Every day at 4:30 pm, melodious piano music fills the lobby of North District Hospital in HK. Classic tunes such as Love Always Everywhere, The Bund, and Thoughts of Kindness draw many passers-by to stop and listen. The pianist is 91-year-old Grandma Cindy, with her good partner, Sau Lan, singing beside her. Recently, viral videos show Grandma Cindy playing numerous pieces fluently without sheet music, earning praise from netizens as "a hidden musical gem among the public".
The "spiritual stage" of a retired teacher
91-year-old Grandma Cindy was born at Tsan Yuk Hospital. She learned piano from her mother as a child and became a secondary school English and music teacher when she grew up. After retirement, she moved to Canada with her daughter, returned to HK in 2018, initially lived alone in Kowloon, and only relocated to Sheung Shui over two years ago.
Grandma Cindy is passionate about volunteering. She offered music and English classes at the Anglican Church for years and was once named a "Charming Elder". Since 2023, except on rainy days, she has played piano at the lobby of North District Hospital in Sheung Shui every Monday to Friday at 4:30 pm. "I want to ease the mood of visitors and comfort people with music," she said. She initially played Beethoven's works, which were not well-received. Later, Sau learned the public preferred old songs, so Grandma Sze switched to classic tunes, and Sau brought dozens of music scores daily for requests.
Though in her 90s, Grandma Cindy remains robust with her body working well apart from osteoporosis. She still teaches piano in the mornings: "My students are of all ages, from teens to those in their 70s and 80s. One lives in Cheung Sha Wan, and it takes me a 45-minute by bus there every time. I don't charge much for lessons, just whatever people feel like giving." She smiled and said, "How long one lives doesn't matter. Everyone knows the line after 'The setting sun seems so sublime' is 'but it is near its dying time'. I think it should be 'Dusk shines even brighter.' I'll keep playing until I can't anymore."
Warmth and resonance in music
Touching moments often unfold during their hospital performances. Grandma Cindy said, "Some people cry when they hear Thoughts of Kindness. When I sang Only a Mother Loves Her Child Best, a young man came over and asked me to stop—he couldn't hold back tears and didn't want to visit his mother looking upset."
"Hospitals heal the body; we heal the soul!" Grandma Cindy and Sau said they will keep bringing a little spiritual comfort to people on this small stage. Sau is looking for successors, hoping to pass on this heartwarming, healing initiative.
Controlling volume, not disturbing medical staff
"Hospitals aren't karaoke spots; thus, we keep the volume properly in check," Grandma Cindy said, adding that they stay cautious during performances to avoid disrupting staff work. Sau emphasized they keep their voices within the nearby sofa to not interfere with lobby phone calls. She recalled once when a fan requested Treasure Tonight, everyone sang more and more joyfully, louder and louder, prompting a gentle reminder from a nearby security guard.
Pianos in HK public hospitals
Some public hospitals in HK have pianos, mainly for music therapy or art performances to help patients ease emotions and aid recovery, but usage rules differ. For instance, North District Hospital actively encourages the public to play the piano, donated by the Hong Kong Arts and Culture Anywhere Foundation, anytime without reservation. Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital in Tai Po also has a piano, which was seen taped off on-site, with the next performance scheduled for 11 am on Nov. 21. Hospital staff noted that members of the public must first apply to be volunteers at the hospital and pass an assessment to play. Casual playing is not allowed otherwise.
North District Hospital fully supports music as a form of spiritual healing, so it regularly holds singing sessions for patients in the auditorium, aiming to inject more positive energy into their recovery journey. Grandma Cindy's performances are a vivid practice of this philosophy.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao | Editor: Phoebe, Liu Yu)
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