For immediate release
12 September 2025

Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s Associate Conductor Vivian Ip has won 3rd Prize at the International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition held in Szeged, Hungary; after being shortlisted from 460 applicants worldwide, she went through four rounds of competition from 31 Aug to 7 Sep, conducting the Hungarian National Symphony Orchestra Szeged.

As the only representative from Hong Kong, Vivian says:

“I am enormously honoured and grateful to have been a part of this conducting competition, and to have been awarded 3rd Prize at the end. Conducting is no easy feat – every move takes great effort, concentration and perseverance. This achievement is not only the reward of my hard work, but also the result of the unwavering support from my family, friends and mentors. Without their companionship, understanding and the opportunities they have offered me, it would have been impossible to get to where I am today.

“The competition process was gruelling – so much was condensed into the four rounds, and we often had less than 12 hours to prepare for the next round after the announcement of advancement. To dive into analysing, practising and digesting musical works one after another puts great pressure on you, and you need to be able to recalibrate instantly, stay focused and keep calm. Every minute, every second, you are racing yourself, testing your limits of persistence, and there is no room for slackness.

“Conducting is also a skill full of contradictions. Strong leadership is a must, but you also need to cooperate closely with each and every musician in the orchestra, holding genuine respect for all – the composer and the music itself included. Music-making is not just about technique – it is also about emotions and communication. Every time I step onto the podium, I remind myself to be humble, to listen and to communicate from the heart.

“It was with great pride and honour that I represented Hong Kong in this competition, where I could show the world the talent and hard work that we are capable of, and put the city in international spotlight. I hope what I have achieved will inspire the young people of Hong Kong to boldly chase their dreams, to fear no obstacles, and to stay true to their paths. It is never too late to realise your dreams – you just need to take the first step, and the next will follow; what is waiting for you at the very end is not awards or rankings, but the self-respect and self-recognition which you will have cultivated.

“Lastly, I wish for my experience to be a source of encouragement for many others: regardless of age and background, as long as you keep dreaming and keep giving it all you have, you will find your own place to shine.”

*********************************************************************************

Vivian Ip                                                                                              Associate Conductor

A leading young conductor in Hong Kong and 3rd Prize Winner of the 2025 International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition, Vivian Ip was appointed Associate Conductor of Hong Kong Sinfonietta from the 2023/2024 season, where she has presented a series of family concerts as well as worked closely with guest artists and musicians.

Praised by the winner of the “Best Conductor” Grammy Award John Nelson – “Conducting is like breathing for you. Bright talent you have!”, Ip received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music (First Class Honours) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. With an Associate Instructorship and the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowship for Overseas Studies, she received her Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the Indiana University Bloomington. She graduated in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, receiving the highest award of the year, under the supervision of Uroš Lajovic and Johannes Wildner.

Ip has guest conducted at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Musica Viva Hong Kong and Hong Kong Grand Opera, and was appointed Assistant Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic in 2016-2018, where she assisted its Music Director Jaap van Zweden and Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long, as well as overseas conductors such as Christoph Eschenbach, Charles Dutoit, Vassily Sinaisky and Lawrence Foster. In 2018, she led the Xing-er Symphony Orchestra in Guangzhou to the Gold Award at the 6th World Orchestra Festival in Vienna, where she also received the Talented Conductor Prize.

As an opera conductor, Ip has conducted operas such as Carmen, Die Zauberflöte, Der Fliegende Holländer, Norma, L’Elisir d’Amore etc. In 2023, Ip co-founded ANIMA Ensemble in promoting contemporary chamber operas and musical theatre works, premiering Philip Glass’ The Book of Longing in Hong Kong in 2024. As a choral conductor, she was the Music Director of Chorus Delicti Wien for 7 years and worked with numerous local and international choirs.

A recipient of the Hong Kong Outstanding Young Musician Award in 2024, Ip currently teaches Conducting, as well as Practical Studies in Musicianship and Choral Conducting at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is also a part-time faculty member of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

***************************************************************************************

About the International Ferenc Fricsay Conducting Competition

Download photos

Download Images:

Vivian Ip (right) and Michael Zukernik (centre), Artistic Director of the Ferenc Fricsay International Conducting Competition

Vivian Ip in the Final Round of the Competition

Vivian Ip in the Final Round of the Competition

Vivian Ip with the candidates in the Final Round