3rd Hong Kong International Conducting Competition

27-31 January 2027 | Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall
  • Application

  • For conductors under the age of 35 to establish a network in Asia and beyond

  • Features an international Jury made up of conductors and professionals in the music business today

  • A maximum of 16 Candidates will be chosen to conduct Hong Kong Sinfonietta in the Competition in January 2027

  • Applications will open on 8 April 2026

Repertoire

Round 1 (a maximum of 16 Candidates)

27 January 2027 (Wed)

  • Stravinsky — Concerto in E-flat, “Dumbarton Oaks”
  • One of the following works, determined by a draw:
    • Mozart — Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), K620: Overture
    • Rossini — La Scala di Seta (The Silken Staircase): Overture

Round 2 – Semi-Finals (a maximum of 8 Semi-Finalists)

Day 1 – 28 January 2027 (Thu)

  • One of the following works, determined by a draw:
    • Brahms — Symphony No 2 in D, Op 73
    • Mendelssohn — Symphony No 3 in A minor, Op 56, “Scottish”
    • Schumann — Symphony No 3 in E-flat, Op 97, “Rhenish”

Day 2 – 29 January 2027 (Fri)

  • Schumann — Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 54: 3rd movement (Piano: Rachel Cheung)

Round 3 – Finals (a maximum of 3 Finalists)

31 January 2027 (Sun)

  • Daniel Lo Ting-cheung — Endless Rhythm (world première, commissioned by Hong Kong Sinfonietta)
  • Beethoven — Fidelio Overture, Op 72c
  • One of the following works, chosen and declared by the Candidate before the start of the Competition:
    • Bartók — Dance Suite
    • Richard Strauss — Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), Op 24
    • Stravinsky — The Firebird Suite (1919)
  • The finalists will also be invited to make a short presentation to the audience

Schedule

Preliminary Selection

  • 17 June 2026 (Wed), 23:59 Hong Kong Time
    Deadline for applications
  • By late-July 2026
    Announcement of preliminary selection results

Candidates briefing

  • 26 January 2027 (Tue)

Round 1

  • 27 January 2027 (Wed)

Round 2 – Semi-Finals

  • 28 & 29 January 2027 (Thu & Fri)
    Each Semi-Finalist will conduct two works over two days

Round 3 – Finals

  • 29 & 30 January 2027 (Fri & Sat)
    Rehearsals
  • 31 January 2027 (Sun)
    Finals & Award Presentation

Post-Competition

  • 1 February 2027 (Mon)
    Lunch meeting and networking with Jury members and all Candidates

Jury

Co-chairs

YIP Wing-sie

YIP Wing-sie

Preliminary + Rounds 1-3

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Music Director Emeritus

Christoph POPPEN

Christoph POPPEN

Preliminary + Rounds 1-3

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Music Director

Cologne Chamber Orchestra

Principal Conductor

Israel Chamber Orchestra

Principal Guest Conductor

Marvão International Music Festival

Artistic Director

Members of the Jury

Nicolás PASQUET

Nicolás PASQUET

Rounds 1-3

Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía, Spain

Zubin Mehta Chair of Conducting

Royal Northern College of Music, UK

International Chair in Conducting

CHIEN Wen-pin

CHIEN Wen-pin

Rounds 1-3

Weiwuying Center for the Arts, Kaohsiung

General and Artistic Director

Xenia GROH-HU

Xenia GROH-HU

Rounds 1-3

karsten witt musik management, Germany

Managing Director

Youri SON

Youri SON

Rounds 1-3

KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korea

Director of Artistic Planning

James CUDDEFORD

James CUDDEFORD

Preliminary Round

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Concertmaster

Ambrose LUI

Ambrose LUI

Rounds 1-3

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Tutti Violin

Prizes

1st

HK$200,000
  • Concert engagement with Hong Kong Sinfonietta
  • Mentorship with conductor(s) from the Jury

2nd

HK$100,000

3rd

HK$70,000

Orchestra Prize

HK$10,000

Live Audience Prize

HK$10,000

Online Audience Prize

HK$5,000

Application

Eligibility

The Competition is open to conductors of any nationality born in or after 1991.

Application Fee

HK$1,500 (non-refundable)

Accommodation & Travel Arrangements

Hotel accommodation will be provided during the period of the Competition from 25 January to 2 February 2027. Candidates will be responsible for their own travel arrangements and expenses.

Application Method

Applications will open on 8 April 2026.

Please complete the online application form where you will need to attach the following materials:

  1. Recent video footage of you conducting two different orchestral works in rehearsal and/or performance, within 30 mins in total and preferably showing different styles and periods (please separate the two works into two video files, and specify the name of each work in each file title)
  2. A self-introduction video (within 2 mins)
  3. A recent photo of yourself (file size larger than 1MB) for publicity purposes, preferably taken within the last year

The above materials must be submitted via a Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive link, and the materials must be downloadable.

To complete your application, you will be required to make the application fee payment via Stripe as instructed in the application form. Please contact us at hkconducting@hksinfonietta.org if Stripe is not supported in your region.

Application deadline: 17 June 2026 (Wed), 23:59 Hong Kong Time

 

Notes

  • Hong Kong Sinfonietta is the official orchestra of the Competition.
  • All Competition rounds will be livestreamed and documented for archival and promotional purposes. Photographs, audio and visual recordings may be printed in publications or broadcast on TV, radio or the internet. By joining the Competition, Candidates agree to waive any rights relating to the participation in the Competition, including all visual, audio and application materials.
  • The Jury reserves the right to disqualify any applicant who provides untruthful, misleading or inaccurate information or materials, or breaches any of the terms and conditions of the Competition.
  • The Organiser reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any details of the Competition, including but not limited to the Jury, repertoire and schedule. In case of any dispute, the Organiser reserves the right of the final decision.