About the competition
- For conductors under the age of 35 to establish a network in Asia, where the local orchestral scenes are rapidly developing;
- Features an international jury made up of conductors and people shaping the music business today;
- 16 shortlisted Candidates will conduct Hong Kong Sinfonietta in the Competition in March 2023.
Repertoire
Round 1 (a maximum of 16 Candidates): 22 March 2023 (Wed)
- Stravinsky — Concerto in D for String Orchestra: 1st movement
- One of the following works, determined by a draw:
- Beethoven — Leonore Overture No 3, Op 72b
- Mozart — Symphony No 39 in E-flat, K543: 1st movement
Round 2 – Semi-Finals (a maximum of 8 Semi-Finalists): 23 & 24 March 2023 (Thu & Fri)
- Sibelius — Violin Concerto in D minor, Op 47: 1st movement (Soloist: FAN Hiu-sing)
- Johann Strauss Jr — Die Fledermaus Overture
- One of the following symphonies, determined by a draw:
- Beethoven — Symphony No 3 in E-flat, Op 55, “Eroica”
- Brahms — Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 68
- Tchaikovsky — Symphony No 6 in B minor, Op 74, “Pathétique”
Round 3 – Finals (a maximum of 3 Finalists): 26 March 2023 (Sun)
- New work by Charles KWONG (HKS Artist Associate 2020-2022)
- One of the following works, chosen by the candidate:
- Beethoven — Symphony No 4 in B-flat, Op 60
- Mendelssohn — Symphony No 4 in A, Op 90, “Italian”
- Schumann — Symphony No 4 in D minor, Op 120
- The finalists will also be invited to make a short presentation to the audience
Fact file
Sections | Conductor |
Deadline | 25 Oct 2022 |
Finals | 26 Mar 2023 |
Where | Hong Kong, China |
Age groups | Conductors of any nationality born in or after 1987 |
Prizes
1st Prize:
- HK$200,000;
- Concert engagement with Hong Kong Sinfonietta during the 2023/24 season;
- Mentorship with conductor(s) from the Jury
2nd Prize: HK$100,000
3rd Prize: HK$70,000
Orchestra Prize: HK$10,000
Audience Prizes (Live & Online): HK$10,000 each
Prizewinners of the 2023 competition
Rodolfo Barráez (Venezuela) - 1st Prize
Yao-Yu Wu (Taiwan) - 2nd Prize
Mikhail Mering (Israel) - 3rd Prize
Best Interpretation of the New Commissioned Work: Yao-Yu Wu (Taiwan); Orchestra Prize: Rodolfo Barráez (Venezuela); Audience Prize (Live): Yao-Yu Wu (Taiwan); Audience Prize (Online): Abner Padrino (Venezuela)
Candidates of the 2023 competition
Vicente Chavarría (USA/UK)
Linhan Cui (China)
Nathaniel Efthimiou (USA/Finland)
Roc Fargas (Spain)
© Dominique Wollniok
Kyrian Friedenberg (USA/Canada)
Taichi Fukumura (USA/Japan)
Mark Hui (Hong Kong)
Edmon Levon (Spain)
© Diego Lafuente
Brian Liao (Taiwan)
Abner Padrino (Venezuela)
Omer Shteinhart (Israel)
Yi Wei (China)
Satoshi Yoneda (Japan)
Jury of the 2023 competition
Yip Wing-sie (co-chair)
© Yvonne Chan
Philipp Ernst (rounds 1-3)
Christoph Poppen (co-chair)
© Takao Komaru
Xenia Groh-Hu (rounds 1-3)
Lü Shao-Chia (rounds 1-3)
James Cuddeford (preliminary round)
© Yvonne Chan
Thierry d’Argoubet (rounds 1-3)
Laurent Perrin (rounds 1-3)
© Yvonne Chan
Prizewinners of the 2018 competition

Gabor Kali (1st prize)

Antoine Glatard (2nd prize)
© Lucie MBD

Dawid Runtz (3rd prize)
© Radoslaw Adamczyk
Videos