By Sophie Oxford, Design & Visual Arts Teacher / Global Citizenship Coordinator
HKA’s annual RISE concert proved to be a resounding success this year, capturing the hearts and minds of the community with its inspiring performances and live art auction. This student-led event, dedicated to shedding light on the plight of refugees and disadvantaged minority groups in Hong Kong, aimed to raise funds in support of Branches of Hope and ROAD Refugee Opportunity and Development. We were lucky to have Joshua from Branches of Hope come in to attend the event and speak to the audience.
The event was planned, organised and run by three Grade 11 students (Elmer, Jimmy and Shaurya), who undertook this event management initiative as part of their IBDP CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project. Reflecting on the experience after the event the students recognized the valuable communication, collaboration and organisation skills which they had to bring to employ, skills which will no doubt be invaluable as they head into their final year of the highly rigorous IBDP programme.
The evening began on a captivating note with the enchanting tunes of harp player Leanne Li, setting a tone of anticipation for the remarkable lineup of community performances. Attendees were treated to a diverse array of acts showcasing the abundance of talent within the HKA community, including a surprise comedy interlude by the renowned Hong Kong comedian, Vivek Mahbubani. The audience were treated to a wide range of performances, from our primary school choir (supported by Grade 6 student Maddie), dance performance from Angelite (including Grade 11 student Roslyn) and many performances from students in our MYP and DP Music and Performing Arts programmes.
Our visual art exhibition and auction was a highlight of the event, including generous artwork donations from a range of community artists – parents, students, teachers, staff and alumni. We are thankful for their donations and artistic support of this event, as well as the team of ‘Craft for a Cause’ student crafters (supported by Ms Lynn) who also fundraised for this cause.
The event not only celebrated the arts but also served as a platform for community engagement and service as HKA announced a donation of HK$25,000 to the Branches of Hope ROAD project. This contribution is set to make a meaningful impact on the lives of refugees, asylum seekers and people experiencing disadvantage in Hong Kong.
Expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support received, HKA extended appreciation to the myriad individuals who contributed to the success of the event, from performers and backstage crew to auction bidders, operations teams, and the dedicated security and cleaning staff. Special recognition was also given to Jean Morris and Sophie Oxford for their invaluable mentorship throughout the event.
The RISE concert not only showcased the depth of artistic talent at HKA but also demonstrated the power of community in effecting positive change.
