Florence Cheng Professional Blog

HK Baptist University Holiday Concert & Carols

2012-02-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

A few days after the opera production, another concert at HK Baptist University.
I was glad that this concert was pretty light, my choir, the HKBU Mixed Voice Choir performed three songs in the concert. It's a concert with all choir ensembles in HKBU music department singing, like a showcase concert. We had all groups singing their songs and had a mass sing at the end of the concert, to celebrate the end of Fall semester.

Mini Opera, Carmen

2012-02-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

After the Taiwan trip in late October 2011, I immediately got into another big project of the opera "Carmen". Since it was an hour-long performance, the opera was performed with a reduced version, with the narrator based on the original novel written by Prosper Mérimée. It was a tough performance as the budget and resources were very tight, but it's a good experience. It was my first time conducting opera and it took lots of work, yet learn so much!

TaiChung Jazz Festival

2011-12-07T20:43:00.000-08:00

Touring with my friends to Taiwan

We had two shows in the Taichung Jazz Festival

And another two in Taipei!

Elijah

2011-12-07T20:36:00.000-08:00

Large scale work, it made me super busy this summer. Aquila Music was hosting a concert of Mendelssohn's great oratorio, Elijah.

Featured soloist: Yuki Ip, Carol Lin, Alex Tam, Albert Lim
Choir: Hong Kong Youth Choir

The Hong Kong Children's Choir Gala Concert

2011-12-07T20:31:00.001-08:00

Back to choral, with my wonderful kids from the Hong Kong Children's Choir, performing in the Gala Concert 2011.

Senior H, aged 9-11, very young but lovely sound.

Then Chamber Youth, 13+, SATB, more mature and independent! i have so much fun working with them.

BeiShan Jazz Festival

2011-12-07T20:22:00.000-08:00

It was my great honor to be invited to sing music that i haven't had much training on. Jazz is one of the genre that i really want to learn yet i've never had a chance to work on. Though I was singing in some vocal jazz group back in the US, it's more like choral thing than real jazz jazz.

A friend of mine approached me and asked me to sing some songs for his band. What a surprise! Didn't have much hesitation, i nodded my head and happily took the invitation.

First performance in Bei Shan, Zhuhai. Nice experience!

Fête de la Musique 2011

2011-07-24T09:43:00.000-07:00

My pleasure to be invited to be the music director of La Fete de la Musique on 1 July, 2011.

Fête de la Musique is the largest international live music event in the world, held in 450 cities across the globe on the very same day each year – June 21 –developed by the French Government in 1982. The aim of the event is to make music everywhere, to celebrate music and to expose as many people to music as possible, also promoting free music from local artists and performers. Amateur and professional musicians are encourage to perform in the streets. It began in France and has since spread to many countries.

Fête de la Musique 2011 in Hong Kong was held on 1 July this year since it's a public holiday, so it can reach more people during a non-working day. It took place in Olympic City.

I was helping them to arrange performances by different amateur music lovers, some of my students were participated in the performance too. My job is mainly coaching performers, playing piano for singers, and operating the performance. There was so much fun meeting with different people from different ages, background and interests.

Moi@La Fête de la Musique

French Music Festival 2011, Article from The Consulate General of France in Hong Kong
http://www.consulfrance-hongkong.org/spip.php?article5010

Perform for Making Music Being Well (MMBW)

2011-07-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

I was performing for a campaign called "Making Music Being Well" in late June.

The idea behind Making Music Being Well is to help get more people thinking about the therapeutic and recreational benefits of being musically active. The message is: sing or play a musical instrument. It’s good for you!

Singing at St. John's Lunchtime Recital

2011-05-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

As a conductor and a soprano, singing is always the best way to express. That is the reason why I love to get into music and work as a musician.

Weeks ago I was giving a short performance in the lunchtime recital at St. John's Cathedral.

What a wonderful time singing!

