Organ Concert by William Wen

Guest Performer: Kelly Liew (Soprano)

(Concluded Successfully)

 

William Wen (Organ)

William Wen began his piano studies with Wong Shun-ngor at an early age and received his Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts (Music) from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 1990. While studying the organ and piano at HKAPA under the tutelage of Wong Kin-yu, Larry Schipull, Paul Griffiths, Gabriel Kwok and Eva Lue, Wen gave his first organ recital at St. John’s Cathedral and served as the church organist of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Hong Kong. He furthered his organ studies on scholarship with Dr. Neithard Bethke in Germany and Guido Mayer in Austria, and gave recitals in Ratzeburg and Wohrden. Wen has been promoting Chinese sacred music and nurturing organists as an organ instructor for churches in Hong Kong and Mainland China since 2016. He was engaged in the restoration of the Boston-Lingguangtang Casavant Opus 700 organ by its Austrian builder Rieger Orgelbau for Kulangsu Organ Arts Center, Xiamen, and gave training and talks at Kulangsu Organ Museum. Wen is also an organ technician and consultant for a number of concert halls in China. Wen is a full time music teacher who rearranges Chinese folk songs, Chinese orchestral works and pop songs to stimulate students’ interest in music. Apart from being a music educator, Wen is also a professional organ technician serving Hong Kong Cultural Centre, HKAPA, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and local churches, and was an honorary choir conductor in Cancerlink.

 

Kelly Liew (Soprano)

Kelly Liew obtained her Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree and Master’s degree from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) under the tutelage of renowned soprano Ella Kiang. Recipient of the Bloomberg Scholarship and the Investec Music Prize, Liew was also granted the Lady Fung Memorial Music Fellowship to study with famed tenor Vinson Cole at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Liew won numerous prizes at international and local singing competitions, including the first runner-up in the Singapore/Malaysia Vocal Competition and the Performance Prize in the International Chinese Vocal Competition. She has also played the lead in many opera productions including Le Villi, Die Zauberflöte and L'elisir d'amore. Liew was a vocal instructor at HKAPA and Hong Kong International Institute of Music, and the choral conductor cum vocal coach of Ella Kiang Singers, The Hong Kong Teachers’ Chorus and Opera Hong Kong Children Chorus. In addition to conducting and teaching, Liew has actively participated in local opera and musical productions. Recent performances include The Bartered Bride, Linda di Chamounix, Trial by Jury, A Perfect Christmas and Grease. Liew was the music director of VanNat International Children’s Choir, and is currently the director of Dolce Voce Fine Arts Centre and Young Singers, and choral instructor of Chinese Rhenish Church, Yuen Long & Kowloon Central.

 

Programme

L. Boëllmann (1862 - 1897)
I. Introduction - Choral
III. Prière à Notre-Dame
from Suite Gothique, Op. 25
Performer: William Wen

A. L. Webber (b.1948)
The Phantom of the Opera
from The Phantom of the Opera
Performer: William Wen

A. L. Webber (b.1948)
Think of Me
from The Phantom of The Opera
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

G. Puccini (1858 - 1942)
O Mio Babbino Caro
from Gianni Schicchi
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

G. Verdi (1813 - 1901)
La Donna è Mobile
from Rigoletto
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

Ancient Tune (arr. William Wen)
Song of the General
Performer: William Wen

Jiangsu Folk Song (arr. William Wen)
Jasmine
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

Ma Ke (1918 - 1976)
Nanniwan
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

Liu Xijin (b.1948)
I Love You, Northerly Snow
Performers: William Wen (organ) and Kelly Liew (soprano)

Free tickets will be given out, limited to two 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 2 September (Fri). Children aged 6 and above are welcome. The programme lasts approximately 45 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