Press Release

HKBU Symphony Orchestra utilises AI and art tech to redefine live music experience at East Kowloon Cultural Centre

Thursday, 30 April 2026

 

The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Symphony Orchestra presented its Annual Gala Concert, one of the most innovative cultural events of the year in town, yesterday (29 April) at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Themed “Live Music ReIMAGINEd”, the concert’s programme broke new ground with visionary artistic collaborations that push the boundaries of the arts and technology.

The East Kowloon Cultural Centre under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) is the first world-class performance venue in Hong Kong dedicated to fostering the integration of arts and technology. This concert is also one of the events celebrating HKBU’s 70th Anniversary. It attracted a wide audience of government officials, members of the Council and the Court at HKBU, alumni, donors, staff, students, and distinguished guests from various sectors of the community, including Miss Rosanna Law Shuk-pui, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Government of the HKSAR.

The concert opened in a spectacular fashion with German composer Wilhelm Richard Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. This grand masterpiece set a powerful tone, while specially curated lighting instantly elevated the audience’s audio-visual experience.

The concert featured three HKBU music students as soloists, who performed selections from Italian composer Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Their interpretations were creatively remixed by HKBU alumnus Michael Wong, blending Baroque tradition with modern electronic flair. This performance combined real-time artificial intelligence (AI) visuals created by Professor Chen Jie, Associate Director of HKBU Motion Capture and Visualization Laboratory, seamlessly merging music and technology.

Further pushing the boundaries, this year’s concert presented the world premiere collaboration with Sophia, a humanoid robot developed by the Hong Kong based company Hanson Robotics. Appearing as an embodied humanoid soloist, Sophia joined the orchestra to present three original songs, exploring new frontiers of musical interaction between human musicians and artificial intelligence. Dr Lam Kwan-fai, Associate Professor of Practice of the Academy of Music at HKBU, and his team composed three orchestral obbligatos, interweaving seamlessly with Sophia’s voice and prompting the audience to consider questions of reality, existence, and embodiment.

Another concert highlight was a live gameplay segment inspired by the legendary series Journey to the West in the Chinese Mainland. The HKBU Symphony Orchestra transitioned from Immortal Sound above Cloud Palace - Celestial Symphony, the opening theme song of Journey to the West, to the theme song for the video game Black Myth: Wukong, enriched by dazzling visuals and live gaming. Blending nostalgia with innovation, this segment invites the audience on an unforgettable adventure with the Monkey King.

Dr Kennedy Y H Wong, Chairman of the Council and the Court of HKBU, pointed out that the theme of the concert, Live Music ReIMAGINEd, is a testament to HKBU’s spirit of innovation. “Through its groundbreaking elements, the concert underscores a powerful message: even in an era defined by rapid technological change, it is human emotion, creativity and mindfulness that drive true innovation,” said Dr Wong.

Professor Alex Wai, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, stated that at a time when AI is reshaping the global landscape, people have to guide technology with humanistic values and address change with creativity. “This concert demonstrates that when reason and emotion intersect, when algorithms and inspiration coexist, the University can become a cradle for new cultural forms which are at once thoughtful, inclusive and musically expressive,” added Professor Wai.

Professor Johnny M Poon, Associate Vice-President (Interdisciplinary Research) cum Dean of the School of Creative Arts at HKBU, who is also the concert’s Artistic Director and Curator, said: “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 the arts, science, and advanced technology.”

To close the concert, the world premiere of Birthday Fantasia took centre stage. It is a vibrant new commission by HKBU music alumnus Ronald Fu to celebrate the University’s 70th anniversary. Drawing on a kaleidoscope of musical styles and iconic film themes, the piece culminated in a joyful rendition of Happy Birthday, inviting the entire audience to celebrate together.

-End-

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Sophia, a humanoid robot, joins the HKBU Symphony Orchestra to present three original songs.
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.
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala Concert, with meticulously designed lighting effects, provides audience with an immersive art experience.
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra Annual Gala Concert, with meticulously designed lighting effects, provides audience with an immersive art experience.
Three HKBU music students, as soloists, perform selections from Italian composer Antonio Lucio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.
To close the concert, the world premiere of Birthday Fantasia takes centre stage to celebrate the University’s 70th anniversary.
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.