My lovely boys

2011-04-07T11:40:00.001-07:00

The Hong Kong Schools Music Festival is over, I am glad that I finally have a break from teaching a choir in boys' college.

It is the first time to teach an all-boy choir. It's been a long time to be in love with boys' voices, by its pure angelic quality.To teach boy soprano (treble) is hard because you have to to deal with boys who sing "Cambiata Voice" (changing voice). It takes a lot of effort to blend their voices. Yet, I had so much fun with them. They are smart and creative, with so much potential yet low level of concentration.

Days ago I went to their school and take the 2010-2011 class photo with them! Superb weather!

2011-03-31T11:22:00.000-07:00

Let me post my last project from December 2010
RTHK Radio 4 Christmas Concert in the Park "Bach in the Park"
City Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Youth Choir, Hong Kong Young People's Chorus

Teaching at high school choir in Hong Kong

2011-02-21T07:20:00.001-08:00

Hi all, haven't been updated for a long time. I kind of miss blogging, but have been very busy with my performing and teaching jobs.

After my Christmas vacation, I start teaching at a choir of a local high school, which has a long choral tradition and strong music background among high schools in Hong Kong. I found it very interesting to teach, as the students here has to much potential. I also appreciate the students who help me in managing the class that save me so much effort to deal with their discipline problem.

One thing from my observation of local students here. They spend so much time in learning 2-3 songs just for the school music festival (competition) and they have very high standard of performance. However, I found that they don't really know how to read music, and it surprises me a great deal. What a waste that they spend so much time listening and memorizing from note to note but not learning it by sight! They can learn much more music if they can sight sing well.

As a choir conductor who use Kodaly method as a tool of learning how to read music, I do think score reading/sight-singing a one of the most important parts of choral singing.

Hope that I can use what I learned to teach them to be better choir singers.

Amahl and the Night Visitors

2010-12-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

I just did three performance of Menotti's one-act opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors
The chorus I have been training was doing a nice job and it recalled my memory of being an opera chorus long time ago. Rehearsal every evening, rushing to and fro, being so familiar with the backstage!

Even though it was a rather small-scale performance, everything was well set. Principles, chorus, dancers, reduced version of orchestra, costume, stage...
What a nice experience working with different people that they have different talents about performing art. I have been thinking that I don't have opportunities of knowing people in other professions but music, and now I got some nice people around. How blessed!

Hong Kong Youth Choir Annual Concert 2010

2010-10-14T10:20:00.000-07:00

Hong Kong Youth Choir Annual Concert 2010

Gardien
Guard thy music, protect your lover

Program Highlights:

St. Cecilia Mass by Gounod

Les Chansons des Roses by Lauridsen

Other French songs include:
Pavane for a Silent Night by Ravel
Le chant des Bretons by Berlioz
Ave Maria by Saint-Seans
Pavane by Faure

Date: 13 November 2010 (Sat Evening )
Venue: St. John Cathedral, Central
Time: 19:30

Music Director 音樂總監 : Florence Cheng 鄭之璿

Soprano 女高音 : Sandy Leung 梁少瑩

Tenor 男高音 : Alex Tam 譚天樂

Bass 男低音 : Gerald Hon 韓雲龍

只設分區不設劃位 Free seat in different zones
Program: $200 (VIP) / $150 / $120 / $80 ( restricted view ) ( 視線可能受阻 )

The whole programme is around 1hr 30min with intermission
整個節目約一小時三十分 , 設中場休息

http://www.hkyc.org/101113AnnualConcert/

St. Matthew Passion

2010-06-28T23:49:00.001-07:00

St. Matthew Passion
I will be singing an aria as well as in the choir
Experience the masterpiece of Bach

Presenter 主辦:
St John’s Cathedral 聖約翰座堂

St Matthew Passion
聖馬太受難曲

The Masterpiece of J.S. Bach
巴赫曠世鉅作

2nd Aug, 2010 (Mon) 7:30pm
8月2日 (星期一) 晚上7時30分
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
香港大會堂音樂廳

