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The Fourth International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music (Postponed)

Date and Time

4/7/2020 (Sat) 7:30 pm (Final Competition Concert)

Venue

Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall

Ticket Fee

$250

Postponement for ‘The Fourth International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music’

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage around the world, for the health and safety of judges, observers, participants, audiences and colleagues, after deliberations with our co-organizer, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the second round, semi-final and final competitions (originally scheduled for 26 June-7 July 2020) has been postponed. All second round entrants are eligible for the competition. In addition, after deliberations with Shanghai Conservatory of Music, the 2nd Hong Kong Symposium for Conducting (originally scheduled for 5-7 July 2020) has also been postponed. Further details will be announced on HKCO’s website. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Initiated by the HKCO in 2011, the International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music has nurtured many conducting talents over the years. For the 4th edition of the Competition, the HKCO will join with The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in organizing the global event to further the objectives of promoting Chinese orchestral music, enhancing artistic exchange and bridging the geographical divide.

“This international competition is a groundbreaking move in the realm of large-scale, modern Chinese music performance in the last hundred years. It is a launch pad for young conducting talents as well as for Chinese orchestral music in the main. I am certain that this conducting competition will add magical charm to the genre of Chinese music, and be a milestone in its history.”
- Zhao Jiping (Honorary Chairman of the Chinese Musicians’ Association)

“This conducting competition for Chinese music offered an exceptional learning and training opportunity for all contestants. From wielding the baton to communicating with the musicians of the Orchestra, to stepping onto the conductor’s podium and feeling the tension of having all eyes on one’s every single move, it has been a most valuable experience for aspiring conductors throughout. We look forward to organizing this kind of competition in the future so as to give young conducting talents of Chinese music the break they deserve.”
- Yan Huichang (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Life, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra)

The Competition

First Round (A closed event)

The panel of judges will assess the participants on the basis of the video recordings submitted before 31 October 2019, and announce the list of participants selected before the end of January 2020.

Second Round (A closed event)

It will be held between 26-29 June 2020 in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The participants will conduct HKCO virtuosi and Department of Chinese Music of the HKAPA in playing two works selected for the Second Round Competition:

A) Cycles of Destiny Raymond Mok

B) Competitors in this round will draw lots to determine which work he/she will conduct among the following two:

Moonlight over the Spring River Ancient Melody Arr. by Qin Pengzhang and Luo Zhongrongor

As the Moon Rises (Excerpts)　Ancient Melody　Arr. by Peng Xiuwen

Semi-final Competition (A closed event)

It will be held between 1-2 July 2020 at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The semi-final comprises two parts: sight-reading at rehearsal (to test the ability to correct mistakes and read scores quickly) and conducting a rehearsal with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.

Part A Sight-reading and correcting mistakes: participants will be informed of the work chosen after entering the simi-finals

Part B Works for conducting: Ravel dans le jardin chinois (Excerpt) Arr. by Hui Cheung-wai after his own composition　(Work selected for competing for the Best Interpretation of a Work on Hong Kong prize)

Tone poem　Song of Lishan (Excerpt)　Rao Yuyan

Final Competition Concert (A concert open to the public)

It will be held on 4 July 2020 at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Finalists will compete for the laurel by conducting the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in performing the following works:

Sacrifice–Torches–Potent Liquors (The third movement of Three Melodies of West Yunnan) Guo Wenjing

Big Tree (Version presented at Hong Kong Culture Week of the 21st China Shanghai International Arts Festival) Ng Cheuk-yin

The first prize winner will conduct the following piece with the HKCO at the Final Competition Concert: Tone poem　Flowing Water (Excerpt)　Chan Pui-fang

The Second Hong Kong Symposium for Conducting

5-7 July, 2020 (Details to be announced)

Panel of Judges

First Round：10-11/12/2019
Panel Chairman

Xia Feiyun (Professor of Shanghai Conservatory of Music)

Chen Tscheng-hsiung (Former Director and Conductor of Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra)

(Names of Judges listed in Chinese stroke order)

