bc magazine

Lai Yuen Carnival 2016 @ AsiaWorld-Expo

After last year’s carnival on the Central Harbourfront, Lai Yuen returns again this summer, this time indoors at AsiaWorld-Expo. Lai Yuen offers a throw back to the Hong Kong of a generation ago when entertainment choices were more limited and kids found ways to amuse themselves.

Last year’s carnival was a throw back to simpler times and the concept if not the execution had much to recommend it, even if today’s “instant gratification” generation probably didn’t find it as much fun as the European Carnival. Lai Yuen 2015 had lots of problems the weather among them. The Central Harbourfront becomes a pond with the slightest rain and a sauna when the sun beats down as there’s little shade. The move indoors to the air-con of AsiaWorld-Expo looks to remove that problem in the hope that parents and kids will stay longer and spend more in the cool environment…

Which leads to Lai Yuen’s main problem, and it’s worse this year, it has zero atmosphere and there’s just nothing to do for anyone over the age of about 10. It’s hard to understand if this problem is generational or just the way Lai Yuen thinks. As a theme park Lai Yuen had little competition for people’s money and they really milked that unique niche, but at least it was fun. Today though, people want more and Lai Yuen comes across as cheap, offering little fun, value or reward for your hard-earned dollar.

As an example, but it’s far from unique, take Tino the throw a banana in the elephant’s mouth game that returns again this year. Two bananas cost $10. One banana in the mouth wins a 1 inch toy, two consecutive bananas an unattractive 5″ poor quality stuffed elephant. 4 consecutive (!) bananas a foot sized poor quality elephant. As with all the plushies at the few games the toys look cheap, tired and really not worth winning. Such a contrast to those at the recent Great European Carnival which were bright fun and desirable.

Last year’s carnival at least had a convenient location and Victoria Harbour as a backdrop. This year there’s nothing and no attempt made to create a fun vibrant experience of a day at an amusement park. It uses the Lai Yuen name and peoples faded memories of the fun they had there to get them to visit the ‘new Lai Yuen’ and then fleece them blind on their one visit. Why, because all in all even for parents with kids – and there’s nothing here for anyone else – there’s no reason to return it’s just boring with potentially long queues.

It’s a shame because with a different approach and mindset there’s surely a profitable market for a summer carnival market that combines nostalgia with modern technology to create a unique Hong Kong carnival. Sadly that’s not Lai Yuen 2016.

Lai Yuen 2016
Date: 10am-8pm, 16 July – 7 August, 2016
Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo
Tickets: $180, $140
More info:
$57 daily return MTR tickets are available

Bruce Lee… Welcome to Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s favourite son Bruce Lee is welcoming arrivals to our wonderful home town at Chek Lap Kok courtesy of a series of awesome illustrations by Milton Wong.

The eleven 10 foot tall illustrations, set against the backdrop of Victoria Harbour, feature Bruce Lee with his nunchaku in the film Game of Death.

The exhibition, which runs until November, is organised by the Bruce Lee Foundation. All images by Milton Wong

1 July Protest March, 2016

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The streets of Hong Kong were thronged with tens of thousands of protestors and protest groups as the annual 1 July protest march peacefully and bluntly displayed people’s anger at CY Leung and his incompetent group of Beijing loving sycophants.

That so many groups with such wide ranging causes can find common cause and anger at 689’s incompetence, greed and destruction of Hong Hong explains why Beijing is cracking down so hard on freedom of the press.

One of Hong Kong’s ‘disappeared’ bookseller Lam Wing-Kee was supposed to lead the march, but pulled out at the last minute over the personal safety fears for him and his family.

A heavy presence of fully armed, pepper spray carrying and gloved up police looked to make the day as irritating as possible for marchers, groups and the general public.
Click on any photo for the full gallery

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Hong Kong to Host ICC 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia

The road to the next Women’s Cricket World Cup is a long one but Hong Kong’s talented squad will play the first series of matches in their attempt to qualify at home after the International Cricket Council have awarded Hong Kong hosting rights of the ICC 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia, which will be held in October this year.

China, Nepal and Thailand will join Hong Kong in a round-robin tournament from the 9th-15th of October, at the Tin Kwong Recreation Ground in Mong Kok, with a place in the global qualifying tournament guaranteed for the winning team.

“The ICC 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia is an exciting opportunity for the top Women’s teams in Asia,” ICC Development and Programs Manager Andy Hobbs said. “The winner of this event will progress to the ICC 2017 Women’s World Cup Global Qualifier and have the opportunity to play against some of the top Women’s teams in the world and of course the chance to make it to the very pinnacle of Women’s Cricket at the world cup itself”.

