ENSEMBLES 2025

St. Mary's Canossian College Orchestra

The St. Mary’s Canossian College Orchestra was established in 1990 to provide orchestral training to students and to foster their interest in orchestral music and appreciation of the arts. Currently, the orchestra is led by Ms. Viola Chan and conducted by Mr. Amos Lee. Initially founded in 1986 as a string ensemble with just 20 enthusiastic students, the orchestra has grown significantly and now includes approximately 60 members. The SMCC Orchestra is made up of students from Forms 1 to 5, all of whom have received their instrumental training from private instructors, the Music Office, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the school’s instrumental programs. Members are selected through an audition held at the beginning of each academic year, and regular rehearsals take place weekly. Under the guidance of Mr. Amos Lee, the Orchestra participates annually in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, consistently achieving commendable results. In addition, the Orchestra has performed at several school events, including the Centenary Concert at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (2000), the “Make the World a Gift of Songs” Concert (2002), the Unveiling Ceremony of the New School Extension (2004), the Open Day Concert - “Opus 105” (2005), the 110th Anniversary Concert (2010), the “Tutti 115” Concert (2015) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the "Piece Perfect Peace Concert" (2023), and the "Harmonic Miracle Concert" (2024). Furthermore, the Orchestra received an invitation to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the “Hong Kong Musician” program on RTHK Radio 4. Many of our graduated orchestra members, who have sustained their interest in orchestral music, are now enthusiastic participants of the orchestras of various universities in Hong Kong, the United States, Britain, and other countries. Some have even pursued professional music careers, performing with renowned orchestras and ensembles. Their success reflects the quality of training and the passion for music instilled by the SMCC Orchestra. This year, some orchestra members from our two feeder schools, St. Mary’s Canossian School and Holy Angel’s Canossian School, are joining us at the SCL festival.

Amos Lee Ka Yiu

Conductor

Amos Lee Ka Yiu started his first trumpet lesson at the age of 13. In 1991, he studied with Mr. Jonathan Fields (winner of the 1992 International Toulon Trumpet Competition) at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and got his Diploma there in 1993. After that he studied with Mr. Brian Thomson, principal trumpet in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and gained his Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts in 1996. In 1994/95 he was admitted into the Asian Youth Orchestra and performed in many cities in Asia and the United States. In October 1995, Amos led the Academy Brass Quintet to London to perform in the Hong Kong Festival. Two years later, Amos received the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund and continued his studies under Mr. Edmund Cord at Indiana University. Amos gained his Master Degree in Music in 1999. Amos now is active in both teaching and performing in Hong Kong. Besides being involved in different projects such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, The Macau Arts Festival, studio recording, musical productions and orchestra/band performances, Amos also appears as soloist and continuously conducts performances. In 2000, Amos and his friends formed the “Hong Kong Young Musicians’ Wind Orchestra”, and brought the orchestra to many international festivals and competitions including “CISM and mid-Europe Winds Competition’ (2010) and “World Music Contest Kerkrade” (WMC) in the Netherlands (2014, 2017). Today he is the orchestra and band director of several secondary schools and primary schools in Hong Kong.

Competition Program

Additional Concerts Program