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Six members of the Hong Kong Composers' Guild will host a series of lectures titled "Sharing Lectures by Hong Kong Composers II" in April and May. Demonstration performances by local musicians will supplement some of the lectures.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the lectures, which will be conducted in Cantonese, will take place at 7.30pm at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum. Details are as follows:
April 9 (Wednesday)
Topic: "In Search of Resonance between Different Times"
Speaker: Hui Cheung-wai
Performers: Tse Chun-yan (guqin) and Ho Pak-cheong (harmonica)
More than 170 of Hui Cheung-wai's compositions have been performed in the past three decades. His works, which range in style from cutting-edge modernistic to lyrical, have been performed internationally, while world-class musicians including Sigmund Groven and the Arditti Quartet have interpreted Hui's works in concert. His use of the guqin in harmonica and guitar pieces also shows the potential for ancient and contemporary musical instruments to bond creatively.
April 16 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Aspirations: In Search of Identity and Expression in Contemporary Music Composition"
Speaker: Ng Chun-hoi
Performers: Joanna Leung (soprano) and Gary Tong (piano)
With a diverse background of musical experiences from Chaozhou music and folk rock to Western classical music, Ng Chun-hoi has developed his talent for contemporary music composition. A graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong as well as the University of Hong Kong, he also undertook research in Chinese music and teacher education and obtained a doctoral degree from the University of New South Wales in Australia. He has taught music courses at the Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts. He is currently dean of the Hong Kong Music Institute, where he also teaches composition, music theory and Chinese music history.
April 23 (Wednesday)
Topic: "A Classical Approach to Contemporary Choral Writing"
Speaker: Victor Chan
Active in promoting contemporary music, Victor Chan has produced over 200 works to date ranging from opera and orchestral works to chamber works, choral pieces and songs. His major works include commissions for the 1997 reunification, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Radio France, the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Chan also served as vice-chairman of the Hong Kong Composers' Guild for 12 consecutive years since 1993. From 1997 to 2000 he was composer-in-residence for the Hong Kong Philharmonic and in 1998 his talent was recognised by a Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award. Chan entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1989, later becoming dean of general education at Chung Chi College where he now serves as professor in the music department, director of its master of art programme and associate head of the college.
April 30 (Wednesday)
Topic: "In Search of Cultural Identity in Music Composition"
Speaker: Lai Sheung-ping
Performer: Barry Lee (piano)
Lai Sheung-ping currently teaches at the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Her music covers a wide variety of genres and styles including Western and Chinese instrumental music, electronic music, theatrical music, jazz and pop songs.
May 7 (Wednesday)
Topic: "Writing for Wind Ensemble"
Speaker: Lo Hau-man
Lo Hau-man graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in horn and composition. He received his doctor of music in composition from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he studied with Law Wing-fai, David Gwilt and Chan Wing-wah. He has written music for various media including dance, drama, multi-media performances, chamber music, orchestral music, opera, jingles and popular songs. His works have been performed in various countries worldwide. Lo now teaches at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and is vice chairman of the Hong Kong Composers' Guild.
May 14 (Wednesday)
Topic: "New Music is also Beautiful"
Speaker: Joshua Chan
Performers: Joshua Chan (violin/erhu), Adrian Lam (piano), Letty Poon (cello)
Joshua Chan has written 190 compositions and arrangements in diverse styles for various media including orchestral, chamber, Chinese music and theatre. He is associate professor at the Department of Music at the University of Hong Kong where he has taught since 1995.
Tickets for the "Sharing Lectures by Hong Kong Composers II" talk series, priced at $50 for each talk, are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for group booking packages.
For enquiries on the talks, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_485.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone booking on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Sunday, March 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 12:01
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