10th anniversary of the CityUHK Arts Festival Composing an Enchanting Musical and Art Feast
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) holds the Arts Festival every year, bringing together a large group of CityUHK students and outstanding artists in various fields to present a series of spectacular concerts and musicals. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the CityUHK Arts Festival. In the musical Legally Blonde! 36 CityUHK students and alumni delivered a heartfelt performance, telling the touching story of the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and transformation. The performers sang and danced with exceptional talent, creating a lively atmosphere that added a vibrant touch to CityUHK's 30th anniversary celebrations.
The 10th anniversary of the CityUHK Arts Festival held its opening concert on 10 October. Professor Henry Chung Shu-hung, Dean of Students and Chairman of the Cultural and Sports Committee, said this year’s Arts Festival theme, “What's NEXT?”, highlights the performing arts challenges CityUHK performers will bravely embrace in the future as they strive for excellence on the stage. He said he looks forward to stepping into the next decade with the performers, injecting youthful vitality into the local arts and culture scene.
The Arts Festival commenced with a joint performance by world-class musicians and the CityUHK Orchestra. The concert invited three world-class performers – Ms Lucia Yung Tsang-shien, the Principal Bassoonist of the Macao Orchestra; Ms Eva Wong Hiu-ching, Erhuist; and Ms Tra Nguyen, British-Vietnamese pianist – along with over 100 other performers from the CityUHK Philharmonic Orchestra, CityUHK Chinese Orchestra and CityUHK Choir, to perform a series of masterpieces by renowned composers.
This was the first time the CityUHK Philharmonic Orchestra and CityUHK Choir held a crossover performance, for Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, a challenging work that united all their musical forces and brilliantly showcased the dedication of the CityUHK performers. Ms Wong cooperated with the CityUHK Chinese Orchestra to deliver a legendary Chinese musical work, The Swallow. Ms Wong and Ms Yung performed a specially arranged version of Chrysanthemums Terrace, with an excellent mixture of bassoon and erhu to provide the audience with a fresh interpretation.
Another highlight of the Arts Festival was a Broadway musical. This year’s production was Legally Blonde! featuring CityUHK students and alumni showcasing their youthful energy with singing and dancing on stage from 25 to 27 October. The story follows Elle, a charming young woman, who gives up her carefree lifestyle to win back her ex-boyfriend by getting into the prestigious Harvard Law School. Although Elle secures a spot at the Ivy League institution, her academic journey is far from smooth, and she is devastated when the man she loves moves on to someone else. However, with the support of her schoolmate, Emmett, and a group of friends, she discovers her self-worth, sets clear goals, and becomes a stronger person.
The CityUHK students delivered a performance that showcased their exceptional talent in singing, dancing, and acting, with over 20 challenging scene changes. The high-level performance was supported not only by a professional backstage team, but also by CityUHK students who joined the Stage Management Experiential Program. They brought out the youthful energy of CityUHK students and inspired the audience to pursue their dreams fearlessly.
The local Ponte Orchestra and CityUHK Philharmonic Orchestra performed together in an orchestral concert Music from the Silver Screen on 16 October, with a selection of familiar soundtracks from Hong Kong and Hollywood films, taking the audience into a captivating world of special cinematic moments, evoking memories of scenes that have touched countless hearts. On 18 October, five local music groups – Hong Kong rising bands ROVER, Wong Jing (featuring Felix Tham, Clark Lo & Daniel Kwong), GIMAG, Andy is typing… and the CityUHK Band Society, Dissonance provided an unprecedented rock concert. ROVER and Dissonance performed and sang together on stage, creating new sparks. The concert brought the audience an unprecedented rock concert throughout the night.
On 13 November, a group of renowned vocalists will take the audience on a beautiful journey of Bel Canto with their exquisite voices. Dr Melody Sze, mezzo-soprano; Dr Athene Mok, soprano; and Mr Jeremy Leung, baritone – together with pianists Mr Mischa Ngan Chun-wai and Ms Hong Ting, and the CityUHK Choir, will present a selection of vocal works filled with love and passion. The CityUHK Chinese Orchestra joined hands with the Chinese Orchestra of Cultural Association of The University of Hong Kong, Chung Chi Student Chinese Orchestra of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Student Union Chinese Orchestra on 16 November to present the grand finale of the Arts Festival. The four outstanding new-generation Chinese orchestras will perform an array of jubilant Chinese music pieces.
Over the past decade, with the collective endeavours of over 2,500 CityUHK student performers and professional artists from Hong Kong and overseas, the CityUHK Arts Festival has presented over 80 performances, covering Chinese music, orchestral music, choral, vocal, dance, opera, band shows, etc., to over 30,000 audience members to experience the beauty and excitement of music over the years.
For programme details, please visit the website.