An Evening of Romance
Hong Kong Chamber Music Society
proudly presents
An Evening of Romance
Concert by soprano Samantha Chong, pianist Sheryl Lee, violist Yu Sun, and cellist Anna Kwan
Date and time:
Thursday 29 June, 2017
(Concert at 7:15pm / Dinner at 8:30pm)
Location:
Central
Admission:
Concert only: Adult $320; Student $160
Concert and Dinner: Adult $690; Student $530
Programme:
Schumann:
- Adagio and Allegro, Op. 70
- Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42
Brahms:
- Zwei Gesänge, Op. 91
- Piano rio, Op. 114
About the musicians:
Samantha Chong (soprano)
A native of Sabah, Malaysia, mezzo-soprano Samantha Chong’s repertoire spans early music, oratorio, songs, opera and contemporary works. She was the winner of the 1st ASEAN Vocal competition, organised by Singapore Lyric Opera in 2016. She also won the 1st prize at the 41st National Singing Competition of Malaysia in 2015. After her graduation, she started her career as a soloist with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Hong Kong, Musica Viva and Global Symphony Orchestra. Samantha has made her Italian debut in 2019 with Teatro Petruzzelli, singing Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Recently, she has been invited to perform with Erasmus Orchestra, Hong Kong Art Festival, Hong Kong – Vienna Music Festival, Kuala Lumpur City Opera, Singapore Lyric Opera, Virama Music Malaysia, China Sichuan Music Conservatory and Mozart Festival in Shenzhen, China.
Her recent performances include the title role in Carmen, the role of Yu in Women Like Us (2023 Hong Kong Art Festival chamber opera), Giacinta in La finta semplice, Doralba in L’impresario in angustie, Sect Mother in Kungfood (world premiere), Handel’s Messiah, and Bach’s Mass in B Minor.
Samantha graduated with the Master of Music Degree, having previously earned her Bachelor of Music Degree, both from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). She was a member of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Opera Hong Kong Young Artist Development Programme from 2015 to 2018. She is currently a faculty member at the HKAPA.
Sheryl Lee (piano)
Sheryl began her piano studies with Katherine Lu and Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She made her debut with the Utah Symphony at age 13 under the baton of the late Joseph Silverstein, resulting in her move from Utah to New York City to attend the Juilliard School. She went on to pursue her education at Yale University and New York University, studying with esteemed mentors including Peter Frankl, Eduardus Halim, Christopher Elton, John Perry and Maria Curcio. Sheryl has graced the stages of prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Aspen Music Festival, the Banff Centre for the Arts, the Centre d’arts Orford, and the Sarasota Music Festival. She regularly collaborates with esteemed artists from the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony, and the New York and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras. Currently, Sheryl serves as artist-in-residence at the Education University of Hong Kong.
Sheryl is the Deputy Director & Head of Advancement at Asia Art Archive. Previously, she was the Executive Director for the revitalization of the Grade 1 heritage site, the former Haw Par Mansion, under the Revitalizing Historic Buildings through Partnership Scheme of the HKSAR Government. Other positions held include General Manager at Naxos Music Group (Far East), the world’s leading classical music label and distributor, Artistic Development Manager at the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Marketing Director at Carl Fischer Music Publishing in New York. Through her own arts consultancy, Sheryl has curated interdisciplinary programs and festivals exploring artistic collaborations, innovations, and practices for both public and private sector clients.
Sheryl currently serves on the Boards of Directors for The Fringe Club, the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, the Music Children Foundation (as Chairman from 2018-2023), and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She also serves as the Artistic Advisor to HKUST’s Shaw Auditorium.
Yu Sun (Violist)
Yu Sun, born in 1983 in Shanghai, is the first Chinese violist to have worked at Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, he also served as Principal Violist at Gerwandhausorchester Leipzig, Basel Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Phil. From 2023 he will be the principal violist at renowned Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich.
Sun studied at Shanghai Conservatory of Music and at Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madridt, before he continued his studies in Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under the tutelage of Professor Tabea Zimmermann. He received Master Degree of Music and Konzertexamen (Doctor’s Degree).
Between 2007-2009, he worked at Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra with world leading conductors and toured throughout Europe. Sun served in Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra as a viola tutti since 2010 before he entered Basel Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland as principal viola in Jan 2013. Sun also played as guest principal viola at the Hamburg State Opera/Hamburg Philharmonic Orchestra.
As a soloist, Sun performed with the China National Centre for Performing Arts Orchestra and the Berlin Concert Hall Orchestra.
Sun coached Asian Youth Orchestra between 2016 and 2018.
Anna Kwan (Cellist)
Anna Kwan Ton-an started learning the cello when she was ten at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and has won scholarships including the Hong Kong Bank, Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Stanley Knight and Yale School of Music.
While studying for her Bachelor Degree at Oberlin Conservatory of Music, she worked with members of the Vermeer, Emerson and Colorado string quartets, furthering her studies at Yale University, where she was coached by Claude Frank, Peter Frankl and members of the Tokyo String Quartet.
As a soloist, Anna was invited by the LCSD “Young Soloist Series” to play a solo recital in 1999. She was also invited to perform as a representative of Wells Cathedral School, England while she was a student there to perform at the Governor’s House for Sir Chris Patten. She was principal cello of the Asian Youth Orchestra 1995 and a member of the Jeunesses Musicales World Youth Orchestra, orchestra in residence of the Verbier Music Festival, Switzerland in 1996 and 1997.
Anna joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001. As the member of the Hong Kong String Quartet, she has given concerts in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Macau, and is currently a member of the Anonymous Quartet.