*********************************************************

The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Regional Council :

Hong Kong audience will be able to enjoy a concert by the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Plucked String Orchestra before the group starts an eight-day concert tour to Kagoshima of Japan.

The 1998 Hong Kong Youth Chinese Plucked String Orchestra Kagoshima Tour Pre-tour Concert will be held at 8 pm on October 10 (Saturday) in the Cultural Activities Hall of Shatin Town Hall in which Chinese music lovers can experience a memorable musical journey.

Formed in 1989 under the Provisional Regional Council and Provisional Urban Council Music Office, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Plucked String Orchestra has been unique in its instrumentation including liuyeqin, pipa, yangqin, zheng, ruan, sanxian and bass instruments like gehu and digehu. Meanwhile, it has attained great proficiency in interpreting a variety of Chinese music through the expressive colours of the plucked string medium. Wind and percussion instruments are sometimes used to enrich the colour of music.

The orchestra has won plenty of applause for its outstanding performance. Records of performance include a guest appearance at the Singapore Civil Service Choir Concert in Hong Kong in 1992, a joint concert with the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall in 1994, a guest performance at the Closing Ceremony cum Concert of the 1995 Central and Western District Arts Festival, and a full concert each at the Cultural Activities Hall of Tuen Mun and the Theatre of Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre in 1996 and 1997. In addition, it has actively participated in the annual Music Office events such as the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Music Festival/ Interflow and Music Office Annual Gala.

Highlights of the concert include "Eight Scenes of Zhangan" and "The Colourful Plumage" by Yang Jieming, "Glimpses of Love" by Liu Xijin, "April" by Liu Xing, "The Drunken Tai Bai" by Law Wing-fai, "Night Song" by Law Wai-lun, "Camel Bells Ring" by Gu Guanren as well as "Japanese Folk Songs Medley" by Qu Chunquan. Conductors of the concert are Chan Man-chong, Chan Sam-lam and Loo Sze-wang.

Tickets at $40 and $60 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens and people with disabilities and up to 20% discount for group booking.

For enquiries, please call 2802 0657. Reservation can be made on 2734 9009. For more information, please visit the Music Office website at http://www.usd.gov.hk/musicoffice.

End/Thursday, September 24,1998

NNNN