Following last year's successful debut concert tour, the Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra (GBAYO), presented by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and supported by the Swire Group as Founding Patron, has returned for a second tour across four cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This year’s concert tour, Romancing the Dragon, continues the mission of cultural exchange and fostering talents by gathering 93 promising young musicians aged between 16 and 24 from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen for 11 days of training and live concert performances.
Officiating guests of this year’s opening concert in Hong Kong on July 8 included Mr. Raistlin Lau JP, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Mr. Charles Yang BBS JP, Council Chairman of HKAPA; Professor Gillian Choa, Director of HKAPA; and Mr. Guy Bradley, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited.
The GBAYO is a unique platform for cultural and artistic exchange amongst young musicians in the region. The opening performance this year took place at HKAPA’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, giving the wider public an opportunity to enjoy the captivating performances of the young musicians. The GBAYO will perform in its second concert at The University of Macau – University Hall (N2) on July 10, while audiences in the Mainland will be able to enjoy two more performances at the Concert Hall of Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou on July 11, and at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre on July 12.
Uniting young artists on a musical journey to enrich culture and cultivate talents
The GBAYO initiative was created to nurture young musicians in the region, providing them with an opportunity to hone their skills and pursue the highest standards of orchestral performance.
In April, the programme began a recruiting process and welcomed 93 members from across the Greater Bay Area. The young musicians honed their skills further, thanks to 40 hours of exclusive training with 13 renowned instructors in a training camp at HKAPA in Hong Kong from July 2 to July 7.
Prof. Gillian Choa, Director of HKAPA, remarks, “Following the resounding success of last year's debut concert, we are pleased to once again bring the enchantment of music to the public by the Academy's School of Music and our institutional partners in the Greater Bay Area, including Xinghai Conservatory of Music and The Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Association. Echoing the Year of the Dragon, symbolising wisdom, prosperity and success, this year's concert is titled Romancing the Dragon. With a captivating blend of classical and contemporary pieces, we hope to create a symphonic journey for the audiences near and far to immerse in the essence of the dragon’s spirits and amazing energy. As a higher education institution dedicated to fostering performing artists and cultural leaders, the GBAYO aims to provide a platform for the highest standard of classical orchestral performance in the region, nurturing young talents through professional training and coaching by world-renowned musicians. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government for being a supporting organisation of the concert tour this year. My special thanks also go to the Founding Patron, Swire Group, as well as other sponsors and supporting partners, including Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality as well as SJM Resorts S.A., for their generous support for the concert tour.”
Sharing the dragon spirit across the GBA
Under the baton of Prof. Sharon Choa, HKAPA's Professor of Music (Conducting and Cultural Leadership), students from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen showcased their flourishing skills through their exceptional performances.
This year’s GBAYO has mastered a repertoire that includes pieces such as Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dance from West Side Story, Chan Ming-chi’s Dragon Roaming the Earth, Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto (4th and 5th movements) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.
The GBAYO believes that music can connect young people from diverse backgrounds who aspire to pursue their dreams alongside one another. The cooperation and support from all sectors of society are crucial in encouraging young people to participate in cultural exchanges and ensure the thriving development of the GBA.
“We are pleased that the GBA Youth Orchestra remains committed to its founding aspiration of promoting cultural exchange and integration in the GBA. The success of the GBAYO is symbolic of the deepening cooperation between Hong Kong, Macau and our neighbouring cities in Guangdong, as the GBA continues to go from strength to strength. As a company deeply rooted in Hong Kong, and with an expanding presence in the GBA, Swire is honoured to continue our patronage of this inspirational youth initiative. Our support for the orchestra is an example of our long-standing commitment to promoting youth development, as well as the arts and culture, within our communities,” said Mr. Arnold Cheng, Director, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, John Swire & Sons (China) Limited.
Established in July 2022 by HKAPA, in partnership with Xinghai Conservatory of Music and The Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Association, with support from the Swire Group as Founding Patron, the GBAYO aspires to be one of the top global youth orchestras.
With a vision to elevate the musical standard in the GBA and establish a world-class platform for classical orchestral performances, the GBAYO hopes its upcoming tour can captivate audiences with exceptional talent and the meticulously selected programme which echoes the theme of Romancing the Dragon.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), established by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Ordinance in 1984, is a leading tertiary institution in the performing arts in Asia. It provides professional undergraduate education and practice-based postgraduate studies. The study encompasses Chinese Opera, Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Its educational philosophy reflects the cultural diversity of Hong Kong with emphasis on Chinese and Western traditions, and interdisciplinary learning.
Since 2008, the Academy has attained the Programme Area Accreditation (PAA) status awarded by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to self-monitor and accredit its own undergraduate and post-secondary programmes in the five programme areas of Dance, Drama, Film and Television, Music, and Theatre and Entertainment Arts. Since 2016, the PAA status has been extended to cover Master’s Degree programmes and below; and since 2023, the programmes operated by the School of Chinese Opera accredited by HKCAAVQ has also received PAA status for its post-secondary and undergraduate programmes.
Besides the main campus in Wanchai, Béthanie, the site of the Academy’s Landmark Heritage Campus in Pokfulam, has housed training facilities for the School of Film and Television since 2006.
In the QS University Rankings announced in 2024, the Academy ranks 1st in Asia in the Performing Arts category.