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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Urban Council:

The "International Young Concert Artist Series", a Provisional Urban Council presentation that showcases the brilliant artistry of five international award-winning young Chinese musicians from overseas staged between July and September, will feature the highly talented cellist Qin Liwei in its third concert on August 20 (Friday) which will begin at 8 p.m. in the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.

Being the winner of the Silver Medal in the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow last year, Qin was described by Paul Cutts in the Strad Magazine as "the most gifted young cellist I have heard."

Born in Shanghai in 1976, Qin won First Prize in the junior section of the Chinese National Cello Competition before moving to Australia in 1989, where he won national awards including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's "Young Performer of the Year" in 1993.

He studied with Ralph Kirshbaum at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1995. He was awarded the gold medal and title "Commonwealth Musician of the Year" in the 1997 Royal Over-seas League Competition, and took the joint first prize in the second Adam International Cello Competition held in Christchurch, New Zealand in the same year.

Qin has given solo performances in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe. The many famous orchestras that he has performed with include Melbourne, Sydney Symphony Orchestras, Australian Chamber Orchestra, London Soloist Symphony Orchestra, State Symphony Orchestra of Russia and Warsaw Sinfonia. He has also performed under the baton of outstanding conductors such as Simone Young, Vernon Handley and Lord Menuhin. In 1997, he recorded a CD with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

In the coming concert, Qin will perform Sonata works by Beethoven, Debussy and Kodaly; Chopin's "Polonaise Brillante, Op.3" and Paganini's "Variation on One String on a Theme by Rossini". He will be accompanied on the piano by Lin Enpei.

Tickets prices for the concert are at $140 and $90, with half-price concessions for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. There will be a 10 per cent discount for each purchase of tickets for two performances; 15 per cent discount for tickets for three performances and a 20 per cent discount for tickets for four performances. Programme enquiries: 2734 2925; Reservations: 2734 9009.

End/Tuesday, July 13, 1999

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