The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Celebrates its Golden Jubilee
 Let’s Tap into the Community with the “Rhythm of the City”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Dennis Wu
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Emily Hui
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[6 November 2023, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is celebrating its Golden Jubilee with “Rhythm of the City” – a combination of community initiatives including free busking performances, Music Journey with Star Ferry and many more events throughout the 2023/24 Season. An array of original merchandise created in collaboration with local brands and artists is also available from November 2023.

Rhythm of the City: Community Busking Performances (October 2023 to April 2024)

The HK Phil has always been closely connected with the community since its first performance in 1948 (as Sino-British Club Symphony Orchestra), which took place in St Stephen’s Girls College. Today, the orchestra is reaching over 30,000 students annually through school concerts and ensemble visits, and audiences from all walks of life through community concerts and casual music encounters, such as Rhythm of the City: Community Busking Performances.

Rhythm of the City: Community Busking Performances take place in Hong Kong’s cultural landmarks and shopping malls, fitting as a joyous way to celebrate the orchestra’s 50th birthday. The HK Phil String Quartet, Trombone Quintet and Fellows of The Orchestra Academy Hong Kong cannot wait to perform for the public at various locations.  For details of the performances, please refer to Appendix 1.

Rhythm of the City: Music Journey with Star Ferry (From mid-December 2023)

With venue support from Star Ferry, the HK Phil is launching the third chapter of its partnership with public transport, Rhythm of the City: Music Journey with Star Ferry. An affordable and convenient way to cross Victoria Harbour, the “Star” Ferry Company has been serving Hongkongers for 125 years and carrying tourists from around the world. The HK Phil also strives to make classical music accessible to the community and to promote Hong Kong through top-notch performances and touring. Starting from mid-December 2023, music played by the HK Phil with narration will be broadcasted on the ferry.

HK Phil 50th Anniversary Merchandise Series

Celebrating HK Phil’s milestone and home-grown talents, the orchestra collaborates with local brands and artists to craft a total of 11 items of original merchandise. Be the first to own the anniversary souvenirs at the sales launch at the ever-popular Swire Symphony Under the Stars on 18 November 2023 (Sat). The merchandise will also be available at the HK Phil concerts held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui in December 2023 and the HKTDC Design Gallery in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai from December 2023 to April 2024. Patrons can also select their favourite gifts for their loved ones online from 18 November 2023 (Sat) at the HK Phil website (hkphil.org/50A) and Lion Rock Press online store (thelionrockpress.com/collections/hk-phil). Product details can be found in Appendix 2.

The family-appealing Rhythm of the City Mismatching Socks come in two family sets in four styles created by Pair Pair Full. The HK Phil’s first bilingual Children’s Book Project, The Stowaways Symphony: The Musical Adventures of the Zoo OrchestraChildren’s Picture Book, in collaboration with Sophia Hotung and published by Humming Publishing, teaches young audiences about musical instruments and concert etiquette. The beautiful illustrations in the book are transformed into a Tote Bag. SPARKLE Collection Silk Scarf & Pocket Square,designed by SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN, comes in three styles in daring neon colours. The HK Phil Golden Jubilee Moleskine Custom Edition Notebook and the HK Phil Golden Jubilee Parker Pen are the perfect duo for capturing your HK Phil moments.

Book Talk: Join Sophia Hotung and the animals for a musical adventure

The Stowaways Symphony: The Musical Adventures of the Zoo Orchestra interactive book talk in both English and Cantonese, will be held at the Causeway Bay Eslite 9/F Forum on 12 November 2023 (Sun) at 1:30PM. Guest host Stephanie Ng, founder of Body Banter, will ask Sophia Hotung about her music journey, her relationship with the HK Phil and the creative process of the book. Young readers are welcome to share their exciting concert experiences and concertgoing etiquette. There will be a read-aloud and a book signing session.

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Biographies

The “Star” Ferry Company, Limited

The Star Ferry has provided cross-harbour ferry services between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon since its establishment in 1898. The Star Ferry's ferry crossings at Victoria Harbour are acclaimed as an important part of the commuter system between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon, and essential journeys for visitors. The National Geographic Traveler named the ferry crossing as “one of 50 places of a lifetime”. The ferry ride is also well known as one of the world’s best value-for-money sightseeing trips.

