***********************************************************
Over 200 orchestras and bands from primary and secondary schools will participate in the "2011 Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows" from November 22 to December 14.
Organised annually by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "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, Chinese orchestras, string orchestras and symphony orchestras. The competition this year has been well received with a high number of participating teams from schools within the territory.
Sixty-nine bands will compete in the Symphonic Band Contest in five classes at the Arena of Queen Elizabeth Stadium from November 22 to 25. The Gold Award winners of each class will vie for Grand Champion titles in the primary and secondary school categories at the Winners' Final on November 26. Internationally renowned French saxophonist Fabrice Moretti will perform with the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band in the final.
Sixty-three orchestras will take part in the Chinese Orchestra Contest to be held in five classes at the Auditorium of Tuen Mun Town Hall from November 29 to December 1. Highly acclaimed Chinese Yangqin soloist Wang Wenli and the Music Office Instructors' Chinese Music Ensemble will perform in three sessions of the contest.
There will be 38 teams in the String Orchestra Contest. The school competitions will be held at the Auditorium of Yuen Long Theatre on December 7 and 8 in four sessions. Violist Felix Ungar and pianist Cherry Tsang of Ars Nova will perform in one of the competition sessions.
Forty-three orchestras will take part in the Symphony Orchestra Contest to be held in four sessions at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall on December 13 and 14. A chamber music group, the Hong Kong Piano Trio, formed by three enthusiastic musicians, will perform in one of the competition sessions.
Tickets priced at $40 for the Symphonic Band Contest, Chinese Orchestra Contest and String Orchestra Contest are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Tickets for the Symphony Orchestra Contest will be available from November 13 onwards. Half-price concessions are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
For credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. Internet booking is available at www.urbtix.hk. For programme enquiries, please call 2582 5334 or visit the website
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/MusicOffice/en/events_2011_10_07.php.
Ends/Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Issued at HKT 13:05
NNNN
