X'mas Performance (updated on 24 December 2002)

Please visit Hong Kong Harmonica Association website for other harmonica events during the X'mas holiday.

Television Programme Features Local Harmonica Community (updated on 17 December 2002)

Ho Pak-cheong and Magdalene Appear on Radio Programme (updated on 17 December 2002)

Our first treble player Ho Pak-cheong and our manager Magdalene were the guests of the Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 programme "It Takes Two" on 26 November 2002 (Tuesday).  In the 2-hour programme, they share their favorite music which include two works written for us:

Ho Pak-cheong - Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Hong Kong (updated on 17 December 2002)

Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 programme "Music Chat Room" interviewed him on 2 November 2002 (Saturday).  In this 2-hour programme, recording of a work written for us can be heard:

ISCM World Music Days 2002 Hong Kong (updated on 17 December 2002)

One of the attractions is an overnight South-China Sea tour on the luxury cruise liner SuperStar Leo on 18-19 October.  We are honoured to perform on board a 45-minute programme for the delegates from all over the world.  It is also a special concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Composer and Authors Society of Hong Kong.  The performance features all local compositions for harmonica quintet.  Music of Hui Cheung-wai and Mui Kwong-chiu are presented, as well as 4 new pieces by Lam Man-yee who also directs this performance.

Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2002 in Japan (updated on 6 October 2002)

We were invited to perform in the International Friendship Concert on 1 August 2002.  Compositions by Hong Kong composers were featured in our programme:

In the same concert, the newly formed Hong Kong Harmonica Association was featured, with a harmonica orchestra consisting of 20 distinguished harmonica players playing two pieces of contrasting styles: Rachmaninov's Vocalise and Suppe's Light Cavalry Overture.

There are altogether 64 people in the Hong Kong delegation, coordinated by the Hong Kong Harmonica Association.  Beside the performance in the concert, the harmonica players have achieved phenomenal results in the competition, grabbing 6 gold prizes, 11 silver prizes and 13 bronze prizes in 35 entries.  In the 10 categories of competition, we achieved the first position in 3 categories, namely, Large Ensemble, Duo and Free Style.  A concert to celebrate the achievements will be staged on 6 November 2002 (Wednesday) at Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.

Being the host of the next Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival in 2004, the Hong Kong delegation expressed its sincere welcome to all harmonica lovers who attended the Atsugi festival.  A booth was established to disseminate the information of Hong Kong and the next festival.  In the closing ceremony, Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Mr. Alex Fong, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the Hong Kong SAR Government.  A short video demonstrated the vivid life of Hong Kong, while all the Hong Kong delegates expressed our warm welcome through music by performing the piece Elite Gathering, written by Hui Cheung-wai specifically for this occasion.

Please visit the website of Hong Kong Harmonica Association (http://www.hkharmonica.org) for more details on Hong Kong's participation in the Festival and news of the local harmonica community.

Harmonica Duo Recital (updated on 1 April 2002)

Apart from playing their winning piece Arietta and Rondino, they have commissioned Hui Cheung-wai to write a harmonica duo piece Blues in A Basket (consisting of five movements about the color blue).  Allan Ho has also commissioned Dave Packer to write a solo piece.

Other highlights of the programme include a few other duo pieces like Bach's Prelude, a "Spring" duet by Japanese composer in the style of Baroque, a beautiful French "Barcarole" (boat song), Italian Dance "Siciliano" with 4 variations transcribed from harp, and solo performances by Allan and Mark individually with Dave Packer (keyboard) and Stephen Chau (guitar).

Radio Programme Features New Works for Harmonica Quintet and Orchestra (updated on 1 April 2002)

Excerpts of the 2 new works written for harmonica quintet and orchestra, which were world-premiered by us and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra on 27 January 2002, can be heard in the above programme.  The composer Hui Cheung-wai speaks about them (as well as other of his works) in the programme.

Radio Programme Features Harmonica (updated on 4 April 2002)

This is a re-run of the same programme broadcast on 12 May last year.

The title of the programme is "The Young Contemporary Harmonica Music".  The handy chromatic harmonica has only appeared on the stage of serious music in the past century and is still in its infancy.  In view of its unique structure and tonal quality among other musical instruments, it deserves more attention in the history of contemporary music with the original works written for it.  Compared to other well-established music instruments, there has been less forward-looking exploration made on chromatic harmonica.  While this can be understood, this is exactly an area awaiting people to explore.

Original Chinese introduction of the programme can be viewed here.

Listen online now - even if you don't understand Cantonese!  Just listen to the music!  You can refer to the following programme (starting time of each piece in square bracket):

Repertoire Updates (updated on 4 April 2002)

New Article Posted (updated on 1 April 2002)

Chinese Page in GB2312 Encoding (updated on 1 April 2002)

World Harmonica Festival 2001 (updated on 2 March 2002)

The World Harmonica Festival was held from 24 to 28 October 2001 (Wednesday to Sunday) in Trossingen, Germany.  Our members Ho Pak-cheong and Lau Chun-bong attended the Festival.  Allan Ho and Mark Chan from Hong Kong won the champion in the Open category of the competition.  Congratulations to them!

