Daniel Lo Ting-cheung

Daniel Lo Ting-cheung is one of the most active composers in Hong Kong. One of Lo’s current compositional interests is to seek ways to integrate music with literature. Recent works inspired by contemporary writers include a chamber opera Women Like Us (2020/2023); a chamber opera A Woman Such as Myself (2018); a multimedia music theatre The Happy Family (2021); a song cycle Songs of Virotopia (2022); a semi-staged cantata The Banquet at el Bulli (2020); and a choral work Mary’s Chalk Circle (2017) for narration, unaccompanied choir and video.

Lo’s music has been internationally performed in festivals such as New Opera Days Ostrava (Czech Republic), Festival International de Piano La Roque d’Anthéron (France), Marvão International Music Festival (Portugal/Spain), Tongyeong International Music Festival (Korea), Asia Orchestra Week (Japan), Weiwuying TIFA Contemporary Music Platform (Taiwan), Hong Kong Week (Taiwan) and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Lo’s compositions have been performed worldwide by renowned musicians including Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Ostravská Banda, Ensemble recherche, Internationale Ensemble Modern Akademie, Orkest De Ereprijs, Utrechts Blazers Ensemble, Ensemble Suono Giallo, Quatuor Diotima, Sofia Soloists, Bang on a Can, Juice Vocal Ensemble and Song Company.

Lo’s works cover a wide range of musical genres, from orchestral pieces to sound installations. The last few years saw the premieres of Autumn Rhythm for orchestra, commissioned by Hong Kong Sinfonietta for their Asian tour in autumn 2019; Poids for 10 instruments, written for Hong Kong New Music Ensemble’s tour to Korea and Taiwan in spring 2019; and violin concerto YouHuang (II), composed as part of Lo’s residency at the Ostrava Days Contemporary Music Festival in summer 2017.

Lo completed his PhD (Composition) at the University of York in the UK in 2017 under the supervision of William Brooks, fully supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. Previously, he studied composition with Chan Hing-yan at the University of Hong Kong where he graduated with first class honours in 2009 and then earned an MPhil (Music Composition) in 2012. Lo has won various prizes in international contests including 1st Prizes at the 3rd Migratory Journeys International Music Composition Competition (US, 2010/2011) and the 7th Musica e Arte Composition Contest (Rome, 2011). Lo received the “Award for Young Artist (Music)” at the 17th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2023. Apart from composing, Lo teaches at the Department of Music at the University of Hong Kong and the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 2023, Lo joined the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble as the Director of Programming.