Press Release

HKBU presents NC Wong Young Composers Award to nurture international creative musical talent

21 August 2022

 

With an objective to expand the creativity and professional growth of the music students and promote music composition in Hong Kong and beyond, the Academy of Music at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) held its inaugural NC Wong Young Composers Award presentation ceremony on 19 August to recognise the creation of world-class compositions by its current undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Selected by a jury comprising world-renowned professionals, the first, second and third prizes of the award were presented to undergraduate students Lui Kin-lok, Gloria Mui Man-sze and Lauryn Vania Kurniawan respectively. Apart from a cash award, the first prize winner’s composition will be performed for the first time in the world by the French award-winning new generation string quartet ensemble, Quatour Arod, in January 2023.

The biennial NC Wong Young Composers Award was established in 2021 with a generous donation of HK$1 million from Mr Wong Nga-chung, President of Nakagawa Electronics Ltd.

Mr Wong, who officiated the award presentation ceremony, said: “I am impressed by HKBU’s commitment to driving excellence in music teaching, learning and research, as well as expanding new creative opportunities. I hope this award can encourage the University’s young musicians to strive for greater reach and a bigger impact on the global music scene by bringing us more innovative and diverse compositions.”

Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research), Founding Dean of the School of Creative Arts and Dr Hung Hin Shiu Endowed Professor in Music at HKBU, said: “HKBU is dedicated to nurturing future-ready talent for Hong Kong and beyond. The NC Wong Young Composers Award inspires our students to expand their musical horizons and dream up impressive new compositions that travel far beyond the classroom walls.”

The three winners said they were honoured to have the opportunity to get their music heard by some of the most exceptional artists in the world. They are determined to be active composers, and hope to create impactful musical pieces in various genres and for all kinds of media.

The international jury of this year’s award comprised a group of all-star performers, conductors, arts administrators and composers. They were Mr Paul Tam, Executive Director, Performing Arts of the West Kowloon Cultural District; Professor Sergey Malov, winner of the OPUS Klassik award, a prestigious classical music prize in Germany; Ms Jessica Cottis, conductor of the Royal Opera House; Mr Lio Kuokman, Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic; and Dr Eugene Birman, Assistant Professor of the Academy of Music at HKBU and a recipient of the prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in 2018.

The jury complimented on the quality of the submissions this year and was impressed by the exceptional talent of the HKBU student composers.

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Mr Wong Nga-chung (2nd left) congratulates the three winning HKBU student composers, Lui Kin-lok (2nd right), Gloria Mui Man-sze (1st left) and Lauryn Vania Kurniawan (1st right).
Young musicians perform the first prize winner’s composition at the ceremony. The composition will be performed for the first time in the world by a French award-winning string quartet ensemble in 2023.
(From left) Professor Ho Wai-chung, Acting Director of the Academy of Music at HKBU; Professor Johnny M Poon; Mr Wong Nga-chung; Mr Paul Tam and Dr Eugene Birman.
Ms Rosanna Choi (1st right), Treasurer of the Council and the Court of HKBU, Professor Johnny M Poon (1st left); and Mrs Lily Chan (2nd right), Director of University Advancement of HKBU and Secretary-General of HKBU Foundation present a token of appreciation to Mr Wong Nga-chung (2nd left).