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Renowned local tenor, Owen Wong, will bring Chinese music lovers memorable evenings with numerous Chinese art songs and folksongs in September.

Programme of the concert includes large varieties of Chinese Art songs and folk songs. Apart from the folk songs of various provinces such as "The Love song of Kangding", "Jasmine", "Sha-Li-Hung-ba", "The Flower Drum of Fengyang", etc, there will be songs derived from Chinese poems including the "Flowers but Not", "Lovesickness Seeds", "Rarely", and many more.

Owen Wong, born in Hong Kong, has a varied background in music training. He graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the University of Wales, Bangor in the United Kingdom with his Master Degree of Arts in Music. He has been active on the local performing scene for several years and given solo recitals at numerous cultural venues in Hong Kong presenting Italian arie antiche, German lieder, French melodies, British early music and contemporary vocal music, Chinese art songs and folksongs, sacred music and songs from musicals.

Wong sang in the "Yellow River Cantata" with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 1995 and made his first appearance as actor in theatrical production "The Prince" in February 2001. Wong also served as a singing coach in local musicals and dramas including "The West Side Story", "Guys and Dolls", "Ricky My Love", "Pygmalion", "The Lover and A Sentimental Journey", etc. In July, he was invited as the singing instructor in the musical summer camp organised by the Run Run Shaw Hall of The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Stephen Wong, piano accompanist of the concert, won the highest marks in LRSM Piano Performance in 1985 in Asia and was awarded scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music (London). He has performed in numerous recitals in Hong Kong and overseas and made regular performances in San Francisco with the collaboration of Andrew Chan (violin) and Stephane Chan (soprano). This trio has also performed extensively in Canada and made frequent recordings for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In Hong Kong, he has performed with many local musicians including pianists Hui Ling, Josephine Cheung, Margaret Lynn, singers Francesca Chan, Owen Wong, Nancy Yuen and clarietist Martin Choy. He also serves as the speaker in numerous music lectures organised by the SPACE of The University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong International Institute of Music.

Vocal Recital by Owen Wong "An Evening of Chinese Art Songs and Folksongs", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged on September 15 at Tsuen Wan Town Hall, September 21 at Tuen Mun Town Hall and September 30 at Sha Tin Town Hall. Ticket priced at $90 for all are now available at all URBTIX outlets with half price concessions for senior citizens, full-time students, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first come, first served basis.

For programme details, please call 2734 2935; for ticketing enquiries and telephone reservations, please call 2734 9009.

End/Wednesday, August 15, 2001

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