skip navigation | text only | accessibility | site map

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1977 as a professional traditional Chinese instrumental ensemble. Consisting of 85 musicians, the Orchestra has four sections: bowed-strings, plucked-strings, wind and percussion, which incorporate traditional and modernized Chinese instruments as well as suitable western instruments.   Currently under the leadership of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Yan Huichang, the HKCO has a repertoire that includes both traditional folk music and contemporary full-scale works. To date, the HKCO has commissioned over 1,500 original compositions and arrangements that include works that delve into Chinese roots by way of existing folk songs or idioms, and more avant-garde works that combine Western and Chinese instruments in such forms as piano, organ, and cello concertos. The HKCO also hosts special festivals that reach out to a new audience in outdoor venues.

Additional Resources

Watch Past Performances

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra: Festival of 250 Drums 10/8/05: Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra: Festival of 250 Drums

OUTDOORS ON THE SOUTH PLAZA STAGE
The Millennium Stage hosts a spectacular outdoor drumming extravaganza featuring 250 drummers from the local community performing with members of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The four high-energy works on the program include Worship of the Phoenix compiled by Ren Tongxiang and Chen Jiaqi, Chen Zuohui’s Lion Dance Drum Music, Li Zhengui and Tan Dun’s A Poem on the Drum, and excerpts from Li Minxiong’s Flying Dragons Jumping Tigers.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra: Festival of 250 Drums

OUTDOORS ON THE SOUTH PLAZA STAGE
The Millennium Stage hosts a spectacular outdoor drumming extravaganza featuring 250 drummers from the local community performing with members of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. The four high-energy works on the program include Worship of the Phoenix compiled by Ren Tongxiang and Chen Jiaqi, Chen Zuohui’s Lion Dance Drum Music, Li Zhengui and Tan Dun’s A Poem on the Drum, and excerpts from Li Minxiong’s Flying Dragons Jumping Tigers.

Comments