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About 200 orchestras and bands from local primary and secondary schools will participate in the ¡§2009 Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows¡¨ from November 21 to January 1, 2010.
Organised annually by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the ¡§Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows¡¨ aims to provide a music exchange opportunity for local young musicians and enhance the standard of participating groups. It includes contests for Symphonic Bands, Symphony Orchestras, String Orchestras and Chinese Orchestras.
Seventy bands will compete in the Symphonic Band contest in five classes at the Auditorium of the Tuen Mun Town Hall on November 21 and 22, and at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium on December 26 and 27. The Gold Award winners of each class will vie for respective ¡§Grand Champion¡¨ titles in primary and secondary school categories at the Winners¡¦ Final on January 1, 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium. Young clarinetist Natalie Hoe and the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band will be the guest performers at the final.
The Symphony Orchestra contest with 25 orchestras will be held at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on November 28 in two sessions. Guest performing group Bassmen will present double bass ensemble in both sessions.
The String Orchestra contest with 35 orchestras will be staged at the Auditorium of the Tsuen Wan Town Hall on December 6. Violin soloist Lu Xi will be the guest performer of the competition.
Sixty-two orchestras will take part in the Chinese Orchestra contest to be held in three sessions at the Auditorium of the Tsuen Wan Town Hall on December 26 and 27. Renowned Zhonghu soloist, Hou Shihchieh, and the Music Office Instructors¡¦ Chinese Ensemble will perform in different sessions of the contest.
Tickets priced at $30 for Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra and String Orchestra Contests are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Tickets for the Chinese Orchestra Contest will be available from November 26 onwards. Half-price concessions are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
For programme enquiries, please call 2582 5334 or visit the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk and telephone reservations on 2734 9009.
Ends/Thursday, November 12, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:08
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