Curator
(Perform on 08.09, 13.09, 17.09, 20.09 & 22.09.2022)
Siu Wai Jung Justin is a renowned jazz bassist, cellist, conductor for jazz orchestra, bandleader and composer. He began with his classical cello training at the age of nine and swept up many music awards during his youth.
Siu received his Masters in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge but his pursuit for music did not begin until years later when the former silicon-valley geek followed his calling to put down the computer keyboard and picked up the double bass instead to become a full-time jazz bassist. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he actively participated and spearheaded many creative projects and collaborated with many renowned local and foreign jazz artists. His most notable appearances included the Macau Jazz Week (2015), Hong Kong International Jazz Festival (2016/2017), Daegu International Jazz Festival in South Korea (2018) and Freespace Jazz Festival (2020/2021).
Some of Siu’s most significant music directional work were with his 22-piece orchestra for the Grammy Nominated Singer/Pianist Howard McCrary, which garnered wide acclaim in the Greater China region during the 2010’s. He also produced Howard’s talk-of-the-town concerts - “Peace and All that Jazz“, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in July 2013 to a full-house of audience.
In 2018, Siu released his debut jazz album “SPIN“ (Universal Music) which maintained the best selling Jazz album spot at HMV in Hong Kong for 6 weeks within the first 2 months of release.
Since the breakout of the Covid-19 pandemic, Siu went into great lengths to put hundreds of online shows on Youtube channel “Innonation Studio and Productions“, featuring over 100 local talents to keep music playing in the city under government restrictions and bans, and to allow for the continuation of artistic music development. “Noodle Jazz“ series curated by Siu combined local jazz composers and genuine local cuisine which broadened the appeal of Hong Kong’s own jazz music to a new demographic and even international audiences. The idea was later funded by the Arts Development Council and Siu was appointed to expand the concept to include more local culture.
Joyce maintains an active presence in local jazz and pop scene and has had the pleasure of showcase her music live audiences across continents.
(Perform on 07.09.2022)
Born in Hong Kong, Claudia Ng is a singer-songwriter whose music trajectory evolved while she went on to pursue a year of jazz studies upon undergraduate graduation in Los Angeles. The learning experiences has escalated her passion into an obsession.
The ethereal tone of Claudia attributes to her vivid imagination and soulful spirituality.
She started to perform in various places shortly after she moved back to Hong Kong, such as Tai Kun, West Kowloon Cultural District, Lost Stars livehouse bar & eatery, ViuTV, and Shouson Theatre, Hong Kong Arts Centre.
In 2021, Claudia wrote a single with Teriver Cheung, which was released by Ensemble Transience, produced by Sotoc.
(Perform on 07.09 & 10.09.2022)
Eric Chong is a young jazz guitarist and composer from Hong Kong. He learned to play guitar at the age of 15. Now he is active in Hong Kong jazz scene, performing regularly in venues like Visage One, Fringe Club and Sense 99 and festivals like Music Fairground, Freespace jazz festival. He had also invited to perform in different cities in the mainland China like Beijing, Zhuhai and Guangzhou etc.
He finished his jazz studies in Prins Claus Conservatorium with full scholarships in the Netherlands, studying with Frank Wingold and Joost Van Schaik.
Being worked with different groups/ projects from school like ‘Fiver’. He is also having his own group (Eric Chong quartet) performing his original music.
He is the winner of Shanghai JZ jazz competition of 2019.
(Perform on 07.09.2022)
Chan Kam Ming has been playing bass for more than 10 years. He studied with local artist/session bassist Tsang Tak Hong. In 2009, he went to The Players School of Music of U.S.A.and studied with renowned bassist Jeff Berlin. After he graduated, he has performed inmusic festivals such as Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Hong Kong Summer JazzFestival, Hong Kong People’s Fringe Festival and Clockenflap. He has played in different concerts, functions and weddings in convention hall, galleries and hotels for more than 10years.
(Perform on 08.09.2022)
Wan Pin CHU is an international award-winning Erhuist and Film Composer from Hong Kong, who has performed Erhu solo for the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, and the British Prince William in the United Kingdom in October, 2015 during the Chinese state visit, and got invited to perform again for Prince William in his private event in July, 2016. He was invited to be the featured guest performer at the “Vivian Chow 30th Anniversary Concert Concert” and “Hins Cheung Hinsideout Concert” at the Hong Kong Coliseum in January and June 2018 respectively. Wan’s Erhu was featured in Hollywood movie “Godzilla: King of the Monsters”, “Chasing the Dragon”《追龍》 and “Overheard 3” 《竊聽風雲3》.