Pair Pair Full

Pair Pair Full was born in Hong Kong in 2020, when three post-80s home-grown co-founders came together with a simple vision: promote positivity through funky and mismatched socks. Redefining the concept of matching in a world that often emphasises conformity, Pair Pair Full is a symbol of optimism, reminding us that true beauty lies in embracing our differences. Each pair is weaved to present a tale of individuality, inspiring everyone to take pride in their unique style. On 22 April 2023, Earth Day, Pair Pair Full proudly became a member of the global network,1% for the Planet, an organisation established by Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, committed to join forces on global sustainability movement.

Sophia Hotung

Sophia Hotung is a Eurasian writer and illustrator from Hong Kong, best known for creating The Hong Konger art collection. Growing up in Hong Kong, she was so inspired by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra that she took up the tuba, which she played throughout high school in school and national orchestras and ensembles. Sophia doesn’t play the tuba much now, but the HK Phil still holds a special place in her heart, and she looks forward to this book inspiring other young music-lovers and concert-goers. Sophia is also a disability advocate and the author and illustrator of The Hong Konger Anthology and The Heist of Hooded Light. Her work can be found at sophiahotung.com or on social media at @sophiahotung.

Humming Publishing

Humming Publishing Limited is a Hong Kong Traditional Chinese book publisher founded in 2018 that aims to create and preserve interesting and insightful content in printed and online. We think outside the “book” – by integrating cultural activities like reading forums, talks, exhibitions, online content – to make the book more than just a book. We believe we can flutter fast, stay in the midair, hum till the sound returns – just like a hummingbird.

SPARKLE BY KAREN CHAN

SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN is Hong Kong’s first understated luxury cultural and creative fashion brand specialising in East-meets-West modern Chinese qipaos and kung-fu jackets, with special emphasis on reviving the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Cheongsam through “Nostalgic HK” original patterns and avant-garde qipao designs that upturn the traditional image of Chinese fashion being conservative and old-fashioned. SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN is the first HK fashion brand to be exclusively invited to participate in Hong Kong’s most influential fashion event CENTRESTAGE five years in a row, Heritage Haw Par Fashion Show, Berlin’s PV denim show, and four international Fashion Weeks including two times in Milan, Los Angeles, New York and Shanghai!

In 2023, SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN reached a new milestone as the first fashion brand to be exclusively invited by the world class Hong Kong Museum of Art and Hong Kong Heritage Museum to collaborate with them, using priceless art masterpieces by renowned Chinese artists to create modern qipaos that are literally “walking pieces of art”. SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN has won numerous cultural artistic accolades, and is the first Chinese fashion brand to be awarded the prestigious Hong Kong Top Brand Award.

Moleskine®

Today the Moleskine® brand identifies a series of objects that accompany the creativity and imagination of our world. The very first of these objects was a small black notebook, born from a great tradition. The Moleskine notebook is the heir and successor to the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two centuries: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin. The notebook was Bruce Chatwin’s favourite, and it was he who called it “moleskine”. In 1997, a small Milanese publisher brought the legendary notebook back to life, and selected this name with a literary pedigree to revive an extraordinary tradition. Today, Moleskine is synonymous with culture, imagination, memory, travel, and personal identity – in both the real world and the virtual world.

STUDIOLAU
Based in Prague, Hong Kong and Berlin, STUDIOLAU is a graphic studio dedicates in the fields of arts and culture, runs by award-winning designer Dio Lau.

Lion Rock Press Online Store

The Lion Rock Press is a family business founded by Claire Yates, specialising in premium Hong Kong-inspired gifts, books, stationery and prints. Growing up in a family that had been the oldest paper merchant in Hong Kong, she possesses twin obsessions of paper and Hong Kong. It led her to create the now iconic local brand, which sells products infused with love, humour and an insider’s knowing smile! Over the last 10 years, The Lion Rock Press has grown into a flourishing premium gift emporium, allowing customers from all over the world to feel the vibrancy and uniqueness of this special city.

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Appendix 1

Rhythm of the City: Free Community Busking Performances

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Appendix 2

HK Phil 50th Anniversary Merchandise Series (Download merchandise photos)