The Society, first registered under the Societies Ordinance in 1995 and now incorporated as a non-profit making company, is a well-established institution in Hong Kong, dedicated to the promotion of music and music related activities. These include public recitals and concerts, an extensive outreach program involving master classes, workshops, lectures and presentations, an annual music festival and a triennial international piano competition, all of which contributing to augment further the reputation of Hong Kong as a major cultural centre in Asia. The Society believes that classical music is neither an elitist nor a minority interest. The success of the Society’s activities is based on the notion that Hong Kong audiences deserve nothing but the highest quality that the local and international music scenes can offer. The Society’s activities are closely interrelated in order to offer a diverse set of performances and outreach activities drawing on continuity of themes and of participants. The Society believes that, building up audience loyalty and following requires not only consistent high quality of what is being presented but also continuity of the presentations. Every third year since 2005, that is, in 2005,2008 and 2011, the Society ran its biggest event,TheHong Kong International Piano Competition, with a truly exceptional, if not unique jury. The Competition aims at presenting not only an exceptional group of candidates but also an exceptional music-making and music related event. Other innovations included the members of jury performing as well as judging. As part of the Society’s plan to offer an integrated and continuous series of activities, the triennial Competitions have been linked by annual Joy of Music Festivals taking place in-between Competitions and, since 2011, also during the Competitions. Festivals were presented in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, a special substitute event in 2014 and in 2015. The Festivals bring together (in performances, master classes, workshops and presentations), members of the jury of the Competition, all the previous first prize winners of the Competition, first prize winners of other important music competitions, as well as invited world-class artists from all over the world. The Competition has now established itself as one of the top international piano competitions, attracting scores of exceptionally talented candidates from around the world. The next Hong Kong International Piano Competition is scheduled to run between the 27th September and the 13th October 2016 with The Joy of Music Festival running in tandem, with its first performance to take place on the 26thSeptember 2016. At its earliest stages , from 1999 (when it was launched) onwards , the Society has been presenting The Winners Series, which brings to Hong Kong the first prizewinners of major international music competitions. In 2001 the Society launched The Masters Series, an outreach initiative involving well established master teachers highly acclaimed not only for their performances but also for their teaching abilities and capacity to deliver workshops and presentations. The series so far has featured masterclasses in piano, cello, guitar, string quartet and conducting, all open to students, teachers and the public in general, completely free of charge. The Winners Series and The Masters Series were then fully integrated into the annual Joy of Music Festival, which, every three years, is run in tandem with the Hong Kong International Piano Competition. The Alpha Omega Sound – The recording label of The Chopin Society of Hong Kong In 2008 the Chopin Society launched its own recording label, the Alpha Omega Sound, which is releasing a varied and unusual series of archival CDs, re-mastered at the famous Abbey Road Studios, as well as recordings made specifically for its label. Adding one more record label to the plethora which already exists in a crowded field needs some explanations. Ours are very simple:
The Society is particularly proud of its exclusive series of archival recordings from the superb, and totally unknown, collection of SODRE, the state TV and radio organization of Uruguay. Already released: From the SODRE COLLECTION:
Specifically recorded for its label:
We hope that music lovers in Hong Kong will continue to support the Society’s future activities.
Dr. Andrew Freris |
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Copyright © 2015 The Chopin Society
of Hong Kong. All rights reserved. |