HKCO Celebrates 75 Years of China with Traditional Bianzhong Concert on October 1

"Resounding Chimes · Magnificent Works in a Prosperous Age" concert to celebrate 75th anniversary of founding of People's Republic of China

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) will jointly present the "Resounding Chimes．Magnificent Works in a Prosperous Age" concert on October 1 (Tuesday) at 3pm at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) Concert Hall. The concert will feature an ancient traditional instrument, the bianzhong on signature Chinese music works. A free guided appreciation session will be offered before the concert.

The bianzhong was an important percussion instrument in ancient China. Comprised of rows of bronze bells of various sizes and tone colours, the bianzhong produces rich and penetrating sounds, earning it the title "King of Chinese Instruments". Under the baton of Maestro Yan Huichang, a National Class One Conductor and the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Life of the HKCO, the Principal Percussion of the HKCO, Luk Kin-bun, will play the bianzhong at the concert, performing "Three Variations on a Plum Blossom Melody" with the HKCO. The concert will also feature several classic pieces, including the wind and percussion folk music piece from Shanxi "The Grand Victory", the lively "Impressions of Hainan" which includes a rendition of the festivities of the Li ethnic group, and the moving dialogue "A Pure Heart". The concert will conclude with "Opus in Celebration of Prosperous Times" featuring a duet performance of the bianzhong and organ, the Western "King of Instruments", performed by Wong Ching-yin along with the HKCO, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China with a magnificent flourish.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the concert tickets are priced at $75 and are now available on URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). The first 75 senior citizens at the age of 75 who successfully register at the website of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will be offered two complimentary tickets to feel the charm of the sound of the traditional bianzhong. Members of the public can join a free pre-concert guided appreciation session which introduces the history of the bianzong with a live demonstration to be held at the HKCC Concert Hall at noon. They can also appreciate selected bells of the bianzhong at a close distance and take photos with this ancient instrument, which will be displayed at the Level 2 Foyer of the HKCC.

Registration for the complimentary tickets and free pre-concert guided appreciation session will start from tomorrow (September 18) at 10am on a first-come, first-served basis. For details of the registration and the programme, please visit the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra website (www.hkco.org/en/Concerts/Resounding-Chimes-Magnificent-Works-In-A-Prosperous-Age.html).

Music Office bands, choirs and orchestras invite applications for membership

The Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department is recruiting new members for its 18 bands and orchestras as well as two choirs. Training for 2025-26 will be held from this September to May 2026. The deadline for applications is May 6.

The 20 ensembles are respectively the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Island Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra, the New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra, the Music Office Children's Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Music Office Junior Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Island Youth Strings, the Kowloon Youth Strings, the New Territories Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Brass Band, the Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band, the New Territories Youth Symphonic Band, the Music Office Junior Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Children's Symphonic Band, the Music Office Youth Choir and the Music Office Children's Choir.

Young musicians aged 25 or below who have attained the required music qualifications can now apply to enrol in different levels of ensemble and choir training. Apart from weekly rehearsals, members can also broaden their horizons by participating in various cultural activities and concerts, or attending exchange sessions with young musicians from the Mainland and overseas.

Training is free, but members are required to bring their own instruments (except for bulky instruments) and pay for their uniforms and music scores.

Interested persons can visit the Music Office website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/mo/training/bandchoirandorchestratraining.html) for more details and application submission. Course pamphlets and application forms are also available at all Music Office's music centres. Qualified applicants will receive an audition notification by May 31. Applicants will be notified of their application results by August 15.

For enquiries, please call the Music Office's music centres at 2802 0657 (Wan Chai), 2796 2893 (Kwun Tong), 2399 2200 (Mong Kok), 2158 6462 (Sha Tin) and 2417 6429 (Tsuen Wan).