HKAPA is committed to providing platforms for young talent to engage with the world. Its six Schools of Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts, champion expertise in their respective fields while also encouraging cross-discipline skills, breadth and diversity. Six students from different cities with different specialities share their journeys of learning and application.
Guo Shangkun: Master of Every Role
Guo Shangkun hails from the port city of Zhanjiang, which has a thriving culture of Cantonese opera. He learnt Cantonese opera from a young age, but it wasn't until he was working that he realised there was still a world of knowledge and know-how he hadn't mastered. He felt it imperative to further his studies.
Four years ago, Shangkun was accepted into the Academy, with outstanding grades. But the Covid-19 pandemic was raging, so he was stuck in quarantine while classes were conducted online. "A month later, I was able to attend classes in person," he recalls. "It was precious, and such a pleasure to practise alongside my classmates. Though it was tough, it gave me tremendous joy."
In 2023, Shangkun was chosen to play the male lead in the Academy production of Forty Years of Cherished Love. He was worried both about his singing and about portraying an elderly character, because his forte had always been martial roles. But thanks to his teachers, Shangkun was able to excel. "I suffered from serious insomnia before the performance," he admits. "When I heard the audience applauding, I choked up. It showed me I can play a character type beyond what I was used to. My hard work was rewarded."
Clara Neisha Calysta: Sharing the Beauty of Dance
Clara fell in love with dance as a child in her home in Bandung, Indonesia, inspired by her mother, a ballet teacher. She loved modern dance above all. Three years ago, while looking for a school to study modern dance, she was drawn to the Academy's internationally renowned faculty and world-class facilities.
"The excellent lecturers and visiting artists at the Academy have given me so much confidence and opened so many doors," she states. "They have shaped me into an artist." She believes the diverse backgrounds and cultures of the faculty and student body are conducive to mutual inspiration and learning.
Last year, Clara had the opportunity to perform in When Things Fall Apart, a performance choreographed by the artist-in-residence Sharon Vazanna. "The nurturing and secure environment at the school emboldens us to step out of our comfort zone and tackle challenges on our artistic journey," Clara explains. She hopes to become a multifaceted dancer who can share the passion she feels for her art. "I want to scale more artistic heights and contribute to the world of performing arts," she says.
Cai Junhao: Passion and Pain
Directing major Cai Junhao was born in Shenzhen who applied to the Academy based on a friend's recommendation. "During the two rounds of selection, I could tell the teachers were trying to tap into our personalities," he recalls. "When one receives affirmation and respect from one's environment, art naturally flows and grows."
Junhao describes the learning process as joy and hardship in equal measure. During a small-group project for his Applied Theatre class last year, he revealed the long-held secret of a close friend's suicide, turning the painful experience into a script. At a directing workshop two months later, he laboured over a rewrite of the draft. "For a week, I beat my brains out, reinventing the script," he says. Fortunately, the actors had the stamina and passion to see it through. He felt "blessed and thankful", finding moments of joy even in rough patches. Looking ahead, Junhao hopes to create a genuine but possibly "imperfect" play. He vows to pour himself into the work, and for once, play himself.
Marina Bobyleva: Venturing Beyond Her Comfort Zone
Born in Moscow, Marina harbours the dream of becoming a film director. After graduating from the Moscow State University of Printing Arts, she worked in art and design before last year enrolling in master's degree studies at the Academy's School of Film and Television.
Marina was seeking to expand her repertoire and change professions. She was also looking for an institution where she could study in English. "I had always been interested in filmmaking, and was looking to join the film industry after graduation," she says. "Hong Kong has a world-renowned film industry. It's also one of very few places in Asia where I can study in English." Four months in, Marina was already testing her mettle. "We learnt how to make short films and tried different roles," she notes. "The process was fascinating and challenging." Her greatest obstacle is language, but she feels part of her education is also the process of learning to communicate with her classmates. "The great thing about learning is being pushed out of your comfort zone!"
Aphichat Dechasophon: Passing on the Flame
Now a master's degree student at the School of Music, Aphichat was born in Bangkok. When he heard the bassoon for the first time 12 years ago, he was mesmerised. While learning the instrument, he befriended several wind-instrument tutors and students from the Academy. One of the graduates founded a bassoon ensemble. "I became interested in the Academy after attending their performance," he explains.
His most memorable experience since joining the Academy has been learning from the chamber-music teachers. "They are exceptional musicians with great depth of knowledge," he says. "They have taught me a lot." Aphichat longs to pass on his skills and knowledge to the next generation by becoming an orchestra or chamber-music teacher.
Recently, he and three classmates performed instrumental solos with the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra. "It was my first time on stage with an orchestra," he notes. "I played Hayden's Sinfonia Concertante in B-flat Major. It was very special indeed." Equally memorable was the graduation concert last May, which he describes as "challenging" in terms of preparation but just as "rewarding" in execution.
Tam Nga-cheng: An Ideal Life of Learning
Macau native Tam Nga-cheng enrolled in the youth performance course of the Macao Conservatory as a secondary-school student. Her teacher Vong Tin-ian is an Academy's graduate. At Vong's recommendation, she joined a theatre group where she grew interested in lighting design. She subsequently applied to the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts.
"My major Media Scenography uses sound, lighting, video and digital technologies to reinvent contemporary theatre and explore modes of media-centred performance," she explains. "It's the best option for me, given the current direction of artistic and technological development in performing arts."
The School's productions are a real test of mental and physical strength for the students. Having grown up in relatively laid-back Macau, Nga-cheng admits she needed time to adjust. "Working on a big project with other students heightens the sense of achievement," she says. "It's why I love theatre." Now that she's about to be a sophomore, Nga-cheng says she needs to work on her technique. "My long-term objective is to master various software and technologies," she says. "After that, I can focus on creation and application using the Academy's various platforms."