Link Sound Sinfonia Stories Sharing
With the generous support of the AR Charitable Foundation and the Wong Bing Lai Music and Performing Arts Unit, Link Sound Sinfonia began its journey in 2021. Along the way, we’ve experienced countless heartwarming and inspiring moments of “We Connect People with Music.” — and we can’t wait to share them with you.
Invisible Support
With the gentle singing of a lively young girl and her cheerful movements, the “Let’s Get Stronger Together Music Concert” slowly began.
She sang her favorite idol’s hit song with confidence, showing no stage fright. Her voice and body language blended seamlessly, while two companions kept pace with guitar and cajón, ensuring the performance stayed on beat. Thankfully, two university students provided piano and guitar accompaniment to guide the group.
The second band shifted the mood from Cantonese pop to a diverse musical journey—starting with English pop and ending with a classic Spanish hit! One audience member highly praised the university student who sang, joking that he would surely win if he joined the TV show “Sing for the Middle-aged.” The student quickly clarified he was only 21 years old, causing a burst of laughter. The atmosphere was lively and full of joy.
Next came a solo performance by a female member of the Lingnan University Choir, bringing a different style with a nostalgic flair—perfectly suited for the young university crowd.
The final performer was Jak Yiu, who was gently guided to the keyboard by his mother.
He began with a brief self-introduction and expressed gratitude to Lingnan University for giving him the opportunity to explore music. Focused and heartfelt, he played and sang two songs, revealing deep emotions. Jak Yiu, who is visually impaired, has an excellent memory and had memorize all the sheet music. His singing and playing were fully synchronized, immersing himself completely in the moment.
The music lab was packed with listeners—Lingnan music students, parents, families and friends of performers, childhood friends, elderly participants, and others. The audience responded enthusiastically with applause, laughter, and cheers. One elderly student even brought homemade neon flashing lights to liven up the atmosphere. The voting session added more fun and encouragement for all the performing groups.
The grand finale was a spontaneous jam session. Four friends sang “Truly Love You” together, dancing and singing freely. They shed their stage nerves and fully embraced the moment, lost in the joy of music.
Music, in that very moment, connected everyone and lit up the room.
Postscript:
After the concert, three friends needed to return to their dormitory, so I accompanied them on the bus. The bus stop outside Lingnan University is quite dark and quiet at night, so having someone to accompany and care for them was reassuring.
On the bus, I observed the three friends were still buzzing with excitement from the concert. The boy carefully looked after the guitar, while the two girls happily interacted with a young child on the bus.
As they got off, under the soft moonlight and through the bus window, they waved goodbye and blew continuous kisses to the elder who had accompanied them. It was a touching scene that melted the heart—a rainbow in the memory that will continue to light their path in life.
Written by: Ice Cream
Date: July 2, 2025
*This translation was generated using AI tools. For the original Traditional Chinese version, please refer to the corresponding page.
Intergenerational Exchange of Care and Community Building through Musical Training
Link Sound Sinfonia has experimented in intergenerational exchange by involving golden agers in music training modules based on the foundations between the SENs participants and the Lingnan University students in phase 1 (2021-2024).
This initiative explores golden ager's contributions, specifically emphasizing their roles as facilitators and active participants in fostering interpersonal connections between individuals with special educational needs (SENs), university students, and music tutors, and promoting social bonding and personal growth among participants.
The intergenerational exchange of care and support has been identified as a potential element in fostering the development of cohesive and sustainable communities.
Case Study: The Role of Ar So in the Keyboard Training Module
Drawing from Phase 1 of the project (starting from June 2024 until now), golden ager Ar So—a retired social worker—was instrumental in establishing a supportive learning environment and a safe space for building connections within the keyboard training module. Her empathetic disposition and advanced interpersonal skills enabled her to build rapport among SEN participants, Lingnan University students, and tutors.
Beyond the classroom, her active participation in events such as the New Year Music Concert in 2025 demonstrated her commitment to collaborative performance. These shared experiences have strengthened the connections among the participants and contributed significantly to creating an inclusive and nurturing community within the group.
An individual interview was conducted with her, and the following are some quotes from an interview with Ar So:
Gain a Sense of Belonging
“Once I joined the WhatsApp Group, the youth responded actively, that makes me feel warm and cared.”
“I am truly happy to be part of the little warm community.”
Gain a Sense of Purpose Through Sharing
“At the age of 70s, sometimes I will think about how should I live the day once opening my eyes. However, once I think about I will be meeting the youth later today, I am expectant about the meetup.”
“I don’t think I have brought them anything material, but I will sometimes share my life experience with them.”
Contribution of Professional Skills / Guidance to Youth Development
“I tried to encourage the SEN participants to develop their social skills by encouraging him to initiate conversation.”
“Before all these interferences, a solid relationship should be established with kindness.”
Gain a Sense of “Rejuvenating”
“Being with the youth and SENs participants make me feel more rejuvenating.”
Learning trendy songs, trends and interests from the youth
Replication and Expansion: The Guitar Training Module
Inspired by the outcomes of the initial phase, Phase 2 replicated the model by integrating another golden ager, Silvia Kan, into the guitar training module. Similar to Ar So, Silvia contributed to community bonding by fostering a caring atmosphere. Her small yet impactful gestures, such as bringing gifts and snacks, cultivated a sense of warmth and solidarity among participants. This reciprocal interaction not only enriched the participants' experiences but also motivated Silvia in her personal musical journey.