Wan also works as a composer for films, televisions, games and commercials. In 2022, Wan has scored music for viutv series “In Geek We Trust” 《IT 狗》, and in 2021, “Schemes in Antiques”《古董局中局》. In 2019, Wan has scored music fortwo epic feature films “Jade Dynasty”《誅仙》 and “Nezha” 《哪吒之魔童降世》. “Nezha” has grossed over 5 billion RMB (700 million USD) and ranks 2nd in the history of the Chinese box office. It is also the Best Film Score of the Year, presented by The 12th Chinese Music Awards.
Wan has received a full scholarship from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to study Master in Composition for Film, Television and Game at the Royal College of Music in London. He finished his undergraduate study at King’s College London and has received an honor degree in Musicology and Composition.
(Perform on 08.09.2022)
1-part academic, 2-part creative and 3-part adventurer, Ricky Wong is a self-taught composer/pianist with a thirst for musical knowledge and experiments. His projects include percussion-inspired modern jazz group ‘maRK Quartet’ alongside Anna Fan, Kenny KC Lin and Marcus Ho; high-energy, lyrical funk band ‘ARICLAN' of Ari Calangi; quirky Souna-Trombone soul-funk group ‘The Majestic G’ of Hong Kong’s own renowned bassist CM Lee; and alongside Pianist-Cellist ‘Jazzical’ arranger Joyce Cheung, directing harmonica world champion Cy Leo’s ‘Lost in Time’ project. He is also actively teaching, and arranging and performing in both HK’s pop and jazz scenes.
(Perform on 08.09.2022)
Samuel Chan was the first graduate with a jazz music major from the Hong Kong Education University, where he studied under Ted Lo. He was awarded a scholarship to study at the Collective School of Music in New York, where his teachers included world class drummers Peter Retzlaff, Ian Froman, Chris Coleman, Kendrick Scott, Mike Mitchell et al. While he was studying overseas, he also benefitted from the live show and studio experiences with renowned American jazz artists Theo Hill, Sean Conly, Isamu McGregor, Sebastian Noelle and Ole Mathisen. On returning to Hong Kong in 2016, Chan has become one of the most active drummers on the local jazz scene. He is often invited to perform with Eugene Pao and Ted Lo in live shows and is widely acclaimed.
(Perform on 09.09.2022)
Four accomplished folk artists came together to form Kitchen Ceilidh, a Celtic music and dance ensemble that takes inspiration from the East Coast of Canada, Shetland, and Ireland.
With years of performance experience between them, Kitchen Ceilidh is an exciting new act that draws on the ceilidh experience, a tradition of music, dance and celebration found in many Celtic traditions.
With rousing fiddle tunes, beautiful aires, and energetic dance numbers, Kitchen Ceilidh brings excitement and enthusiasm to every performance.
Members: Sean Softley (Fiddle), Nazar Tabachyshyn (Accordion), Johanna Goodlad (keyboard), Maria Gillis (Irish step dancing)
(Perform on 10.09 & 21.09.2022)
Wong Tak Chung performed in the Tai Wan Jazz Festival 2009, Beishan World Music Festival 2011 and Beishan International Jazz Festival 2011.In 2014, Chung and three Hong Kong jazz musicians formed a jazz quartet "In One Stroke". In One Stroke released their first album under the same name in 2016 Spring, and has performed 2 concerts for EUROPAfest at Romania and completed their first Europe and Tai Wan tour in 2017.
They also participated in the international jazz marathon 2018, with the well-known jazz trumpet player Alex Sipiagin at Queen Elizabeth Stadium. In the same year, Chung has also join in Alan Kwan Quartet for the jazz re-visit, which held by LCSD at cultural centre.
In 2019, Chung participated as a project director in the cultural ambassador lead by LCSD.
Chung is currently the bass player for Eason Chan’s tour band.
(Perform on 10.09 & 17.09.2022)
A rather late start for a musician, Dean Li learnt his first drum groove at the age of 15. Starting his drumming journey from playing Cantopop, Dean was exposed to the vast music world after his friend brought him to his first band show during his first year in the university. After years of exploration in different music styles, Dean is unsatisfied to focus on playing one kind of music and keeps trying to extend his playing to different genres.
(Perform on 12.09.2022)
Founded in 2008 by William Lane, the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble (HKNME) is Asia's premiere new music group, dedicated to presenting contemporary music to the highest possible standard.
The Ensemble has led numerous world and regional premieres of important contemporary works — a number of which commissioned by the HKNME — at prestigious music festivals and venues around the world, including the Hong Kong Arts Festival, New Vision Arts Festival (HK), Tongyeong International Music Festival / ISCM (South Korea), ECHOFLUXX Festival of New Media (Czech Republic), CYCLE Music and Art Festival (Iceland), Shanghai New Music Week (CN), Beijing Music Festival (CN), Hong Kong Week (TW), MONA FOMA (Australia), Hong Kong Music Series (London), Angel Orensanz Center (New York City) and Wilsey Center for Opera (San Francisco).
The HKNME has been annually funded by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council since 2012.
