For immediate release
17 Apr 2026

 

Hong Kong Sinfonietta has announced the full programme line-up for its new 2026/2027 season themed “Sound Palette”. With concerts featuring world-class musicians, signature educational programming and imaginative cross-genre explorations, the season becomes a brilliant palette of sound which paints a better world. In the words of Music Director Christoph Poppen, “The palette of colours of our world seems to get darker and darker, so that we sometimes forget about the uncountable, beautiful bright colours which also exist. The wonderful thing about our sound palette is that in music, everything is always possible, and even the darkest moments are balanced with light and joy.”

In the new season, Hong Kong Sinfonietta will present over 40 programmes in collaboration with local* and overseas artists, offering a diverse range of musical experiences suitable for connoisseurs and beginners alike. The Hong Kong International Conducting Competition, a high-profile competition organised by the orchestra which promotes Hong Kong as one of the world’s important stages for artistic excellence and career development, returns for a third edition. The orchestra will also present five new commissions by leading local composers, as well as Asian and Hong Kong premieres of works by celebrated contemporary composers, keeping music alive and relevant to our times. Led by Music Director Christoph Poppen, the orchestra will go on a fourth tour to the Marvão International Music Festival in Portugal, sharing with international audiences the voices of Hong Kong’s music scene.

As the newly appointed HKS Artist Associates of the 2026/2027 season, two-time World Champion harmonica virtuoso Cy Leo and acclaimed jazz pianist Daniel Chu will no doubt add many vibrant colours to the orchestra’s Sound Palette with their energy and phenomenal artistry through a number of exciting collaborations.

Online season brochure

Details of concerts in the new season

 

HKS Artist Associates of the 2026/2027 season: Cy Leo & Daniel Chu
Since 2006, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has been running the “HKS Artist Associate” scheme, inviting outstanding local artists from a wide range of disciplines to collaborate with the orchestra and explore fresh ways of portraying classical music to the community.

Hong Kong’s very own two-time World Champion harmonica player Cy Leo’s appointment as one of this season’s HKS Artist Associates follows his sold-out concert with the orchestra and Music Director Emeritus Yip Wing-sie two years ago. He says, “My first collaboration in 2024 with Hong Kong Sinfonietta was undoubtedly one of the most memorable performances of my music career. With the chromatic harmonica being a latecomer in classical music history, it takes courage and openness to explore possibilities, especially when it comes to sharing the stage with an orchestra. As a lover of the chromatic harmonica, I am grateful for every opportunity to delve into the infinite colours and beauty that it can contribute to the rich culture of the classical music tradition. May the 2026/2027 season, in which I join Hong Kong Sinfonietta as Artist Associate, be a year filled with surprises and joy!”

Leading local jazz pianist Daniel Chu, whose electrifying performances can be seen at small gigs, large-scale pop concerts and everything in between, expresses his delight in being appointed HKS Artist Associate: “I grew up watching Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s Short-cut to Classical Music concerts, so being named their Artist Associate is a profound honour. As a jazz pianist and improviser, I was instantly intrigued by such an unconventional invitation, and I love what it represents: a beautiful testament that good music is simply good music, no matter the genre. Since I am classically trained, stepping into this role feels like coming home – but returning with the contemporary influences that shape my creative identity. I look forward to making music with the orchestra, and of course, working with the management to bring fresh ways of imagining and presenting performances.”

During the season, Cy Leo and Daniel Chu will join hands with Music Director Christoph Poppen to perform the world première of Time (in-)Linear, a new work specially written for chromatic harmonica, jazz piano and orchestra by up-and-coming Hong Kong composer Alice Yeung (27 Jun). They will also appear in two spectacular programmes titled “Jazz, Classical, & Everything in Between” at the 55^th Hong Kong Arts Festival (25 & 27 Mar 2027) with Music Director Emeritus Yip Wing-sie and past HKS Artist Associates (including composers Ng Cheuk-yin, Anna Lo, and star pianist Colleen Lee), as well as go on tour with the orchestra to Portugal (28 Jul – 2 Aug).

About HKS Artist Associates

 

Musical excellence painted in its many shapes and forms
Renowned artists from all over the world gather in Hong Kong for Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s new season, which opens with the long-awaited Hong Kong début of French piano master Jean-Marc Luisada, who will play Mozart’s Piano Concerto No 9, “Jeunehomme” under the baton of Music Director Christoph Poppen (18 Apr), and perform a recital of Chopin, Debussy and Haydn (19 Apr). A rare treat for brass lovers will take place, with celebrated German trombonist Frederic Belli playing two concertos by Toru Takemitsu and Ferdinand David (25 Apr), and leading the brass musicians of Hong Kong Sinfonietta in an exciting all-brass concert (22 Apr). As part of the French May Arts Festival, the phenomenal French cellist Aurélien Pascal will return to play Saint-Saëns’ two cello concertos with Maestro Poppen (16 May), and star clarinettist Raphaël Sévère will perform Nielsen’s Clarinet Concerto under Olari Elts, Music Director of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (30 May). Sévère will also join hands with pianist Colleen Lee and Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s wind principals in an exquisite recital of French repertoire (27 May).

