About the Programme

There are two kinds of music, the pleasant kind and the unpleasant kind.

This conclusion may seem to be saying music is only about personal preferences, but there are in fact various factors that affect sensation and resonance, e.g., instrument structure, sound production principles, instrument playing techniques, volume control, performance emotions, and so on.  The concert seeks to introduce basic principles of performance in a relaxed and humorous manner, and to explain the evolution of music style with history using live music. Students can try to experience and distinguish the music styles and characteristics of various eras of Chinese and Western music using only their ears and intuition without learning complex theories.

In addition, the concert will also try to bring out the concept that creation is borderless: infinite possibilities can be played with the 88 black and white keys on a piano, and with just two strings, an erhu can perform heart-breaking sadness as well as up-tempo songs like a barrage of bullets.  Finally, the integration of Chinese and Western music will be demonstrated by cellos and percussion, breaking students’ stereotype and impression from their usual music training that focuses solely on classical music.

Performers

About the Performers

Graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Phoesbus Chan was an awardee of "Persons with Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Arts and Culture" awarded by the Secretary for Home Affairs Commendation Scheme in 2020 for his distinguished dedication in the promotion and participation of international cultural and arts events and  also an awardee of the 10 Most Outstanding Youth Artist Award in 2005.  Chan was a lecturer of the Hong Kong College of Technology, RTHK Radio 4 and Radio 2 Presenter, Post Producer of Disney Channel Hong Kong and Director of the Pop Music Department of Baron School of Music.  Chan is active in the music industry and has participated in various music and stage performances as accompanists, performers, music directors, directors, and other roles.  He has also collaborated with several internationally renowned musicians and composed music for multiple movies and advertisements.

Chan Pik Sum graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she was trained in Cantonese music under the gaohu virtuoso Yu Qiwei, gaining a double major in gaohu and erhu.  Upon graduating from the Academy with a Bachelor degree, she furthered her music studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and was awarded a Master degree.  Chan is active in both Chinese and Western musical genres and has played with various leading orchestras, including the Fulcrum Point New Music Project of Chicago, Chung Chi Wind Orchestra of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra and City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong as soloist.  She has also performed in crossover productions of dance, Chinese traditional theatre and multimedia.  Chan was an awardee of "Persons with Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Arts and Culture" awarded by the Secretary for Home Affairs Commendation Scheme in December 2018 for her distinguished dedication in the promotion and participation of international cultural and arts events.