Artistic Advisor and Chief Director: Yu Hai

Chairman of the China Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles

Yu Hai is Former Director of the Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and Chairman of the China Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles.  He is a graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music, and has conducted the Military Band in command performances for heads of state and government of over 60 countries.  He has also conducted the Military Band, China Symphony Orchestra, China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the China National Opera House and other leading orchestras in close to 1,000 concerts.  He was Chief Conductor of the joint militia band organized for the 50th and 60th National Day celebrations of China in 1999 and 2009.  In 2008, he was Chief Conductor of the protocol band at the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games.  The following year, Yu was named Musician of the Year in China.  In recent years he has led the Band on numerous cultural exchange and performance engagements outside the country, and has collaborated frequently with renowned musicians from home and abroad.  He was the conductor in numerous recordings of various types of music on different themes, and is to date the only conductor to have recorded with China’s state-level symphony orchestras, Chinese orchestras and military bands.

Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army

China’s Only Official Ensemble for State-level Functions of the PRC

Director of the Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army: Zou Rui

The Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is the only official ensemble and large-scale professional performing arts organization of symphonic music for state-level functions of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  The Band was established in 1952 in Beijing and is currently made up of 360 members, and comprises three symphonic bands, a professional team for music composition, and an education and outreach unit.  Since its establishment, the Band has performed at over 7,000 protocol occasions of the State and the militia, and for visiting heads of state and government from over a hundred countries.  The Band has successfully carried out protocol functions at the PRC’s National Day celebrations, conventions of the National People’s Congress and the Political Consultative Conference, the handover ceremonies of Hong Kong and Macao, and other important occasions including the Beijing Olympic Games and the Shanghai World Expo.  To date, the Band has given over 6,000 concerts, reaching a cumulative audience of over 6 million.  It has toured extensively by invitation to 20 or so countries and regions, garnering wide acclaim wherever it went.

Programme

The Band will give a marching band performance entitled ‘Ode to the Motherland’.  The innovative instrumentation, the Chinese music background and the stunning formations as they play on the march will make a fitting tribute to China, Hong Kong and all ethnic groups of the Chinese race, as we look forward to continuous prosperity, growth, unity and harmony.

Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy

A Force of Might, Peace, Civility

Director of the Military Band of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy: Zhang Zuozhong

The Military Band of the People’s Liberation Army Navy was founded in 1986.  It is the only dedicated ceremonial band in the Navy, charged with the duty to perform on major ceremonial occasions and during formal receptions of foreign dignitaries for the general headquarters of the armed services and the Navy.  Since its founding, the Band has undertaken over 1,800 ceremonial protocols and performance assignments.  Over the years, the Band has been abiding by the guiding principle of ‘youthful vitality, professional dedication and proficient management’, projecting a highly disciplined image as becoming the militia, establishing an excellent reputation and achieving a commendable level of performance standard.  The Band has consistently been credited as a ‘window’ on the good public image of the People’s Navy as a mighty force, a force for peace, and a force of civility.

Programme

‘Shades of Blue’ – Dressed in formal ceremonial white, the Band will conduct a marching performance with evolving moving patterns of ocean waves, anchor, picture frame, etc., accompanied by music from motion picture soundtracks of the Elvis Presley period.  The blue lighting that accentuates the Band’s movements will enhance the romantic association of oceans and the seas.

Guard of Honour of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison

A Military Display of Strength & Magnificence

First formed in 1994, the Guard of Honour of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison is made up of three formations of guard of honour: from the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force, and is tasked to perform in flag-raising ceremonies, guard of honour inspections, and other public displays and ceremonial assignments during festivities and gala celebrations.  Since its founding, the Hong Kong Garrison has been training diligently and working hard to achieve the highest standard by giving critically acclaimed performances on over a thousand ceremonial occasions, such as military parade inspections for visiting heads of state and military leaders; the 1997 Sino-British Defence Handover Ceremony; the reception ceremonies staged for military attaches to China visiting Hong Kong.  The group has shown consummate professionalism befitting its targeted mission of being a mighty force and a force of civility, and it has won acclaim in the militia.

Royal Australian Navy Band

One of Australia’s Premier Military Ensembles

The Royal Australian Navy Band is a prestigious unit of the Australian Defence Force and one of Australia’s premier military ensembles.  The Band is structured around a Directorate of Music and six detachments of full-time and part-time musicians positioned in various locations in Australia.  The level of service provided by the Band is diverse, and it maintains a highly respected profile within the Royal Australian Navy and the Australian community.  Today, the Band continues a proud tradition of providing musical, ceremonial and public relations support for the Royal Australian Navy.

