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HKBU Symphony Orchestra creates an immersive live music experience through transdisciplinary innovation

29 May 2026

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Titled “Live Music ReIMAGINEd”, the HKBU Symphony Orchestra offers audiences a transdisciplinary, immersive artistic experience at the concert.
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra’s Annual Gala Concert showcases a bold fusion of artificial intelligence, arts and technology, and orchestral music.
Miss Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the HKSAR (3rd right); Mr Kevin Liem, Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU (2nd right); Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU (1st right); Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) cum Dean of the School of Creative Arts at HKBU, and Artistic Director and Curator of the concert (2nd left); and Mr Taurin Barrera, Associate Professor of Practice of the Academy of Music at HKBU and Visual Director of the concert (1st left), pose with the humanoid robot Sophia.
Three students from the Academy of Music perform excerpts from Italian composer Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. From left: Year 2 students Li Chun-kit, Daniel and Wong Long-chit, Long; and Year 3 student Tang Ching-yin, Angus.

The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Symphony Orchestra presented its Annual Gala Concert on 29 April, reimagining the future of live performance through a bold fusion of artificial intelligence (AI), arts and technology, and orchestral music. Titled “Live Music ReIMAGINEd”, the concert offered audiences a transdisciplinary, immersive artistic experience and became one of the flagship events celebrating HKBU’s 70th anniversary.

Held at Hong Kong’s first world-class performing arts centre dedicated to the integration of arts and technology, the event attracted government officials, members of the Council and the Court at HKBU, alumni, donors, staff, students and distinguished guests from across the community, including Miss Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The evening opened with the powerful Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg by the German composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner. Through dynamic lighting and immersive audiovisual effects, the performance pulled audiences into a captivating realm where reality seamlessly merged with imagination.

Students from the Academy of Music performed excerpts from Italian composer Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, reimagined with a contemporary edge through an electronic remix by HKBU alumnus Michael Wong. Real-time AI-generated visuals created by Professor Chen Jie, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Associate Director of Motion Capture and Visualization Laboratory (MoCap Lab) at HKBU, further enriched the performance by integrating classical tradition and the digital world. In addition, Mr Taurin Barrera, Associate Professor of Practice of the Academy of Music at HKBU and Visual Director of the concert, paired the music with expressive multimedia to create a multisensory journey.

One of the evening’s most anticipated highlights was the world premiere collaboration with the humanoid robot Sophia, developed by Hong Kong-based Hanson Robotics. Sophia performed three original songs alongside the Orchestra, while Dr Lam Kwan-fai, Associate Professor of Practice at the Academy of Music, and his team composed special orchestral obbligatos that beautifully intertwined with Sophia’s vocals.

Another highlight was a cross-media performance inspired by the legendary series Journey to the West and the video game Black Myth: Wukong. The Orchestra combined live orchestral music with dazzling visual effects and gaming elements, creating a fresh artistic experience for the audience.

Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) cum Dean of the School of Creative Arts, who also served as Artistic Director and Curator of the concert, said he had long sought to challenge traditional notions of orchestral performance. “Today’s audiences seek more than just ‘listening’ to music – they want a holistic experience that integrates sound, visuals and technology,” he said. “That is why we brought together classical music, film, gaming culture and even non-human collaborators.”

Professor Poon added: “The concert is a once-in-a-generation exploration of the evolving relationship between humanity, technology, and the arts. It represents not just an extraordinary artistic milestone for the University, but a bold signal of Hong Kong’s growing leadership at the crossroads of arts, science, and advanced technology.”

The production exemplified HKBU’s commitment to transdisciplinary education and innovation in art tech, bringing together experts and students from the Academy of Music, the Department of Computer Science, and MoCap Lab.

The evening concluded with the world premiere of Birthday Fantasia by HKBU alumnus Ronald Fu, celebrating the University’s 70th anniversary. The piece culminated in a joyful rendition of Happy Birthday, bringing the concert to a heartfelt close.

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The HKBU Symphony Orchestra presents the world premiere collaboration with the humanoid robot Sophia.
Sophia performs three original songs alongside the HKBU Symphony Orchestra.
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra performs the theme song of the video game “Black Myth: Wukong”. A dancer wearing motion capture devices performs the game’s battles live on stage, alongside with singing performance by the humanoid robot Sophia.
With dynamic lighting effects, the concert provides audiences with a holistic experience that integrates sound, visuals and technology.
With dynamic lighting effects, the concert provides audiences with a holistic experience that integrates sound, visuals and technology.
The concert's Visual Director, Associate Professor of Practice Taurin Barrera paired the music with expressive multimedia to create a multisensory journey.