A Pilgrimage to César Franck's Organ Chorales

(Concluded Successfully)

 

30.9.2023 (Sat) 4pm
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Free admission with ticket 

Tsang Kwan Li (Organ)

Tsang Kwan Li received her Bachelor of Arts in Music degree majoring in piano performance with 1st class honours at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) under the tutelage of Professor David Gwilt.  Tsang was also awarded the FTCL performance diploma in piano from Trinity College London and the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst Scholarship for further study in piano performance at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater München in Munich. Being a recipient of the American Baptist Church Scholarship, Tsang obtained her master’s degree at the Westminster Choir College, with a double major in choral conducting and church music, in which choral conducting maestro Professor Joseph Flummerfelt and Lutheran music scholar Dr Robin Leaver profoundly influenced her.  Her interest in pipe organ was ignited by organist Dr Donald McDonald during her studies in the USA.  Tsang also served as the music director at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Princeton. After her return to Hong Kong, Tsang joined the church music department of Alliance Bible Seminary as a lecturer and has actively engaged in church music education.  She was the music director of the Hong Kong Methodist Children’s Choir, choral conducting instructor at CUHK, choir conductor at the Evangelical Seminary, editor of music department of the Chinese Christian Literature Council, as well as the publisher of Teen Praise for Secondary Schools and Hymns of Universal Praise. Under the guidance of Dr Simon Chan, Tsang obtained the LTCL performance diploma in organ from Trinity College London and is currently the organist of Victory Avenue Swatow Baptist Church.

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Wilson Fong (Organ)

Reverend Wilson Fong received his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Information Systems at the University of New South Wales, Australia and studied piano under Joshua Tsai and Professor Emeritus Michael Brimer in his early years.  He obtained performance diplomas in piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Trinity College London and the Australian Music Examinations Board respectively. Fong was called to the Christian ministry and ordained as a Baptist minister in 2010.  He has actively engaged in church music service, where he conducted in Chinese Christian choirs and orchestras, and studied vocal and choral conducting with renowned bass-baritone Mr Dwight Chan.  Fong has been the Music Director of Kowloon City Baptist Church since his return to Hong Kong in 2017, coordinating the music and liturgy for over 300 worship services annually and overseeing the training of youth and children’s choirs, orchestral and handbell groups.  He also received an advanced certificate in worship studies at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in 2018. Fong has been receiving training in organ performance under the tutelage of Dr Simon Chan since 2020 and has obtained ARSM performance diploma from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and LTCL performance diploma in organ from Trinity College London.  Fong is passionate about pipe organ simulation technology and has a self-build computer organ with four manuals for daily creative practice at home, hoping to promote local organ music.

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Nelson Wong (Organ)

Nelson Wong graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the USA, where he studied flute performance with French flute pedagogue Michel Debost and began to learn conducting with Bridget-Michaele Reischl.  Wong then furthered his studies in orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Carl Topilow and obtained a master's degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Wong has performed as a flutist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Opera Hong Kong, Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia and City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong.  Wong was also appointed as assistant conductor of the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of São Paulo in 2011, where he conducted Wagner’s Die Walküre at the São Paulo Opera House and received acclaim by the Brazilian media for his performance in celebration of the 457th anniversary of São Paulo. Wong has been actively engaged in flute and orchestral education since his return to Hong Kong. He has served as choir and orchestra conductor at the Kowloon City Baptist Church, as well as the resident conductor of the Hong Kong Chamber Wind Philharmonia in 2013-14.  His recent highlights include opera production of works by Verdi, Puccini and Gounod with Musica Viva. Wong has been receiving training in organ performance with Dr Simon Chan since 2020 and is currently a staff member at the music ministry of the Kowloon City Baptist Church.

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Programme

C. Franck (1822 – 1890)
3 Chorales for Organ, M. 38-40

Chorale No. 1 in E Major, M. 38
Performer: Nelson Wong

Chorale No. 2 in B Minor, M. 39
Performer: Tsang Kwan Li

Chorale No. 3 in A Minor, M. 40
Performer: Wilson Fong

Free tickets will be available, limited to four per person, on a first-come-first-served basis at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre enquiries counter between 9 am and 9 pm, or through online registration starting from 1 September (Fri). Children aged 6 and above are welcome.  The programme lasts approximately 60 minutes without intermission.

The presenter reserves the right to substitute artists and change programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.

The content of this programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.

Enquiries: 2734 2009 / 2734 2819