Afternoon Series

Programme Cancellation Notice

The programme “Afternoon Series” to be held on 16, 23 & 30 Mar 2020 at 12:45pm have been cancelled.

Thank you for your understanding.

Live performances to brighten your day

Taking place every Monday 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.

January to March 2020 Performances

Brass Ensemble

Performances: 06.01 & 09.03.2020

A trumpet, a horn, a trombone and a tuba: Four professionals who came together to provide the apex of brass chamber music.

The traditional brass ensemble often gives a sense of solemnity and grandeur. However, it also has a side of relaxedness and vitality. MR. Brass will rearrange the relaxed broadway music and jazzy swinging brassy music. It’s a perfect opportunity for audiences to relax their mind, learn different genres of music, why not turn up and enjoy?

06.01.2020 Concert I: Swing that Brass I

Performed by Paul Chiu (Trumpet), Wilson Chau (Horn), Jason Wang (Trombone) & Jasper Chan (Tuba)

09.03.2020 Concert ll: Swing that Brass II

Performed by Paul Chiu (Trumpet), Wilson Chau (Horn), Jason Wang (Trombone) & Jasper Chan (Tuba)

About the artists

Premiere in Dec 2017, MR. Brass is a Hong Kong brass band founded by professional “Mr.”s based in Hong Kong. The group’s vision is to bring unique and excellent brass chamber music to audiences all over the city to their feet. 

MR. Brass is committed to bringing brass chamber music playing to the next aesthetic level through a wide range of repertoire, professionalism and utmost passion. They are also dedicated to education and has organised school concerts, masterclasses and seminars to nurture the next generation musicians.

Chinese Instrumental

Performances: 13.01 & 10.02.2020

Plucked string instruments have a very long history in China and they are known for their rich expressiveness. On Jan 13, “Traditional Tones” include favourite classics such as Ambush from All Sides, Moon Light On the Spring River and High Mountains and Flowing Water. Audience can experience the various tone colour by different pairings of pipa, sanxian and guzheng. The “Chamber Works by Plucked String” on Feb 10 features traditional solo pieces for guzheng and sanxian, as well as contemporary works rearranged for plucked string instruments, such as The Butterfly Lovers.

13.1.2020 Concert I: Traditional Tunes

Performed by Chan Tin-chi (Guzheng), Lau Mo-wah (Sanxian) and Chan Wan-in (Pipa)

10.2.2020 Concert II: Chamber Music by Plucked String

Performed by Chan Tin-chi (Guzheng) and Lau Mo-wah (Sanxian)

About the artists

Performers of this concerts are award-winning young Chinese instrumentalists trained at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). They carry on Cantonese music maestro YU Qiwei’s idea of “duality of Cantonese music” that Chinese musicians shall acquire skills to perform both traditional and contemporary repertoire. These four musicians first met at school and their collaborations continue till today, either as a chamber ensembles or as current members of Hong Kong Gaudeamus Duhang Ensemble (HKGDE).

Chan Tin-chi graduated with a master of music degree at HKAPA under the tutelage of Xu Lingzi and now teaches at the HKAPA. Lau Mo-wah studied sanxian with Zhao Taisheng and is currently a part-time instructor and part-time performer of the Music Office. Chan Wan-in also graduated with a master of music degree at HKAPA. When she was still a student, she was invited to perform in Finland.

Music x Street Workout / Music

Performances: 20.01 & 27.01.2020

On January 20th, the performance of 《RE‧MIX》Percussion Duo will be held with Hong Kong street workout influencers Zero Keung and Rocky Kwok, in response to the Hong Kong government's goal of promoting sports in 2020. In addition to percussion instruments, one of the pieces is accompanied by electronic pre-recorded soundtracks. On the other hand, the two fitness experts will also teach you some simple muscle relaxation exercises.

On January 27th, the 《RE‧MIX》 Percussion Duo will bring you a set of contemporary percussion music programs to share with everyone the joy of the third day of the Chinese Lunar new year.

