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HKMU's first Chinese Song Lyric students present original works in debut concert – sharing touching stories through music

24 Mar 2026

The first-ever Chinese Song Lyric Concert and Sharing Session at HKMU was successfully held, attracting an audience of over 300. Also attending were HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing and Vice-President (Administration and Corporate Development) Prof. Kwong Chi-leung.

From conceptual planning and lyric writing to event coordination and stage production, the concert was entirely student-led, demonstrating the vitality and imagination of HKMU's young creators.

The A&SS's Prof. Chow Yiu-fai (centre) expressed his hope that the audience could truly feel the warmth of human connection that the students and their interviewees have uncovered in our city through their songs.

Nineteen original Cantonese songs were performed live for the first time, many of which were sung by the lyricists themselves.

Daniel Chan performs his work on stage, expressing love for his elderly grandmother through music.

Daniel (left) poses for a photo with his grandmother after the concert.

Having grown up in Wah Fu Estate, Chloe Lee wrote lyrics from her mother's perspective, capturing the changes of time in the aging public housing estate and documenting scenes before its impending redevelopment.

The School of Arts and Social Sciences (A&SS) of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) hosted its first-ever Chinese Song Lyric Concert and Sharing Session last Friday (20 March) in the Agile Sports Hall on the Jockey Club Campus. Themed “As Long as It Lasts”, the concert featured a collection of original Cantonese song lyrics that told heartfelt stories about people, relationships and places, connecting emotions and memories through music.

Nineteen students from various schools and year each interviewed one individual and transformed their stories into heartfelt original lyrics. These 19 pieces were performed publicly for the first time on stage, showcasing their creative achievements to an audience of over 300. HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing and Vice President (Administration and Corporate Development) Prof. Charles Kwong Che-leung attended to support the students and recognise their creativity and talent. From conceptual planning and lyric writing to event coordination and stage production, the concert was entirely student-led, demonstrating the vitality and imagination of HKMU's young creators.

The Chinese Song Lyric Writing course, newly introduced this academic year as part of the General Education curriculum, is taught by renowned lyricist Prof. Chow Yiu-fai, from the A&SS. After teaching multiple lyric writing classes over the years, Prof. Chow joined HKMU in September 2025, where he continues to unleash students' potential with his extensive experience, injecting new ideas into their creative work. Through this course and related community-engagement projects, he aims to broaden students' exposure to the creative industries, enhance their confidence, and equip them with the skills needed to purse creative careers.

At the conclusion of the event, Prof. Chow shared that the audience had witnessed the first live performance of 19 original Cantonese songs, which was profoundly significant. “HKMU's Agile Sports Hall will become an important performance venue for Hong Kong's popular music,” he said. “I hope the audience can truly feel the warmth of human connection that the students and their interviewees have uncovered in our city through these songs.”

The students' works covered a diverse range of themes, including a boat dweller preparing to move ashore, a daughter inheriting her family's joss paper shop, a cancer survivor, a soon-to-graduate university student, and a long-running neighbourhood snack shop owner witnessing the city's changes.

One of the students, Chloe Lee Wing-hei, a Year 2 student in the Bachelor of Science with Honours in Medical Laboratory Science programme, grew up in Wah Fu Estate. She wrote her lyrics from her mother’s perspective, capturing the changes in the old housing estate and preserving its fading yet familiar scenes before redevelopment.

Another lyricist, Daniel Chan King-lok, a Year 1 student in the Bachelor of Business Administration with Honours in International Hospitality and Attractions Management programme, dedicated his song to his elderly grandmother in gratitude for her love and companionship throughout his childhood. He said, “Time is limited, and we should not be stingy about showing love and care to those around us. As I wrote in the lyrics, I hoped to motivate everyone to express their love right now.” Daniel also performed his song on stage, expressing his affection through music and sharing a tender moment with his grandmother, who attended the concert in person.

HKMU is committed to offering professional programmes and courses that integrate theory and practice, particularly in the creative arts, taught by industry professionals to equip students with a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge.

The University launched the Bachelor of Arts with Honours in New Music and Interactive Entertainment programme in the 2024/25 academic year, focusing on nurturing students' artistic literacy and developing interdisciplinary multimedia capabilities to cultivate a new generation of talent for the art-tech sector. The University will also introduce a new Master of Arts in Applied Cultural Studies programme in the 2026/27 academic year to cultivate professionals with interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspectives who can contribute to the development of the cultural and creative industries in Hong Kong and the region.

The first-ever Chinese Song Lyric Concert and Sharing Session at HKMU was successfully held, attracting an audience of over 300. Also attending were HKMU President Prof. Paul Lam Kwan-sing and Vice-President (Administration and Corporate Development) Prof. Kwong Chi-leung.

From conceptual planning and lyric writing to event coordination and stage production, the concert was entirely student-led, demonstrating the vitality and imagination of HKMU's young creators.

The A&SS's Prof. Chow Yiu-fai (centre) expressed his hope that the audience could truly feel the warmth of human connection that the students and their interviewees have uncovered in our city through their songs.

Nineteen original Cantonese songs were performed live for the first time, many of which were sung by the lyricists themselves.

Daniel Chan performs his work on stage, expressing love for his elderly grandmother through music.

Daniel (left) poses for a photo with his grandmother after the concert.

Having grown up in Wah Fu Estate, Chloe Lee wrote lyrics from her mother's perspective, capturing the changes of time in the aging public housing estate and documenting scenes before its impending redevelopment.