Musical highlight: HKCCCU Logos Academy inspires Europe!

Musical highlight: HKCCCU Logos Academy inspires Europe!

The HKCCCU Logos Academy Student Symphony Orchestra from Hong Kong completed an impressive European tour from July 15th to 21st, 2025. This trip included participation in the Austrian-Chinese Performing Arts Festival (ACPAF) and included concerts in Vienna, St. Johann in Tirol and Stuttgart. The start in Vienna took place as a benefit concert in the Kalvarienbergkirche, where guests of honor such as Mag. Jimmy Chiang from the Vienna Boys' Choir and Ms. Marizel Rojas from the UN Women's Guild were present.

Particular musical highlights were set by the appearance of Prof. Lutz Leskowitz and pianist Ricky Chiu, who together performed Jörg Demus' “Leb Wohl Op. 26”. After the concert there were stimulating conversations between Prof. Leskowitz, Jimmy Chiang, music director Tim Wong and clarinetist Clevin Ng, which significantly shaped the exchange during the tour.

Highlights of the tour

On July 18th, the orchestra took part in the summer festival parade in St. Johann in Tirol, where the musicians played “Do-Re-Mi” for the 60th anniversary of “The Sound of Music”, accompanied by Prof. Helmut Fuchs, Mag. Lilly Zhang-Sowa and Dir. Reinhold Wieser. The final concert in Stuttgart brought together over 220 participants from the HKCCCU Logos Academy and the Albert-Einstein-Gymnasium (AEG). Mr. Schwartz, the headmaster of the AEG, praised the successful collaboration and the high musical quality of this performance.

The cultural enrichment of the trip was led by Dr. Richard Lee, a representative of Logos Academy. The program included classical works such as “I want to praise the Lord always,” Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No. 5” and “Selections from The Phantom of the Opera.” Conductors such as Tim Wong, Clevin Ng, Stephan Bergdolt and Felix Mak contributed to the musical implementation, which was applauded by over 400 listeners.

Cultural exchange and future initiatives

The tour not only offered the young musicians the opportunity to express themselves artistically, but also to experience intensive workshops with professional musicians and conduct guided tours on regional history and art. Jenny Schaden from the China Office of the State of Salzburg played a key role in facilitating access to European cultural history. The trip leaves lasting impressions and promotes future international collaborations.

Next year, ACPAF is planning an extensive exchange and performance program in Austria, China, Hong Kong and other European countries. This program, which will be held in spring and summer 2024, is intended to offer more young people the chance to experience Austria's musical culture. The first actions are already scheduled for March 2024 in schools such as St. Joseph's Primary School and Carmel Holy Word Secondary School, where various activities and concerts will take place.

The collaboration with local institutions and support from organizations such as the market town of Pottendorf, the Salzburg College and the Chinese Cultural Center Salzburg ensure that the exchange will continue and expand in the future. Through such initiatives, students also develop important life skills such as teamwork and cultural sensitivity.

The HKCCCU Logos Academy tour paved the way for future collaborations and cultural experiences that will further fuel the passion for music and cross-cultural exchange. Further details about upcoming programs can be found on the ACPAF website.

For more information, visit My District and the ACPAF website.