Join us at Swire Symphony Under The Stars – 
HK Phil’s Annual Outdoor Extravaganza on 12 November 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Dennis Wu
Director of Marketing 
Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[12 October 2022, Hong Kong]Swire Symphony Under The Stars, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s (HK Phil) free annual outdoor mega-concert will take place on 12 November 2022 (Sat) at the Central Harbourfront. HK Phil Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long will lead the audience on an extraordinary journey through some spectacular Italian orchestral works. This year’s concert will go hybrid again – with the live performance simultaneously live streamed on the HK Phil website, Facebook page and YouTube channel, as well as the Swire TrustTomorrow Facebook page. It will also be broadcast live on RTHK TV 31 and rthk.tv. Don’t miss this annual outdoor extravaganza under the stars!

Under the baton of Yu Long, this year’s concert will present an Italian-themed programme with works by Berlioz, Rossini, Vivaldi, Wilson and Respighi, along with Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Rachmaninov, featuring Serena Wang on the piano. Five HK Phil musicians will perform as soloists – Concertmaster Jing Wang (Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons: Summer), and the four members of Trombone section – Jarod Vermette, Christian Goldsmith, Kevin Thompson and Aaron Albert (Wilson’s Seventy-Six Trombones). They will be joined by presenter Phoebus Chan. The concert will conclude with Respighi’s Pines of Rome, accompanied by a stunning fireworks display at the climax.

This free outdoor extravaganza is made possible through the generous support of the Swire Group. As the principal patron of the HK Phil since 2006, Swire is deeply committed to its long-term vision of promoting artistic excellence and fostering cultural appreciation. Together with the HK Phil, Swire aims to bring the world of classical music to the widest possible audience.

Tickets for Swire Symphony Under The Stars are free of charge. Registration starts from 25 October 2022 (Tue) at 10AM. In view of official guidelines and social distancing measures due to the pandemic, this concert will have assigned zones with a maximum of eight persons per unit. No eating or drinking is allowed, and the audience members should wear masks throughout the event.

TICKETING PROCEDURES

Tickets for Swire Symphony Under The Stars can be obtained by online registration only, on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be available to the public for registration from 25 October 2022 (Tue) at 10AM through suts.hkphil.org/2022-reg.

Register online in four simple steps:

ABOUTSWIRE SYMPHONY UNDER THE STARS

Date:                12 November 2022 (Sat), 7:30PM (with an intermission)

Venue:              Central Harbourfront

Admission:      Free

Ticket information:

Live streaming platforms:

Media partner and TV live broadcast:

Principal Patron: Swire

Official Anti-Pandemic Partner: Germagic

Official Video Technology Partner: TFI

Programme:

Artists:

Yu Long, conductor [full description]

Yu Long, the distinguished Chinese conductor with an extensive international reputation, is the Music Director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Director & Chief Conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director of the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the HK Phil. Maestro Yu is the Founder of the Beijing Music Festival and was its Artistic Director from 1998 to 2018. He is the Co-Director of the MISA Summer Festival in Shanghai.

Serena Wang, piano [full description]

Serena Wang has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “undeniably promising” and already possesses extensive concretising experience at her tender age. Since then, she has appeared with several orchestras, including the China Philharmonic, National Center for Performing Arts (Beijing), Shenzhen Symphony, Shanghai Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Orquesta Juvenil Universitaria Eduardo Mata, Israel Philharmonic, the HK Phil and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestras.

Jing Wang, violin [full description]

Critically acclaimed Canadian violinist Jing Wang is one of the most versatile and dynamic violinists of his generation. Since his solo recital debut in Marseilles, France at the age of six, Jing has garnered prizes in top international competitions, including the first prize at the 2007 Irving M. Klein International Strings Competition. In 2003, Wang was awarded the "Young Soloist of the Year" by Les Radios Francophones Publiques, a broadcast network of four countries including France, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium. As a part of the award, Wang’s first CD album including works by Beethoven, Ravel and Gershwin was released in Europe. He has been Concertmaster of the HK Phil since 2013. 

Jarod Vermette, trombone [full description]

Jarod Vermette joined the HK Phil as Principal Trombone in 1996 at the age of 20. He has performed Frank Martin’s Ballade during the 1997 subscription series and Derek Bourgeois’ Concerto in 2002. In 2012 Jarod performed John Mackey’s Harvest Concerto with the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia and Roland Szentpali’s Trombone Scenes with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Brass and Percussion Ensemble.

Christian Goldsmith, trombone [full description]

American trombonist Christian Goldsmith is a player of versatility and range. His diverse background includes orchestral playing, chamber music, big band, marching band, concert band, jazz and pop music. He is the winner of the USC and Young Musicians Foundation Concerto Competitions and the Pasadena Young Musician's Competition. He was also awarded the Robert Marsteller Memorial Scholarship. He joined the trombone section of the HK Phil in 2018.

Kevin Thompson, trombone [full description]

Kevin Thompson was appointed to the trombone section of the HK Phil in 2016 as Utility Trombone. His duties in the orchestra include playing Second and Principal Trombone, as well as bass trumpet and euphonium. In addition to the HK Phil, Kevin has performed with major orchestras in Norway, Sweden, the UK, Canada, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Macau and Mainland China. With these orchestras he has toured and recorded in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe, and played in many of the great concert halls of the world.

Aaron Albert, trombone [full description]

Aaron Albert was appointed as bass trombonist for the HK Phil in 2020. He has also held the bass trombone position in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and has played with orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has performed under the baton of Jaap van Zweden, Franz Welser-Möst, Fabio Luisi, Alan Gilbert, Gianandrea Noseda, Herbert Blomstedt and others. Aaron studied at The Juilliard School in Manhattan for his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance.

Phoebus Chan, presenter [full description]

Phoebus Chan, Founder and Executive Director of PA House Asia Ltd.; Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong Innovision; Chairman of Mainland Hong Kong Macau Arts and Culture Youth Alliance; Vice-Chairman of Hong Kong QingDao Association; Chairman of Worldwide Chinese Foundation; Board member of Faith in Love Foundation; Chairman of Haoxue Action; Chairman of Alumni Association of Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong; Columnist of Sing Tao Daily and Kung Kao Po.