To help make music more accessible to all, the Club donated over HK$9.9 million to the Hong Kong String Orchestra (HKSO) in 2015 to launch the three-year Jockey Club Power of Music Programme. The programme provides opportunities for students from low-income families to learn classical music and participate in community concerts, so that they can gain learning experiences outside the classroom. Today (5 May), the Jockey Club Power of Music Programme Finale Concert took place in the Sha Tin Racecourse.

Officiating guests included Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow; Chief Secretary for Administration The Hon Matthew Cheung; President of the Legislative Council The Hon Andrew Leung; and HKSO Founder, Artistic & Development Director Jue Yao.

Club Deputy Chairman Anthony W K Chow said, “The Club is one of the world's top ten charity donors. Arts, Culture and Heritage is one of four strategic focus areas for the Club’s Charities Trust. Through its support, the Club seeks to build a culturally vibrant Hong Kong, enrich citizen’s lives and promote social inclusion. We are delighted to see that through its various classical music educational activities, the three-year Jockey Club Power of Music Programme has provided underprivileged teenagers with opportunities to learn music and promote classical music to the community.”

The Jockey Club Power of Music Programme Finale Concert brought together several different parties, including the 240 underprivileged students who have benefited from the programme; an amputee whose confidence has been revived through learning violin after a car accident; a musician who has never given up playing despite blindness caused by illness at a young age; and a few hundred other musicians. Highlight of the Concert was The Power of a Thousand Strings performance with over 1,000 musicians playing the Cantonese song “Below Lion Rock” together to set a new Guinness World Record.

The Jockey Club Power of Music Programme has been dedicated to supporting students from underprivileged families. Participating students received a free violin, a three-year complimentary violin training course conducted by HKSO musicians, and chances to perform in community concerts. Since 2015, nearly 40 open-air concerts have been held across the 18 districts of Hong Kong, as well as additional classical music concerts in the festive seasons, benefiting some 40,000 participants.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class racing club that acts continuously for the betterment of our society. The Club has a unique integrated business model, comprising racing and racecourse entertainment, a membership club, responsible sports wagering and lottery, and charities and community contribution. Through this model, the Club generates economic and social value for the community and supports the Government in combatting illegal gambling. In 2016/17, the Club’s total direct return to the community was HK$30.5 billion. It is Hong Kong's largest single taxpayer, one of the city’s major employers and one of the world's top ten charity donors. The Club is always "riding high together for a better future" with the people of Hong Kong.