Performers (as duos):
Kuna Kim (violin), William Lane (viola), Amelia Chan (violin), Vanessa Chan (violin), Pun Chak-yin (cello)
(Perform on 13.09.2022)
An award-winning pianist, composer, arranger, and producer. Since graduating from Berklee College of Music, he has performed around the world including cities of New York, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, London, Taipei, and Osaka. He was the winner of the Taichung Jazz Piano Competition, a semi-finalist at the Bucharest International Jazz Competition, and has appeared in different music festivals such as EUROPAfest, Taichung Jazz Festival, JENerations Jazz Festival (USA), Kanazawa Street Jazz, Clockenflap, and Freespace Jazz Festival among others.
An active composer, Patrick contributed to the score for three feature films (The Bounty, This Is Not What I Expected, and Chasing The Dragon), and has also composed music for television programs and theatrical works for Radio & Television Hong Kong and Hong Kong Dance Company. Venturing into music other than jazz, he received a full scholarship from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund and is pursuing his Master’s degree at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, furthering his studies in traditional and electronic music.
In the pop music field, he is a frequent collaborator with RubberBand, and their works together have received wide acclaim. The album Easy, which they co-produced in 2012, was awarded the prestigious ‘Album of The Year’ by Commercial Radio Hong Kong. They have also won ‘Best Performance by a Band’ two times at the CASH Golden Sail Music Awards. In 2020, Patrick again co-produced and arranged for RubberBand’s album i, which featured his big band arrangements. Patrick also served as the pianist for Hong Kong’s foremost artist Eason Chan’s worldwide tour ‘Eason Says C’mon In’.
(Perform on 16.09.2022)
The Magical Kora is a world music band that combines both traditional and modern music elements. Led by the visually startling Kora - a traditional 21-stringed instrument from West Africa -, along with other African percussion and Western musical instruments, the group embraces mixed musical styles while developing its unique voice. Cementing upon traditional songs and musical sensibilities of West Africa as its foundation, employing modern musical arrangements as building blocks, defining structures for jazzy improvisations, the band’s musical performance is a cross-cultural, trans-continental representation with elements from the past to the present; rustic yet modern, earthy yet refreshing.
Members: Halen Woo (kora), Cecilia Au (percussion/vocal), Celia Leung (backing vocal), Dan Lavelle (guitar), Jimmy Pittman (bass)
(Perform on 17.09.2022)
Tsui Chin Hung (born New Territories, Hong Kong, 20 October 1985) is a composer, orchestrator and guitarist. Tsui has studied music from different cultures and has worked as a composer for various media. He had been appointed as composer for Tsz Shan Monastery, Boston ALEA III Contemporary Music Ensemble, Hong Kong Ballet "Empty Awakening". His recent appointments as music director and composer included, Radix Troupe "The Accidental Rainbow", "45mins Soulmate”, “Between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea”. Tsui had scored original music for the Hong Kong feature film “Ciao UFO”.
(Perform on 19.09.2022)
Kitty Cheung is currently the first violinist of Romer String Quartet and a member of Contrast Trio (Ensemble-in-Residence of The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2014-15 and 2017-18 respectively), and violin faculty at the Hong Kong Baptist University. She was the Associate Concertmaster of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta from 2011 to 2017.
Born in Hong Kong, she received doctoral degree from the Eastman School of Music in USA and double master degrees from the Guildhall of Music and Drama in UK.
(Perform on 19.09.2022)
Kiann Chow received her Master of Arts in Performance with distinction and Licentiate Diploma in Teaching (LRAM) from Royal Academy of Music, London (RAM) with Professor Mayumi Fujikawa. Chow has performed in America, Europe and Asia, including performances at prestigious concert venues such as New York’s Avery Fisher Hall and London’s Royal Albert Hall. She also recorded RAMs album on Frank Zappa’s music as a member of Academy Manson Ensemble in London and was featured in the RTHK Radio 4 programme “Young Music Makers”. In July 2012, Chow was appointed to be a member of the Academy & Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, and performed with John Adams at New York’s Lincoln Center Festival and London’s BBC Proms.
Chow is also a co-founder of Romer String Quartet and Duo Volce (harmonica-violin duo).
(Perform on 20.09.2022)
Alan Kwan is an award-nominated jazz guitarist, composer, producer and educator who is currently based in Hong Kong. He has performed or recorded with a number of well-known jazz musicians including Eugene Pao, Ted Lo, Billy Childs, Stefan Karlsson, Dayna Stephens, Fabian Almazan, Linda May Oh, Johnathan Blake, Orlando Le Fleming, Glenn Zaleski, Paul Bollenback, RogerioBoccato, Sean Wayland, David Smith, Masaki Hayashi, Takashi Sugawa, Daiki Yasukagawa, Kazu Kumagai (international tap dancer) and Rich Huang with performances ranging from jazz gigs, stage performances to outdoor performances, such as the Our Hong Kong Young Notes Concert organized by Radio Television Hong Kong and the KoSwing Big Band Summer Jazz Camp in Tainan.