Ticket門票︰$320, $220, $120

Evangelist 傳道者 (tenor 男高音): Stephen Ng 吳智誠
Jesus 耶穌(Baritone 男中音): Alan Tsang 曾宇軒

Soprano Soli (女高音獨唱): Elizabeth Coupe 吳莉嫺,
Florence Cheng 鄭之璿
Alto Solo (女低音獨唱): Louise Kwong 鄺勵齡
Counter-tenor Solo (高男高音獨唱): Ray Chan 陳思光
Tenor Solo (男高音獨唱): Alex Tam 譚天樂
Baritone Solo (男中音獨唱): Albert Lim 林俊
Bass-baritone Solo (男低中音獨唱): Apollo Wong 黄日珩

Die Konzertisten
Hong Kong Children’s Choir 香港兒童合唱團
City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong 香港城市室樂團
Organ 風琴 : Peter Yue 余必達
Conductor 指揮: Felix Yeung 楊欣諾

St Matthew Passion
Regarded as “The Great Passion” by the Bach’s family, St Matthew Passion is not only a magnificent musical piece. It is the most elaborate work by J.S. Bach that requires a double orchestra, a double chorus, at least six soloists and a children’s choir. The Passion story, told by dramatic recitatives and exciting choruses, is the heart of the work while reflective commentaries illustrating Bach’s faith are expressed in different arias and chorales. As mentioned by Peter Sellars, the world renowned theatre director who recently ritualized St Matthew Passion, “it is a transformative ritual teaching across time and space, uniting disparate and dispirited communities.”

After nearly 10 years, this masterpiece is once again performed completely in Hong Kong by a dream cast with some of the most prominent musicians of the new generation. Come to this sacred music event of the year and be prepared to experience the overwhelming compassion generated by this pinnacle of all sacred works.

聖馬太受難曲
被巴赫家族稱為“The Great Passion” 的聖馬太受難曲，不僅是一首宏偉的樂章。它是巴赫最精心製作的作品，運用了兩個樂團、兩個合唱團，最少六個獨唱家和一個兒童合唱團。巴赫首先以戲劇性的宣敍調和合唱，來敍述耶穌受難的故事，作為整個作品的核心；並將個人對信仰的理念，以不同的詠嘆調和讚美詩，作出詮譯及反思。正如世界著名的戲劇導演彼得塞拉斯 (Peter Sellars) 所說：「聖馬太受難曲具有跨越時間和空間的轉化能力，能夠團結失落和沮喪的心靈。」

這首曠世鉅作經過近十年時間，再一次由本港多名新一代傑出的音樂家，組成「夢幻組合」作足本演繹。齊來這個2010年的音樂盛會，經歷被譽為聖樂巔峰之作所帶來的震撼及激情。

Tickets will be available from 5 July 2010 onwards at URBTIX
門票在2010年7月5日起於城市電腦售票處發售

Discounts優惠
(The offers below cannot be used simultaneously. 以下優惠不能同時使用)

50% off for full time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, and people with disabilities
全日制學生、60歲或以上長者及殘疾人士可獲半價優惠

10% off for purchasing 10 or above standard tickets
購買正價門票10張或以上可獲九折優惠

Programme Enquiry 節目查詢: 2523 4157 (Alan Tsang)
Ticket Reservation 票務查詢及留座: 2734 9009
Credit Card Telephone booking 信用卡電話購票熱線: 2111 5999
Internet booking 網上訂票: www.urbtix.hk

Contact 聯絡
St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong 香港聖約翰座堂
Tel 電話: 2523 4157
Fax 傳真: 2521 7830
Email 電郵: atsang@stjohnscathedral.org.hk

Hong Kong Youth Choir Summer Music Camp '10

2010-05-06T01:54:00.001-07:00

Please join Hong Kong Youth Choir Summer Choral Camp '10
Our theme this year is "Embrace the Style, Begin Your Choral Life"

Featured Programme
Choral workshop - voice building Choral Master Class Quick Study Competition Music Games

Make your summer different!

