Maestro Jaap van Zweden Continues to Lead the HK Philharmonic Orchestra through 2018/19 Season

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[13 March 2014, Hong Kong] Mr YS Liu, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), today announces the extension of Music Director Jaap van Zweden’s contract with the orchestra.

The new contract will last through to the end of the 2018/19 season.

“Maestro van Zweden has been an inspiration to music lovers throughout the Hong Kong community and beyond,” Mr Liu said. “We are delighted that our association will continue for many years to come.”

Michael MacLeod, Chief Executive of the HK Phil said, “Proof of Jaap’s supreme excellence is that when he’s not with the HK Phil, he is conducting the leading orchestras of the world. On behalf of the members of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, I am thrilled that our relationship with Jaap will bring more unforgettable music to Hong Kong. We can all take enormous pride in this.”

Jaap van Zweden said, “This orchestra is truly great, and we are making wonderful music together. We have many exciting projects still to come and I am very happy to extend my tenure as Music Director now, as we continue to plan for the future.”

Under van Zweden’s baton, the HK Phil has just completed an acclaimed tour of Mainland China. A major tour to Europe is planned, in addition to the Maestro’s appearances in Hong Kong.

Media Photos of Jaap van Zweden (Click the thumbnail to download photos)
Jaap van Zweden Photo credit: Keith Hiro / HK Phil	Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo Credit: Cheung Chi Wai / HK Phil	Jaap van Zweden Photo credit: Hans van der Woerd

Mr YS Liu, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the HK Phil announced the extension of Music Director Jaap van Zweden’s contract with the orchestra through the end of 2018/19 season.


Maestro Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of HK Phil talked with Mr Michael MacLeod, Chief Executive of HK Phil about the future plan for HK Phil, including the European Tour in Feb 2015 and the performance of Wagner’s Das Rheingold.

Maestro Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of HK Phil and Mr YS Liu, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the HK Phil signed the contract.


Family and guests toasted the contract extension of Jaap with the HK Phil. From left to right: Kerensa Dejong; Alexander van Zweden; Anna-Sophia van Zweden; Daniel van Zweden; Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of HK Phil; Aaltje van Zweden; Mrs Avia Lai, Deputy Secretary for Home Affairs of the Home Affairs Bureau; Mr YS Liu, Chairman of Board of Governors for the HK Phil; Mr Michael MacLeod, Chief Executive of HK Phil; Mrs Janice Choi, MH, Chair of Fundraising Committee of HK Phil; Mr Raff Wilson, Director of Artistic Planning of HK Phil; Ms Randa Wan, Senior Manager (Culture) of Home Affairs Bureau; Mr Benedict Sin Nga-yan, Chair of Finance Committee of HK Phil



About Jaap van Zweden, Music Director [full biography]

Amsterdam-born Jaap van Zweden is one of today’s most sought-after conductors. Recently named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year for 2012, he has been Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012/13 season.

At the age of nineteen, Jaap was appointed as the youngest Concertmaster ever of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Maestro van Zweden is also currently Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Honorary Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Honorary Conductor of the Radio Chamber Philharmonic.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation and is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. This season it celebrates its 40th professional season, but its roots stretch back well over a century. The HK Phil has now evolved into an orchestral powerhouse in the region, and an acclaimed cultural centrepiece of Asia’s World City.

The HK Phil is formed on the belief that a great city deserves a great orchestra. Annually it presents over 150 concerts attracting over 200,000 music lovers. Featuring an enviable roster of international conductors and soloists, the HK Phil performs a broad variety of music, with many concerts presented free; among them the annual Swire Symphony Under The Stars. Through its acclaimed education programme, over 40,000 young people learned about orchestral music in the last year.

The Swire Group Charitable Trust has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Swire’s enlightened support, the most generous in the orchestra’s history, continues to enable the orchestra to reach towards high artistic goals.

The HK Phil’s members come from every corner of the globe, with a strong core of Hong Kong musicians. In September 2012 Jaap van Zweden became the orchestra’s Music Director. Future years will see an ambitious series of new projects, with major international tours, renewed local partnerships, and large-scale concert events. The HK Phil has commenced a multi-CD recording project for Naxos, featuring works by Chinese composers.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

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