Kwan got 3 nominations for the 31st Golden Melody Awards (Best Album, Best Album Producer, Best Composition) for his debut release “Petrichor” and won along side with keybordiest Jordan Gheen, drummer Matt Young for the “Best Producer” award at the 33rd Golden Melody Awards for his recent release “Invisible Architecture”
(Perform on 21.09.2022)
Vera Lai is an active vocalist and flutist in Hong Kong. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Education Degree (Contemporary Music and Performance Pedagogy) at The
Education University of Hong Kong, received Awards in singing competitions and music performance. She studied flute with Hong Kong Philharmonic’s Co-principal Flute Olivier
Nowak. In the path of her singing, she is greatly influenced by Angelita Li, Ella Fitzgerald, Lalah Hathaway and Gretchen Parlato.
(Performed on 21.09.2022)
Bowen Tsz Wo Li, pianist and composer, graduated in Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Actively performing and collaborating with musicians and art groups in Hong Kong since 2018, such as Chung Ying Theatre, Wuji Ensemble, Teriver Cheung, Film Director Tsai Ming Liang. He also played at music festivals such as Jazz Gala ‘The Legends and Beyond 2019’, Freespace Jazz Festival 2019 and Festival Hong Kong 2019 -- A Cultural Extravaganza in Shanghai.
(Perform on 22.09.2022)
Hong Kong’s first “Orquesta Típica” – the Latin American term for an ensemble of musicians – that studies and performs authentic Argentine tango music. The group is formed by a group of local enthusiasts as well as professional musicians. Apart from nurturing the local growth of the performances and appreciation of this genre of music, the ensemble has also invited and collaborated with overseas luminaries such as Argentinean Maestros bandoneonista Walter Rios, bandoneonista Nicolas Enrich, violinist Diego Lerendegui and vocalist Mariel Dupetit, as well as international prize-winning bandonesonista Wu Yung Lung (Taiwan), bandoneonista Hayakawa Jun (Japan) and tango violinist Momoko Aida (Japan) to perform at concerts and milongas.
(Perform on 23.09.2022)
The Ninety’s string quartet is newly formed by Hong-Kong born musicians, including Alvin Chan, Andy Yeung, Andy Cheng and Kevin Lam. Each of them have been studying and professionally trained in renown music conservatoires such as the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Stephen F Austin State University and Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
Our goal is to be as active as possible in the music community. We hope to participate in concerts, festivals and competitions in Hong Kong and internationally in the future.
Members: Yeung Sin Hang (Violin), Chan Ming Chak (Violin), Cheng Man Ho (Viola), Lam Sum Yu (Cello)
(Perform on 23.09.2022)
Cong Quartet was formed at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in the United States in 2015 with the belief that the humanistic experience of chamber music is a treasure to a community. They have since performed in various parts of Asia, Europe and the United States. The quartet is currently the Artists-in-Residence at the Department of Music of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, one of the quartets of the Netherlands String Quartet Academy in Amsterdam and on the young artist roster of the Musethica in Europe.
Cong Quartet’s accolades include winning the first prize and Grand Prize at the 2019 Salzburg-Mozart International Chamber Music Competition in Tokyo, the second prize at the Kreutzer International Music Competition (Chamber Music Category) in Belgium and the finalist status of several international chamber music competitions including the 2021 Storioni Festival Competition in Eindhoven. Members of the quartet have participated in the Juilliard String Quartet Seminar, Robert Mann String Quartet Institute in New York, Ashkenasi/Kirshbaum Chamber Music Seminar of the Heifetz International Music Institute, intensive string quartet seminar at the Harpa International Music Academy in Iceland, Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy in Japan, and Chamber Music Residency in the Great Mountain Music Festival and School in South Korea, among many others.
The name of the quartet, “CONG” is a combination of the quartet founding members’ last names that alludes to Hong “Kong”, where the members grew up and played together since their teenage years before the quartet was officially formed.
Members: Francis Yiu Ting Chik (violin), Caleb Wong (viola), Yan Ho Cheng (cello)
(Perform on 24.09.2022)
Led by violinist Kenneth Li, who carries with him the vision to create and the inspirations developed during his time in the UK, KORVI has set themselves apart from others as one of the very few jazz string quartets. Their music constantly takes groove and improvisation to another level, exploring their mutual reactions within a string quartet setting. The unique sense of freedom and rich colour palette of the European style was prominent in KORVI's interpretations of works ranging from jazz classics to originals. KORVI's debut single is now available on various streaming platforms.
Members: Kenneth Li (violin), Samuel Huang (violin), Samuel Lau (viola), Tim Tong (cello)
