Macao Orchestra Company Limited said in a statement yesterday that they have appointed local conductor Lio Kuok Man as the Macao Orchestra’s (OM) principal guest conductor and artistic advisor.
Macao Orchestra Company Limited was established in February this year by the local government to manage the operations of the Macao Orchestra and the Macao Chinese Orchestra, according to a statement by the Cultural Bureau (IC) at that time.
According to yesterday’s statement, Lio was the second prize winner of the 3rd Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris, and has served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Lio has been praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”.
Lio is also serving as programme director of the Macao International Music Festival and resident conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Lio said in a separate statement yesterday that it was a great honour to serve as principal guest conductor and artistic advisor for the restructured Macao Orchestra at its 40th anniversary.
Lio noted that the first symphonic concert he listened to was Brahms Symphony No. 2 performed by the Macao Orchestra when he was five years old, and he was deeply mesmerised by the orchestra’s sound, after which he started to fall in love with music and dreamt of becoming a musician.
Lio said he was looking forward to leading the Macao Orchestra to carry on this dream, trying to engage more local audiences with music.
According to yesterday’s statement by the Macao Orchestra, they aim to bring to their audiences a wide range of concerts in the new season: the “Eternal Classics” series featuring classics interpreted by internationally renowned soloists; the “Music at World Heritage” series in which chamber music is played at Macau’s UNESCO World Heritage sites; and the educational series – “Music Talks” – which gives audiences a better understanding of music; as well as the “Festivities” series for families.
This undated photo provided by the Macao Orchestra (OM) shows local conductor Lio Kuok Man posing with a baton.
