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Finally, Saturday morning’s opera master class at Wheeler Opera House concluded with an extraordinary moment: A concert of new art songs by eight young composers in the festival’s program, including a setting of Langston Hughes’ poem “Mother to Son.” Mei-ling Meilina Tsui, from Kazakhstan by way of Hong Kong, wrote irresistible, emotionally convincing music that drew from her own culture and that of countertenor Key’mon Murrah, who grew up in a Black family in Kentucky. Both said the poet’s words resonated with their histories, and the music, and Murrah’s performance with pianist Manuel Arellano, certainly conveyed it. Let us hope that we get to hear it again and again.

My interview with the Hong Kong Economic Times, in which I talk about my mixed cultural background and upbringing in Hong Kong, the musical influences and experiences I have had as a composer, and my thoughts on education. It also mentions the world premiere of my new work “Secret Labyrinth” commissioned by Musicus Society, performed at 大館 Tai Kwun, an iconic historic landmark in Hong Kong.

My interview with CASHFLOW published by the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (CASH).

Another new work to be featured by ‘The RTHK Chamber Soloists’ is the Piano Quintet No. 2 by Meilina Tsui, who is currently working on her Doctorate in Composition at the University of Michigan. When asked how she would compare the new work with her Piano Quintet No. 1 (for piano and string quartet), and whether the piano part would take prominence since she is a pianist herself, she revealed that all parts are equally distributed but the work has an improved timbre due to the addition of a woodwind instrument. She has also combined traditional western classical music with folk elements in the work, making it more a truly ‘local’ work.

The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (September 15) met with the Vice Mayor of Almaty, Mr Arman Kyrykbayev, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to exchange views on strengthening co-operation between the two places. Mr Lau also visited cultural and sports facilities in Almaty.

Tonight, Mr Lau will attend a concert jointly presented by Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. Young Hong Kong musicians who play Chinese and Western music will perform alongside renowned Kazakhstan musical ensembles including the State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan, the Kazakh State String Quartet and the Turan Kazakh Ensemble. Some of the music pieces were composed by a young Chinese musician, Meilina Tsui, who was born in Kazakhstan. She will also take part in the performance.

Under a theme of transcending the boundaries of time and space, the performing groups will showcase the characteristics of Hong Kong and Kazakhstan music. In addition to introducing the music culture of Hong Kong to the audience in Kazakhstan, the concert also represents the commencement of a cultural friendship between Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.