******************************************************
Aristo Sham and Wong Wai-yin, the winner and the second runner-up in category A of this year's Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists, will give a recital together next month.
The piano duet will be staged at 8pm, December 27 (Wednesday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall.
Sham won the first prize in category A (under age 15) and the Barenreiter Urtext Prizes - special prize of the 10th Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Germany, beating 116 contestants from 45 countries. The competition, one of the most important international piano competitions for young pianists, was a milestone for him in his music career.
Aristo Sham was born in Hong Kong and is currently studying at Diocesan Boys' School. The 10-year-old started playing piano at three, and was admitted to the Junior Music Programme of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2002. Studying with Professor Eleanor Wong, he is completing a double major in Piano, Composition and Computer Music Technology.
Sham has won a number of international prizes, including the gold prize in the 6th Chopin International Competition in Asia (Japan); the championship in Group A of the 69th Steinway International Children & Youth Piano Competition (China Regional final) in Beijing; and the championship in the Mozart Sonata group of the 3rd Asian Youth Music Competition held in Shanghai.
He performed as a soloist with the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra in 2004, and in the summer of 2005, he toured with the Junior Chamber Orchestra of the Academy for Performing Arts to Shanghai and Hangzhou, playing a Mozart Concerto.
Wong Wai-yin, 13, was admitted to the Junior Music Programme of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and trained under Hui Ling when she was five and is currently being trained under Gabriel Kwok, Head of the Keyboard Department of the Academy.
Wong has given solo recitals in Guangzhou, as well as being invited to go on tour with the Hong Kong Children's Symphony Orchestra to Singapore and Malaysia as featured soloist, on which occasion she performed The Yellow River Concerto to critical acclaim.
Apart from music, Wong also frequently triumphs at the Hong Kong Schools Speech Festival, winning prizes in recitation in Putonghua, Cantonese and English. She was also named one of the "Ten Most Outstanding Students" in 2002. She was presented with a "Certificate of Commendation" by the Secretary for Home Affairs for her outstanding achievements in the promotion of arts and culture in Hong Kong this year.
"Piano Recital by Aristo Sham & Wong Wai-yin" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Tickets priced at $200, $150 and $100 will be available next Monday (November 27) onwards at URBTIX outlets, while senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount applies to Friends of LCSD performing venues.
For enquiries about the programmes, call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Friday, November 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:42
NNNN
