The 2025/26 School Care Subsidy Scheme is now accepting applications from schools. The deadline for applications is September 30.Organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Scheme aims to encourage student music groups from kindergartens and primary, secondary, post-secondary and special schools to care for the community. It is hoped that students will extend their good wishes to the elderly, special school students, people with disabilities, new immigrants, ethnic minorities and the beneficiaries of social welfare organisations through free on-site music performances, and thereby enhance social integration and harmony.Each performance is eligible for a maximum subsidy of $2,200 to cover costs including transportation, allowances for professionals and miscellaneous items. Successful applicants must complete their performances between December 2025 and March 2026. Outstanding teams will be invited to perform at the Gala Concert to be held in April or May 2026. Applications will be evaluated according to the feasibility, diversification and interactive elements of the proposed music programme, as well as the music group's prior experience in organising and performing at community events. Application forms can now be downloaded from the Music Office website(https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/communityprogrammes/care_and_concern_concerts.html)Completed forms must be emailed to the Music Office ([email protected]) by 30 September 2025.Over 460 school music groups have participated in the School Care Subsidy Scheme since its launch in 2009. The scheme is sponsored by the Sino Group.The Care and Concern Concerts are arranged by participating schools and presented to the elderly, special schools’ students, people with disabilities, new immigrants, ethnic minorities and beneficiaries of local social welfare organisations free of charge between Dec 2025 & Mar 2026.

Outreach Music Interest Courses (OMICs) organised by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are now open for applications. Members of the public are welcome to apply for an array of courses, ranging from music workshops to Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes, which will be held from September 2025 to February 2026.Workshops· New course: Introduction to “Pure Data” Music Programming· Online course: ABCs of Musicianship· Ensemble course: Chinese Ensemble・Western Ensemble・Chinese Bowed String Ensemble・Western String Ensemble· Instrumental enrichment: Dizi・Yangqin・Zheng・Erhu・Flute・Clarinet・Saxophone・Violin・Cello· Others: Classical Vocal Singing・Classical Guitar・Ukulele・Little Harp・Keyboard・Aural Training・Music Theory Instrument Foundation Classes· Chinese: Dizi・Xiao・Zhongruan・Liuqin・Pipa・Yangqin・Zheng・Erhu· Western: Trumpet・Flute・Clarinet・Saxophone・Violin・Viola・Cello・Percussion (Glockenspiel & Practice Pad)