Their achievements were widely reported in the local media.  Please read the reports of Ming Pao and Apple Daily (in Chinese, BIG5 code page).  The news has been selected as one of the Top 10 Music Highlights in Hong Kong.  75% of the votes were cast on this news, ranking it the second among the 10 entries.  Please listen to the announcement here (starting from 8:25, in Cantonese).  News about harmonica has become one of the Top 10 in two consecutive years.

From left to right: Allan Ho, Ho Pak-cheong, Lau Chun-bong, Mark Chan

Larry Adler Passed Away (updated on 15 February 2002)

He was the torch bearer who lit the way for many aspiring chromatic players who were inspired by his style, technique and musicality.  More than just the best mouth organ player, he was the consummate professional entertainer and performer to the end.  He opened many doors through which others have since passed.

There can never be another.

Ho Pak-cheong wrote about Larry Adler in February 2002 edition of "Fine Music" (the Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 publication).  The article written in Chinese is titled "When Harmonica Meets Adler As Adler Meets Harmonica".  The Radio 4 programme "Profile" (presented in Cantonese) on 15 February 2002 (Friday) 7-8pm featured Larry Adler.

For more details:

Symphonic Début with Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (updated on 10 February 2002)

The concerts are our début with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, performing the first music written for a harmonica quintet and a philharmonic orchestra.  Conducted by Music Director Samuel Wong, the two concerts at 3pm and 8pm, 27 January 2002 (Sunday), at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, bring two world premières, both by the Hong Kong composer Hui Cheung-wai and both commissioned by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.  In Hui's own words, Rendezvous Paris "draws on many French composers as well as on Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (premièred in Paris), Gershwin's An American in Paris and the Beatles' Michelle" while Reflections from a Pentagonal Crystal is "totally free... exploring symphonic effects while balancing the Quintet with the great soundscape of the orchestra."  Our first treble player Ho Pak-cheong also play James Moody's Little Suite with the orchestra.

Interview by Hong Kong Music Institute (updated on 10 February 2002)

Performance in Hong Kong Music Institute Annual Concert (updated on 10 February 2002)

King's College Harmonica Band 50th Anniversary (updated on 10 February 2002)

Chinese YMCA Harmonica Orchestra Concert (updated on 9 December 2001)

Performance in Hong Kong Hospital Authority Charity Concert (updated on 18 November 2001)

Our members Ho Pak-cheong playing the treble harmonica, who is an orthopaedic surgeon in Prince of Wales Hospital, together with Johnny Kuan playing the bass harmonica, and Lee Sheung Ching playing the chord harmonica, performed in a charity concert organized by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority Charitable Foundation.  The concert was staged on 31 October 2001 (Wednesday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.  The concert also featured the renowned pianist Kong Xiangdong, violinist Takako Nishizaki, singer Jacky Cheung, and Hong Kong Children's Choir.

Appearance in Radio Programme (updated on 18 November 2001)

Watani in Hong Kong (updated on 10 February 2002)

Performing Tour in Japan (updated on 12 August 2001)

We arrived at Atsugi, the home town of harmonica in Japan on 3 August 2001 (Friday).  On the next day, we performed in the gala concert of the Atsugi Summer Harmonica Festival, together with harmonica masters from Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and Israel.

In the evening, all the participants of the festival enjoyed the firework display which has been a tradition for 55 years.  On 5 August 2001, we moved to Tokyo to present a harmonica lecture concert, featuring the full spectrum of our repertoire (works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert, Dvorak, Borodin, Shostakovich and Gershwin), and highlighting recent compositions for harmonica quintet.  We are honoured to have the presence of the composers Hui Cheung-wai and Mui Kwong-chiu in the concert to introduce their works to the audience.

More details can be found in the website of All Japan Harmonica Federation.

It has been over one year since our monumental concert in the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2000.  We are now delighted to present another major concert on 25 July 2001 (Wednesday) 8pm at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.  Despite the typhoon which causes the concert to be postponed to 31 July 2001 (Tuesday), the concert was attended and well received by an audience of over 800. 

The concert featured 3 new commissioned works by 3 local composers Chan Ming-chi, Hui Cheung-wai and Mui Kwong-chiu.  It also featured an unprecedented attempt in our collaboration with our resident pianist Nerissa Yeung to present Dvorak's famous piano quintet in full.

After the concert, the composer Chan Ming-chi was interviewed by RTHK Radio 4 (in Cantonese, starting from 26:30).

The programme of the concert is as follows:

Updated Repertoire (updated on 12 August 2001)

Mid-summer Harmonica Week (updated on 16 July 2001)

New links (updated on 8 July 2001)

http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicHall-Horn/1514/index.htm

All Japan Harmonica Federation and Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2002

http://www.pete-pedersen.com

Pete Pedersen now has his own website.

http://www.kchb.net

New website of King's College Harmonica Band.

