Live performances to brighten your day
Taking place every Monday and Wednesday afternoon, “Afternoon Series” invites emerging local artists to curate and develop mini-concerts, dance, theatre, comedy and multi-disciplinary performances for the unique environment at Tai Kwun. Sitting in the heart of Central, Tai Kwun is perfectly located to offer a brief reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the week. Come and relax with your co-workers, friends and families all the while being inspired by the innovative ideas of the artists.
Click to view the programme timetable
January to March 2019 Performances
MUSIC
Grammy Yeung & Friends
Chinese Music
Performances: 07.01.2019 & 04.02.2019
Guzheng has lots of music associated with nature and festive celebration is another common theme. The concerts on Jan 7 and Feb 4 (Chinese New Year’s Eve) feature music hand-picked by young guzheng player Grammy Yeung with respectively two themes – “nature”, to soothe your Monday blues, and “festive”, to celebrate the time that Chinese traditional culture cherished the most. Audience can experience the versatile tone colour of guzheng through a wide range of works from classics and traditional pieces respectively with dizi and erhu, to contemporary music compositions together with cello and percussion.
07.01.2019 Concert I: Nature
Guzheng, Dizi & Piano
Performed by Grammy Yeung, Yau Kwan Lam & So Wai Lung
04.02.2019 Concert II: Festive
Guzheng, Percussion, Erhu & Cello
Performed by Grammy Yeung, Hui Wing Hei, Yeung Ka Wai & Fong Ho Man
About the artists
One of the most active guzheng players of her generation, Grammy Yeung is now a year 4 music student of The University of Hong Kong. She started her Guzheng training under Chin King since 2004, and is currently under the guidance of Prof. Xu Lingzi of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
In addition to being a frequent winner in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Yeung was also awarded first place in the 6th Hong Kong Students Open Music Competition and she received the silver medal in The First International Zheng Contest’s B amateur group. In 2017, she was awarded the Rayson Huang Scholarship in Music from the University of Hong Kong.
Over the years, her artistic excellence has taken her to many concert stages locally and abroad, which also brought her chamber music partners whom she met in school and in orchestra. They include So Wai-lung (piano), their duo was selected by RTHK Radio 4 as one of the 2017 Young Music Makers; fellow Chinese orchestra musicians Yau Kwan-lam (dizi) and Yeung Ka-wai (erhu); partnering members of Twoplus Music Hui Wing-hei (percussion), as well as contemporary music partner cellist Fong Ho-man (cello).
Grammy Yeung (Guzheng)
So Wai Lung (Piano)
Yau Kwan Lam (Dizi)
Yeung Ka Wai (Erhu)
Hui Wing Hei (Percussion)
Fong Ho Man (Cello)
MUSIC
Duo Volce
Classical and Contemporary Chamber Music
Performances: 21.01.2019 & 11.02.2019
Duo Volce aims to create new elements at every performance. The theme of the “World Route” travels from the ancient city of Italy in Europe to the icy winter of Russia; heading to the Southeast Asia dropping by Indonesia, Malay and Central Asia; and arrive at the destination of our home - Hong Kong. A trio of classical violin, home-grown harmonica and modern electronic keyboard travel through the time and space in Tai Kwun.
About the artists
Duo Volce is a local chromatic harmonica and violin duo formed by two emerging musicians Harry Choi (harmonica) and Kiann Chow (violin). The duo premiered in 2013 and was officially named as Duo Volce in 2014. Since then, it has been frequently invited by the Hong Kong Harmonica Association to promote classical music at events organised by the LCSD and RTHK. In 2016, the refreshing duo joined with pianist Hong-Yui Shart and was awarded the First Prize at “Original” category at the 11th Asia-Pacific Harmonica Festival in Taiwan. In 2017, the group was honoured as the “Young Artists award” in the Youth Arts Festival organized by Hong Kong Playground Association. In 2018, the group was invited to perform in Musica del Cuore and CCAS Chamber Music for Life HK concert series.
Born in Hong Kong, Law Wai Ting started music training in Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Junior Music Program under the guidance of Ms. Nancy Loo, Dr. Mary Wu and Mr. Raymond Young. At the age of 13, Law made his debut in New York Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall after capturing the second prize in Hong Kong Generation Next Arts Piano Competition. Law had captured numerous international awards including champion at both the Princess Galyani Vadhana International Competition Piano Trio group and Chiang Mai Ginastera International Music Festival Open category.
Duo Volce (Chromatic Harmonica & Violin)
Law Wai Ting (Piano)
MUSIC
The Up:Strike Project
Contemporary Percussion
Performances: 14.01, 28.01, 18.02 & 18.03.2019
The Up:Strike Project is proud to present these works composed by world renowned composers from around the world. All of these composers play a prominent role in the contemporary music over the past fifty years. Up:Strike aims to embody the nature of the integral movement in percussion “up and strike,” through striking and standing out as the leader of the percussive arts. By bringing professional and emerging percussionists together to present and champion a diverse mix of the percussion music. Yet, pulling us and the audiences closer through utilizing innovative ways to promote percussion music.
