Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Music Office

Formed in 1978, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra is one of the most sophisticated ensembles under the management of the Music Office. Since 1980, the Orchestra has performed at major festivals such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Festival Fringe, the Hong Kong International Youth Arts Festival, “Music of the Dragons” concert for the celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the HKSARG, etc. The Orchestra was invited to perform with a number of pop singers at live-broadcasting “Caritas Charity TV Show” in 2014 and “Variety Show for Celebration of the 66th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China” in 2015. These performances were met with critical acclaim. The Orchestra invited former members, musicians and conductors to perform in the 20th and 30th Anniversary Concerts. To celebrate its 40th Anniversary, over 90 former members form an alumni orchestra to joint perform in the anniversary concert with renowned musicians including Ho Man-chuen, former Music Officer of the Chinese Section of the Music Office and Chin Kwok-wai who is one of the elite Music Office alumni.

In addition to giving local concerts, the Orchestra has gone on a number of highly successful overseas tours – from neighbouring Macao to Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, France, Australia, the United States and Canada. The Orchestra’s performances in the exchange programme “Tour to the Ancient Cities” in Beijing and Xi’an in 2000, together with the concert tour to Jiangsu with three dynamic concerts staged at the folk music festivals in Nanjing, Wuxi and Jiangyin in 2007, were highly acclaimed. In 2011, the Orchestra debuted at the Contemporary Chinese Orchestra Festival in Taiwan and was well received by the local audience. In 2016, the Orchestra’s performances in Shanghai and Shenyang were again highly acclaimed. 

With a current membership of around 90, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra is trained and managed by Tsui Ying-fai, Kwok Kin-ming, Chin King, Tse Tsz-chung, Ho Yik-yin and Tse Yuen-yau. Recruitment is held annually through open audition.