Organ Music Around the World

 

25.1.2025 (Sat) 4pm

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Free admission with ticket (Online Registration)

Zoe Lei Kai Wai (Organ)

Zoe Lei Kai Wai is a passionate performer known for her impressive technique and imaginative musical programming. She completed her undergraduate studies at Hong Kong Baptist University in organ and music education in 2017. After studying with Hong Kong organist Kin Yu Wong, she completed her master’s degree in organ performance at the University of Toronto under Kevin Komisaruk. In 2023, she completed her doctoral studies in Sacred Music (Organ Performance) at the University of Michigan, where she studied the organ with Nicole Keller, James Kibbie, and Todd Wilson. She also studied the carillon with Tiffany Ng, Pamela Ruiter-Feenstra and, Geert D’hollander and is an Associate Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America. In October of 2023, she was appointed Associate Director of Music at the St. James Cathedral in Orlando, Florida. In November of 2023, she was appointed Organ Adjunct Professor at the Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

A recipient of numerous awards, including second prize at the 2021 Hong Kong Young Organist Competition (American Guild of Organists) and third prize at the 2022 Sursa Organ Competition, Dr. Lei was the exclusive recipient of the Rackham International Student Fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Music in 2022. Additionally, she was the semi-finalist of the 2022 National Young Artists Competition in Organ Performance (American Guild of Organists) and the co-winner of the American Guild of Organists Commissioning Project (2021-2022).

Dr. Lei specializes in twentieth and twenty-first-century repertoire and is an advocate for new organ and carillon music, frequently premiering commissioned works, as well as the East Asian music and transcriptions featured on her recent dissertation recitals. She has performed extensively on both the organ and carillon in her original city of Hong Kong, in Canada, and in the United States, where she is currently based. In 2017, she gave her debut recital at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre where she was interviewed by Radio Television Hong Kong as a "New Music Star.” She continues to perform regularly, including at the Organix Festival in Canada, and has given over fifty carillon recitals on the Lurie and Burton Memorial Towers at the University over the past two years. She held different positions in church music at notable places in North America. She is currently the artist for Seveneight Artist Management and Diapason Magazine and is based in Hong Kong.

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Li Neng (Organ)

Young organist Li Neng has attended the Musikhochschule Lübeck, Hochschule für Musik in Munich and Basel Conservatory, studying under such masters as Wong Kin-yu, Franz Danksagmüller, Bernhard Haas and Martin Sanderanz Danksagmülle. At the age of 19, Li was admitted to the Musikhochschule Lübeck in Germany, with the best examination results, to pursue a bachelor’s degree, and became the first Chinese student of famous organ virtuoso Danksagmüller. His academic excellence earned him an invitation to a teaching assistant post, in which he tutored applicants from around the world in philosophy of education and performance techniques, and helped them gain admission to prestigious conservatories in Europe.

Embracing diverse performing styles, Li pursued a master’s degree at the Hochschule für Musik in Munich after obtaining his bachelor’s degree. He became the first Chinese to study performance and teaching under world-class organ performer Haas. While studying at the Hochschule für Musik, he conducted research on child and adolescent pyschology and psychology of music, and received good comments from the professors unamiously for his actual performances and teaching activities. At his master’s graduation recital, he presented a successful arrangement of Yellow River Piano Concerto, inspired by a coordinated development using three instruments, namely organ, piano and timpani.

On the recommendation of Haas, Li was admitted to the Basel Conservatory in Switzerland in 2019 to study for the highest performer’s diploma, and became a protégé of the world-renowned organ educator Sanderanz. During his study, he actively participated in research work on performance and pedagogy. Graduating with the highest distinction, he was strongly praised by the examination panel as “an organist with a unique interpretation of music, supreme musicality and virtuosity”, and became the first musician in China to hold a European bachelor’s dregree, master’s degree and highest performer’s diploma in organ. At the same time, he was appointed a consultant in organ by the Shenzhen Conservatory of Music.

During his study abroad, Li was invited to perform on nearly 40 occassions at various music festivals, including the Lübeck Chamber Music Festival, Munich International Music Festival, Chinese Spring Festival Gala at Munich and Basel Organ Music Festival. He has also been invited by different cities in the Mainland to give organ performances, deliver masterclasses and judge competitions.

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Programme

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Prelude and Fugue in G minor
Performer: Li Neng

Marco Enrico Bossi (1861-1925)
Etude Symphonique, Op.78
Performer: Zoe Lei

Charles-Marie Widor (1844-1937)
Organ Symphony Romane, No.10, Op.73
II. Choral
Performer: Zoe Lei

Fela Sowande (1905-1987)
Obangiji (Almighty God)
Performer: Li Neng

Zsolt Gárdonyi (b. 1946)
EGATOP
Performer: Li Neng

William Albright (1944-1998)
The Organ Book III
Final, The Offering
Performer: Zoe Lei

Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Transcribed by Frederick Hohman and Aaron Tan
The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a
I Christmas Tree
II March
Performer: Zoe Lei

Bao Yuan-kai (b.1944)
Transcribed by Li Neng 
Flowing Stream
Performer: Li Neng

Hans Zimmer (b.1957)
Transcribed by Li Neng
Interstellar Suite
Performer: Li Neng

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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 20 Dec (Fri). Children aged 6 and above are welcome. The programme lasts approximately 50 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