14.01.2019 Concert I: Vibes!
Vibraphone solo
Performed by Matthew Lau
28.01.2019 Concert II: Long Distance
Marimba & Vibraphone Duet
Performed by Matthew Lau & Bevis Ng
18.02.2019 Concert III: Interwoven Threads
Percussion Quartet
Performed by Matthew Lau, Karen Yu, Bevis Ng & Vonald Chow
18.03.2019 Concert IV
Up:Strike +
Contemporary percussion & Flute
Performed by Karen Yu, Vicky Shin, Angus Lee & Ksenija Komljenovic
About the artists
The Up:Strike Project aims to embody the nature of the integral movement in percussion: “up and strike.” Founded by two Hong Kong-based percussionists, Dr. Matthew Lau and Karen Yu, The Up:Strike Project is a diverse and flexible group, aiming to thread the community together by welcoming all levels of percussionists and musicians, and consistently engaging different young and emerging percussionists to work together.
Dr. Matthew Lau enjoys an international performing and teaching career. Hailed by the Aspen Times for his “soulful and technically impressive solo” at his vibraphone concerto debut at the Aspen Music Festival, percussionist Dr. Matthew Lau performs a wide range of repertoire with an absolute commitment to communicating the meaning and essence of percussion music to its audience. Matthew obtained his Doctor of Musical Arts in contemporary percussion performance from Stony Brook University under the guidance of Eduardo Leandro. Matthew is currently an adjunct faculty at Hong Kong Baptist University, and maintains a private teaching studio. Matthew is artist endorser of Marimba One, Black Swamp Percussion, and Elite Mallets.
As a percussionist, performing artist and interdisciplinary arts researcher, co-founder Karen Yu believes that music is beyond pleasure for our ears. Devoted to bringing changes to the percussion community by elevating the artistry, Up:Strike seeks to broaden the range of performed repertoire, and enlarging the audience circle through reducing the distance between the society and us.
Bevis Ng started learning percussion at a young age, under the tutelage of Margie Tong. With full support from the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund, He is currently in the Bachelor of Music (Hons.) at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, majoring with western percussion. Bevis has won various international and local music competitions. He is one of the winners of the concerto competition in the Academy with "Concerto for Marimba and Strings" by Séjourné in 2018.
Matthew Lau
Vonald Chow
Karen Yu
Bevis Ng
PHYSICAL MUSIC THEATRE
Theatre Ronin - A Many-Splendoured Thing
Performances: 01.01, 02.01, 09.02, 02.02, 09.02 & 10.02.2019
“A Many-Splendoured Thing” recalls the secondary school memories when going to the Prison Yard of Tai Kwun in the afternoon, the students were reading and imagining themselves as the female protagonists in the novels. Only love remains in the courtyard when all the illusions exposed. After all, it became a place full of memory.
Theatre Ronin is founded by its artistic director Alex Tam Hung Man in 2006. Dedicated to explore the aesthetics of ‘Theatre of Imagery’, and creating a distinctively imaginative performing style. Recent work includes “Fallen”, “Hochi the Earless”, “Playing with Xixi” etc. Most of its works are invited to various drama festivals in France, Argentina, Taiwan and China.
Please visit www.facebook.com/TheatreRonin for the latest news.
Crossover
I+V
Dance & Comedy
Performances: 16.01 , 30.01 , 10.02 & 20.02
What did you eat today? Can’t recall as it’s been too rushed? Did you even eat at all?
Dance artist Ivy joins stand-up comedian Vivek to form “I+V”, a dynamic duo to interact with visitors at Tai Kwun through eating games – something we do on a daily basis. Join them for a bite-sized moment of laughter and dance.
About the artists
Ivy TSUI is an independent dance artist who was born and based in Hong Kong. She focuses on site-specific dance and is interested in how movement transform a public space. She is the winner of the "Young Artist (dance)" for the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2015.
Facebook/Instagram: @danceivydance
Vivek MAHBUBANI is a Hong Kong-bred bilingual stand-up comedian performing in both Cantonese and English. Having been crowned the Funniest Person (in Chinese) in Hong Kong in 2007 followed by his victory in the English category in 2008, Vivek now takes his sense of humour all over Asia.
Facebook: @funnyVivekM
Instagram: @funnyVivek
MUSIC
Bernard Chan & Friends
Classical Chamber
Performances: 13.02 & 11.03.2019
Love is a powerful emotion. It is more than sweet romance. Painful struggle comes along as well. Love is the source of inspirations for countless composers’ great works in which they express their emotions. While emotion could change over time, music style also evolves. If there is a time-traveller, what will he hear from cello in different periods of music history?
