Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra

Established in 1978, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra is trained and managed by the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Over the years, many of its former members have pursued a career in music and become eminent performers or music educators. The Orchestra has worked with many international acclaimed conductors and soloists, such as 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. In 2010, the Orchestra, at the invitation of UNICEF, jointly performed with the world-class pianist Lang Lang at a fundraising concert. The Orchestra was invited to perform for “Caritas Charity TV Show” with famed pianist Colleen Lee and a number of pop singers in 2013 and 2015.

The Orchestra has also played the role of music ambassador of Hong Kong and completed successful concert tours to France, Israel, Cyprus, UK, Australia, USA, Singapore and cities in the Mainland. The Orchestra went on another concert tour to Shanghai and performed for the Hong Kong Week of Shanghai Expo in 2010. Apart from that, the Orchestra also participated in exchange programmes with Shanghai young musicians. In 2015, the Orchestra participated in the International Music Festival EURASIA in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Orchestra also attended training sessions at the Urals Mussorgsky State Conservatoire and jointly performed with the Ural Youth Symphonic Orchestra. In 2017, the Orchestra participated and performed in a series of concerts and cultural exchange activities in Daqing and Harbin.

With a current membership of around 110, aged 12 to 25, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra is 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.