The Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) presented two concerts at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday and today (August 30 and 31), which concluded the orchestra's concert tour this season across Europe and Asia.
Comprising about 100 young musicians from various parts of Asia, the AYO had earlier performed in Hong Kong, Dobbiaco, Bergamo, Brescia, Berlin, Trier, Bangkok, Taipei and Chiayi from late July to the end of August. The AYO then toured Japan and performed in Kurobe on August 28, before arriving at its final performance destination for this season in Tokyo.
The performances by the AYO in Japan are supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo).
Speaking at a reception before the concert today, the Principal Hong Kong Economic and Trade Representative (Tokyo), Miss Winsome Au, noted that it has been the first time for the AYO to return to Japan since its last concert tour in Asia in 2019, and she welcomed the resumption of the AYO's concert tour in Asia after the COVID-19 epidemic.
She said that Hong Kong and Japan have for many years enjoyed close bilateral relations, not only in business and trade, but also in cultural and people-to-people exchanges. She also looked forward to more exchanges and collaborations in arts and culture between Hong Kong and Japan.
"As we celebrate this grand finale, let us remember the power and beauty of music to unite, to heal, and to ignite change. May this evening mark the beginning of the infinite possibilities that lie ahead of the AYO and be a reminder of the importance of nurturing young talent and fostering cultural exchanges," Miss Au said.
Based in Hong Kong, the AYO gathers talented young musicians from all over Asia every year, and takes them to different parts of the world for performances and cultural exchanges.
The AYO has been playing a significant role in promoting arts and cultural exchanges between Hong Kong and Japan. Since the orchestra's first public concert in Kumamoto in 1990, Japan has been one of the destinations for the AYO tour almost every year. The AYO was awarded Japan's Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists in 2010 in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the development of young artistic talent. It was also awarded the Nikkei Asia Prize for Culture and Community in 2015 for promoting friendship and understanding among young people across Asia through the common language of music.
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