More Harmonica Featured in the Media (updated on 28 June 2001)

Harmonica Featured in the Media (updated on 13 May 2001)

In May, local composer Hui Cheung-wai has selected several subjects of his own favorite for this series of radio programme: movie, harmonica, guitar and piano.  They are all very close to our daily life, yet they possess some innovative characteristics that are rarely touched upon in concert hall and radio programmes.

Harmonica would be featured in the 12 May programme.  The title of the programme is "The Young Contemporary Harmonica Music".  The handy chromatic harmonica has only appeared on the stage of serious music in the past century and is still in its infancy.  In view of its unique structure and tonal quality among other musical instruments, it deserves more attention in the history of contemporary music with the original works written for it.  Compared to other well-established music instruments, there has been less forward-looking exploration made on chromatic harmonica.  While this can be understood, this is exactly an area awaiting people to explore.

Original Chinese introduction of the programme can be viewed here.

Listen online now - even if you don't understand Cantonese!  Just listen to the music!  You can refer to the following programme (starting time of each piece in square bracket):

Enhanced Chinese web pages (updated on 1 May 2001)

Updated Biography (updated on 1 May 2001)

New Links (updated on 15 April 2001)

Full Listing of Our Activities (updated on 15 April 2001)

Achievement in Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2000 selected as Top 10 Music News in Hong Kong (updated on 3 March 2001)

The achievement of the team from Hong Kong in the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival 2000 has been selected as one of the Top 10 Music News in Hong Kong.  80.5% of the votes were cast on this news, ranking it the second among the 10 entries. Congratulations to the team!  This is certainly good news to the harmonica community as it demonstrates that harmonica is well recognized and accepted by the local community.  Please listen to the announcement here (RealAudio stream starting from 21:15, in Cantonese).

For details of the achievement, please read the report of the trip here.

Boxing Day Performance (updated on 12 January 2001)

Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival and Winners' Concert (updated on 12 December 2000)

The third Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival was held in Seoul from 1 to 4 August 2000.  Our treble harmonica player Ho Pak Cheong was invited to act as the adjudicator of the competition.  We have performed in the gala concert (together with our resident pianist Miss Nerissa Yeung) and conducted a workshop on the art of harmonica quintet.  We have also brought 29 of the talented harmonica players in King's College and Hotung Secondary School to enrich their experience.  They have won 8 medals, including 2 champions, in 5 categories of competition ranging from solo to orchestra.

Here is a more detailed report of this trip, press release on 2 September 2000 and subsequent news reports.

To celebrate the success and share their fruits, the winners presented their works on 27 November 2000 (Monday) at City Hall Theatre.  Here is the poster of the concert as well as the programme.

The next Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival will be held in Atsugi, Japan (which is the home-town of harmonica in Japan) from 30 July to 4 August 2002.  Hong Kong will host the one after next in 2004.

Chinese YMCA Harmonica Orchestra Concert (updated on 12 December 2000)

Jean-Jacques Milteau Performed in Hong Kong (updated on 8 November 2000)

The concert is one of the "Jazz Up" series of concerts organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Mr. Milteau met harmonica players in Hong Kong on 2 November 2000.

Tommy Reilly Passed Away (updated on 16 October 2000)

Harmonica Orchestra Performed in King's College Students' Concert (updated on 31 July 2000)

The 80-strong harmonica band, consisting of the King's College Harmonica Band, alumni harmonica players and guest performers, has made a marvelous performance in the King's College Students' Concert on 10 July 2000 (Monday) at City Hall Concert Hall.  The programme includes:

Interview of Ho Pak Cheong by Next Magazine (updated on 17 April 2000)

A new page dedicated to this important event in our development and in the history of harmonica, accessible from the gallery page.

New picture is added!!! (updated on 17 April 2000)

Larry Adler and Cham-ber Huang Performed in Hong Kong in November 1999 (updated on 18 March 2000)

A new page dedicated to this important event for the harmonica community in Hong Kong, accessible from the gallery page.

New pictures are added!!! (updated on 17 April 2000)

Great Moment of Our Member (updated on 22 November 1999)

Our tenor harmonica player, Rocky Lok married Miss Euphine Lee on 15 November 1999 (Monday).  More than 30 best harmonica players in Hong Kong expressed their congratulations to him by forming a dream-cast harmonica orchestra to play for and to play with him in the wedding banquet.  We played the Wedding March to lead the couple into the hall.  We then accompanied Rocky to play Chopin's Nocturne to the bride.  Finally, we played In a Persian Market to commemorate Rocky's first transcription for a harmonica orchestra. 

Talk on Organising Harmonica Orchestra in School (updated on 4 November 1999)

We have delivered a talk titled "How to build a harmonica orchestra in school?" on 30 October 1999 (Saturday) 3-5pm at Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre.  This talk is organised by the Music Office for music educators who would like to deliver their mission by means of harmonicas which are a family of inexpensive and versatile musical instruments.  The talk outlined the different stages in developing a harmonica orchestra in 4-6 years' time: namely, elementary class, ensemble, band, orchestra.  Live demonstration by the members of the King's College Harmonica Band was provided to illustrate the expected results for each stage.