Orchestra concert tour promotes cultural exchange in GBA

The Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra (GBAYO) brought 103 young musicians together for concerts in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou from Oct. 9 to 11, continuing an annual tour aimed at fostering cultural exchange across the region.

Now in its fourth season, the orchestra assembled its largest lineup since its founding. Guest conductor Ken Lam led the musicians, who performed around the time of China’s National Day celebrations.

103 young musicians from the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area perform at the Shenzhen Concert Hall on Oct. 10. Photos courtesy of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Before the tour, the musicians gathered at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from Oct. 2 to 9 for an intensive training program. Thirteen instructors from leading music schools and professional orchestras coached them in performance and ensemble skills.

The orchestra was established to develop young musical talent and encourage cultural exchange across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Since its founding, it has provided more than 400 training and performance opportunities and staged 14 concerts in the region, drawing more than 8,000 audience, according to the organizers.

The orchestra also aims to support musicians’ longer-term development by helping them broaden their horizons and explore opportunities in the GBA and beyond.

The orchestra performs Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet Suite Nos. 1-3."

This year’s program presented a rich and dynamic repertoire that reflects both the diversity and global outlook of the orchestra. including Hector Berlioz’s “Roman Carnival Overture,” selections from Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet Suite Nos. 1-3,” Chen Yi’s “Duo Ye No. 2,” and Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite (1919 edition),” showcasing a program that bridges Eastern and Western musical traditions while celebrating the artistry of a new generation of musicians.

Lam said GBAYO is an amazing opportunity for young musicians in the area to connect, collaborate, and perform together. “As someone who grew up in Hong Kong, I am particularly excited to return and work with these talented students as well as their amazing coaches,” he said.

Internationally renowned conductor Ken Lam leads the Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra as guest conductor.

GBAYO is presented by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and supported by the Swire Group as Founding Patron. Swire Group has supported the orchestra since the program began in 2022.

Arnold Cheng, Director of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area of John Swire & Sons said the company was pleased to see the orchestra grow and contribute to cultural exchange.

“By bringing together talented young musicians from different cities and backgrounds, GBAYO provides a unique platform for artistic development, collaboration and mutual understanding. Its success reflects the power of the arts to connect people and enrich communities, and we are proud to have been part of that journey,” Cheng said.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) organized the tour, with sponsorship from Swire. The Hong Kong government’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, the Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports, and Xinghai Conservatory of Music also supported the concerts.

HKAPA was ranked 10th globally and first in Asia for performing arts in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject. A representative of HKAPA said the academy is dedicated to advancing artistic excellence and cultivating future generations of performing artistsand looks forward to continuing to inspire and empower the next generation of musicians through transformative learning and performance opportunities.