On Wed Feb 13, one day before the Valentine’s Day and Thu Mar 11, join Bernard Chan and his fellow music partners to hear the stories of love and time-travel told by the cello, the closest to the express of the human voice among string instruments
13.02.2019 Concert I: Love
Performed by Bernard Chan (Cello), Chan Sin (Piano) & Justin Ho (Violin)
11.03.2019 Concert II: Time Travel
Performed by Bernard Chan (Cello), Chan Sin (Piano) & Justin Ho (Violin)
About the artists
A recent master’s graduate of the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of David Strange, Bernard Chan started his music training at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) as a junior programme student, learning cello with Letty Poon, and then graduated with a bachelor’s degree. The Hong Kong-born cellist is active both in chamber and orchestral music. He toured with the Asian Youth Orchestra in 2014 and is currently a guest tutti cellist of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. His chamber music partners are young talents whom Bernard has played with since his days at HKAPA. They include:
Pianist Chan Sin who currently studies with Eleanor Wong at HKAPA for her bachelor’s degree. She is a prize-winner of multiple piano competitions. She recently performed with Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra as the finalist of the 4th Hanoi Piano Competition.
Violinist Justin Ho (13.02.2019 only), current year 4 violin student of Ho Hung-ying at HKAPA. He had toured with Hong Kong Children Symphony Orchestra in Europe, Australia and mainland China. He is now the first violinist of a string quartet at HKAPA.
MUSIC
NOVA Ensemble
Chamber Music
Performances: 25.02 & 25.03.2019
25.02.2019 Concert I: The Guitar Project
Today, the Guitar is often regarded as a recreational instrument of leisure; nevertheless it has an illustrious history tracing back to the Renaissance times in its ancestral variations in the Lute and the Chitarra. This current project focuses on demonstrating the Guitar in its various capacities as a solo and chamber instrument.
Besides the highly popular Histoire du Tango by Astor Piazzolla, this concert features the rarely performed Centone di Sonate by Niccolò Paganini, as well as Jan Freidlin's Kafka Sonata.
Performed by Sean Lai (Violin), Angus Lee (Flute), Stephanie Ng (Clarinet) and Mario To (Guitar)
25.03.2019 Concert II: Wind Chamber Music by Mozart
Mozart's Flute Quartet in D major and Clarinet Quintet in A major are among some of the composers' most beloved works, and retains a central place in the two instruments chamber repertoire. The two works, written over a decade apart, reveals some of Mozart's most signature writing styles.
Performed by Sean Lai (Violin), Vivian Shen (Violin), Du Juan (Viola), Chak-yin Pun (Cello), Angus Lee (Flute) and Sze-chun Young (Clarinet)
About the artists
Founded in 2017, the NOVA Ensemble is an expanding collection of the city’s outstanding, young classical instrumentalists, united by the mission of presenting and promoting chamber music performance at the highest possible level. NOVA sees its mission beyond preservation, but translating our heritage into the inspiration for future generations. Through re-interpreting beloved classics, introducing forgotten works from the past, and proactively commissioning new works for the ensemble, NOVA establishes a firm link between tradition and innovation. Through their pioneering concert formats, the ensemble aims at reducing the distance between performers and listeners, re-engaging the community as an integral part of the process of musical creation.
Sean Lai (Violin)
Angus Lee (Flute)
Stephanie Ng (Clarinet)
Pun Chak Yin (Cello)
Vivian Shen (Violin)
Sze-chun Young (Clarinet)
Mario To (Guitar)
|
Date |
Time |
Performing Group |
Music / Performance Genre |
Location |
|
01.01.2019 (Tue) |
1pm-1:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
02.01.2019 (Wed) |
1pm-1:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
07.01.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Grammy Yeung & Friends |
Chinese Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
09.01.2019 (Wed) |
1pm-1:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
14.01.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
The Up:Strike Project |
Contemporary Percussion |
Laundry Steps |
|
16.01.2019 (Wed) |
4pm-5pm |
Vivek Mahbubani x Ivy Tsui "I+V" |
Dance & Comedy |
Parade Ground |
|
21.01.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Duo Volce |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
28.01.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
The Up:Strike Project |
Contemporary Percussion |
Laundry Steps |
|
30.01.2019 (Wed) |
2pm-3pm |
Vivek Mahbubani x Ivy Tsui "I+V" |
Dance & Comedy |
Prison Yard |
|
02.02.2019 (Sat) |
1pm-1:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
04.02.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Grammy Yeung & Friends |
Chinese Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
09.02.2019 (Sat) |
1pm-1:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
10.02.2019 (Sun) |
5pm-5:40pm |
Theatre Ronin "A Many-Splendoured Thing" |
Physical Music Theatre |
Prison Yard |
|
10.02.2019 (Sun) |
2pm-3pm |
Vivek Mahbubani x Ivy Tsui "I+V" |
Dance & Comedy |
Parade Ground |
|
11.02.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Duo Volce |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
13.02.2019 (Wed) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Bernard & Friends |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
18.02.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
The Up:Strike Project |
Contemporary Percussion |
Laundry Steps |
|
20.02.2019 (Wed) |
2pm-3pm |
Vivek Mahbubani x Ivy Tsui "I+V" |
Dance & Comedy |
Prison Yard |
|
25.02.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Nova Ensemble |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
11.03.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Bernard & Friends |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
|
18.03.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
The Up:Strike Project |
Contemporary Percussion |
Laundry Steps |
|
25.03.2019 (Mon) |
12:45pm-1:45pm |
Nova ensemble |
Classical & Contemporary Chamber Music |
Laundry Steps |