Co-Learning Environments as Platforms for Empowering Elderly through Peer Recognition and Life Coaching
The Link Sound Sinfonia initiative has created a unique co-learning environment where golden agers, can thrive as both learners and contributors. This environment not only encourages them to continue their musical practice but also provides opportunities for them to share their life experiences as informal advisers, fostering deeper connections and mutual support among participants.
Through interactions with golden agers, I’ve often heard expressions of self-doubt, such as “I am old, not good enough.” However, it has been heartening to see how the SEN participants and Lingnan University students assure them of their value. This encouragement motivates golden agers to participate actively and boosts their confidence.
Their involvement goes beyond music, as they often take on advisory roles when others face challenges, such as relationship issues or dilemmas about life direction. These moments allow golden agers to offer guidance and share their wisdom, reinforcing their sense of purpose and identity.
Engaging Golden Agers as Vital Contributors to Community Development
The Link Sound Sinfonia initiative illustrates that intergenerational exchange through music can serve as a cornerstone for building cohesive and caring communities. By fostering an environment of mutual support and shared creativity, such programs have a transformative impact on participants across age groups.
The active involvement of golden agers in music training programs demonstrates the potential of structured intergenerational collaborations in community building. Their facilitative roles underscore the value of their life experiences, communication skills, and empathetic engagement in creating inclusive environments. The broader implications of such models suggest scalable approaches for other community-based initiatives.
Text: CHIU Ka Chun (Link Sound Sinfonia Project Coordinator)
Date: May, 2025
My Journey with Link Sound Sinfonia: A Year of Impact and Growth
As Johnny, a one-year full-time intern at Link Sound Sinfonia (LSS), I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in a social impact project that blends music, community engagement, and personal growth. This experience has been transformative, offering me unique opportunities to explore the intersection of music and social good, test my interest in community work, and build valuable professional experience.
Music as a Force for Social Good
At Link Sound Sinfonia, I discovered how music skills can contribute meaningfully to society. As a coordinator for the "Digital Composition Class," I witnessed firsthand how music education fosters creativity and connection within communities. By facilitating workshops and supporting participants, I helped create a space where individuals could express themselves through digital music creation. This role showed me the power of music as a tool for empowerment and social cohesion, reinforcing its value beyond mere entertainment.
Exploring a Passion for Community Work
As a student at Lingnan University, where undergraduate degrees in social work with licensure are not offered, finding opportunities to engage in social work internships can be challenging. Link Sound Sinfonia, however, opened its doors to passionate students like me, regardless of formal qualifications in social work. This inclusive approach allowed me to explore my interest in community work without the barriers often faced by those without a social work major. Through hands-on involvement in community-focused initiatives, I gained clarity on whether this field aligns with my passions and strengths, making Link Sound Sinfonia an invaluable platform for self-discovery.
A Stepping Stone to Future Opportunities
In Hong Kong’s competitive job market, fresh graduates often struggle to secure full-time roles without prior work experience. Link Sound Sinfonia provided me with a meaningful transitional job that bridged this gap. As a full-time intern, I honed skills in project coordination, teamwork, and communication—experiences that will undoubtedly strengthen my future job applications. This internship has equipped me with a solid foundation of professional experience, giving me confidence as I prepare to navigate the job market.
My year with Link Sound Sinfonia has been more than just an internship; it’s been a journey of learning, impact, and growth. From leveraging music for social good to exploring my place in community work and building a professional track record, LSS has shaped me in ways I’ll carry forward into my future endeavors.
Text: Johnny MAU, Link Sound Sinfonia scholarship recipients (2021-2022)
Date: 3 May, 2025
Empowering SEN Participants Through Assistant Tutoring in Music
The transformative power of music education extends beyond personal growth—it can foster inclusion, confidence, and community engagement. This was vividly demonstrated during a recent collaboration between the Link Sound Sinfonia and Lingnan University's Equal Opportunity Committee Programme, "Inclusion Ambassador." in 2025.
In this initiative, four Lingnan students, undergoing training to better understand and interact with individuals with diverse needs, joined a music session with participants from the Link Sound Sinfonia project.
What unfolded was a powerful moment of role reversal. Although the university students unfamiliar with music intended to join us as an assistant tutor, one of our project participants, Maggie, confidently stepped into the role of a teacher, introducing them to basic guitar skills. This spontaneous act of teaching not only showcased Maggie’s musical abilities but also highlighted the empowering potential of enabling Special Educational Needs (SEN) participants to become assistant tutors.
This experience challenges traditional narratives where individuals with special needs are seen solely as beneficiaries. Instead, it opens up a new paradigm where they are also contributors—sharing their skills, leading interactions, and inspiring others. We believe that the act of teaching promotes mutual respect and a deeper understanding between people of different backgrounds and abilities.
Encouraged by this experience, we see exciting possibilities for integrating assistant tutoring roles into our community music programs. By providing structured opportunities for SEN participants to teach, we not only enhance their personal development but also cultivate a more inclusive and co-learning environment. This approach aligns with the core values of community music—participation, empowerment, and shared creativity.
As we move forward, we hope to explore more avenues where our participants can experience the joy and confidence of teaching, transforming music sessions into spaces of mutual growth and inclusion.
Text: CHIU Ka Chun (Link Sound Sinfonia Project Coordinator)
Date: May 2025