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Young musicians of the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Dr Yip Wai-hong and conductors Perry So and Grace Yu will present two concerts in April.
The concerts feature classical pieces Bruch "Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor, Op.26", Rachmaninov "Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, Op.18" and Tchaikovsky "Symphony No 5 in E minor, Op.64".
A 14-year-old pianist, Wong Wai-yin, who is one of the soloists in the concerts, has won many prizes both in Hong Kong and overseas. In April, 2007, she became the youngest Gold Medal winner in the Intermediate Group of the VII International Competition for Young Pianists in Memory of Vladimir Horowitz held in Ukraine. Other awards include First Prize at the 60th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales, UK; third prize at the 10th Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany; first prize at the Junior Group of the 3rd Asian Youth Music Competition in Shanghai; gold prize at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Japan; first prize at the Hong Kong regional competition of the Steinway and Sons International Youth Piano Competition; first prize of the Piano Concerto categories (both Romantic and Classical periods) in the Asia Piano Open Competition.
Wu Songao, another rising young star, began performing as a violin soloist when he was five. At the age of six, he won a Class One Award at the 8th Junior Arts Festival of Beijing and at the Junior Violin Competition of Beijing (Primary 1 and 2 Section), as well as the Performance Award for Chinese Works. Later, he won a gold award for Violin Majors (Children's Section) from all over China at the first selection exercise for budding performing artists in China; and was admitted to the primary school affiliated to the Central Conservatory, where he won an outstanding award for his major subject of study.
Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra, with the flourishing cultural development in Hong Kong, is a young force in the music field. Members, aged from seven to 16, are recruited under highly competitive open auditions. They have received training under the renowned local conductor Yip Wing-Sie. The orchestra has performed in many countries including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore.
Concerts by Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra, one of the attractions of the Family Fiesta 2008 presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged at 8pm on April 19 (Saturday) at the Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall; and at 3pm on April 20 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced from $80 to $150 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) For package purchase discount, please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
Ends/Monday, March 17, 2008
Issued at HKT 12:11
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