Being a professional Cantonese opera education institution in Hong Kong, the Cantonese Opera Academy (COA) of Hong Kong is the education branch of CAAHK. Its goals include the cultivation of a new generation of talents in Cantonese opera and promoting sustainable development of Cantonese opera art. In 2009, the COA reorganized its courses according to the objective environment and needs of the market. The main courses include Course for Young Cantonese Opera Performers that targets young people, various in-service actor training courses co-organized with collaborative partners, and popularization courses on Cantonese opera art with local primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary institutions. The abilities and competence of COA graduates are well-recognized by members of the industry. Many graduates and students who are still studying have already been hired by different commercial troupes. Foundation Background and History In 1979, the 19th CAAHK Board of Directors decided to open a Cantonese opera training school. The decision was supported by the visiting members of Guangdong Cantonese opera, who later raised funds for the project. In September 1979, a preparatory committee was established. Members included Mr. Wong Yim, the then Chairman of CAAHK, Mr. Leung Hon-wai, Mr. Lau Yuet-fung, Mr. Law Ka-ying, Mr. Lee Kei-fung, Mr. Chan Cheong, Mr. Mak Wai-man, Mr. Yam Tai-fun, etc. Formal enrollment took place in early 1980. When the Academy was first established, the administrative structure and overall affairs were managed by the School Board, in which the dean and deputy dean were in charge of administrative affairs. While the routine administration was managed by the dean of academic affairs, the dean of school administration was responsible for supervising all faculty and staff. Meanwhile, the academy also set up positions such as honorary school directors and consultants. The mentors at the beginning were Mr. Yeung Kim-wah, Mr. Wong Yuet-sang, Mr. Yam Tai-fan, Mr. Mak Wai-man, Ms. Chan Man, Ms. Lee Yim-sheung, Ms. Tsang Yuk-lui, Mr. Kwok Hung-pan, etc. During the initial years, the courses offered by the Academy were divided into the areas of singing, acting, and basic skills. Course intakes were arranged once every two years. However, because of the huge expenditure and loss every year, the courses were only held for five rounds and were suspended twice due to excessive financial losses. Even so, the first five intakes of COA still nurtured many famous artists such as Ms. Koi Ming-fai, Ms. Tang Mi-ling, Ms. Wai Chun-ying, and Mr. Liu Kowk-sum. In 1996, the COA was officially registered as a non-profit making charitable organization and was granted funding from the Urban Council and the Arts Development Council. By collaborating with the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, it has co-organized the Certificate Course in Cantonese Opera Training, with Dr. Liza Wang, Mr. Leung Hon-wai, and Professor Leung Pui-Kam being the Honorary Director, Artistic Director, and Programme Advisor respectively. With Ms. Chan Kim Sing serving the role of Honorary Director in the second year, classes were held at Ko Shan Theatre and Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre of the Urban Council. Meanwhile, hand-on practice and final performances were also held at Ko Shan Theatre every year. At the beginning, there were four classes for elementary and advanced classes, with a total of 110 students. Later, the course was reformed to a three-year course, with a total of 5 classes. In addition to singing, acting, and basic skills, the course back then also incorporated Cantonese Opera history, Cantonese Opera makeup, and tutoring basic skills in the curriculum for the first time. The tutors include Ms. Au Man-fung, Mr. Mak Wai-man, Mr. Hui Kin-shun, Ms. Cheng Man-ying, Ms. Wang Jia-Ling, Ms. Zhou Lili, etc. While Mr. Law Hung and Dr. Chan Sau-yan served as coordinator and programme director respectively, Ms. Au Man-fung also took up the role of Deputy Programme Coordinator. Based on the consideration of cooperation in teaching, the COA changed its strategy and co-organized the Certificate Course in Cantonese Opera Training with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1998. Apart from adding singing tutoring and training on Cantonese Opera gongs and drums in the teaching course, there were also slight changes in teaching and administrative staff. While Dr. Chan Sau-yan changed his role to be the course advisor, Ms. Annie Lau and Ms. Au Man-fung took up the roles as Administrative Coordinator and Course Director respectively. Meanwhile, Mr. Chan Fei-hung and Mr. Sung Heung-man were also appointed as the singing tutor and gong and drum instructor respectively. By 2004, the COA independently organized Cantonese Opera Training Certificate Course and offered individual gongs and drums course. Meanwhile, there were significant changes in the teaching and administrative staff. While Mr. Chan Kim-sing was appointed as the honorary director, Mr. Leung Hon-wai and Ms. Au Man-fung served as the artistic director and administrative coordinator respectively. In terms of instructors, history of Cantonese opera was taught by Ms. Au Man-fung, gongs and drums were taught by Mr. Kong Sing, and singing was taught by Mr. Mak Wai-man. For acting, the instructors were Mr. Ho Ka-yiu and Ms. Tang Suet-mei; for basic skills, the instructors were Mr. Chow Chun-pong and Mr. Tai Shing-kwan. In 2005, the Academy offered an instrumental accompaniment course, which was taught by Mr. Mak Wai-man. In 2006, the Academy added a screenwriting course, which was taught by Ms. Au Man-fung. Meanwhile, the COA also reached out to the community and offered a series of short courses for interested individuals. Latest Development of the Academy The 33rd Board of Directors of the CAAHK took office in July 2007. Most of the Directors