Bian Zushan (Former Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of China, member of the Experts Committee of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society)
Chew Hee Chiat (Resident Conductor of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra)
Zhang Lie (National Class One Conductor of China Broadcasts Arts Troupe, Deputy Secretary General of Chinese Professional Committee of Conductors)
Liu Sha (Resident Conductor of China National Traditional Orchestra, Music Director and Principal Conductor of Macao Chinese Orchestra)

Second Round：26-29/6/2020
Panel Chairman
Chen Tscheng-hsiung (Former Director and Conductor of Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra)

(Names of Judges listed in Chinese stroke order)

Bian Zushan (Former Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of China, member of the Experts Committee of China Nationalities Orchestra Society)
Chew Hee Chiat (Resident Conductor of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra)
Lin Daye (Associate Professor in Conducting, Shanghai Conservatory of Music and Music Director of Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra)
Yeh Tsung (Music Director of Singapore Chinese Orchestra)
Liu Sha (Resident Conductor of China National Traditional Orchestra (CNTO)
Prof Sharon Andrea Choa (Dean of the School of Music, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Conductor)

Semi-final Competition：1-2/7/2020
Final Competition：4/7/2020

Panel Chairman

Chen Tscheng-hsiung (Former Director and Conductor of Taipei Municipal Chinese Orchestra and National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra)

(Names of Judges listed in Chinese stroke order)
Bian Zushan (Former Principal Conductor of the National Ballet of China, member of the Experts Committee of China Nationalities Orchestra Society)
Chew Hee Chiat (Resident Conductor of Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra)
Hui Cheung-wai (Board Member and Panel Head (Composition) of Hong Kong Music Institute, Resident Composer of Hong Kong Harmonic Association)
Chen Xieyang (Honorary Music Director of Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Music Director of Suzhou Symphony Orchestra)
Yeh Tsung (Music Director of Singapore Chinese Orchestra)
Prof Sharon Andrea Choa (Dean of the School of Music, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts; Conductor)

Observers：
(Names of Observers listed in Chinese stroke order)
Yu Qingxin (Current Editorial Member and former Associate Editor of People’s Music)
Lee Chiu-Mei (Editor, Music Programming, Performing Arts Review (PAR))
Chow Fan-fu (Vice Chairman of the International Association of Theatre Critics (Hong Kong), seasoned music critic)
Qiao Jianzhong (Researcher and supervisor of doctoral candidates of the Chinese National Academy of Arts; Distinguished Professor of China Conservatory of Music and Xi’an Conservatory of Music)
Chao Ching-Yu (Seasoned music media person in Taiwan)

Awards

Champion: US$15,000 and a trophy
First Runner-up: US$12,000 and a trophy
Second Runner-up: US$10,000 and a trophy
Outstanding Young Conductor of Hong Kong
Best Interpretation of a Work on Hong Kong
Audience's Favourite (Voted by the audience on the spot)
Musicians' Choice (Voted by members' of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra)
Media / Producers' Choice Award (Voted by professionals of the relevant industries)

This is part of the ICOL Programme for Exchange and Collaboration for Top Young Musicmakers under the auspices of the International Chinese Orchestra League (ICOL). Winners have the opportunity to be invited to collaborate with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Shaanxi Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Beijing Chinese Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra.

Other terms and conditions:

The organizer will provide scores required in the competition and relevant information on the selected excerpt.
The results of the assessment shall be kept confidential. The judges shall have the right to interrupt contestants during a rehearsal and ask questions pertaining to the music.
The decisions of the judges shall be final, and such will be announced before the start of each stage of the competition.
In case of breach of any rules of the competition, the organizer shall have the right to disqualify the contestant concerned immediately.
The judges reserve the right for not awarding any prizes.
Contestants shall give unconditional consent to the organizer who shall have the full right to telecast, record (by video or audio) and take photographs of the competition. The organizer reserves the right to make changes to the details of the competition.
For updated information, please visit the website of the Orchestra or make enquiries on (852) 3185 1600.

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