Embracing the idea of music as a universal language, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Singapore proudly presents Twin Cities Melodies, a Chinese orchestra concert staged in the grand Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) Concert Hall of national monument Singapore Conference Hall, to celebrate the momentous year on the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. A performance by the SCO, the concert features a collection of seven songs showcasing some of the finest pieces from Hong Kong and Singapore and the long-cherished ties between the two cities.

The repertoire will transport the audience through a unique journey celebrating Singapore’s racial harmony and multiculturalism in Confluence (融), experiencing the beauty of traditional and contemporary music in Hong Kong sheng (笙) musician Cheng Ho Kwan Kevin (郑浩筠)’s experimental piece Old Drama (粤語殘片), and immersing in the spirit of cohesion in Below the Lion Rock (獅子山下). Other classic pieces that never disappoint are Summer Night (夏之夜), In celebration of Good Times (娱乐升平), Autumn Moon over a Placid Lake (平湖秋月) and Hong Kong TV Drama Suites (香港电视剧主题组曲), promising the audience a full feast on ears and eyes, from summer to autumn, from historic to contemporary, from poetic to theatrical, in an expansive realm of imagination in full immersion of the power of music to unite, inspire and heal.

Celebrating Hong Kong’s long-standing ties with Singapore, we are excited to pool together talents from both cities for a showcase of their artistry. Cheng Ho Kwan, Kevin (郑浩筠), the soloist in Old Drama, is currently a sheng musician with the SCO. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kevin learned the instrument while studying at the Diocesan Boys’ School. He scooped numerous awards at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival between 2004 and 2007. After graduating from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts with a First Class Honours in 2014, he has gone on performance tours with various orchestras and ensembles, covering Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Japan and Europe.

We will also enjoy the masterpiece Confluence by Wang Chenwei (王辰威), who is the Composer-in-Residence of the SCO. A prodigy in both music and language, Wang is fluent in more than 10 languages, including German, French, Arabic and Hebrew. He can also compose, conduct and play more than 10 musical instruments, from Daruan (大阮), Sanxian (三弦) to Cello (大提琴) and Zhonghu (中胡). After graduating from Raffles Institution’s Gifted Education Programme with seven academic awards, Chenwei obtained his master’s degree with distinction and an honorary award from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he studied composition and audio engineering. As Head of Research and Education at The TENG Company, he also co-authored The TENG Guide to the Chinese Orchestra (2019), a 624-page book on instrumentation and orchestration.

Equally versatile is Ng Cheuk-yin (伍卓贤) from Hong Kong, the composer behind Old Drama. Skilled in a cappella, and also a sheng performer himself, Ng’s music is characterised by seamless blending of the the East and West, while melting down borders between genres, representing the genuine culture of Hong Kong. Graduating from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ng is now the music director of the fusion group SIU2, a trend-setting music band fusing Sanxian (三弦), Guzheng (古筝), piano and drums. He is also the co-artistic director of the a cappella theatre company Yat Po Singers ( 一舖清唱), (https://www.facebook.com/yatposingers). As an entrepreneur he also runs a recording label and a publishing company for musicians, seeking to popularise and innovate music among the general public in refreshing partnerships.

The concert will not be complete without its soul, Quek Ling Kiong (郭勇德), SCO’s Resident Conductor. A recipient of the Singapore National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award (2002), Cultural Fellowship (2013), Singapore COMPASS Meritorious Award (2016), and Singapore ‘Lianhe Zaobao’ iconic personality (2018), Quek is a firm believer of the transformative power of music in people with disabilities. He is the Artistic Director and conductor of The Purple Symphony, Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra, and True Colours Symphony, Hong Kong’s largest inclusive orchestra.

For full programme of the concert, please click here

Press Release: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202206/24/P2022062400759.htm

Embark on a journey to learn more about Hong Kong’s vibrant art and culture scene through an informative pre-concert exhibition at the Level 1 concourse of Singapore Conference Hall. Learn about the city’s rich array of art events on offer year-round and its world-class cultural venues.

The National 14th Five-Year Plan clearly supports Hong Kong to develop into an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. As a melting pot of Chinese and Western cultures and with extensive international connections, Hong Kong has brought together local and foreign talents to promote cultural exchange between East and West.

Do you know that West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong’s newest cultural landmark, is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural developments in the world? With a sweeping view of Hong Kong’s magnificent Victoria Harbour from its premier promenade location, it is home to the Xiqu Centre, which promotes Cantonese opera and other forms of Chinese opera; M+ museum, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture, as well as Hong Kong Palace Museum, which presents some of the finest artefacts from the Palace Museum in Beijing.