Over 800 musicians from the bands and orchestras of the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will perform at the "Sky in the Water" Joint Concerts of Music Office Bands and Orchestras to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Music Office. The concerts will be staged at 7.30pm on May 6 (Saturday) and 3pm on May 7 (Sunday) at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium Arena.
 
     "Sky in the Water", specially composed by Professor Richard Tsang for the 40th anniversary of the Music Office, will be presented at the concerts as a world premiere. The title is taken from an inspirational Buddhist poem written by a Song dynasty monk which celebrates the virtue of a simple life devoid of over-ambition and cravings for material success. Members of the bands, strings and orchestras will perform the piece together under the baton of Professor Tsang.
 
     The Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, Music Office Youth Brass Band, Hong Kong Children's Symphonic Band and Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band will showcase music pieces including Li Huanzhi's "Spring Festival Overture" and Balmages' "Moscow 1941". The groups will be conducted by Kevin Ling, Palas Chan, Au Wai-see and Lee Sing-wan.
 
     Under the baton of Dr Joseph Kam, the Island Youth Strings, Kowloon Youth Strings, New Territories Youth Strings and Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble will play an array of works, including Handel's "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba" and Smetana's themes from "The Moldau".
 
     A hundred erhu players will join the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra and Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra to perform exhilarating Chinese orchestral classics including the Tibetan folksong "The Golden Sun of Beijing" and Li Minxiong's "Flying Dragon and Jumping Tiger".
 
     Tickets priced at $40 and $60 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/activities/upcoming/sky-in-the-water.html.
 
     Other upcoming celebration programmes for the Music Office's 40th anniversary include Music Spectacular featuring orchestras from Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau; the "Passing on the Torch" concert series and a concert entitled "Elements of Percussion". Stay tuned for programme details, which you can follow at www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.

Ends/Thursday, April 6, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00

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