call-for-scores 樂譜徵集
We are now calling for six Cantonese choral works for the culminating concert in "From Constraints to Creativity: a Conference on Cantonese Contemporary Music" to be held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong in late Spring 2023. Selected works will be performed by Hong Kong-based choirs.
Open category (for composers of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities) :
Work 1–2: Performance by Die Konzertisten (max. divisi SSAATTBB)
Work 3–4: Performance by The Hong Kong Children’s Choir (max. divisi SSAA)
Student category (for secondary school students in Hong Kong) :
Work 5–6: Performance by Hong Kong Youth Choir (max. divisi SATB)
General Rules
Should you have any enquiries, please email cantonese.choral@gmail.com with the subject line “Call-for-scores”. We look forward to your submissions.
Artists’ Biographies
Die Konzertisten
Now in its 11th season, Die Konzertisten (DK) is recognised as one of Hong Kong’s foremost chamber choirs. DK’s repertoire ranges from Renaissance polyphony and Baroque masterpieces to Romantic delicacies and newly commissioned works.
DK regularly collaborates with internationally distinguished artists, including conductors Stephen Layton, Jonathan Cohen, John Butt, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas Cleobury, Chen Yun-hung, baroque cellist Viola de Hoog, baroque flautist Marten Root, countertenors Iestyn Davies and Tim Mead; and has performed such diverse works as Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Bruckner’s Mass in E minor, Duruflé’s Requiem, Howells’s Requiem, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
A keen advocate of Baroque music, DK ardently promotes the historically informed performance of early music to the local audience. In the 2018/19 season, DK collaborated with the award-winning period-instrument ensemble Arcangelo and its director Jonathan Cohen, giving two unique concerts, including Bach’s Mass in B minor. Other highlights throughout the years include Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, and Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. DK regularly appears in Hong Kong Arts Festival’s programmes, including Les Siècles: BERLIOZ 150 (2019), Madame White Snake (2019), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra & Male Choir (2018), Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande (2018), Dream of the Red Chamber (2017), Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch - Iphigenia in Tauris (2014), and The Britten 100 Project (2013). The choir has also been invited to work with other prominent local musical organisations, such as Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong Children’s Choir, RTHK4, Hong Kong Composers’ Guild, PRISM Chamber Music Festival, and Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra.
Hong Kong Children’s Choir
The Hong Kong Children's Choir (HKCC) was founded in 1969 as the first children's choir in Hong Kong. HKCC is a registered non-profit-making charitable organization and has made tremendous contributions for children's arts training in Hong Kong. It is now the biggest choir in the world with over 5,000 members and has grown into a diversified arts organization for children. Under the supervision of Kathy Fok, the current Music Director and Principal Conductor, and more than 100 professional tutors, choir members not only develop their artistic talents, but also learn the importance of team spirit through interesting and well-organized practices.
As the children's choir that best represents Hong Kong, HKCC took part in many historical moments, including the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony in 1997, the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, the Hong Kong Disneyland Grand Opening in 2005, various performances to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China in 2007, series of performances celebrating the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, the East Asian Games in 2009, performances celebrating the 15th Anniversary as well as events celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR in 2012 and 2017. HKCC also organizes numerous concerts and performances each year for our members to share our love of arts with the public and community. In 2019, HKCC presented “Asia Pacific Choral Summit 2019 in Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong Choral Conducting Competition” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Choir, and garnered “Award for Arts Promotion” at the 14th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2020.
Hong Kong Youth Choir
Established in 1998, Hong Kong Youth Choir (HKYC) is an energetic and creative choir in Hong Kong which has an inclusive repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works. She also dedicates herself in championing local and Asian premieres of various choral works.
Recent notable performances include a complete Les Misérables, “Choral Panorama – Local Sound” Series, an all-Rutter and all-Chilcott programme conducted by the composers themselves and J.S. Bach’s complete motets. The choir also got prizes from international choral competition in Singapore and Taipei, with a champion in the Musica Sacra category of the former. Despite challenging days ahead, the choir will continue to hold concerts and other activities in order to give quality choral music in Hong Kong.
Open category (for composers of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities) :
Work 1–2: Performance by Die Konzertisten (max. divisi SSAATTBB)
Work 3–4: Performance by The Hong Kong Children’s Choir (max. divisi SSAA)
Student category (for secondary school students in Hong Kong) :
Work 5–6: Performance by Hong Kong Youth Choir (max. divisi SATB)
General Rules
- The submitted work must be original. No arrangements of works by other composers are accepted.
- The submitted work may have already received a public performance, but new works are preferred.
- The submitted work should be composed for mixed choir or children's choir, with or without piano accompaniment*.
