Riding on the success of their past performances, the University Philharmonic Orchestra, HKUSTSU will offer a night of music by well-known old masters and contemporary composers to welcome new students and celebrate the beginning of the new semester. After the concert, audience can indulge in delicious barbecue food in the Shaw Auditorium outdoor area while mingling with fellow music enthusiasts under the starlit sky. Mark your calendars and embrace the harmony!

PROGRAM

Giuseppe VERDI | Triumphal March from Aida

Van MCCOY | African Symphony

Vittorio MONTI | Czardas

Shinji TANIMURA | Subaru

Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART | Allegro Maestoso from Sinfonia Concertante

Ennio MORRICONE | Selections from Cinema Paradiso

Phil LAM | 一雙手

Meredith WILLSON | Seventy-Six Trombones

Ludwig van BEETHOVEN | Finale from Symphony No. 5

Toshiyuki TACHIKAWA | 紅日

PERFORMER

University Philharmonic Orchestra, HKUSTSU

University Philharmonic Orchestra (UPO) is a student-run orchestra under the Student Union of The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUSTSU).
The orchestra was previously known as the HKUSTSU Wind Ensemble, which merged with the Strings Ensemble in 2005. The orchestra consists of musicians from different backgrounds, including local, international, exchange students, postgraduate researchers, alumni, and friends of HKUST.
UPO aims to provide a platform for music-loving HKUST members to create and enjoy music. We also hope to nourish our musicians' musicality and skills through playing orchestral music. In the past, we were invited to perform at functions such as the Outreach Day in HKUST, independent clubs' orientation camps, and inauguration ceremonies. In recent years, UPO has given concerts at the Shaw Auditorium at HKUST.

Ken CHENG, Conductor

From 1997 to 2005, Ken led the HKUSTSU Wind Ensemble in various exchange programmes as a conductor, regularly organizing concerts of various types and scales with eclectic repertoire. In 2005, the HKUSTSU Wind Ensemble and String Team underwent restructuring and merged to form the present University Philharmonic Orchestra, HKUSTSU, and Ken has remained the conductor throughout. The Orchestra performs regularly, with programs including Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, New World Symphony, Beethoven Symphony No.7, Brahms Symphony No.1 and No.4, Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4 and No.5, and Enigmas Variations. Apart from conducting, Ken is also actively involved in music arrangement, and such works has often been selected for performances in professional and school programs. For two consecutive summers, Ken conducted orchestral performances in Vienna — at the concert hall of the Vienna Boys' Choir in 2018 and the Musikverein in 2019 respectively. In 2023, Ken was honored to participate in the HKUST University Anthem recording project. He was also invited to conduct an orchestral performance at the Variety Show celebrating the 74th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China held at Hong Kong Coliseum on October 1st, 2023. Furthermore, Ken was honored to collaborate with Mui Nation, the largest fan club of the late Hong Kong pop legend Anita Mui, and conducted the Anita Mui Orchestra Concert, a charity concert in December 2023.

GUEST PERFORMER

Pluto CHU, Alto Saxophone

CHU joined the former Music Office in 1986 to study violin. Later, he studied saxophone in 1990. He was taught by Miss KWOK Yen Fan. Later, he followed Mr. LI Chi Wing, a former member of the Chinese Central Orchestra. CHU entered the Chinese University of Hong Kong in 1997, majoring in biochemistry and minoring in music. In 2000, he was admitted to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts to study for an advanced diploma and professional diploma, majoring in saxophone performance.

Manho LEE, Clarinet

Manho LEE, is regarded as one of the active clarinetists in Hong Kong. He gave performances with various chamber groups, wind ensembles and orchestra, as well as being a soloist. Manho started studying clarinet performance under tutelage of Mr. Andrew SIMON and Mr. John SCHERTLE, the Principal and Assistant Principal clarinetist in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra respectively, and achieved the qualification for Clarinet Performance of LRSM. Manho was awarded scholarships from Ecole Normale de Musqiue de Paris and Columbus State University, Schwob School of Music.

Matthew TANG, Violin

Tang Wai Ho Matthew, HKUST alumni who graduated in BBA Marketing. He has joined HKUST music-related groups (from string team and now University Philharmonic Orchestra, HKUSTSU) for many years. He had been the concertmaster for more than 5 years during his participation.
Matthew is still very active in different local orchestras like Hong Kong Millenium Youth Orchestra, Hong Kong Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra, etc, despite of his busy daytime work, we can see his passion on music.

Marcus YAN, Viola

Marcus Yan started learning the violin during his secondary school years. Although he did not study music as his major, he remained active in various amateur orchestras due to his passion for music. In 2005, he enrolled at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and obtained a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Biochemistry. During his time there, he served as a violinist in the HKUSTSU Philharmonic Orchestra. He began self-learning the viola in 2014 and subsequently participated as a guest principal or assistant principal violist in different orchestras, including the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra, the SAR Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Metropolitan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Welcome Concert 2024 - University Philharmonic Orchestra, HKUSTSU