Beautiful Cross Concert

The Beautiful Mind Charity will present its second annual Beautiful Concert in Hong Kong.  Entitled “Beautiful Cross”, the concert will be held at 7:30 pm on Thursday, 24 May 2007, at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.

Performing artists will include Heeah – a four-fingered pianist, the Crossband – a group composed of traditional Korean and contemporary musicians, the PHAB Children Choir - 14 children from Hong Kong with physical disabilities, as well as other musicians from both Hong Kong and Korea , including William Il Hwan Bai and the Charis Ensemble.

The title of the concert symbolizes four themes:

-A “cross”-over music performance featuring and contrasting traditional Korean and classical instruments, and modern and traditional bands;

-“Cross”-ing of paths between the ordinary and differently-abled;

-The cross as a symbol for positive addition as we strive to build a more caring and sharing community; and

-Cross for the union and linking of Hong Kong and Korea .

Inspired by work done in local communities by the Beautiful Mind Fund, a charity organization founded in the U.S. by cellist William Il Hwan Bai, the Beautiful Mind Charity (“BMC”) was established in June 2006 by a group of Korean residents in Hong Kong with a goal to promote an environment of giving and sharing in Hong Kong.  In October 2006, BMC presented its first charity event, “Beautiful Concert”, at the Hong Kong City Hall.  The "Soma Trio" – professional musicians - and the Onnuri Sarang Chamber Orchestra - composed of physically or mentally challenged young musicians - were invited to perform together with Sam Tsui, a visually impaired accordion player from Hong Kong, and the Charis Ensemble, a trio composed of some of the founders of BMC.

Their performance helped break the common perception that the disabled can only be recipients of help.  The performance displayed how beautifully the differently-abled can extend help and love to others through their musical talents.  BMC was able to donate HKD250,000 to the Ebenezer School, a school for the visually impaired children of Hong Kong, and another HKD250,000 to The Rainbow Project, a special program for children with autism.

Following the concert, BMC was officially established as The Beautiful Mind Charity Limited in November 2006. The BMC has also established its presence in Korea with the aim of providing similar events and programs globally. Such events will include private concerts, art exhibitions, amateur musicians' performances, and music classes for disadvantaged and disabled children with the focus of enhancing the spirit of giving back to and integrating with local communities.   Contributions received from such events are donated to local communities and institutions that need financial assistance.

The proceeds from this year’s Beautiful Cross concert will be donated to the Hong Kong PHAB (“Physically Handicapped and Able Bodied”) Association and the Watchdog Early Learning and Development Center.