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The Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra will present "Brass Music in a Nutshell", part of its Educational Concert Series, next month.

The concerts are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and will take place on January 16 (Friday) at 8pm at the Theatre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre; January 17 (Saturday) at 8pm at the Theatre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre; and January 18 (Sunday) at 3pm at the Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre.

The orchestra's music director, Dr Yip Wai-hong, will be conductor and narrator. The soloists are Ng King-chuen (trumpet), Wong Kin (horn), Fong Man-lung (horn), Lee Ka-cheong (trombone) and Chan Kin-pang (tuba).

Dr Yip will showcase numerous works for brass. He will also explain in Cantonese the characteristics of each brass instrument and elaborate on the differences between various orchestras.

The programme includes Bergsma's March with Trumpets, Grondahl's Trombone Concerto, Dittersdorf's Sinfonia Concertante for Double Bass & Viola, Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Horns in F (3rd Movement), Dennison's Lyric Piece and Rondo for Tuba and String Orchestra and Haydn's Trumpet Concerto in E-flat (1st Movement and Excepts from 3rd Movement).

Ng King-chuen graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in trumpet with Brian Thomson and Stuart Essenhigh. He has participated in many musical activities in England, Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. In 1997, he performed as a member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. Ng is principal trumpet of Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra and the Pan Asia Symphony and concertmaster of the CityBrass.

Wong Kin entered The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where he majored in horn performance and studied under Lori Amada and Jonathan Eddie. In 1995 and 1996, he was a member of Asian Youth Orchestra and joined concert tours of the US and Asia. In 1999, he was the second horn of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra, touring Europe with the group. This year, he was invited by the Macao Chamber Orchestra to be second horn in many concerts.

Fong Man-lung entered The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 1990, majoring in horn performance and studying under Ranier C. De Intinis and Lori Amada. After his graduation from the diploma and advanced diploma programmes, he joined the Kaohsiung City Symphony Orchestra. He taught in schools and music institutes in Kaohsiung and formed the Philharmonic Brass Ensemble there. After his return to Hong Kong, he joined the Hong Kong Sinfonietta as assistant horn player. He is the chairman of CityBrass.

Lee Ka-cheong graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a Bachelor of Music degree achieved under the tutelage of Joesph Alessi and Christian Lindberg. In 1995, Lee was a member of Academy Brass Quintet (The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts) and took part in the Hong Kong Festival held in England. He is trombone player and secretary of CityBrass.

Chan Kin-pang started euphonium lessons at the age of 12 and shifted to tuba one year later. In 1998, he continued his studies at the Hong Kong Baptist University with Lam Wing-tsan, the principal tuba of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and obtained the Advanced Certificate from the Royal Schools of Music with distinction. He now plays tuba with the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets priced at $80 and $50 for Ngai Chi Wan Civic Centre and Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre; $100, $80 and $50 for Yuen Long Theatre are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount is offered to Friends of LCSD performing venues.

For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321, and for ticketing enquiries and reservations call 2734 9009. Internet booking of tickets is available at www.urbtix.gov.hk. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.

Ends/Thursday, December 18, 2003

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