Home-grown young musicians to perform “Gingers’ Tonic” in July

     A group of home-grown Hong Kong musicians will collaborate in a performance entitled "Gingers' Tonic" in July to portray a vibrant music scene of the city.

     Starting from the conventional, "Gingers' Tonic" will modernise familiar classical, jazz and signature pop tunes with new possibilities. Local composer and arranger Joyce Cheung will lead her ensemble to rearrange signature classical masterpieces into styles of jazz music, while the Smash Trio (Wong Ka-jeng, CY Leo and Timothy Sun) will bring dynamic songs to audiences.

     The programme will include the re-arrangements of Chopin's "Fantaisie Impromptu Op. 66", Debussy's "Clair de Lune", the second movement of DvoÅ™ák's "Symphony No. 9, New World" and the Beatles' "Yesterday", as well as the newly arranged "Movie Classics Medley", "Michael Jackson Medley", and "The Dance of Eternity".

     Cheung received a master's degree from the United States' Berklee College of Music in Contemporary Performance, and continued her study with a scholarship in Film Scoring and Contemporary Writing and Production. After returning to Hong Kong, she aims to bring various cultures and styles to the music scene, especially jazz music. She has worked on a variety of projects including a collaboration with Ng Cheuk-yin and Ricky Wong on an East and West crossover between classical music, pop music and jazz.

     Born in Hong Kong in 1990, Wong Ka-jeng started playing the piano at the age of 7. He rose to public attention due to the unexpected popularity of his Golden Horse Award-winning documentary "KJ: Music and Life" in 2009. His performance at the 2014 Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition, where he was a semi-finalist, received critical acclaim. He was also one of the winners of the 2014 Young Concert Artists Asian Auditions in Seoul.

     CY Leo began a brilliant career in music and won his first international award at the age of 10 in the Asia-Pacific Harmonica Festival. He has garnered 17 international titles, including two honours as world champion in the World Harmonica Festival in 2009 and 2013. He has performed in different music and cultural activities including Clockenflap, the NAMM Show in California, the Seoul International Harmonica Festival, the Swiss Harpers Gala Concert and the Norwegian Harmonica Festival.

     Sun began his music studies at the age of 7. In 2001, he became the first Chinese saxophone and clarinet student of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London under a full scholarship for his bachelor's degree, where his principal teachers were the world-renowned saxophonists John Harle and Christian Forshaw. He completed his master's degree under scholarship and received the highest score in final recital. Sun has appeared in more than 100 recitals and orchestral concerts in Asia and Europe.

     "Music Delight" Series: "Gingers' Tonic" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will take place at 8pm on July 3 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre. Tickets priced at $120, $180 and $250 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1148.html.