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The Wright State University Chamber Orchestra from the US and Shoyo High School Symphonic Band from Kagoshima, Japan will play with the Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble and the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band of the Music Office in a series of concerts in December.
The first International Music Exchange Concert will be performed by Wright State University Chamber Orchestra and the Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble at 8pm on December 10 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Conductors are Dr Jackson Leung, the Director of Wright State University Chamber Orchestra, and Music Office instructor Dr Joseph Kam.
The next concert, to be performed by Shoyo High School Symphonic Band and Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, will be held at 8pm on December 17 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of the Tsuen Wan Town Hall.
Shoyo High School Symphonic Band instructor Junya Tateishi and Music Office instructor Pak Wing-heng will conduct the concert.
Wright State University Chamber Orchestra will perform a number of classics, including Mozart's Overture to "The Abduction from the Seraglio", Astor Piazzolla's "Tangazo" and Beethoven's "Symphony no. 7 in A Major". The Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble will perform Grieg's "Holberg Suite, Op.40".
Not to be missed are "Night Party" by He Lu-ding and "Slavonic Dance, Op. 46, No. 8 in G minor" by Dvorak, to be jointly presented by the two performing groups. Winners in the secondary and the primary schools sections of the 2006 Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows - Symphony Orchestra Contest will also perform their winning pieces in the concert.
The Chamber Orchestra has been Wright State University's premier orchestra for over a decade. The orchestra has performed in concerts statewide and also throughout the Miami Valley. It has collaborated with many eminent artists, including the world-renowned Beaux Art Trio pianist Menahem Pressler.
Established in 2000, the Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble has 72 members aged eight to 14. The ensemble has participated in many Music Office's activities, including the "Youth Music Extravaganza" and "Music Office Spectacular".
The Shoyo High School Symphonic Band and the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band will present Mozart's Overture to "Marriage of Figaro", selections from "The Merry Widow" arranged by Eiji Suzuki, selections from J. Strauss's "Die Fledermaus" and Amano Masamicz's "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star" Variations. The two Bands will jointly present Kumioka Youichi's "In Autumn Skies".
Since its establishment in 1983, the Shoyo High School Symphonic Band has won gold medals in many competitions in Kagoshima prefecture. In 2004, the band won the 52nd Japan Brass Band Competition and it was the first time a Kagoshima representative had won a gold medal in the national competition.
Formed in 1978, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band has performed with a number of distinguished guest musicians and bands both in Hong Kong and overseas, among them the Central Band of the United Kingdom, the Royal Air Force, the Tanunda Band of Australia and the Baden-Wurtternberg Youth Wind Ensemble from Germany.
The International Music Exchange Concerts are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $40 and $20 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessions are available to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk and telephone reservations on 2734 9009. For programme enquiries, please call 2598 8335 or 2582 5264 or visit the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.
Ends/Friday, November 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:00
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