The decision to award Hong Kong rights to host the tournament is yet another boost for local cricket in a year when Hong Kong has hosted its first ever One Day International, appeared in the ICC World Twenty20 and launched a new event, the Hong Kong T20 Blitz.

“We are thankful to the ICC for electing us to host the first ever Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia,” CEO Tim Cutler said. “We will be working closely with the government to ensure Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground is at the best standard it can be for this international event.”

“Our ladies are the pride of our indigenous development programmes with over half of the squad being of Hong Kong Chinese extraction. Witnessing the success of “big sister” China is particularly pleasing, and the HK v China matches are sure be the highlight for many.” Cutler continued “Such a diverse range of cultures make up our local cricket community and with a particularly large, proud, Nepalese community we expect to welcome some great crowds into the grounds over the course of the tournament.”

ICC 2016 Women’s World Cup Qualifier – Asia
Date: 9-15 October, 2016
Venue: Tin Kwong Recreation Ground
Tickets: tbc

Hong Kong Women Ready For Rugby 7s Olympic Repechage Challenge

Anna Richards, Hong Kong Women’s Sevens Coach, has an almost full-strength squad available for the Olympic Repechage tournament in Dublin, Ireland (25-26 June) to decide the 12th and final team to qualify for Rugby Sevens’ Olympic debut in Rio this August.

The squad includes captain Christy Cheng Ka Chi, who marks her first tournament action since the regional Olympic qualifiers last November after an injury kept her out of the Hong Kong Women’s Rugby Sevens in April. Cheng will resume the captaincy after handing the reins to Natasha Olson-Thorne for the Hong Kong Sevens, with Olson-Thorne resuming her role as vice-captain in Ireland.

Versatile back Cindy Yuen Lok Yee also returns to the squad after an arduous year long rehabilitation effort to recover from a shoulder injury. The 21-year old Yuen, one of Hong Kong rugby’s promising young players, started her rugby career on the wing but can now play anywhere along the back line as coach Richards continues to emphasise upskilling players to play across multiple positions.

“Cindy has done really really well. She worked hard to come back from her injury and I am pleased that she has returned to full fitness and can get this opportunity. She is a really skilful player with some good stepping ability and I’m excited to see how she will go in Dublin,” said Richards.

That excitement extends across the entire squad as Richards looks ahead to one of Hong Kong’s few opportunities to play in a fully international competition this weekend.

“It’s an exciting team and it is good to be able to include a few of the players that we haven’t seen in a while. The squad is keen to have another opportunity to qualify for the Olympics. It is our last chance to qualify but I believe we have the calibre of players we need to win the tournament,” said Richards.

The returning players gave Richards the opportunity to select from almost a full complement of talent in the elite programme at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

“I have never had so many people at training,” said Richards. “Christy is back training full time and Cindy has returned after 16 months away from the game. So I had nearly a full squad to choose from, which is really exciting.”

Many of the selected squad also featured heavily in Hong Kong’s three matches as part of the fifteen-a-side Asia Rugby Women’s Championship in May. “Our build-up was shortened by the Asian championships but the girls have been training hard. They had a good campaign in that competition, so hopefully they can carry on from there. It has been hot and the conditions have been difficult, but they have put the work in. We will start to dial it back a bit this week in training. Last week our focus was on getting everyone back into sevens mode, which was fun for the girls, now we want to keep that intensity as we head to Dublin,” Richards said.

That intensity will be in demand in Dublin with Hong Kong slotted as the top seeds in Pool D of the 16-team tournament, locking horns with Argentina, Kazakhstan and the Cook Islands.

“It is an interesting pool,” says Richards. “There are teams that we have played recently like Kazakhstan and Argentina (who Hong Kong played in the recent Hong Kong Sevens), but we don’t know anything about the Cook Islands. They are banded fourth in the pool but I think they will be tougher than that. I believe they have a lot of girls playing in New Zealand.”

Captain Cheng was pleased with the draw: “We’re happy with the pool. The girls have been training hard and as long as we hold up and perform well, we should be in a reasonable position. We know Kazakhstan well and are very evenly matched. It will come down to who has the better game plan on the day and who executes best. We split our results with Argentina before and know that their speed is their main strength. Size-wise they are similar to us so I think it will be a good match-up.”

