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Four promising young musicians, namely Doris Lee, Lio Kuok-man, Chan Yi-mei and Lio Kuok-wai, will join hands with Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. Yip Wai-hong, to perform in the forthcoming concerts "An Evening of Popular Classics and Movie Music " to be held at 8pm on May 12 (Sunday) at the Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium, May 18 (Saturday) at the Yuen Long Theatre Auditorium and June 1 (Saturday) at the Kwai Tsing Theatre Auditorium respectively.

The concerts will feature Rossini's "Overture to the Barber of Seville", Vitali's "Chaconne in G Minor" and Sarasate's "Introduction and Tarantella, Op. 43", as well as three piano concerto movements, namely Saint-Saens' "Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op.22, 1st Movement" (On May 12 only), Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 19 in F, K. 459, 1st Movement" (on May 18 only) and Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15, 1st Movement" (on June 1 only). A series of movie music and excerpts from Broadway musicals will also be featured in the concerts, including highlights from "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by D. Cross & G. Cory, highlights from "Oklahoma" by R. Rodgers, theme from "The Apartment" by C. Williams, "I Want to Hold your Hand" by J. Lennon & P. McCartney, "My Way" by J. Reavaux & C. Francois, "Hooked on Classics" arranged by L. Clark & J. H. Burden and "Star Wars" by J. Williams.

A 15-year-old form three student of the Diocesan Girls' School, Doris Lee began her violin studies at the age of five under the teaching of Li Wing-shun, Ho Hong-ying and Professor Lin Yaoji of the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing. Over the past five years, Lee has won numerous awards in solo performance competitions and concerto sections of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. This year, she is the second runner-up of "Miss Barbara Fei Instrumental Scholarship". Since 1996, she has on several occasions performed with the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra and has won critical acclaim. In 2000, she was awarded an Advanced Certificate in Violin with distinction by the Royal Schools of Music in England. She was awarded the Diploma of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music last month. She was the concertmaster of the Diocesan Girls' Junior School Orchestra and String Orchestra and is currently a member of the Diocesan Girls' School Orchestra, the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra and the Yip's Violin Class for the Talented. Recently, she won the first prize in the Junior Group Strings Section of the First TOYAMA Asian Youth Music Competition.

Lio Kuok-man was born in Macau in 1981. He started playing the piano at the age of five and at the age of nine, he studied under Lilik Sutiono Cheung. In 1996, Lio was awarded the Oriental Foundation Scholarship to further his studies with Gabriel Kwok, Head of Keyboard Studies at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has participated in master classes given by Dmitri Bashkirov, Einar Steen-Nokleberg and Bernard Ringeissen at the Salzburg Mozarteum Summer Course and with Alexander Satz at the Vienna Master Course. Lio has won many prizes at the youth music festivals in Macau. In 1999, he was awarded the fourth prize at the 10th Hong Kong Open Asian Piano Competition. This year, Lio won the first prize in the Senior Group Pianoforte Section of the First TOYAMA Asian Youth Music Competition. He has appeared with the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra and Macau Police Wind Ensemble. In 2000, he performed the "Yellow River" Piano Concerto with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Macau Chamber Orchestra in the ceremony of the 1st anniversary commemorating the establishment of the Macau Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. He will be the pianist in Saint-Saens' "Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op.22, 1st Movement" on May 12.

Chan Yi-mei was born in Hong Kong in 1991. She studied piano with Professor You Dachun at the age of four. In 2000, she began her studies with Gabriel Kwok, Head of Keyboard Studies at the Junior School of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 2001, she was awarded third prize of the Junior Exhibitioner Award at the 53rd Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. In the same year, she won the first prize in the 65th Steinway Youth Piano Competition Hong Kong Group B section. In 2002, she won first prize in the Children Group Pianoforte Section of the First TOYAMA Asian Youth Music Competition. She will be the solo pianist in Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 19 in F, K. 459, 1st Movement" on May 18.

Lio Kuok-wai was born in Macau in 1989. He began his piano studies with Lilik Sutiono Cheung at the age of five and winning many prizes in the Macau youth competitions. In 1997, he began his studies with Wang Nan and, since 2000, he has been studying with Gabriel Kwok, Head of Keyboard Studies at the Junior School of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 1999, he came first at the Hong Kong section of the 10th Hong Kong Open Piano Competition and was awarded second prize in the overall final. In 2001, he won the first prize in the 65th Steinway Youth Piano Competition Hong Kong Group C section. This year, Lio won the first prize in the Junior Group Pianoforte Section of the First TOYAMA Asian Youth Music Competition. Lio has played with the Macau Chamber Orchestra and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra at the opening concert of the 11th Macau Festival. He has also performed piano duet with the outstanding Chinese pianist Kong Xiangdong. He will be featured as soloist in Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15, 1st Movement" on June 1.

Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra is a highly organized amateur orchestra founded by Dr. Yip Wai-hong, the music director and conductor, since 1976. The Orchestra is aiming at promoting music among the general public especially the young generation in Hong Kong. The Orchestra has performed in many cultural venues a few hundred times over the past twenty years. A number of internationally famous conductors and soloists have been invited to perform with it. By using the idioms of popular music and organizing concert talks, the Orchestra has successfully introduced serious music and Chinese orchestral music to the public, and increased the public's awareness of the indigenous culture.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, tickets priced at $100, $80 and $60 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistant recipients (Limited student and CSSA tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount is also available for Friends of LCSD performing venues.

In addition, a VIP Box and Lounge package is also available for private gathering while enjoying the Sha Tin Town Hall's performance. The patrons who have bought the package of VIP Box and Lounge can enjoy their own receptions and entertainment at the Lounge in private. Interested parties of the above packages are advised to check the details at 2268 7234.

Programme enquiries can be made on 2268 7321 or website www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp; ticketing enquiries and reservation can be made on 2734 9009 while internet booking at www.urbtix.gov.hk.

End/Wednesday, April 17, 2002

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