Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong (Director Lee Young-ho, hereinafter referred to as KCCHK) successfully concluded the New Year's concert commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General, which took place on February 7th (Wednesday) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Jockey Club Auditorium. 

 The concert received a great response from approximately 800 audiences, including about 20 key cultural figures in the local community, such as ▲Hong Kong Philharmonic CEO Benedikt Fohr ▲Hong Kong Opera CEO Ronald Kwok ▲Former Brand Hong Kong CIO Claudia Yeung ▲Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce CEO Patrick Yeung ▲Hong Kong Government LCSD Assistant Director Fanny Au, as well as around 100 local Koreans.

Performers HKGNA Young Virtuosi, (In the middle: left to right) Conductor/ Violinist Andrew Ling, Violinist Soyoung Yoon, Cellist Woo Jiyeon, Siwon Park

The concert, titled "Soaring for Friendship New Year's Concert 2024," was held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General and to welcome the new year in 2024 with a theme of friendship. Representing Korea, renowned violinist Yoon Soyoung, Prof. Woo Jiyeon, a cellist from Kookmin University, and Park Si-won, a Korean cellist based in Hong Kong, participated in the concert. From Hong Kong, Andrew Ling, the Principal Violist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and the HKGNA Young Virtuosi, a local group of young musicians, also took part in the performance.

The concert received great attention from the local community, as all tickets were registered on the first day of registration period. This confirmed the high interest in the New Year's concert featuring Korean classical artists and local musicians from Hong Kong.

Collaboration stage by Korean Violinist Yoon Soyoung, Hong Kong Violinist Andrew Ling, Hong Kong local teenage string performance group HKGNA Young Virtuosi

Korean Violinist Soyoung Yoon, Hong Kong Violinist Andrew Ling

The performers showcased a selection of globally beloved classical pieces, including Bach's "Double Violin Concerto in D minor," "Liebesfreude," "Hungarian Rhapsody," and Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons." They also performed a collaboration of the Korean folk song "Arirang" and the Chinese folk song "A Single Bamboo Can Easily Bend," highlighting the spirit of cooperation between Korea and Hong Kong in the performance.

Korean Cellist (Professor of Kookmin University) Woo Jiyeon and Hong Kong Pianist Alex Wun

Korean Cellist Park Siwon, member of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta Orchestra

Approximately 1,000 people, including representitives from the local cultural scene, local citizens, the Korean community in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Polytechnic University students, attended the concert. The event not only celebrated the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General and the 75th anniversary of the Korean Resident Association in Hong Kong but also fostered friendly relations by welcoming the new year together just before the Lunar New Year. Moreover, through the participation of Yoon Soyoung, one of the most popular violinists in the world, the excellence of Korean culture and the arts was showcased. Collaborative performances were also organized between the HKGNA Young Virtuosi, a youth string ensemble in Hong Kong, and internationally acclaimed Korean classical artists, contributed to the development of local young talents and promoted cultural exchange opportunities among artists.

Audience waiting for entrance

Audience

Some audiences who attended the concert expressed their reactions, stating that they were initially unaware that it was the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Consulate General, praising the excellent performance of the violinist, and enjoying the well-curated selection of classical pieces.

The parents of the HKGNA Young Virtuosi performers conveyed their gratitude to the Consulate General and the Cultural Center for providing their daughter with the precious opportunity to perform alongside world-renowned musicians. They also expressed their intention to actively participate in future cultural events organized by the Cultural Center, as they have always had a strong interest in Korean culture.

KCCHK will continue to actively promote Korean musicians who are actively engaged on the international stage as a new content of Hallyu-Korean Wave, and provide opportunities to introduce them widely in Hong Kong and Greater Bay Area. They also plan to organize collaborative stages between Korea and Hong Kong, such as the New Year's concert, to further promote cultural and artistic exchanges and foster friendly relations between Korea and Hong Kong.

[Performance] Soaring for Friendship New Year's Concert 2024 Date: 2024 Feb 7, 7:30pm Time: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Jockey Club Auditorium Performers: ▲Violinist Yoon Soyoung ▲Cellist Woo Jiyeon ▲Cellist Park Siwon ▲Andrew Ling ▲HKGNA Young Virtuosi  Host: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong Co-Organizer: Hong Kong Generation Next Arts