Ensemble training is an integral part of music learning. The Music Office currently runs 19 youth orchestras/bands/choirs for around 1,300 young musicians - 1 youth symphony orchestra, 4 youth string orchestras, 1 junior chamber ensemble, 4 youth Chinese orchestras, 1 junior Chinese orchestra, 1 children's Chinese orchestra, 4 youth bands, 1 children's band, 1 youth choir and 1 children's choir. Training is free of charge, but members will have to bring their own instruments (except bulky ones) to rehearsals and purchase uniforms and necessary music scores at their own expense.
The training year commences in September and concludes at the end of the following May. Regular rehearsals are held once a week with intensive training sometimes held during holidays to meet varying needs. The bands/choirs/orchestras will also have opportunities to perform in cultural activities exchange and/or participate with visiting young musicians from the Mainland and overseas.
The 19 ensembles conduct an open recruitment every April, with qualified applicants invited to attend an audition beginning in May. The audition will include the playing of sight-reading/sight-singing, as well as the performance of an own-choice work at the stipulated level.
Listed below are relevant bands, orchestra and choirs’ information for the 2018/19 training year:
Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 2:30-5:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Mong Kok Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2399 2200
hkyso@lcsd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Youth Strings
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 9:30 am-12:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Mong Kok Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2399 2200
hkys@lcsd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 9:30 am-12:00 noon
Rehearsal Venue:
Shatin Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2158 6462
hkjce@lcsd.gov.hk
Island Youth Strings
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 2:30-5:00 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Hong Kong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2802 0657
iys@lcsd.gov.hk
Kowloon Youth Strings
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 2:30-5:00 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Kwun Tong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2796 2893
kys@lcsd.gov.hk
New Territories Youth Strings
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 2:30-5:00 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Tsuen Wan Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2417 6429
ntys@lcsd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 2:00 pm-5:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Tsuen Wan Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2417 6429
hkysb@lcsd.gov.hk
Music Office Youth Brass Band
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 9:30am-12:00 noon
Rehearsal Venue:
Hong Kong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2802 0657
moybb@lcsd.gov.hk
Kowloon Youth Symphonic Band
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 2:30 pm-5:00 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Kwun Tong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2796 2893
kysb@lcsd.gov.hk
New Territories Youth Symphonic Band
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 9:30am-12:00 noon
Rehearsal Venue:
Tsuen Wan Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2417 6429
ntysb@lcsd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Children's Symphonic Band
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 2:30-5:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Mong Kok Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2399 2200
hkcsb@lcsd.gov.hk
Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Friday 6:30-9:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Kwun Tong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2796 2893
hkyco@lcsd.gov.hk
Island Youth Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Friday 6:00-8:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Hong Kong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2802 0657
iyco@lcsd.gov.hk
Kowloon Youth Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Friday 6:00-8:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Mong Kok Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2399 2200
kyco@lcsd.gov.hk
New Territories Youth Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Friday 6:00-8:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Tsuen Wan Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2417 6429
ntyco@lcsd.gov.hk
Music Office Junior Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 9:45 am-12:15 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Kwun Tong Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2796 2893
mojco@lcsd.gov.hk
Music Office Children's Chinese Orchestra
Rehearsal Time:
Sunday 3:00 pm-5:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Shatin Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2158 6462
mocco@lcsd.gov.hk
Music Office Youth Choir
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 5:00-7:00 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Sha Tin Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2158 6462
moyc@lcsd.gov.hk
Music Office Children's Choir
Rehearsal Time:
Saturday 2:30-4:30 pm
Rehearsal Venue:
Sha Tin Music Centre
Enquiry/Email:
2158 6462
mocc@lcsd.gov.hk