The Music Office Youth Choir was established in 1980. With a repertoire that spans from sacred to secular, classical to popular, and Chinese to Western, the Choir has performed regularly in local concerts and collaborated with many visiting music groups, among which are the Kagoshima Senior High School Choir and Prunus Female Choir from Japan, College of Saint Benedict-Saint John’s University Choral Arts Ensemble and Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra from USA, The Chieftains from Ireland and the reputed Bach Choir from UK.

Embarking on its first overseas tour to Malaysia and Singapore in 1997, the Choir next visited Kagoshima, Japan in 2002, where their performances under the auspices of the Kagoshima Prefectural Government were met with critical acclaim. The Choir has since participated in three overseas choral festivals, with encouraging results attained in each: two Gold Diplomas, a Category Winner and a Jury Award at the 2009 A Voyage of Songs International Choral Festival held in Penang; two Gold Diplomas and a Category Winner Award at the 2014 Sing n Joy Vienna – 29th International Schubert Choir Competition; three Gold Awards and two Category Winner Awards at the 2016 Singapore International Choral Festival.

With a total of 80 members between the age of 15 and 25, the Choir is currently trained and managed by Dr. Angelina Au and Josie Yau. Recruitment is held annually through open audition.

The Hong Kong Youth Strings was established in 1985. It provides advanced training for young string players who have completed their term in district string orchestras of the Music Office. Since its establishment, the Orchestra participated in the Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows and the Music Office Annual Gala for multiple times. Its members also attended masterclasses by eminent artists such as Gary Karr, Peter Wilson, Kumi Sugiyama, Beaux Arts Trio, Yeh Tsung, and string virtuosos from Philadelphia Orchestra and Nash Ensemble. The Orchestra collaborated with renowned violinists Wong Sze-hang and Kumi Sugiyama for Vivaldi’s Winter and Autumn Concertos in 2000 and 2001 respectively. In 2001, the Orchestra joined a presentation of Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana under the baton of Yip Wing-sie.

The Orchestra performed with several overseas visiting groups for music exchanges, including Cincinnati Junior Strings in 1992, Shenzhen Music Lovers’ Chamber Orchestra in 1996, Lincoln Youth Orchestra in 1998, Beijing City 101 High School Orchestra in 2000, and Youth Orchestra from Chinese Youth Corps of New York in 2007.

The Orchestra also conducted outbound performing tours to Singapore, Malaysia, Japan and Macao. In 2012, the Orchestra visited Austria and Czech Republic for the Summer Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, and earned acclaims in the “Outstanding Success” category in the competition held in the Golden Hall of Vienna. In 2017, the Orchestra toured to Slovakia and Czech Republic. They received the Gold Band (Winner of the Category) in string orchestras up to 21 years old, and the Grand Prix for Orchestras from the 8th International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava.

With a total of 70 members, the Orchestra is currently trained and managed by Dr. Joseph Kam, Li Sai-hong and Maxine Cheung. Recruitment is held annually through open audition.

The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra was established in 1978. Many of its former members have pursued their career in music, and become eminent performers or music educators in Hong Kong. Internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists who have collaborated with the Orchestra include Sir Yehudi Menuhin, Fou T’song, Georg Tintner, Sir David Willcocks, Tang Muhai, Kenneth Jean, Yeh Tsung, Yip Wing-sie, Timothy Landauer and Edward Grach. At the invitation of UNICEF in 2010, the Orchestra performed with the world-class pianist Lang Lang in a fundraising concert. Besides, the Orchestra was invited to perform in the live broadcast “Caritas Charity TV Show” with famed pianist Colleen Lee and a number of pop singers in 2013 and 2015.

The Orchestra has also served as the music ambassador of Hong Kong, and conducted concert tours to France, Israel, Cyprus, the UK, Australia, the USA, Singapore and cities in Mainland China. The Orchestra visited Shanghai in 2010, performed for the Hong Kong Week of Shanghai Expo, and took part in exchange programmes with Shanghai young musicians. In 2015, the Orchestra participated in the International Music Festival EURASIA in Yekaterinburg, Russia, attended training sessions at the Urals Mussorgsky State Conservatoire, and jointly performed with the Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, the Orchestra toured Daqing and Harbin with wide acclaim for their music exchange performances.

With a total of 110 members between the age of 12 and 25, the Orchestra is currently trained and managed by James Leung, Dr. Joseph Kam, Lee Sing-wan, Pak Wing-heng, Tsang Yin-yu and Ng Po-yan. Recruitment is held annually through open audition.

The Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band was established in 1978. The Band has been successfully nurturing generations of young eminent musicians, and proactively introducing band music to the public in Hong Kong.

In 1978, the Band debuted with the County of Avon School Orchestra, which was visiting from the UK. Since then, the Band has enjoyed the privilege of performing with a number of visiting music groups, including the Central Band of the United Kingdom Royal Air Force, the Tanunda Band of Australia, the Regimental Band of the Green Jackets, the Scots Guards of the United Kingdom, the Narashino Girls’ High School Band from Japan, the Baden-Württernberg Youth Wind Ensemble. Distinguished conductors who collaborated with the Band include Bruce Pearson, Dr. Vondis Miller and Robert Lutt from the USA, Eric Banks from the UK, Felix Hauswirth from Switzerland, Russell Hammond from Australia and Li Fang-fang from Beijing.

The Band conducted several overseas tours to regions like Kagoshima in Japan, Australia, and Hawaii in the USA. In 2013, the Band visited Jeju in South Korea again to participate in the Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival, and gave exchange performances with local bands and choirs. In 2015, the Band took part in the 24th Chiayi City International Band Festival and received high acclaim. In 2018, the Band visited Hamamatsu in Japan for the 20th APBDA Band Festival, and exchanged with the band of Saitama Kenritsu Shiraoka High School in Tokyo.

With a total of 70 members between the age of 12 and 25, the Orchestra is currently trained and managed by Lee Sing-wan, Pak Wing-heng, Palas Chan, Dickson Lam and Mandy Kwan. Recruitment is held annually through open audition.

Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra was established in 1978. Since then, the Orchestra has performed in major events such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Festival Fringe, the Hong Kong International Youth Arts Festival, and the “Music of the Dragons” concert in celebration of the 5th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Orchestra was invited to perform in the live broadcast “Caritas Charity TV Show” in 2014, and the variety shows in celebration of the 66th and the 69th anniversaries of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 2015 and 2018. These highly acclaimed performances were also joined by pop singers. The Orchestra celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2018 with the performance of a 90-member alumni orchestra, joined by renowned percussionist and Music Office alumnus Chin Kwok-wai, under the baton of Ho Man-chuen, former Music Officer of the Chinese Section of the Music Office.

The Orchestra has toured extensively, from neighbouring Macao to Malaysia, the UK, France, Australia, the USA, and Canada. In 2000, the Orchestra visited Beijing and Xi’an for exchange performances titled Tour to the Ancient Cities. In 2007, they toured to Jiangsu and gave three dynamic concerts in folk music festivals of Nanjing, Wuxi and Jiangyin. The Orchestra made its Taiwan debut at the 2011 Contemporary Chinese Orchestra Festival in Taichung Changhua. Subsequent to their tour to Shanghai and Shenyang in 2016, the Orchestra embarked on an invited Singapore tour in 2018, in which they exchanged with local young musicians, and staged highly acclaimed performances.

With a total of 90 members, the Orchestra is currently 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.

Dr. Angelina Au received her early musical training in Hong Kong, and was later awarded an Institute of International Education Scholarship to further her studies in the USA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hollins College, a Master of Music degree from the University of Miami, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the College-Conservatory of Cincinnati. Among her teachers are the internationally celebrated concert pianist Ivan Davis and the late piano pedagogue Santos Ojeda. In addition to appearances as solo and collaborative pianist in vocal and instrumental recitals, Dr. Au is also an accomplished singer with extensive experience in solo and choral singing, among which are several solo roles in opera productions.

Dr. Au is presently Senior Music Officer of the Musicianship/ Training Support Section of the Music Office, where her responsibilities include overseeing the organization of choral and musicianship training programmes, and the provision of support for the Instrumental Music Training Scheme. As conductor of the Music Office Youth Choir, Dr. Au has led the ensemble on a continued course of development, with recognition and honours won in overseas tours and competitions.

Dr. Joseph Kam, a violist, violinist and orchestral conductor, graduated from the University of Michigan, where he obtained his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He received several awards and scholarships from the University, including Graduate Merit Award, Humanities Award, Rackham Block Fellowship and School of Music Tuition Grant. During his tenure in the University, he was appointed as the Graduate Student Instructor for teaching viola performance. He was also appointed as a viola faculty in the Interlochen Music Festival (Michigan, USA).