But for Cheng the biggest result is already achieved in making her return to fitness in time for selection: “I’m feeling good and am happy to be back training with the team. I’m a bit rusty on my skills and conditioning but that will come in time and I’m just happy to be running again. Every athlete’s dream is to reach the Olympics so it is a great opportunity for me and all of the team to be able to have another chance at qualifying,” Cheng added.

Hong Kong are the highest seeded team in the tournament not currently playing on the Women’s Sevens Series. Russia are the top seeds in Pool A along with Samoa, Zimbabwe and Madagascar; Spain are atop Pool B with Mexico, Venezuela and Tunisia while hosts Ireland head up Pool C ahead of China, Portugal and Trinidad and Tobago.

Russia and Spain were among the nine nations to confirm their status as core teams for the 2016-17 Series. Russia finished seventh overall with Spain in ninth. Ireland finished the Series in 11th place. Spain were the only one of the trio to reach the Cup quarter-finals at the final Series tournament in France and will take heart from their improved form over the last two rounds of the Series, but it is Russia, bowl winners in France, who are the top seeds for the repechage.

Richards, a four-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner is unfazed by the competition: “There are some really good sides, including core World Series teams, so we have to be the underdogs going in, but you have to be in it to win it, and we’re fortunate enough to be there. It’s just another really good opportunity for us to go and perform.”

According to Richards, the keys to victory lie in the team’s consistency and ability to execute under pressure. “We will be one of the fitter teams and our skills are improving so I think it will come down to decision-making and our ability to perform under pressure – and there will be a lot of pressure. It’s always a challenge, but we have the capacity to beat a lot of the teams at this level; whether we can take a step up to beat the teams on the World Series, we will find out,” concluded Richards.

Hong Kong Women’s Sevens Squad – Olympic Repechage (Dublin, Ireland):
Cheng Ka Chi (Captain), Amelie Seure, Cheng Tsz Ting, Chong Ka Yan, Lee Tsz Ting, Li Nim Yan, Lindsay Varty, Natasha Olson-Thorne (Vice Captain), Nam Ka Man, Poon Pak Yan, Stephanie Cuvelier, Yuen Lok Yee.

Hong Kong Ready For Rugby 7s Olympic Repechage Challenge

The winner-take-all sixteen team Olympic Games repechage tournament in Monaco this weekend (18-19 June) will produce the 12^th and final team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games Rugby Sevens competition.

After reaching the World Rugby World Sevens Series qualifier final at the Hong Kong Sevens in April, Hong Kong have been seeded as the top non-World Sevens Series team in Monaco, topping Pool D ahead of Spain, Mexico and South Korea. World Series veterans Samoa, Russia and Canada head the other three pools.

Coach Gareth Baber has selected an experienced squad with 11 of the 12-man team from the Asian qualifiers in November retained. The squad includes seven of the 12 players that reached the qualifier final at the Hong Kong Sevens last April. With some lingering injury concerns, the squad will travel with 13 players with the final 12-man squad to be named later in Monaco.

Baber has given the nod to up-and-comers Calvin Hunter and the 21-year old Eric Kwok Pak Nga, including them in the travel squad to Monaco. Kwok is in line to potentially mark his Hong Kong debut if he is included in the final 12 for this weekend. Hunter has had several senior squad selections on the Asian series in recent years but will potentially make his 7s debut in the Olympic qualification campaign in Monaco.

Captain Max Woodward, who was held out of the Hong Kong Sevens and the Asia Rugby Championship campaign to rest an ailing quad, returns to the squad as does winger Tom McQueen, whose recovery from a shoulder injury picked up in the domestic Premiership season remains on track.

Rowan Varty, Yiu Kam Shing, Jamie Hood and Alex McQueen add weight to a seasoned squad, while second-generation stars Cado Lee Ka To, Jack Capon, Chris Maize and Michael Coverdale are also included.

“It’s great to have Max and Tom back. They’re both good sevens players and big leaders in our team. They were born to play on stages like these and I hope there are more opportunities for them to do so,” said Baber.

“Both Calvin and Eric came up through the Under 20s sevens and have been training with the senior squad at the HKSI for years. They bring a bit of freshness, innocence even, to the side in just wanting to go out and play rugby. I’m excited to see how they will progress in a pressure tournament like this.

“Calvin has been there and done that – and equipped himself well. He made some mistakes, but he is learning from them and I think Eric will be in a similar position, but we all know that Eric is capable of producing good rugby for us when we need it,” Baber added.

