2024 Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra’s 42nd Anniversary Concert 肇風中樂團42週年音樂會,陳劭航指揮(前排中間左) 、陳一平指揮 (前排中間右)。
Photo by Dr Yiong Hwee Teo
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About Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra
Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra was formed in 1982 in Melbourne and is the longest lasting and most established non-profit Chinese orchestra registered in Australia. Its aim is to promote traditional Chinese culture and music in Australia.
This year (2024), the Orchestra will march into its 42nd year. Thanks to continuing support from the Melbourne University and the public, in its quest to deliver traditional Chinese culture to mainstream society, the Orchestra remains a unique addition to the colourful multicultural scene of Melbourne. Our orchestra is highly honoured to have been invited by the Arts Centre and National Gallery of Victoria to take part in multiple events.
Since its inception, Chao Feng has been striving to improve its standards. The Orchestra rehearses at the University of Melbourne every Monday evening. In order to honour its pledge of bringing Chinese music to the community, the Orchestra regularly organises free performances and presentations at various academic and community venues to introduce Chinese music and instruments to the public. The Orchestra’s repertoire covers not only traditional but contemporary works as well, including new arrangements of world classics and fresh approaches in performing Australian folk music.
Chao Feng collaborates with leading overseas Chinese orchestras to foster cultural exchange. Over the years, Chao Feng has invited many famous overseas Chinese orchestras to Melbourne for joint performances. The orchestra has also been invited to Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia to participate in cultural exchange activities with renowned Chinese orchestras. In 2008 and 2012, Chao Feng was invited to perform at the International Chinese Music Festival in Hong Kong and Shanghai respectively. In 2019, Chao Feng was invited to participated in the ‘Spring Festival Chinese Music Concert’ and ‘Bonne Musique III Concert’ organised by the B.C. Chinese Music Association and the Edmonton Chinese Philharmonica of Canada. All these events gave our members the opportunity to perform and exchange ideas with members from other orchestras.
Besides audio and video recordings of annual concerts and a CD of the Australian National Anthem ‘Advance Australia Fair’ performed with traditional Chinese musical instruments, Chao Feng also produced a special commemorative 30th Anniversary double CD set and 35th Anniversary Memorial CD, which featured selected tracks from past concert recordings. During the lockdown period of the Covid pandemic in the previous years, Chao Feng managed to produce three well-received online performances – ‘Waltzing Matilda’, ‘Happy Chinese New Year’ and ‘Winter Hunt’.
All the CFCO committee members and staff are volunteers. The orchestra’s 40 years of achievements in promoting Chinese music and culture has been recognised by the Australian government. In 2015, the Orchestra was successful in getting registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient. On 14 December 2021, CFCO was registered at ACNC as a Charity. All future donations to Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra of $2 and above will be tax deductible.
The Orchestra thanks you for your generosity and support. Your encouragement enables the Orchestra to continue to promote Chinese music in Australia for the enjoyment of the community.
肇風中樂團
墨爾本肇風中樂團成立於1982年，為澳洲第一個歷史最悠久、最具規模而非牟利的註冊中樂團，旨在澳洲這片大地弘揚中國優良傳統文化和音樂。
今年(2024)肇風將邁進第42年，承蒙墨爾本大學民族音樂系及社會各界的厚愛和支持，得以茁壯成長，成功地把優秀的中國傳統樂器和音樂文化帶入墨爾本主流社會，成為墨爾本多元文化活動極有代表性的團體，曾多次被墨爾本藝術中心和維多利亞國家美術館邀請參與活動，為多元文化社群增添不少色彩。
自開團以來，肇風中樂團不斷追求進步，逢星期一晚在墨爾本大學音樂系課室進行排練。為了達到發揚和普及中樂的宗旨，肇風每年在週年音樂會之前數星期，舉辦一個免費的中國樂器講座和示範的小型音樂會，並經常在各大、中、小學校、圖書館和社區多元文化活動演奏。演奏樂曲除了中國傳統音樂之外，還演奏現代作品，包括從新編曲配器的世界名曲和運用嶄新手法演繹的澳洲民謠。
肇風曾多次邀請著名的海外中樂團體前來墨爾本作聯合演出。樂團的活動並不局限於墨爾本，也曾多次應邀遠赴香港、新加坡、馬來西亞，參與當地著名中樂團的文化交流活動。2008年肇風應邀參加香港國際中樂節，2012年參加由上海民族樂團舉辦的海內外民樂家音樂會，2019參加了加拿大庇詩中樂協會主辦的《四海樂聚賀新春》音樂會，和由加拿大愛城民樂團舉辦的第三屆愛民頓中樂節《樂聚加拿大》。這些活動為我們的團員提供機會與其他樂團的成員交流和一起演奏。
在錄音和錄影方面，除了本團週年音樂會錄音、錄影、和特別用中國傳統樂器演奏澳洲國歌Advance Australia Fair的鐳射光碟外，肇風更從音樂會現場錄音中，選出有代表性樂曲製成【肇風中樂團成立30週年紀念曲集】和【肇風中樂團成立35週年紀念曲集】精裝鐳射光碟。在新冠大流行期間本團製作了： 《Waltzing Matilda》、《賀新年》和《冬獵》三個網上演出，極受好評。
肇風中樂團全體團委和工作人員都是為樂團義務工作。40多年來，樂團在宏揚中華音樂文化的成就獲得了澳洲政府的認許，2015年獲稅務局批准為《稅項回扣捐贈接受者》。 2021年底，肇風在澳大利亞慈善機構和非營利委員會(ACNC)成功註册為慈善機構。凡向肇風中樂團捐獻2元或以上，均可獲得稅務局稅項回扣。
本團在此呼籲有心人士慷慨解囊，助肇風一臂之力促進中國音樂文化在澳洲的發展，讓肇風能持續地把中樂發揚光大，為社會，為澳洲服務。