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Singapore ETO supports Asian Youth Orchestra's Hanoi concerts to foster cultural exchanges (with photos)
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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam.
      
     The tour runs from August 2 to 23, comprising 11 performances in nine cities, including Hanoi, Beijing, Hong Kong and Tokyo. This year's orchestra comprises about 100 young musicians from 13 countries and regions across Asia, namely the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Korea, etc.
      
     The first Hanoi concert was held at the Ho Guom Opera House yesterday evening (August 12). Under the baton of guest conductor John Axelrod and featuring pianist Stephan Xie, winner of the 2025 Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival, the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien", Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3" and Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5". The concert attracted an audience of about 700 and was well received.
      
     As part of its efforts to promote cultural exchanges and deepen Hong Kong's ties with Vietnam, the Singapore ETO invited the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr He Wei, and his wife, Ms Sun Chang, as well as representatives from the Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local business and cultural sectors, chambers of commerce and the Hong Kong community in Vietnam, to attend the concert.
      
     The Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, also attended the concert in Hanoi this evening to show her support for the AYO. She also met Hong Kong members of the orchestra to learn more about their participation in the tour and offered encouragement to the young musicians.
      
     Ms Hung said that the Singapore ETO was pleased to support the AYO in bringing its young musicians and music to audiences in Vietnam. The Hanoi concerts not only provide the young musicians with valuable opportunities to showcase their talent on an international stage, but also promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Vietnam through music.
      
     She added that Hong Kong, as an East-meets-West centre for international arts and cultural exchanges, has a vibrant arts and cultural scene with strong international connections. The Singapore ETO will continue to support Hong Kong artists and arts groups in reaching out to audiences in Southeast Asia and promote exchanges and collaboration between Hong Kong and the region.
      
     The AYO will stage its second concert at the Ho Guom Opera House today (August 13), under the baton of its Principal Conductor, Joseph Bastian, and will feature pianist Anna Tsybuleva.
      
     Founded in Hong Kong, the AYO brings together outstanding young musicians from across Asia through auditions. Each summer, members of the orchestra undergo an intensive period of rehearsals and training before embarking on an international concert tour, performing under distinguished conductors and alongside renowned soloists. Since its inaugural concerts in 1990, the AYO has performed extensively in Asia and beyond and has played an important role in nurturing young musical talent and fostering cultural exchange through music.
 
Ends/Thursday, August 13, 2026
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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. The first Hanoi concert was held at the Ho Guom Opera House yesterday evening (August 12). Under the baton of guest conductor John Axelrod and featuring pianist Stephan Xie, winner of the 2025 Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival, the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien", Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3" and Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5". The concert attracted an audience of about 700 and was well received. Photo shows the first Hanoi concert.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. The first Hanoi concert was held at the Ho Guom Opera House yesterday evening (August 12). Under the baton of guest conductor John Axelrod and featuring pianist Stephan Xie, winner of the 2025 Tianjin Juilliard Piano Festival, the orchestra performed Tchaikovsky's "Capriccio Italien", Prokofiev's "Piano Concerto No. 3" and Shostakovich's "Symphony No. 5". The concert attracted an audience of about 700 and was well received. Photo shows the first Hanoi concert.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. The Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, also attended the concert in Hanoi yesterday evening to show her support for the AYO. Photo shows Ms Hung (first left) meeting the Hong Kong members of the orchestra to learn more about their participation in the tour and offered encouragement to the young musicians. She said that the Singapore ETO was pleased to support the AYO in bringing its young musicians and music to audiences in Vietnam. The Hanoi concerts not only provide the young musicians with valuable opportunities to showcase their talent on an international stage, but also promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between Hong Kong and Vietnam through music.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. The Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung, also attended the concert in Hanoi yesterday evening to show her support for the AYO. Photo shows Ms Hung (fifth left), the Chief Executive Officer of AYO, Mr Keith Lau (sixth left), and the Hong Kong members of the orchestra.
The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore (Singapore ETO) is sponsoring and supporting the Asian Youth Orchestra in presenting two concerts in Hanoi, Vietnam on August 12 and 13 as part of its 2026 Asian Concert Tour. The goal is to foster cultural exchanges and deepen people-to-people ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam. The Singapore ETO invited the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr He Wei, and his wife, Ms Sun Chang, as well as representatives from the Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the local business and cultural sectors, chambers of commerce and the Hong Kong community in Vietnam, to attend the concert. Photo shows Mr He (centre), Ms Sun (left) and the Director of the Singapore ETO, Ms Elsa Hung (right), in a group picture after the first Hanoi concert.