About 30 elite choirs from more than 10 countries on five continents will gather in Hong Kong for the 2005 World Children's Choir Festival form July 10 to 14, announced the festival Organizing Committee Tuesday.

This will be the very first time for Hong Kong to host this annual arts event. The festival will include four evening concerts,eight free afternoon concerts and 18 workshops, which will providea good chance for children participating the festival to exchange and learn from each other.

The highlight of the festival will be the "Song Bridge" concertwith aims to bring together youth choirs from all around the worldand promote global peace and understanding in a non-competitive atmosphere. Chosen by an international jury, four outstanding choirs will give this year's "Song Bridge" performance at Hong Kong Cultural Center, including the China Hand-in-Hand Children's Choir consisted of members from Beijing, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

Richard Tsang, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, said the festival will definitely raise the quality of local choral singing and provide world-class auditory experience to local arts lovers.
 
(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)