20.01.2020 Concert I: Percussion x Street Workout

Performed by 《RE‧MIX》Percussion Duo (Raymond Vong & Emily Cheng) and Street Workout Influencers (Zero Keung & Rocky Kwok)

27.01.2020 Concert II: Percussion & Contemporary Music

Performed by 《RE‧MIX》Percussion Duo (Raymond Vong & Emily Cheng) and Eyo Li (Percussion)

About the artists

《RE•MIX》is a percussion duo comprised of renowned musicians Raymond Vong and Emily Cheng, both Master of Music graduates of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Raymond and Emily currently serves as teaching faculty members of the HKAPA. In first stage, 《RE•MIX》 received very high acclaim with staging several performances on Bartok’s “Concerto for two Pianos and Percussion” in one of which they were invited by the Chopin Society of Hong Kong to perform in Hong Kong City Hall. The duo has also performed in Hong Kong and Macau playing recitals and as soloists with orchestras, including playing with the Hong Kong Youth Neowinds Orchestra in Hong Kong and Taipei. For music education, they conducted workshops in schools for students and teachers to popularize percussion music.

Zero Keung and Rocky Kwok are two of the most representative street workout influencers in Hong Kong. They are the founders of the Hong Kong China Calisthenics Association and the Hong Kong fitness team “BarLance” and have served as judges of different physical fitness competitions in Hong Kong. They have won numerous awards in the international arena in Hong Kong. Among them, Keung won the 2018 Hong Kong Freehand Extreme Championship and Kwok won the 2018 Street WorkOut Hong Kong National Cup. Keung and Kwok ranked 12 and 23 in the 2017 Street Workout World Cup Super Final.

Eyo Li is a freelance musician of marching & western percussion, conductor, drill and show designer. She is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of The Pegasus Vanguard. The Pegasus Vanguard won The Champion of Drumline Battle (International Division) in Drum Corps International 2016 which is the first Hong Kong group step into the DCI community. She was a member of the show design team for singer including Jonathan Wong, Sammi Cheng Concert 2019 etc. She is the Artist of Evans Drumheads, Percussion Accessories, Promark, PureSound Percussion (D’Addario & Company). She is a committee member of the Percussive Arts Society (Hong Kong Chapter).

Eyo Li (Percussion)

Western Instrumental

Performances: 03.02 & 24.02.2020

What’s more enjoyable than playing chamber with your brothers? Violinist Mark Hui will take the stage with his brothers in life and in music – flautist Bob Hui (3/2) and cellist Joe Chan (24/2).

The first concert is by violin/viola and flute and offers a lyrical programme with works written by French composer Françoise Devienne from the late 18th century and British composer Malcolm Arnold from the 20th century. The second concert brings us classic violin and cello duo pieces by German and French composers such as the two-part invention by J.S. Bach and the duo sonata by Ravel.

03.02.2020 Concert I: Viola & Flute Duo

Performed by Mark Hui (Viola) & Bob Hui (Flute)

24.2.2020 Concert II: Violin & Cello Duo

Performed by Mark Hui (Violin) & Joe Chan (Cello)

About the artists

Violinist Mark Hui graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with first-class honours and obtained his Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Hui is an active soloist and has an immense passion in orchestra which has taken him around the world to perform and to work with renowned conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach and Michael Tilson Thomas, among others. He also serves as Resident Conductor at the Hong Kong Festival Orchestra.

Bob Hui started his first music lesson with his father. In 2016, he was awarded the Bachelor of Music degree with first-class honour from HKAPA, where he studied with Olivier Nowak. Currently, Bob is a regular freelancer with Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

Joe Chan is a master graduate of Sydney Conservatorium of Music. As an avid performer, Joe has appeared as soloist with many orchestra and international music festivals. He is also a dedicated and passionate educator. He studied string pedagogy with Mimi Zweig and Rebecca Henry.