also serve as the Director of COA's School Board. To adapt to the changes of the times, meet the needs of the society, and keep pace with the times, the Academy repositioned its direction and formulated new strategies in the 2008-09 academic year. By implementing such changes, it was hoped that new development and breakthroughs could be attained in Cantonese opera education. After multiple rounds of discussion, the School Board decided that while retaining the music accompaniment classes and gongs and drums classes (which were always popular among students) and rearranging the screenwriting classes for this year, the COA would dedicate to provide in-depth training for in-service actors who have taken Cantonese opera as a profession. The curriculum structure for this year was divided into Intensive Course on Cantonese Opera and Skill Enhancement Programme. In addition to appointing Directors of the School Board to lead the reform of the Academy, the School Board also appointed Mr. Ding Yue, experienced art administrator, as the Executive Director and Mr. Lui Hung-kwong, experienced actor, as the course director to assist in the promotion and planning of the courses offered by the Academy. With an aim to refine the students’ basic skills, the Intensive Course on Cantonese Opera includes gongs and drums classes, music accompaniment classes, and screenwriting classes. The total of 9 classes enrolled 136 students. The screenwriting classes, in addition to hiring Mr. Yip Shiu-Tak, famous screenwriter, as the key instructor, was also conducted in cooperation with the Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research of the Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong. By introducing such arrangements, it was hoped that the screenwriting methods of Cantonese opera could be sorted out in a more detailed and systematic manner. Sponsored by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, the Skills Enhancement Programme was designed for junior professional performers of Cantonese opera. The basic concepts of the course focus on the elements that should be well understood by professional actors. Although the trainees are new professional actors who have some stage experience, their training backgrounds can be very different. By considering the variations that may exist, this course focused on teaching, in which the importance of theories is stressed before applying the relevant principles back into practice, thereby enhancing the students to firmly grasp the essence of both theory and practice. This year, the Skills Enhancement Programme has offered courses on playing small roles, singing and speech (Nianbai) training, practice of somersaults (kung fu in tumbling and wrestling), training on Northern style bazi, and traditional performance of the Southern style on the stage of Cantonese opera. To adapt to the changes of the times, meet the needs of the society, and keep pace with the times, the COA repositioned its direction and formulated new strategies in the 2008-09 academic year. By implementing such changes, it was hoped that new development and breakthroughs could be attained in Cantonese opera education. Currently, the Academy has received administrative funding from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council to continue to offer courses on different topics in order to strengthen the training of current actors, especially new actors, so as to improve the current professional level of Cantonese opera performances and attract a new generation of audiences. In particular, the four-year training programme of the Course for Young Cantonese Opera Performers aimed at training young people aged 13 to 20 who are interested in joining the Cantonese opera industry. Taught by professional instructors and experienced actors of CAAHK, the course adopted a step-by-step approach in training successors of Cantonese opera in the next generation. Upon completion of the course, graduate can directly join the Cantonese opera industry or advance to studying university courses in Cantonese opera. The 4-year training course is taught by professional instructors and experienced actors in the Cantonese opera industry. The five aspects of singing skills, basic skills, Somersaults skills, Bazi (a kind of weapon) skills and performance skills are taught in a step-by-step approach through careful consideration on the learners' talents, strengths, and weaknesses. The course has so far produced 5 batches of graduates, in which outstanding graduates with development potential include: Mr. Tam Wing-lun Alan, Ms. Leung Sum-yee, Mr. Ng Lap-hei, Ms. Ng Sin-hang, Mr. Kwong Tsz-wong, Ms. Jackie Leung, Mr. Kong Chun-kit, Ms. Leung Fei-tung, Ms. Yuen Hok-wai, Mr. Law Yiu-bong, Mr. Lui Chi-fung, Ms. Kali Lam, Ms. Lee Tse-yui, Ms. Lee Ching-yan, Ms. So Premium Jiny, Mr. Lai Tsz-look, Mr. Wan Tsz-hung, Mr. Tse Siu-ki, etc. Since 2010, the Academy and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Lui Yun Choy Memorial College have jointly organized a Cantonese opera teaching collaboration project. For the first time, the art of Cantonese opera was included in the formal art curriculum of junior secondary schools. In 2011, the Academy jointly organized the Introduction to Cantonese Opera Art course with the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. The collaboration has marked an important milestone of COA in promoting Cantonese opera education to the tertiary sector. The Academy and Po Leung Kuk have become partners to jointly implement Cantonese opera courses among junior secondary school students since the 2012 academic year. The courses were implemented among F.1 students of Lee Shing Pik College and Tong Nai Kan Junior Secondary College. In addition, the college has held different professional courses in Cantonese opera with an aim to enhance the artistic skills of Cantonese opera practitioners in various fields.