Carl Orff - Carmina Burana (The Wheel of Fortune)

2010-02-23T09:57:00.000-08:00

Currently working on a project of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana

Recruiting chorus members and rehearsing with them
it is such a large-scale work that needs so many singers
and i'm so glad that i'm the chorus master of this project
so i can study this great work!

香港愛樂管樂團周年音樂會2010- 布蘭詩歌
Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia Annual Concert 2010- Carmina Burana

音樂總監：鍾健教授
Music Director: Professor Jerry F. Junkin

2010年4月3日 (星期六) 下午三時正
3rd April, 2010 (Saturday) 3:00 p.m.

香港大會堂音樂廳
Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall

節目包括:
Programme includes:

《威廉·泰爾》序曲喬奇諾· 羅西尼/ 喬納森．艾爾格斯編
Overture to William Tell Gioachino Rossini/ arr. by Jonathan Elkus

賣蛇油的小販 (世界首演) 高爾文
The Snake-Oil Peddler (World Premiere) Christopher Coleman

布蘭詩歌卡爾．奧夫/ 余永進編
Carmina Burana Carl Orff/ arr. by Carson Yu

獨唱： Vocalist:
梁頌儀(女高音) Jovita Leung ( Soprano)
柯大衛(男高音) David Quah (Tenor)
車遠強(男中音) Sylvester Che ( Baritone)

葉氏兒童合唱團 Yip’s Children’s Choir
香港愛樂管樂團布蘭詩歌合唱團 HKWP Carmina Burana Mass Choir

合唱指導 Choral Master:
鄭之璿 Florence Cheng

票價 Price: $180 $140 $100 *($90 $70 $50)
*********************************************************************
門票由 2010 年 3月3日起於城市電腦售票網發售
Tickets available at all URBTIX outlets starting 3rd March, 2010.
*全日制學生、長者及殘疾人士可獲半價優惠
*Half-price tickets available for full-time students, senior citizens and people with disabilities
凡購買正價門票10張或以上，可獲 9 折優惠；20張或以上，可獲 8 折優惠
10% discount for group booking of 10 adults tickets；20% discount for 20 or more
有關購買學校團體票，電郵至 info@hkwp.org
Special School Bulk Booking available.
E-mail to info@hkwp.org for more information

網上購票 URBTIX internet ticketing： http://www.urbtix.hk
門票查詢及留座 URBTIX tickets enquiries and telephone reservations ：2734 9009
電話訂票熱線 URBTIX telephone booking ：2111 5999

節目查詢 Programme enquiries：2468-HKWP (2468-4597)
網址 Website：www.hkwp.org

2009-12-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

My Choir was singing in RTHK Radio 4 Christmas Concert in the Park - The Messiah Story

Hong Kong Youth Choir 11th Annual Concert - Requiem de Maurice Durufle

2009-11-08T10:39:00.000-08:00

Dear All,

I will be conducting Durufle Requiem on November 28, 2009

Date:	Saturday, November 28, 2009
Time:	7:30pm - 10:30pm
Location:	St. John's Cathedral, Li Hall
Street:	Garden Road, Central
City/Town:	Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hong Kong Youth Choir is holding her 11th annual concert on the 28th November. We are going to invite you all, the music lovers to come.

Here it the programme highlight:
Requiem de Maurice Duruflé
去罷詞:徐志摩曲:陳健聰 (世界首演)
Jubilate by Bob Chilcott
Birthday Madrigals by John Rutter
Gladde Things by Bradley Nelson

Performers:
Music Director音樂總監: Florence Cheng鄭之璿
Resident Conductor 駐團指揮: Christopher Cheng 鄭智山
Messo-soprano女中音: Carol Lin 連皓忻
Baritone男中音: Joseph Ho 何文曦
Performer 演出者: Hong Kong Youth Choir and Orchestra 香港新青年合唱團及管弦樂團