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The Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra will collaborate with world-renowned cellist Chu Yi-bing and guest conductor Lio Kuokman for two concerts, titled "A Troika Concert - Cello Concerto by Yip Wai-hong" in June.
Under the baton of Lio, who has recently been appointed as assistant conductor of the United States' Philadelphia Orchestra, Chu and the orchestra will perform "Cello Concerto (2014 version)", which was written by the orchestra's music director, Dr Yip Wai-hong. The orchestra will also perform Beethoven's "Egmont" Overture and Copland's "Appalachian Spring".
Chu Yi-bing received his first training in cello from his father at the age of 8. He released his first solo album at 13, and at the age of 17 he entered the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in France, where he trained under Maurice Gendron. He graduated with a summa cum laude, which made him the first Chinese musician to win this honour. An award in the 1986 Concours International d'Exécution Musicale made him the first Chinese cellist to win in this competition. Chu was principal cellist with the Swiss Basel Symphony Orchestra for 15 years and at the same time was the guest principal cellist of Germany's Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.
Chu is currently professor and head of the Research Institute of Cello Music of the Orchestral Instruments Department at the Central Conservatory of Music of China. He is also director of the Chinese Musicians' Association and vice chairman of its Chamber Music Society, artistic director of the Guangxi Symphony Orchestra and principal guest artist of the China National Centre for the performing Arts Orchestra.
Founded by Dr Yip Wai-hong, the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra is a highly organised orchestra aimed at promoting music among the general public, especially the young generation in Hong Kong. In order to achieve its goal, the orchestra has given several hundred performances over the course of more than 30 years at Hong Kong City Hall, regional town halls and civic centres. A number of internationally famous conductors and soloists have been invited to perform with the orchestra. 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 has brought about an awareness of indigenous culture.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the concerts will be held at 7.30pm on June 1 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall and 2.30pm on June 2 (Monday) at the Auditorium of Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets ranging from $100 to $160 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card 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 CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for group booking packages.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_549.html . Ticketing enquiries can be made on 3761 6661 and telephone credit card booking on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, May 1, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:01
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