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More than 900 young musicians will perform in two "2008 Music Office Annual Gala" concerts on March 23 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Music Office.
The concerts will be held at 3pm and 8pm on Sunday, March 23, at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
The musicians are current trainees and elite alumni from the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Music Office Combined Symphonic Band, Hong Kong Youth Strings, Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra and Music Office Choirs.
Former training instructors will also take part in the gala, including the Music Office's first Assistant Music Administrator (Professional), Thomas Wang and the first Senior Music Officer (Wind), John Cheng, who will be the guest conductors.
Under the baton of Angelina Au, Ho Man-chuen, Linde Lee, Ng Ka-ming, Pak Wing-heng and Tsui Ying-fai together with the two guest conductors, the musicians will showcase a spectacular rendition of Chinese and Western music. Guest percussionists, Lung Heung-wing and his son Mark Lung, will also perform.
Programme highlights include new arrangement by John Cheng on Brahms' "Academic Festival Overture" and Joseph Koo's "Music for the Millions"; lively melodic pieces: Zhao Jiping's "Celebration Overture", Zhu Xiaogu's "Joyful Celebration", Mau Yue's "Joy of Spring", Dvorak's "Three Slavonic Dances", Turner's "Tequila Samba", Gu Guanren's "Landscape of the Yili River", Yan Huichang's "The Sound of Water" and Zhu Chongyao's "Sketches of River Village".
Other programmes include John Chen's percussion concerto "Earth from I am from Earth (Double Percussion Concerto)", Van McCoy's "African Symphony", hymn and religious pieces: Mozart's "Gloria, from Mass in C major Coronation K.317", Childs' "Lord's Prayer", Rutter's "A Clare Benediction", Handel's "Hallelujah, from Messiah" and Pachelbel's "Kanon in D"; music depicting passion of life: Liszt's "Les Preludes" and Ng Cheuk-yin's "I am Singing the Sounds of the World".
Tickets priced at $60 and $40 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions are available to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
For programme enquiries, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice. Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk and telephone reservations on 2734 9009.
Ends/Saturday, March 8, 2008
Issued at HKT 09:00
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