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

Chinese dizi virtuoso Chan Hung-yin together with the Hong Kong Ling Nan Orchestra and the Hong Kong Juvenile and Youth Chinese Classical Orchestra perform in a concert namely "A Night of Dizi Music" to be staged on Sept 23 (Sunday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium at 8pm. They will feature popular tunes in Chinese music, including As the Swallow Spread Their Wings, A New Pastoral Song, Orchids in Spring, The Mountains Are Green, Happy News, The Story of the Old Worker, Sounds of Regret, Song of the Wayfarer and The Butterfly Lovers.

Chan Hung-yin is an outstanding dizi performer in Hong Kong. He started learning dizi from Chan Pin-ho at the age of ten. Graduated from the Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory at twenty-two under the tutelage of Chen Tianshou and Luo Decai, Chan also learnt the dizi artistry from master Zhao Songting and further carried out academic exchange with dizi performers Yu Xunfa, Jiang Guoji and Zhou Linsheng.

Settled in Hong Kong in 1979, Chan joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and has given frequent performances overseas. In 1989, Chan recorded a dizi concerto album and made compact discs with ten dizi featuring Butterfly Lovers causing a sensation in the music circles. In 1994, he gave dizi recitals in Hong Kong and China, enjoying great success. At the dizi concert "Orchids in Spring", Chan had the honor of performing with celebrated master Zhao Songting. At present, Chan is the dizi instructor at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Music Department of the Hong Kong Baptist University, City University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Music Institute. He is also the music advisor of various local Chinese orchestras and the Assistant Dizi Principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

Most of the Hong Kong Ling Nan Orchestra's members are graduates of the Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory, members of professional arts troupes in Guangdong and local Chinese music elites. The Orchestra aims at promoting Chinese folk music, especially those originated in Guangdong. Being an orchestra with a unique style, the Orchestra has won wide acclaim from the public and was praised by music critics as "reaching the acme of perfection", "possessing superb mastery of instruments" and "bringing forth refined and delicate expressions".

The Hong Kong Juvenile and Youth Chinese Classical Orchestra was founded in 1990 and aims at developing traditional Chinese culture, promoting Chinese music activities and nurturing a new generation of Chinese musicians. The repertoire of the Orchestra covers a wide spectrum from traditional Chinese music to newly composed and arranged works. In a span of some 10 years since its inception, the Orchestra has performed in different countries nearly 200 concerts to high acclaim, and has performed more than 100 works.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, tickets of "A Night of Dizi Music" priced at $150, $110 and $90 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients (Limited tickets for students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). A 10% discount is also available for Friends of LCSD performing venues.

Programme enquiries can be made on 2734 2935 while ticketing enquiries and reservations on 2734 9009.

End/ Friday, August 24, 2001

NNNN