Afternoon Series

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.

Dec 2020 Performances

Funk, Jazz, Pop & Fusion

Performances: 07.12.2020

Groovy Buddies has been unleashing high-energy brassy funk and jazz pop to the audience since forming in 2019. The intensity of the band’s energy is fueled by their desire to share the healing and inspirational power of music with others. They are going to present wind and brass music in the less traditional and popular ways. They will perform some original music and cover popular songs, with their own very special brassy arrangements, such as Motown, Funk, Fusion, Jazz Pop style and etc.

Programme
Synergy by Groovy Buddies
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran
Best Things by Lucky Chops
Treasure by Bruno Mars
Elephantry by Groovy Buddies
Funky Town / I Feel Good by Lipps Inc & James Brown
Dance Monkey by Tones and I
Danza by Don Omar
Heal The World by Michael Jackson
Rebellious by Groovy Buddies

About the artists

Groovy Buddies is a Hong Kong brass band founded in 2019, featuring a 6-pieces brass band made up of trumpet, tenor saxophone, trombone, baritone saxophone, tuba and drums. The band began as a cover band playing popular songs and giving their own very special brassy arrangements to songs. After months of collaboration, they started to compose their own original music. Playing mostly Funk, Motown and Jazz Pop music, Groovy Buddies has grown their reputation and popularity.

Members: Hei Kwok (Trumpet), Kaho Wong (Tenor Sax), Snake Ming (Trombone), Kenny Kin (Baritone Sax), Long Kwan (Tuba) & Blue Kwok (Drums)

Groovy Buddies

Western Instrumental

Performance: 14.12.2020

Wants to hit a high note? Plays flute. The flute used in Western classical orchestra is known for its unique sonority. Flutist Brian Chan, together with his music partner pianist Joanna Wan returns to Tai Kwun once again and invites audience on a delightful journey with flute and piano duo music from baroque to 20th century, showcasing the long history of the instrument as well as its versatility, and ending the concert with the exciting Carmen Fantasy.

Programme

Sonata in G Minor, BWV 1020 by JS Bach
Jeux by J. Ibert
Beim Scafengehen by R. Strauss
Fruhling by R. Strauss
Vocalise Etude by O. Messiaen
Flute Fantasia No. 1 in C by G. P. Telemann
Carmen Fantasy by Borne
Performed by Brian Chan (Flute) & 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.

Pianist Joanna Wan is his long-time chamber music partner. After finishing her degree at The Chinese University of Hong Kong under the tutelage of Wong Mei-ling, she studied piano with Paul Roberts at Royal Northern College of Music where she graduated with a master and postgraduate diploma.

Brian Chan (Flute)

Joanna Wan (Piano)

Western & Chinese Instrumental

Performances: 21.12.2020

When the Chinese Sheng, also called the Chinese mouth organ, was introduced to Europe in 18th century, the way sound is produced from the Sheng reed inspired the invention of harmonica. The ancestor (sheng) and the grandson (harmonica) are brought together by young Hong Kong musicians Yue Kin-long (sheng) and Kelvin Leung (harmonica). They will once again perform Western classic and Chinese instrumentalist music re-arranged for harmonica and sheng duo. Join us and hear this dynamic intercultural duo on December 21.

Programme

Performed by Yue Kin-long (Sheng), Kelvin Leung (Harmonica) and Alison Ma (Keyboard)

About the artists

MouWongGun is formed by harmonica player Kelvin Leung and Chinese sheng player Yue Kin-long with the aim to extend the repertoire of these two “free-reed” instruments. They both play a wide range of music, ranging from Western classical/Chinese tradition to jazz and pop music.

Kelvin Leung is a member of harmonica ensemble RedBricks. He won the Chromatic Harmonica Solo (Adult) in World Harmonica Festival 2013, Germany, among other international awards, when he was only a student. Kelvin was also the youngest jury members of the Seoul International Harmonica Festival 2016 to 2018. In 2017, he was selected by RTHK Radio 4 as one of the Young Music Makers.

Sheng player Yue Kin-long is currently head of orchestra with the Hong Kong Gaudeamus Dunhuang ensemble, Sheng Musician-in-Resident of West Kowloon Tea House Rising Stars Troupe and a member of John Chen Ensemble. A graduate of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and multi-scholarship awardee, he has performed overseas many times. His sheng mentors are Cheng Tak-wai and Loo Sze-wang.

Pianist Alison Ma is currently a music student of The Chinese University of Hong Kong under the tutelage of Timothy Kwok. She is the first runner-up of Taiwan Asia Aegean Music Contest 2017 and has performed with the School Choir of Belilios Public School and The Greeners’ Sound as a pianist.

Kelvin Leung (Harmonica)

Yue Kin-long (Sheng)

Alison Ma (Piano)

Contemporary Percussion

Performances: 28.12.2020

The Up:Strike Project returns to Tai Kwun for 3 more end of year concerts from October - December. The third concert features the vibraphone, pieces include Temple, Ueno, Fidemrazier, and Negri.

Programme

La Céleste by Jose Manuel Lopez
A-lógica 3 by Facundo Negri
Wavelengths by Ken Ueno
Ah Yes, the Three Genders by Alex Temple

Performed by Matthew Lau, Samuel Chan, Karen Yu, Bevis Ng & Eugene Kwong

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, Karen Yu and Dr. Matthew Lau, 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 with us.

By bringing professional and emerging percussionists together, presenting and championing a diverse mix of percussion music, and supporting the future leaders of percussive arts, The Up:Strike Project endeavours to strike and stand out as the pioneer of the ever-changing art form in percussion and contemporary music.

Devoted to bring changes, The Up:Strike Project seeks to elevate the artistry of percussion, at the same time, focusing on community engagement through musicmaking and broadening the diversity of performed repertoire.

The Up:Strike Project

Matthew Lau

Karen Yu

Eugene Kwong

Samuel Chan

Bevis Ng

Remarks: The performance line-up and schedule are subject to change. Please stay tune to Tai Kwun website for the latest information.