Western Instrumental

Performances: 02.03 & 23.03.2020

Flute is one of the earliest recorded musical instrument, aside from the human voice. Flautist Brian Chan, together with his music partners oboist Kwan Sheung Fung (2/3), cellist Karey Ho (23/3), and pianist Joanna Wan (2/3 & 23/3), invites audience on a delightful journey with flute solo and chamber music from baroque to 20th century, showcasing the long history of the instrument as well as its versatility.  The first concert (2/3) features rarely heard trio music for flute, oboe and piano such as compositions by Madeleine Dring and Philippe Gaubert; and the second concert (23/3) is the classic combination of flute, cello and piano.

02.03.2020 Concert I: Delightful

Performed by Brian Chan (Flute), Kwan Sheung Fung (Oboe) and Joanna Wan (Piano)

23.03.2020 Concert II: Uplifting

Performed by Brian Chan (Flute), Karey Ho (Cello) and Joanna Wan (Piano)

About the artists

Brian Chan is one of the most active flutists of his generation, splitting his time between orchestra and chamber music performances as well as education. He has toured with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and performed extensively throughout Europe and Asia. In 2010, he graduated from Royal Northern College of Music with distinction. Brian is also a devoted educator and is currently a faculty member of The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA). He regular travels to Europe to study with renown flute masters to further polish his techniques both in performance and in teaching.

For chamber music, he has frequently played with oboist Kwan Sheung Fung and cellist Karey Ho since knowing each other at HKAPA in 2005. The partnership with Joanna Wan started in the United Kingdom. Kwan Sheung Fung, graduated from Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe with "Sehr gut (Point 1)", is currently the English horn player of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Karey Ho finished her master’s degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and is now a cellist of Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Joanna Wan studied piano with Paul Roberts at Royal Northern College of Music where she graduated with a master and postgraduate diploma.

Cello & Piano Duo

Performances: 17.02 & 16.03.2020

For the first appearance of cellist Kai-Hei Chor and pianist Alex Wong at Tai Kwun on 17/2, they will bring a programme which has been performed at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum to Hong Kong audience. The programme offers a new look at cello repertoire: Chinese music played by a western instrument duo, including folk tune KangDing Ballade to the famous Erhu’s  Moon Reflected on Erquan Pond; and from classic Pastoral to contemporary Alfred Wong’s Night Poem.

In their second concert on 16/3, the duo will take the audience onto a journey of dreams. The programme features Fauré’s Apres un Reve, Grieg’s Ein Traum and popular tunes such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

17.02.2020 Concert I: East meets West: When the Cello Meets Chinese music

Performed by Kai-Hei Chor (Cello) and Alex Wong (Piano)

16.03.2020 Concert II: Ein Traum

Performed by Kai-Hei Chor (Cello) and Alex Wong (Piano)

About the artists

Currently a core member of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, Kai-Hei Chor is one of the most active Hong Kong cellists in his generation. Educated in the UK, His prizes include Schoenfeld International Competition, International Competition 'Giovanni Musicisti - Città di Treviso', Italy, Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, and “Hong Kong Scholar” title conferred by the Hong Kong Government. As an orchestral cellist, he was the first ever principal cellist appointed from Hong Kong in the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra; and have performed with orchestras including London Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta etc.

Educated in Hong Kong and USA, Alexander Wong’s major mentors include Jeffie Leung, Dr. Mary Wu, Wong Kin Yu and Dr. Jean Barr. After his graduation, he participated in the Hawai’i Performing Arts Festival as a collaborative pianist in the Voice Program. He was then employed as a full-time Répétiteur at Musica Viva through Hong Kong Arts Development Council’s “Music Artistic Internship Scheme” (2015-2017).  Currently Alexander is an accompanist of different schools and ensembles; and serves as a part-time Teaching Assistant in the School of Humanities (Music) of the University of Hong Kong.