Eight advance to semi-final of HK Int'l Conducting Competition

Eight Semi-finalists announced for the
2^nd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition

Organised by Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the 2^nd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition saw its Round 1 take place on 22 Mar (Wed) at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, where the 16 shortlisted Candidates conducted works by Stravinsky, Beethoven and Mozart. The Competition was pleased to announce on the same day the eight outstanding Candidates who have advanced to Round 2 (Semi-finals), which will take place over two days on 23 & 24 Mar (Thu & Fri). 

The Semi-finalists are: Rodolfo Barráez (Venezuela, 29), Linhan Cui (China, 28), Nathaniel Efthimiou (USA/Finland, 30), Roc Fargas (Spain, 26), Taichi Fukumura (USA/Japan, 30), Edmon Levon (Spain, 34), Mikhail Mering (Israel, 31) and Yao-Yu Wu (Taiwan, 33). 

On Day 1 (23 Mar) of Round 2, the Semi-finalists will conduct in the morning the first movement of Sibelius’ well-loved Violin Concerto in D minor, featuring Hong Kong star violinist Fan Hiu-sing. In the afternoon, they will conduct Johann Strauss Jr’s effervescent Die Fledermaus Overture. On Day 2 (24 Mar), they will be tackling a symphony by Beethoven, Brahms or Tchaikovsky.

Every round of the Competition is livestreamed online for free at www.hkconducting.com/live. Voting for the two Audience Prizes (Live & Online audience) have already begun – live audiences can vote in person at the Concert Hall, while online audiences are encouraged to vote at www.hkconducting.com/vote.

The 2^nd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition provides an invaluable platform for young conductors under the age of 35 to establish a network in Asia. The 1^st Prize winner of the Competition will take home HK$200,000 as well as a concert engagement with Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and mentorship opportunities with selected members of the Jury. 

The Jury is made up of esteemed international conductors and people shaping the music business today, including Co-chairs Yip Wing-sie (Music Director Emeritus, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) and Christoph Poppen (Music Director Designate, Hong Kong Sinfonietta), as well as members Lü Shao-Chia (Conductor Emeritus, Taiwan Philharmonic), Thierry d’Argoubet (Former General Manager, Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse), Philipp Ernst (Artistic Planning & Deputy Managing Director, Munich Chamber Orchestra – Münchener Kammerorchester), Xenia Groh-Hu (Managing Director, karsten witt musik management), James Cuddeford and Laurent Perrin (Concertmaster and Assistant Principal Cello of Hong Kong Sinfonietta respectively).

Livestream: www.hkconducting.com/live
Online voting: www.hkconducting.com/vote