Woodward is also confident in the squad saying, “We’ve kept a core group of players so our preparations have been good. Calvin and Eric have been training with us for a while and have improved a lot. They haven’t had much game time or a chance to show themselves, so it will be good for them get stuck in and gain experience.”

Woodward is also pleased with Hong Kong’s pool saying, “It’s good to have three teams we’ve played before in our pool as it can be a scary prospect playing teams you don’t know much about. Spain, Korea and Mexico are all good sides – we know this – but they’re also sides we’ve beaten before so we can take some confidence going in,” Woodward said.

The captain isn’t fazed by the prospect of meeting World Series core teams in Monaco either: “We know we have the game to challenge any team and win matches, but it’s about our consistency and hitting our performance markers every time we play. Regardless of what happens there isn’t really any pressure on us. These are the tournaments we want to play in. We don’t have enough chances like this so we’re excited to give it a go and see what happens,” added Woodward.

Before that prospect can be realised, Hong Kong will need to finish at or near the top of the pool. Spain poses the toughest challenge but Hong Kong will be buoyed by their 12-7 win over the Spaniards in last year’s World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier.

“This squad is experienced,” said Baber, “even the guys with few caps are part of the HKSI programme. We have some changes in personnel with the eligibility issue around what type of squad we can field, but the players know what they need to do and we set high standards for ourselves,” added Baber.

Baber knows that advancing at the top of the pool only earns Hong Kong the opportunity to play against teams like Samoa, who finished in the top ten on the World Series this season and collected their first Series win since 2012 in Paris just last month, but it is a prospect he relishes.

“That is where we want to be. We prepare the exact same way for a game like that as we would for any other game in the pool or on the Asian Series. We want to test ourselves and the World Series is the standard we want to be hitting.

“If we can play like we know we can, then there is an opportunity for us to nick results and push ourselves forward. But we need more opportunities like Monaco. What we can get done in two days of an international tournament like this is worth six months on the training field,” concluded Baber.

On the verge of his first appearance for Hong Kong young flyer Eric Kwok Pak Nga is trying to contain his excitement. “It has always been my dream to play for Hong Kong. I have a few goals in my rugby career. I want to represent Hong Kong, make the squad for the Hong Kong Sevens and of course represent Hong Kong in an Olympics. I have a chance to make two of those goals come true this weekend and I hope I can grab it. I’m excited, a bit nervous maybe, but I’m tying not to put myself under too much pressure. There are a few guys out with injuries, so I just want to make the best of this opportunity if I’m selected.

“I think my finishing and my stepping is one of my strongest skills. Hopefully I can contribute to the team offensively and also contribute to the team environment and bring my passion for the game and for the team into the competition environment. Even I’m not the most experienced guy I want to have an impact on the team,” said Kwok.

Olympic Repechage Tournament fixtures are here

Hong Kong 7s Squad for Olympic Repechage Tournament in Monaco
Max Woodward (Captain), Rowan Varty, Yiu Kam Shing, Jamie Hood, Alex Mcqueen, Tom McQueen, Lee Ka To, Calvin Hunter, Kwok Pak Nga, Jack Capon, Michael Coverdale, Chris Maize, Mark Wright.

Dragon Boats & Dumplings

Celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Tuen Ng Festival is, in the minds of many, associated with the annual dragon boat races. However, zongzi (steamed glutinous rice ‘dumplings’ with various fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves) are also an important Tuen Ng tradition. bc magazine takes a look at two of the Tuen Ng traditions that are now enjoyed by people around the world.

When the Chu poet and statesman Qu Yuan (340 – 277 BC) threw himself into the Miluo river (in what is now Hunan province), in protest of the Qin army’s capture of the Chu capital, the villagers raced out on their boats to try and save the poet, but were unable to even retrieve his body from the river. In an effort to prevent the fish from devouring the dead poet’s corpse, people threw rice dumplings to feed the fish and also beat the water’s surface with their paddles in order to frighten the fish away from Qu Yuan’s body. These actions led to two of the most enduring traditions associated with Tuen Ng Festival: dumplings (zongzi) and dragon boat racing.

Zongzi
For many Chinese, zongzi is a far more memorable part of Tuen Ng festival than dragon boat racing. Not everyone takes part in dragon boat races, but almost all Chinese families eat dumplings every year at this time of year. Traditionally, zongzi were made at home, but nowadays most people buy them instead. Although zongzi are easy to make, the preparation is extremely time-consuming. Because of the extensive preparation involved, the whole family took part in making the zongzi. The glutinous rice must first be soaked overnight in water and the bamboo leaves also have to be washed and soaked, while the fillings must also be prepared. Zongzi (steamed rice dumplings) consist of glutinous rice stuffed with a sweet or savory filling, wrapped in bamboo leaves into a roughly pyramidal shape and tied with string. They are then boiled for about 2 hours.