Under the baton of Music Director Emeritus Yip Wing-sie, Hong Kong Sinfonietta will also present two beautifully curated programmes centred around Baroque music (27 & 29 Aug), featuring recorder superstar Stefan Temmingh and harpsichord player Sebastian Wienand; Vivaldi’s Recorder Concerto, the Hong Kong première of Thomas Koppel’s concerto Moonchild’s Dream, as well as sparkling works by J S Bach and his sons, will lead the programmes.

Award-winning British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor will join hands with in-demand Korean conductor Holly Hyun Choe to perform Brahms’ Piano Concerto No 1 (12 Sep), and give a solo recital of Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt and Chopin (9 Sep). Acclaimed pianist Sunwook Kim, who is also active as a conductor and currently Music Director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, will play-conduct Hong Kong Sinfonietta in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3, and conduct the “Pastoral” Symphony (21 Nov).

Two of the hottest young rising stars in the violin scene today will make their débuts with Hong Kong Sinfonietta under Music Director Christoph Poppen this season. Having swept many prizes at the biggest violin competitions including 1^st Prize at the 2018 Paganini Competition, violinist Kevin Zhu will play Lalo’s virtuosic Symphonie Espagnole (26 Sep). 3rd Prize winner of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition, Alexandra Conunova, will share her enthralling interpretation of Saint-Saëns’ Violin Concerto No 3 in B minor (7 Nov).

 

Legendary performances by legendary artists
Esteemed soloists who have been leading their field over the past several decades join Hong Kong Sinfonietta this season for extraordinary feasts of top-level music-making. Renowned trumpeter Reinhold Friedrich will perform Weinberg’s Trumpet Concerto under star conductor Chuang Tung-chieh (24 Oct), and lead the brass musicians of Hong Kong Sinfonietta in a concert of Bernstein, Albinoni, Böhme and more (21 Oct). Legendary French oboist François Leleux will play-conduct a quintessentially French programme of Fauré, Debussy, Bizet and more (17 Feb 2027).

 

Spotlighting our homegrown talent
Continuing its mission to nurture Hong Kong’s young talents, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has commissioned new works from several local composers this season including a new sheng concerto by Charles Kwong, to be performed by sheng master Loo Sze-wang and conducted by Yip Wing-sie during the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo 2026 (10 Oct); the same concert also features the outstanding Cong Quartet playing Benjamin Lees’ Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra. In celebration of Christmas, Maestro Poppen will bring together Hong Kong’s leading chamber choir NOĒMA, Principal Harp of the Vienna Philharmonic Anneleen Lenaerts and four soloists (soprano Alison Lau, mezzosoprano Sophie Gallagher, tenor Mirko Ludwig and bass Caleb Woo) to present “A Ceremony of Harp & Carols”, performing Britten’s timeless A Ceremony of Carols, C P E Bach’s Magnificat and Glière’s beautiful Harp Concerto.

 

Inspirational musical experiences for all ages
Always endeavouring to break down any barriers of classical music, Hong Kong Sinfonietta continues to present educational and informative concert experiences suitable for all. Yip Wing-sie, well-loved for being an engaging communicator on stage, will helm three enlightening programmes including “Know Your Piano Concertos” (10-11 Jul) with star pianist Colleen Lee and the young winners of “Auditions On Stage – Piano” in 2025, Lin Jia-hong Ericsson and Lo Sum-yau; the heartwarming and wholesome musical story-telling of “McDull．A Simple Concert” (16-18 Jul); and in collaboration with dance artist Yuri Ng, a captivating exploration of ballet music in “Let’s Listen – Music for Ballet” (6-7 Mar 2027).

Following the rave-reviewed début of French illustrator and animator Grégoire Pont last season, he will return to bring his magical storytelling marrying live-drawings, live-animation and live orchestral music once again, under the baton of conductor Vivian Ip. This time, the stories and sceneries of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony will surround you, enhanced by Michael Lam’s text adaptation and Yuri Ng’s live storytelling (21-22 Aug).

The orchestra’s long-time bestseller “Good Music for Kids” (12-14 Jun) and “Good Music for Babies” (13-14 Feb 2027) concert series will continue this season, conducted and presented by Lien Boon Hua and Vivian Ip respectively. Beloved British concert presenter Alasdair Malloy will bring another spectacular family concert as he does every January, this time themed “Alasdair’s Super Kingdom of Toys” and conducted by Ray Chan (8-10 Jan 2027).

