International band festival kicks off in southern Taiwan’s Chiayi City

2018/12/18

The Chiayi City International Band Festival kicked off Dec. 14 in southern Taiwan, spotlighting the city’s cultural vibrancy and fostering exchanges with overseas talents.
 
 Organized by the Chiayi City Government and supported by the Ministries of Culture and Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, this year’s event features 77 shows by nearly 100 troupes.
 
 Performers include color guards, marching bands, orchestras, student groups and wind ensembles from around Taiwan and countries such as Canada, Japan, Thailand and South Korea. Among the foreign participants are the Royal St. Lucia Police Force band from the Caribbean diplomatic ally, University of Lethbridge Wind Orchestra from Canada and Finnish pan flutist Stefan Stanciu.
 
 Running until Dec. 23, shows are being staged at three main venues: Chiayi City Music Hall, Wen Hua Park and Zhong Cheng Park. In an effort to promote the regional tourism industry, performances are also planned at popular attractions such as Hinoki Village and the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum.
 
 According to the CCG, local cultural traditions are being highlighted for the first time at this year’s edition, with troupes specializing in beiguan music and temple parades invited to showcase these aspects of Taiwan’s heritage.
 
 Since its launch in 1993, the annual event has become the southern city’s top cultural gathering, the local government said. In 2017, the festival drew some 147,000 visitors, a 25.5 percent increase from the previous year.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=18&post=147242)