Today, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) announce the musicians selected for The Orchestra Academy Hong Kong (TOA)’s two schemes in its second season. TOA welcomes the five new Fellows to the Fellowship Programme* and is pleased to continue the engagements of the 19 outstanding Young Pro Platform (YPP)^ players in the 2022/23 Season (details of new Fellows and YPP players are listed on P.2).
Co-directed by the School of Music of the HKAPA and the HK Phil, TOA provides professional training for distinguished HKAPA Music graduates and facilitates their career development in the orchestral field through its two schemes - Fellowship Programme and YPP. Those who are admitted to TOA will also contribute their talents to serving the community through volunteering opportunities. TOA is funded by “TrustTomorrow” of The Swire Group Charitable Trust (Swire Trust) with a pledged sponsorship of approximately HK$9 million over a 3-year period.
The 2021/22 Season saw the success of the first cohort of the Fellowship Programme. Six Fellows enjoyed a fruitful journey of learning and sharing despite the intermittent disturbance caused by COVID-19. They gained valuable orchestral experiences from playing amid professional musicians under the baton of world-class conductors in a variety of programmes. In addition, the mentorship scheme provided practical and career guidance to the Fellows based on their individual needs.
“We are proud of the TOA Fellows, who have not only made good progress in their professional development but also enjoyed opportunities to serve young people and underprivileged groups with their musical talent. They embody TrustTomorrow’s spirit of bringing hope and positive impact to the community, and we look forward to empowering more home-grown musicians to reach their full potential,” said Tina Chan, Group Head of Philanthropy at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited.
“I am glad to witness the impressive growth of the Fellows over the season. Sharing the stage with the younger generation in regular rehearsals and performances, we assume the duty of passing on musical excellence for the future,” said Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of the HK Phil.
YPP also embarked on a thrilling adventure in the 2021/22 Season. The inaugural concert in June 2022, Eroica Reimagined making use of theatrical elements received critical acclaim from music critic Oliver Chou, “highly innovative, the interlacing performance of the classics of Adams and Beethoven displays the beauty of classical and modern.” To commence the 2022/23 Season, YPP players will return to The Box at Freespace in December 2022 to present a creative, cross-media exploration with renowned director Roy Szeto.
“Collaborating with artists from different disciplines has been an inspiring process, not only to find new ways to present classical music, but also to ignite musicians’ spirit and unleash their potential to the fullest,” said Sharon Andrea Choa, Artistic Director of YPP and Head of Conducting and Cultural Leadership (Music) of HKAPA.
TOA members act as a prism reflecting the many facets of music. On the one hand, they absorb professional training. On the other, they spread music experiences to the community. Each member contributes at least 40 hours of volunteering every year, enhancing music accessibility and creating shared music experiences with the community through a variety of musical events.
Selected musicians for The Orchestra Academy Hong Kong (2022/23 Season)
Fellowship Programme:
About the Fellows, please click here
| Instrument | Name |
| Viola | Winnie Yiu Wing-yue |
| Cello | Vincent Leung Cheuk-yan |
| Oboe | Holly Ao Ho-i |
| Clarinet | Ryan Wan |
| Trombone | Jimmy Chiu Hon-kuen |
Young Pro Platform:
About the players, please click here
| Instrument | Name |
| Violin | Calvin Cheng Ho-chung |
| Viola | Martin Kuo |
| Cello | Shawn Tam |
| Double Bass | Yvonne Chan Yui-woon |
Flute
| Angus Lee Yi-wei |
| Alice Hui Ka-ching | |
Oboe
| Kenneth Sze Yu-hey |
| Cecilia Wan Lok-yu | |
| Clarinet | Eric Fung Chi-hang |
| Frederick Fung Chi-chuen | |
| Bassoon | So Lo-ling |
| Kaden Yim Ho-yan | |
| Saxophone | Jacky Leung |
| Herman Pong Tin-yau | |
| Horn | Rainbow Sun Xijun |
| Trumpet | Oscar Lam Wai-hang |
| Trombone | Jimmy Chiu Hon-kuen |
| Percussion | Bryony Che Hiu-lam |
| Sunny Ho Tze-fai |
| The Orchestra Academy Hong Kong (2022/23 Season) Programme Overview |
*Fellowship Programme Objective: Fellows will receive an intensive orchestral training with the HK Phil. They will learn about the expectations and protocols of a professional orchestra while performing a wide range of symphonic repertoire. In the mentorship scheme, each Fellow pairs up with an assigned HK Phil musician to gain insights into the professional life of orchestral players.
^Young Pro Platform Objective: Young Pro Platform offers a versatile season-long programme of two full ensemble concerts and a series of chamber music concerts. YPP encourages players to commit to high-calibre performances and to take an active role in curating specially designed concert programmes.
Training (for both Fellows and Young Pro Platform players)
Volunteering services (for both Fellows and Young Pro Platform players)
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Download full press release and media photos here.
About the Swire Group Charitable Trust
Established in 1983, the Swire Group Charitable Trust (Swire Trust) is a Hong Kong charity registered under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Its aim is to effect positive change in the areas of Education, Marine Conservation, and the Arts by supporting registered non-profit organisations, primarily in Hong Kong. Swire Trust is overseen by the Philanthropy Council, which is chaired by a member of Swire senior management. In March 2021, Swire Trust launched the HK$150 million TrustTomorrow funding initiative. Since the launch of TrustTomorrow, Swire Trust has funded over 50 inspirational projects that aim to bring lasting benefits and positive change to the community, as well as supporting pandemic relief projects
About Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) (hkphil.org)
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is regarded as one of the leading orchestras in Asia. The orchestra’s annual schedule focuses on symphonic repertoire, with conductors and soloists from all around the world. The HK Phil runs extensive education programmes, commissions new works and nurtures local talent. Recent recording projects with Jaap van Zweden include the complete Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner; Mahler’s Symphony no. 10 (performing version by Willem Mengelberg) and Shostakovich’s Symphony no. 10, both to be released in November 2022 (Naxos). With Music Director Jaap van Zweden since 2012, the HK Phil has toured Europe, Asia, Australia, and on numerous occasions to Mainland China. Yu Long has been Principal Guest Conductor since the 2015/16 Season. Lio Kuokman was appointed as Resident Conductor in December 2020. The HK Phil won the prestigious UK classical music magazine Gramophone’s 2019 Orchestra of the Year Award – the first orchestra in Asia to receive this accolade.
About The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) (hkapa.edu)
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning. Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own Undergraduate and Post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below. The programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera are accredited by HKCAAVQ for recognition under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework. Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006. In the QS World University Rankings announced in 2022, the Academy is ranked 1st in Asia and 10th in the world in the Performing Arts category.