Programme

‘A Naval Salute from Down Under’ – selections of Australian traditional and naval music.

Russian Frontier Guard Band

A Vivid Example of Creative Military Band

The Russian Frontier Guard Band is one of leading music groups in Russia.  Its priority activities are to provide the activities of the bodies of Federal Security Service and to participate in nation-wide performances and celebrations.  Ensemble repertoire contains the best pieces of the Russian and foreign classical music and choreography, works of art on heroic and patriotic subjects, musical compositions of the Russian and foreign variety art.  The biography of the Band is a vivid example of creative and structural evolution.

Programme

Medley of Russian popular classical music by Tchaikovsky, Glinka, etc., and medley of Russian popular folk music with dance group.

Bursa Mehter Band of Turkey

The Ancestor of Military Bands

Formed in 1326, the Bursa Mehter Band of Turkey is the oldest military band in the world.  During the time of the Ottoman Empire, Mehter was not only a symbol of sovereignty of the state but also had such practical functions as boosting army morale in land attacks and sea battles.  These functions soon came to be recognized in Europe where similar bands were created.  The Bursa Mehter Band today takes as its first and foremost mission to keep Mehter's music alive and pass it onto the next generations.

Programme

Turkish traditional marching and military music performance, including Elçi Peşrevi (Ambassador Overture), Eski Ordu Marşı (Old Military March), Hücum Marşı (Attack March), etc.

Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards

The British Army's Top Pipes and Drums

The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards owe their existence to the small pipe band which came to the Royal Scots Greys in 1946.  This was a result of demobilisation from various Scottish Territorial Armoured Corps units and these became the Scots Grey’s first official Pipers.  Today the Band is regarded as the British Army's top Pipes and Drums.  The Pipes and Drums are not just musicians, they are fully trained Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank Crewmen who deploy on operations alongside their regimental counterparts.  They are flexible individuals who are able to both hone their skills on Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks whilst maintaining their personal standards as top class Pipers and Drummers.

US 7th Fleet Band

A Mililary Band with High Musical Excellence

Created in 1943 with the establishment of the US 7th Fleet, the Band has performed for literally millions throughout the Western Pacific, bringing their special brand of American music to enthusiastic fans there.  It is made up of professional musicians in the US Navy.  It operates from Yokosuka, Japan, along with the flagship for Commander, US 7th Fleet, the USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19).  7th Fleet is the largest forward deployed US fleet with 60,000 sailors and marines, over 400 aircraft and more than 50 ships operating in a 52-million square mile area of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Hong Kong Police Band

One of the Finest Military Bands in Southeast Asia

Hong Kong Police Band, which comprises a Silver Band and a Pipe Band with a total of 77 personnel, plays an important role in public community relation programme and fulfils over 500 engagements in the last year.  The Band has gained an international reputation in countries all over the world.  For the past years, the Band was invited to perform abroad including the ‘Style Hong Kong Expo in Shanghai’, the Zurich Police Music Festival 2010 and ‘Musikschau der Nationen’ in Bremen, Germany, which were all well received.

Programme

Marching performance with pipe band tunes including Trombone King, Drunken Piper, Clumsy Lover, Local Hero and 79th Farewell to Gibraltar.

Hong Kong Association of Choral Societies

A Promoter of Hong Kong’s Choral Art

Chairman of the Hong Kong Association of Choral Societies: Barbara Fei

The Hong Kong Association of Choral Societies was founded in 1987.  The mission of the Association is to bring together all enthusiasts in choral singing, to promote choral arts and to raise the choral standard in Hong Kong.  Since its founding, it has organized many events, such as choral concerts, talks on choral singing, vocal competitions etc.  The present Chairman is Barbara Fei.

Girl Students Marching Band of Jiangxi Normal University

China’s First Brass Band Made Up of All-female Undergraduates

Founded in 2000, the Girl Students Marching Band of Jiangxi Normal University is the first brass band made up of all-female undergraduates in China.  With a dedicated passion for music and a determined spirit, the Band has earned critical acclaim from the local media and has been popularly received at community level.

O’Shea-Ryan Irish Dancers Australia

An Energetic Irish Dance Group

The O’Shea-Ryan Irish Dancers Australia has been in existence for over 50 years, during then members of the group have performed throughout Australia, Asia and Europe. They are beautifully attired in colourful costumes with Celtic designs thereon, and their lively energetic dances are performed to the ‘toe-tapping’ music of traditional Irish Jigs and Reels, which are both lively and entertaining, and have always been greatly appreciated and enjoyed by all.