As an active conductor, Dr. Kam launched his conducting career since his debut with Metropolitan Youth Orchestra in 2005. He has been the conductor of Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra (HKYSO) since 2007, and under his baton, HKYSO collaborated with world renowned pianist Lang Lang at a UNICEF fundraising concert in 2010. He led the HKYSO to perform in Shanghai Expo in the same year, and conducted a joint concert of HKYSO and Ural Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2015 International Music Festival EURASIA in Yekaterinburg, Russia with high acclaims. He conducted the Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu in Czech Republic in summers from 2013 to 2015. In 2017, he made his debut in the Adelphi University Auditorium in Long Island, New York State, and conducted the Adelphi Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Dr. Kam led the Hong Kong Youth Strings to participate in the 8th International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava, Slovakia with a huge success. He was awarded a special prize for winning the Best Orchestral Conductor.

Dr. Kam is currently Senior Music Officer of the String Section of the Music Office, and a violin and viola faculty of the Music Department in the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Lee Sing-wan earned a Master degree of Education (Music) and a Master degree of Music in Conducting (Wind Conducting) respectively from the Education University of Hong Kong and the Messiah College of the USA. He joined the Music Office in 2006.

Lee has extensive coaching and performing experience in lower brass instruments and symphonic wind ensembles. His students have been receiving superior ratings at various music competitions. Lee has also led outbound tours of music groups from the Music Office to Australia, China, Japan, Macao, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and the USA, and gave critically acclaimed performances in major events such as the Hong Kong Week of Shanghai Expo 2010, Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival, Qingdao International Horticultural Exposition, Asia and Pacific Band Directors’ Association Conference, and World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles Conference.

Lee is currently Senior Music Officer of the Wind Section of the Music Office, and conductor of Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band and New Territories Youth Symphonic Band. He is also lower brass instructor in the Music Office.

Pak Wing-heng joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 1976 as a full-time trombone player, and was awarded the Hong Kong Jockey Club Scholarship to further his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in the following year and to learn from Denis Wick, Eric Crees and Peter Gane. Pak joined the Music Office in 19871, and completed his bachelor’s degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong during the course of his work.

Pak led Music Office orchestras and bands to participate in numerous major events, including the performances in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Hong Kong in 1986 and the Music Office Spectacular in 2000, and to conduct outbound performance tours to regions like Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Daqing, Harbin, Taiwan , Japan, South Korea and Russia. In 2018, he led the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band to Tokyo, Japan for music exchange, and to Hamamatsu for the 20th APBDA Band Festival.

Apart from being an instructor, performer and conductor, Pak frequently serves as guest speaker at band clinics, adjudicator at music festivals, and guest conductor at performances in Hong Kong and abroad.

Pak is currently Senior Music Officer (Special Duties) of the Music Office.

Tsui Ying-fai obtained his bachelor’s degree with first class honor and master’s degree (Ethnomusicology – Chinese Music) in the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He also studied ethnomusicology in the University of Pittsburgh, the USA.

Tsui has been an active conductor of Chinese music. Since 2000, he led the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra to tour and perform in Beijing, Xi’an, Jiangsu, Taiwan, Shanghai, Shenyang and Singapore; and the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Plucked String Orchestra to participate in the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in Scotland, the UK in 2005. Besides his official conducting duties in the Music Office, Tsui also conducted numerous local Chinese orchestras, and was invited to perform as guest conductor in the 2014 Taipei Youth Chinese Orchestra Concert in Taiwan. He was also frequently invited to serve on the adjudicating panel of the National Chinese Orchestral Contest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Devoted to music education and research, Tsui worked as tutor and researcher in the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He published articles on Chinese instrumental music under the former Hong Kong Provisional Urban Council, the Education and Manpower Bureau, music academic journals in the USA, and the well-known Garland Encyclopedia of World Music.

Tsui is currently Senior Music Officer of the Chinese Music Section of the Music Office, and conductor of the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra, Music Office Instructors’ Chinese Orchestra, and Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra.

Josie Yau graduated from the Music Department of Hong Kong Baptist University, where she studied piano with the renowned composer-pianist Cui Shi-guang, and received her vocal training from Jeffie Leung. Since then, Yau has remained an active performer, and made frequent appearances in concerts as pianist, vocalist and chamber musician.

Yau is currently Assistant Music Officer of the Musicianship Section at the Music Office. In addition to her teaching duties, she was the conductor and manager of the Music Office Children’s Choir from 2011 to 2014, and now serves as piano accompanist and manager of the Music Office Youth Choir since September 2016.