| Robert Bonfiglio |
Harmonica |
"Master of the Harmonica - His playing is something you have to hear to believe." Boston Globe
"Paganini of the harmonica" Los Angeles Times
Hailed as the "Paganini of the Harmonica" by the Los Angeles Times, Robert Bonfiglio dazzles audiences worldwide with his versatility in a wide range of styles from classical harmonica concertos to sizzling blues. He performs as soloist with the world’s top orchestras, including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Leipzig MDR-Radio Symphony Orchestra, Madrid Radio Television Espanola Orchestra, the Mexico City, Luxembourg and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Utah Symphony Orchestras, the New York Pops, the Minnesota Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Boston Pops with John Williams on PBS Television. His RCA recording of the Villa-Lobos harmonica concerto with Gerard Schwarz and the New York Chamber Symphony Orchestra was released to critical acclaim. Robert Bonfiglio is also the founding director of the Grand Canyon Music Festival. He studied composition with Aaron Copland and harmonica with Chinese classical virtuoso Cham-ber Huang.
| Andrew Sewell |
Guest conductor |
New Zealand-born conductor Andrew Sewell is currently the music director of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra in Kansas. His previous appointments include five years as music director and conductor of the Mansfield Symphony Orchestra in Ohio and resident conductor of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. He has guest conducted several orchestras in the United States and abroad including the Toronto, Detroit, Milwaukee, Columbus, Spokane, Kyushu and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras, the Oregon Mozart Players and the National Symphony of Mexico. In 1997 Mr. Sewell was awarded the prestigious "Star" Award from the New Zealand Aotea Performing Arts Trust. This will be his third visit to guest conduct the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. He and his family reside in Madison, Wisconsin.
City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong
Renowned for its innovative approach to classical music programming, the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong (CCOHK) has established itself as one of Hong Kong's leading orchestras. Comprised of professional musicians resident in Hong Kong, the CCOHK specializes in the performance of small and intimate works for orchestra. Over ten different nationalities are represented in the orchestra including Hong Kong, mainland China, Russia, the Czech Republic, France, the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
Since its inception in 1999, the CCOHK has given regular concerts with distinguished local and international artists including Danish recorder virtuoso Michala Petri, legendary British baritone Sir Thomas Allen, French saxophonist Claude Delangle, Chinese pianist Kong Xiangdong, Hong Kong actor Jim Chim, British clarinet prodigy Julian Bliss and the Scottish folk group The Whistlebinkies. The orchestra broadcasts regularly on RTHK Radio 4 and has appeared on television in Hong Kong, Australia and Spain. In 2003 the CCOHK was the recipient of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council "Rising Artist Award" in music and is currently supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council One-Year Grant.
