********************************************************
Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra will collaborate with award-winning young violinist Chen Xi and pianist Jimmy Chiang at a concert next month (May).
Under the baton of its music director Dr Yip Wai-hong, the orchestra will play Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture, and join Chen to perform Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto in D", one of the best known violin concertos that demands high technical competence. Chiang will conduct and perform Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 15 in B-flat".
Showing astonishing musical talent at an early age, Shenyang-born Chen Xi gave his debut performance when he was only eight. In 1995, he entered the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Since the age of 13, he has performed with leading orchestras on the Mainland, including the China Philharmonic Orchestra and China National Symphony Orchestra.
When he was 17, Chen won the Silver Medal at the 12th Tchaikovsky International Violin Competition in Moscow, making him the youngest top prize winner in the history of this competition.
Chen has performed extensively in the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and throughout the Mainland. In 2003, he entered the Curtis Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Joseph Silverstein. He now studies at Yale University with Hyo Kang.
Born in Hong Kong, Jimmy Chiang began his musical training at the age of four. Chiang has appeared on stage as a concert pianist since he was 13. He later received "Magister Artium" with distinction and the "Wurdigungspreis" from the University for Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. In 2007, Chiang won the first prize at the 4th International Competition of Young Conductors "Lovro von Matacic" in Zagreb, Croatia.
Chiang was appointed the musical assistant and conductor of many opera productions at the Schlosstheater Sch?nbrunn in Vienna from 2004 to 2006. He is now the Principal Guest Conductor of the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra. Starting from the next season, Chiang will join Theater Freiburg in Germany as Kapellmeister.
Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra is a highly organised orchestra aiming to promote music among the public, especially the younger generation, in Hong Kong. The orchestra has performed frequently with a number of internationally famous conductors and soloists in Hong Kong over the past 30 years. By using the idioms of popular music and organising concert talks, the orchestra has successfully introduced serious music and Chinese orchestral music to the public, and at the same time, raised awareness of the indigenous culture.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Concerto Rendezous" will be held at 8pm, May 17 (Sunday), at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $100, $150 and $200 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20% is offered for group booking schemes. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For enquiries about the programme, call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Monday, April 6, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:01
NNNN