。該計劃由香港特別行政區政府創意香港資助，旨在為香港年輕音樂人才提供赴海外表演及交流之機會，亦讓多元豐富的香港原創音樂在國際視野中得到更多關注。

計劃遴選六組新晉音樂單位作為學員、四組資深音樂表演單位擔任導師，組成師友嚮導配對單位。四組音樂單位將分別遠赴海外四個城市，在頂尖國際音樂節演出，並且拜訪當地音樂人、產業人士及機構，進行文化交流與考察。回港後，他們將透過經驗分享會及總結音樂會，與香港音樂創作人、業界及觀眾分享國際音樂之旅的經驗及所得所學。

計劃已透過評審委員會選出首兩組師友嚮導音樂單位：第一組，由被譽為「book rocker」的黃靖擔任導師，學員則是新晉唱作女歌手周華欣，前往韓國首爾在Zandari Festa（九月二十九日至十月一日）演出；第二組的導師為器樂搖滾（instrumental rock）樂隊tfvsjs，學員為experimental pop音樂創作人Adrian Lo，他們會一同前往德國慕尼黑，並參與十一月十一至十二日舉行的Sound of Munich Now音樂節。他們同時會在當地進行音樂參訪與交流。周華欣與Adrian Lo兩位皆是二零一六年搶耳音樂廠牌計劃中選拔而出的學員。

Zandari Festa於二零一二年首次舉辦，此後便迅速成為韓國最大型的音樂節。活動於首爾弘大地區進行，該地區為青年文化的中心地帶，亦為韓國獨立音樂的重鎮。每年十月開展的Zandari Festa，為期三日，聚集世界各地的音樂人及產業專家，在弘大地區超過十個不同場地舉辦音樂會及論壇等相關活動。

創始於二零零九年的音樂節The Sound of Munich Now，每年都在位於慕尼黑的文化藝術演出中心——Feierwerk舉行。為期兩天的活動將邀請慕尼黑本地及海外的頂尖音樂表演者，包括超過三十支樂隊、DJ以及音樂團體，同在此舞台上傾力演出。

此計劃將合作的音樂節還包括美國三藩市的Noise Pop Music & Arts Festival等。餘下的兩組師生嚮導音樂單位及其行程，稍後將陸續公佈詳情。 敬請期待。

此外，計劃也與創意香港贊助項目「衣酷適再生時尚設計」合作，其「最傑出香港獎項」得主將為周華欣的海外及本地演出，專門設計一套以可持續材料製作的服裝。