Zongzi were at first eaten only once a year on the day of the festival, but nowadays, due to the popularity of the dumplings, convenient ready-made zongzi are available year-round at supermarkets and restaurants. Variants such as pearl chicken (glutinous rice stuffed with chicken and wrapped in lotus leaves) are also a popular staple on the dim sum menu.

There are myriad varieties of filling available: in northern China, dates are popular; in Shanghai, dumplings are stuffed with soy sauce marinated fatty pork and salted egg. Here in southern China, zongzi are stuffed with pork as well as mung beans and other fattening fillings. In Hong Kong, “deluxe” zongzi with abalone, conpoy and other expensive delicacies are also available. Not only do the fillings differ from region to region, the way people enjoy zongzi is also different. In Shanghainese households, savory dumplings are dipped in sugar before eating, while in the south, zongzi are dipped in soy sauce. “Never, ever, dip your zongzi in soy sauce. We’re from Shanghai and we dip our zongzi in sugar” was an oft-repeated admonishment from my childhood. Each region of China makes zongzi differently and each is convinced that their own zongzi are better than the others. There are also sweet zongzi, stuffed with items like red beans and lotus seed paste.

Sweet & sour chicken isn’t the only culinary gift that Chinese cooking has given the world: zongzi are also eaten in Japan, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and even Mexico. From their humble origins as fish food, zongzi have become part of a global culinary tradition.

Dragon Boats
Like zongzi, dragon boat races were once only held at Tuen Ng festival but are now held year-round. Just as with zongzi, dragon boat races have developed and evolved into global sporting events. The International Dragon Boat Federation estimates that nearly 50 million people take part in dragon boat races annually. Even with the increased commercialisation of the events, the dragon boat races still embody values of teamwork, solidarity and tradition that pay fitting tribute to the patriot Qu Yuan.

Dragon boat racing has become so much more than a group of villagers honouring a dead patriot. At Stanley Main Beach, the celebration of Tuen Ng festival is firmly based in the 21st century, having evolved into an important sporting and social event. The internationally famous event attracts thousands of spectators through the day looking to enjoy the spectacle. Although technically an amateur event many teams have commercial sponsors, compete in the various competitions across the city and start practicing months in advance as paddlers from across the globe hone their skills.

Dragon boat racing is very much a team sport. It’s easy for beginners to learn how to paddle, but it takes time to synchronise a whole team’s rhythm. Even though it’s supposedly a fun event at the beach it’s also fiercely competitive – which fosters a sense of camaraderie within and across teams.

Despite its having become a major international sport, dragon boat racing has an uniquely Asian cultural heritage and it’s sad that some participants are unaware of the details of the story of Qu Yuan. However, it isn’t necessary to know the background of the Tuen Ng festival to enjoy the festive spirit that eating zongzi and taking part or watching dragon boat races bring – and that is what’s important about Tuen Ng: that sense of community.

Stanley International Dragon Boat Championships
Date: 10:30am, 9 June, 2016
Venue: Stanley Main Beach
Tickets: Free

Dragon Boat Carnival
Date:10-12 June, 2016
Venue: Central Harbourfront
Tickets: Free
More info:
10 June – 12pm to 5:30pm
11-12 June – 8:30am to 5:30pm

This article was published in the print edition of bc magazine

Summer Jazz Festival – 21-23 June, 2016

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Now in its 6th year Hong Kong Summer Jazz is the brainchild of local the Big Band leader Taka Hirohama, founder of the Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra. The Summer Jazz festival aims to share and introduce the joy of jazz music through high quality performances featuring both local professionals and guest artists, and provide a unique experience for Hong Kong music lovers.

The guest artist at this year’s three concert festival, organised by the Hong Kong Big Band Jazz Federation, is international jazz giant Richard Sussman. The festival is slightly different from previous years as the three concerts aim to showcase the history and evolution of jazz. As in previous years the festival includes a free two day Jazz Academy with the HKU Big Band to promotes jazz within the community and offers expert tuition by leading local jazz artists.

21 June: Hot Jazz with Aya Takazawa
The summer jazz concert series starts off with a tale of a hundred years ago, and a story to be told. From explaining the origin of the word “Jazz”, to the rising in popularity of this unique style of music through the early years, different pioneers of Jazz music will be introduced. Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Glenn Miller are only be a few of the names whose music would be considered as Jazz classics, and will be presented to all in the first day of the concert.