 

Delivering to your busy everyday lives a little music that goes a long way
Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s best-loved Panasonic Proudly Sponsors: Good Music This Lunch free lunchtime chamber concert series continues this season with performances not only at the Hong Kong City Hall, but also the Yuen Long Theatre, extending our reach to wider audiences. As the Artists-in-residence of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Music Department for the fourth year running, Hong Kong Sinfonietta will again present the Chamber Gems concert series at the university’s Lee Hysan Concert Hall.

 

Unusual musical encounters in inspiring settings
As part of the orchestra’s brand new “Out of the Blue” concert series, selected artists will be visiting the unique and absorbing space of Tang Contemporary Art to present intimate recitals where there is minimal distance between the audience and the artist, offering a more direct and immersive musical experience. French cellist Aurélien Pascal will kick start the series, followed by violinist and the orchestra’s Concertmaster James Cuddeford, jazz pianist and HKS Artist Associate Daniel Chu, as well as renowned harpist Anneleen Lenaerts.

The orchestra will also reprise its collaboration with film partner MOViE MOViE to release a meticulously curated list of classical music-related film recommendations, with more details to be announced in due course.

 

The 3rd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition takes centre stage
Hong Kong Sinfonietta will be organising the 3^rd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition on 27-31 January 2027, where top young conductors from around the world will meet in Hong Kong and conduct a selection of timeless masterpieces, as they compete for coveted prizes of up to HK$200,000. Acclaimed local pianist Rachel Cheung will make an appearance to play the third movement of Schumann’s Piano Concerto under the batons of the Competition’s Semi-Finalists, while the Final Round of the Competition will feature the new commission Endless Rhythm by local composer Daniel Lo Ting-cheung. All rounds of the Competition are open to the public; ticketing details will be announced in due course.

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* Hong Kong artists featured in Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s 2026/2027 season
Music Director Emeritus/Conductor: Yip Wing-sie
HKS Artist Associates: Cy Leo, Daniel Chu
Piano: Colleen Lee, Rachel Cheung, Lin Jia-hong Ericsson, Lo Sum-yau
Sheng: Loo Sze-wang
Cong Quartet
Soprano: Alison Lau
Bass: Caleb Woo
Chamber choir: NOĒMA
Conductor: Vivian Ip, Ray Chan
Composer: Alice Yeung, Adrian Wong, Charles Kwong, Daniel Lo Ting-cheung, Anna Lo, Ng Cheuk-yin
Choreographer: Yuri Ng
Writer: Michael Lam
McDull

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** Works commissioned by Hong Kong Sinfonietta in the 2026/2027 season

Alice Yeung: Time (in-)Linear, a Concerto for Chromatic Harmonica, Jazz Piano & Orchestra
Music Director/Conductor: Christoph Poppen
27.6.2026 | World première
31.7.2026 | European première

 

Charles Kwong: Sheng Concerto “Horizons”
Music Director Emeritus/Conductor: Yip Wing-sie
10.10.2026 | World première

 

Daniel Lo Ting-cheung: Endless Rhythm
Commissioned for the Final Round of the 3^rd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition
31.1.2027 | World première

 

Cy Leo/Anna Lo: New work for harmonica and orchestra
Music Director Emeritus/Conductor: Yip Wing-sie
25.3.2027 | World première

 

Daniel Chu/Ng Cheuk-yin: New work for jazz piano and orchestra
Music Director Emeritus/Conductor: Yip Wing-sie
27.3.2027 | World première

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Hong Kong Sinfonietta
Music Director Emeritus: Yip Wing-sie
Music Director: Christoph Poppen

 

One of Hong Kong’s flagship orchestras, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has achieved significant recognition for its passionate performances and innovative programming. Since 1999, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has collaborated with an illustrious array of international musicians and groups, toured to 48 cities worldwide, and appeared at renowned international music and arts festivals. Venue Partner of Hong Kong City Hall since 2009, the orchestra performs year-round with around 100 performances a season. As an avid believer of keeping music alive and contemporary, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has commissioned and performed over 100 new works on top of presenting standard orchestral repertoire.

Having run its own Artist Associate scheme since 2006, Hong Kong Sinfonietta regularly collaborates with artists from different disciplines to explore new possibilities, and offers fresh artistic experiences as well as educational programmes to audiences from different backgrounds. The orchestra’s three CD albums on DECCA have been certified Platinum and Gold.

To nurture and create opportunities for the next generation of artists, the orchestra held the “Auditions On Stage” series for violin and piano in 2022 and 2025 respectively, where young local players were offered a chance to play with the orchestra and win a concert engagement. The 3^rd edition of the highly successful Hong Kong International Conducting Competition will be held in 2027, promoting Hong Kong as one of the world’s important stages for artistic excellence and career development.

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