- The submitted work should not exceed 5 minutes.
- It is strongly encouraged that the text be sung in Cantonese only. Should the composer wish to include other languages, the proportion of the other languages should not exceed 50% of the text.
- If the text is not in public domain, the composer should provide proof of permission to use the text.
*owing to limitations of the performing venue, the sostenuto pedal is not available and inside-piano techniques/preparations cannot be accommodated.
- The submitted work should be computer-engraved and exported in PDF format.
- An audio recording or MIDI realization of the work is welcomed, but not necessary.
- The submitted files should be anonymous and the score should not contain any information about the composer.
- A composer may submit more than one work, but only one of the submitted works will be selected.
- Students from secondary schools in Hong Kong may also submit works in the open category, but only one of the submitted works will be selected.
- To submit more than one work or to enter more than one category, please make a separate submission using the form.
- Form for submission: https://forms.gle/hSBRLRyfUGFLF4yt5
- Submission deadline: 31 Dec 2022
Should you have any enquiries, please email cantonese.choral@gmail.com with the subject line “Call-for-scores”. We look forward to your submissions.
Artists’ Biographies
Die Konzertisten
Now in its 11th season, Die Konzertisten (DK) is recognised as one of Hong Kong’s foremost chamber choirs. DK’s repertoire ranges from Renaissance polyphony and Baroque masterpieces to Romantic delicacies and newly commissioned works.
DK regularly collaborates with internationally distinguished artists, including conductors Stephen Layton, Jonathan Cohen, John Butt, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas Cleobury, Chen Yun-hung, baroque cellist Viola de Hoog, baroque flautist Marten Root, countertenors Iestyn Davies and Tim Mead; and has performed such diverse works as Handel’s Israel in Egypt, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, Bruckner’s Mass in E minor, Duruflé’s Requiem, Howells’s Requiem, and Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
A keen advocate of Baroque music, DK ardently promotes the historically informed performance of early music to the local audience. In the 2018/19 season, DK collaborated with the award-winning period-instrument ensemble Arcangelo and its director Jonathan Cohen, giving two unique concerts, including Bach’s Mass in B minor. Other highlights throughout the years include Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St John Passion and St Matthew Passion, Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri, and Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas. DK regularly appears in Hong Kong Arts Festival’s programmes, including Les Siècles: BERLIOZ 150 (2019), Madame White Snake (2019), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra & Male Choir (2018), Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande (2018), Dream of the Red Chamber (2017), Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch - Iphigenia in Tauris (2014), and The Britten 100 Project (2013). The choir has also been invited to work with other prominent local musical organisations, such as Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong Children’s Choir, RTHK4, Hong Kong Composers’ Guild, PRISM Chamber Music Festival, and Hong Kong City Chamber Orchestra.
Hong Kong Children’s Choir
The Hong Kong Children's Choir (HKCC) was founded in 1969 as the first children's choir in Hong Kong. HKCC is a registered non-profit-making charitable organization and has made tremendous contributions for children's arts training in Hong Kong. It is now the biggest choir in the world with over 5,000 members and has grown into a diversified arts organization for children. Under the supervision of Kathy Fok, the current Music Director and Principal Conductor, and more than 100 professional tutors, choir members not only develop their artistic talents, but also learn the importance of team spirit through interesting and well-organized practices.
As the children's choir that best represents Hong Kong, HKCC took part in many historical moments, including the Hong Kong Handover Ceremony in 1997, the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, the Hong Kong Disneyland Grand Opening in 2005, various performances to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Hong Kong's reunification with China in 2007, series of performances celebrating the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, celebrations for the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, the East Asian Games in 2009, performances celebrating the 15th Anniversary as well as events celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the establishment of HKSAR in 2012 and 2017. HKCC also organizes numerous concerts and performances each year for our members to share our love of arts with the public and community. In 2019, HKCC presented “Asia Pacific Choral Summit 2019 in Hong Kong” and “Hong Kong Choral Conducting Competition” to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Choir, and garnered “Award for Arts Promotion” at the 14th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2020.
Hong Kong Youth Choir
Established in 1998, Hong Kong Youth Choir (HKYC) is an energetic and creative choir in Hong Kong which has an inclusive repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works. She also dedicates herself in championing local and Asian premieres of various choral works.
Recent notable performances include a complete Les Misérables, “Choral Panorama – Local Sound” Series, an all-Rutter and all-Chilcott programme conducted by the composers themselves and J.S. Bach’s complete motets. The choir also got prizes from international choral competition in Singapore and Taipei, with a champion in the Musica Sacra category of the former. Despite challenging days ahead, the choir will continue to hold concerts and other activities in order to give quality choral music in Hong Kong.