22 June: Pops in Big Band with Richard Sussman
The Pops in Pig Band concert has two halves, the first features the sounds of contemporary jazz composer Richard Sussman and showcases how jazz music has evolved in the twenty-first century. The second half is all time Japanese Classic Pops performed in a retro style by young singers from Japan and Hong Kong joining together to bring back the melodies of the good old days.

23 June: All That Jazz with Alan Chan
A grand finale of all time great jazz tunes and beats including masterpieces once sang by Frank Sinatra, such as Fly me to the Moon, and more recent popular songs such as Michael Buble’s Feeling Good. The evening is curated and arranged by composer Alan Chan.

The Performers
Aya Takazawa started playing the piano at five and the trumpet at ten years old. She graduated from Kunitachi College of Music in Tokyo, and studied under Hitoshi Kumagai principle trumpeter of Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. After graduation she was part of an all female brass ensemble the Tokyo Brass Unit which had a big hit in the Japanese jazz music charts. In 2009 Aya performed at the commemoration ceremony of the United Nations Population Fund in New York.

She is currently leading her own jazz band the Takazawa Aya Quintet and released her first album Patterns in 2012. She’s established a reputation as a talented and versatile musician and appeared at “Summer Jazz” held in Hibiya-Kokaido and played with Manhattan Jazz Quintet at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

Richard Sussman is a jazz pianist, composer, music technologist, educator, and author. He has performed with many jazz & pop greats including Lionel Hampton, Lee Konitz, Houston Person, Randy Brecker, Donna Summer, Blood Sweat & Tears, and many others. Richard has recorded four critically acclaimed albums of original music.

Known for his large ensemble arrangements and compositions, his music has been performed by, amongst others, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, Westchester Jazz Orchestra, Metropole Orchestra of Holland, featuring legendary jazz pianist Hank Jones and the American Composers Orchestra in New York.

Alan Chan is a multi-faceted composer, with a goal to create original and innovative music that incorporates elements from across artistic disciplines, cultures and styles, to bring refreshing experience to audiences. He has received commissions and recognitions from ArtEZ (Netherlands), ASCAP, American Composers Forum (ACF), twice from Percussive Arts Society (PAS) and Los Angeles County Arts Commissions, among others.

He is a member of the prestigious BMI Jazz Compositions Workshop under legendary Jim McNeely in 2008-2011. His songs have been performed by the Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge band, Millennium Jazz Orchestra (Netherlands) and by college big bands in Los Angeles, Miami and Redlands. Holding a doctorate from the University of Southern California, he is the Artistic Director of the Gateway Performance Series in West LosAngeles.

Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) established by Taka Hirohama in 1990, the Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra is one of the hottest jazz groups in Asia today and comprises some of Hong Kong’s top professional jazz musicians. The SNJO is highly active and has appeared in many events such as the Hong Kong International Jazz Festival, Hong Kong Big Band Festival, also the ‘Swing For All’ at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo, the “Hong Kong Week 2012” at the historic Zhongshan Hall Guangfu Auditorium, Taipei. The SNJO is always keen to foster and support new talent via the Summer Jazz “Big Band Workshop and Concert”, where they provide a platform for young musicians to learn about big-band jazz.

Yoko Wende born and raised in Japan. Yoko moved to New York to study acting at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute. She now sings regularly in Hong Kong and will host the three Summer Jazz concerts.

HKU Big Band is the first big band ever set up among the universities in Hong Kong. Established in 2014, HKU Big Band strives to create a platform for jazz lovers in the University of Hong Kong to share their passion towards the genre and to promote jazz music among the HKU community.

The Band made its debut performance at the Hong Kong Summer Jazz Festival 2014 with the support of University’s General Education Unit and the Saturday Night Jazz Orchestra. The HKU Big Band regularly give in-campus performances at Student Halls, academic buildings, and the University’s High-Table Dinner events. The group aims to promote and spread out jazz culture to other academic institutions in Hong Kong so as to cultivate a group of young audience and musicians to enter the local jazz scene.

Co-hosting the Big Band Jazz Academy Series, the HKU Big Band will act as a bridge linking students and public alike interested in knowing more about jazz and continue to spread the joy of making music in a Big Band.

Jazz Summer 2016
Hong Kong Big Band Jazz Federation
Date: 21-23 June 2016
Venue: HK City Hall, Theatre
Tickets: $300, $250, $150 from Urbtix