The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) at HKU hosted the "Keen Lyricist Quest (KLQ) 2025: Seminar – Exploring Cantonese Lyrics through Industry and Academia Perspectives.
The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) hosted the "Keen Lyricist Quest (KLQ) 2025: Seminar – Exploring Cantonese Lyrics through Industry and Academia Perspectives on February 6, 2025. The seminar explored the art of Cantonese lyric writing, aiming to enhance participants' appreciation of lyrics and inspire creativity.
Moderated by Professor Chu Yiu Wai from the Hong Kong Studies programme at HKU, the seminar featured three distinguished guest speakers: renowned lyricist Professor Chow Yiu Fai, Oscar Lee, and emerging singer-songwriter Luna Is A Bep. The event attracted over 250 participants, including HKU students, staff, members of the public, and students from other institutions and secondary schools such as St. Paul's College, St. Stephen's Girls' College, and St. Joseph's College.
The seminar successfully facilitated in-depth exchanges between the scholar and lyricists from three generations, providing participants with a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and creative experiences. It not only benefited HKU students but also enriched public appreciation of Cantonese lyrics and music creation.
The seminar examined the relationship between lyrics and melody, styles, the aesthetics of different eras, and audience preferences. Veteran lyricist Professor Chow Yiu Fai remarked, "I am always willing to collaborate with different singers, regardless of their experience. To me, these are opportunities to step into their world and create my work." Professor Chow valued connecting with young people through pop culture and stressed the importance of continuous learning and adapting in the creative process.
A participating student from the Faculty of Arts, Renee Chan, shared, "The seminar was incredibly rewarding. The speakers' stories inspired me to embrace the diverse possibilities in creative work and to enjoy the process of creation." Another participant noted that the three guest speakers represented different generations of lyricists, offering a comprehensive discussion that deepened participants' understanding of the evolution and legacy of Cantonese lyrics.
Dr. Wong Chi Chung, a veteran culturist and consultant of KLQ 2025, expressed his satisfaction with the success of the event. He remarked, "This was a wonderful sharing session on lyric writing and Hong Kong pop music. It was encouraging to see so many young people—whether university or secondary school students—actively participating and showcasing their passion for music."
In addition, Laurence Tang, Head of Campus Life at CEDARS, highlighted the value of KLQ 2025 in providing students with a platform to connect with industry professionals and draw inspiration for their creative endeavours. He encouraged students to use this opportunity to observe and reflect more deeply on the people and events around them, to understand human emotions, and to express and articulate these feelings through refined language, thus enriching their lives. Similar events would be organised in the future to promote cultural and knowledge exchanges, nurture young talent with a passion for lyric and music creation and enrich the cultural atmosphere on campus.
Keen Lyricist Quest 2025 is supported by the HKU Knowledge Exchange Fund granted by the University Grants Committee. In addition to the seminar, the programme includes a few sessions on the Lyric Writing Workshop, Competition and a Performance in March.
