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Community Activities & Services
Hong Kong Harp Chamber Ensemble
 

The Hong Kong Harp Chamber aims to establish an Ensemble for the summer of 2006/2007.  There will be a Junior Division and a Senior Division of the HKHC Ensemble.  The goal is to raise the level of harp playing and interest in the harp in Hong Kong.   Successful candidates selected to join the HKHC Ensemble are eligible to participate in a series of training programs held on a regular basis at the Chamber.  

The Chamber has reserved a specific time each month for HKHC Ensemble members to practice and rehearse for performances in local and overseas harp events.  Members are expected to attend and participate according to the training and practice schedule.  Progress of individual members will be monitored by the Chamber’s Chief Advisors and Guest Advisors.

Fees for venue rental and training programs are waived for HKHC Ensemble members.  However, an administrative fee is charged for processing the application of all candidates wishing to be selected for HKHC Ensemble.

 

Audition Dates
Hong Kong:  Mar Onwards
Chicago/San Francisco:  July/August 2006/2007

Application Fee:  HK$ 400

Qualification Requirement
In general, applicants to the Junior Division are expected to have already obtained Level 1-3 of  the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) or equivalent in harp or other instruments such as piano.  Applicants to the Senior Division are expected to have already obtained Level 4+ in harp.  There is no age limit for admission.

Pre-Screening
There is no pre-screening process.  However, students/participants of the ‘Stoney End Harp Learning Sponsorship Program’ or the ‘Triplett Harp Ensemble’ will have the benefit of having their in-group performance taken in consideration before the audition. 

The optional photograph in the application form is not used for pre-screening purposes but for the Admissions Committee to help identify the different applicants in their meetings and discussions for possible selection.
 
The Audition Process
All applicants will be scheduled for a live audition unless the applicant indicates that he/she does not have significant prior training in harp playing.
Junior Division Repertoire:
  1. Any piece in the J.S. Bach Minuet from the French Suite
  2. Any one of the following two pieces
    1. Damase 10 etude faciles et progresive
    2. Pozzoli Studi di Media Difficolta
  3. Any piece of Western or Chinese pop or jazz music

Senior Division Repertoire:
In addition to the requirements for the Junior Division, the Senior Division Reportoire requires:
  1. Two of the following four pieces
    1. Any Scarlatti sonata
    2. Handel Passacaglia
    3. Glinka –Nocturne
    4. Any Debussy piece

 

All applicants may use the following harps featured by the Chamber harps for audition:

Junior Division Audition
  1. Stoney End (Wee Bonnie 15 strings)
  2. Stoney End (Eve 22 strings)
  3. Dusty Strings (Ravenna 26 strings)
  4. Rees (Harpsicle 26 strings)
  5. Lyon & Healy (Shamrock 34 strings)
  6. Triplett (Nino 34 strings)

Senior Division Audition
  1. Lyon & Healy (Shamrock 34 strings)
  2. Triplett (Nino 34 strings)
  3. Triplett (Celtic II 34 strings)
  4. Dusty Strings (FH36 36 strings)
  5. Lyon & Healy (Prelude 38 strings)
  6. Triplett (Eclipse 38 strings)
  7. Lyon & Healy (CG Style 85 47 strings)

An audiotape of the applicant’s audition performance will be submitted to overseas judges as part of the audition process.  In general, applicants will be asked to come for at least two rounds of auditions (including one in Chicago/San Francisco in person or by audiotape).  Some applicants will be asked to stay for a brief, informal interview at the end of the audition. 

 
Criteria for Acceptance
We are seeking talented candidates who have potential growth to be trained to achieve concert performance level or moving further to professional training and placement.   Hence, we also set out the following criteria in addition to a candidate’s present state of technical accomplishment.
  1. A commitment to practice and continuous improvement with at least some musical note reading or vocabulary skills.
  2. Demonstrated musicality, vivid imagination, courage and emotional power. Applicants who have significant development in other musical instruments may have advantage but this is not a requirement.
  3. Willingness to re-evaluate technique, explore new approaches to training and practicing, and a capacity for sustained concentration.
  4. Ability to work as a part of an ensemble including the strength and sensitivity necessary to partner/be partnered.
  5. Applicants with good English language skills have advantages, since some parts of the training are done in English or by overseas advisors.
 
Mozart Dvorak Haydn Beethoven
 
Audition for A Quartet - the‘EncoreTet’

In addition to establishing a Harp Ensemble, the Hong Kong Harp Chamber is considering to assemble the ‘EncoreTet' (from a selection of Harp and other instruments - Strings, Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, Keyboard) with the goal to
• raise the level of ensemble playing with the harp in Hong Kong.
• use music as a wonderful means to connect with the community
• enjoy playing and appreciating music

Applicants selected to join the ‘EncoreTet' are eligible to practice in a series of programs held on a regular basis at the Hong Kong Harp Chamber and would be asked to perform for community service, including music outreach programs and activities organized with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.

Music Series Contemplated, include
• Baroque (Bach, Handel, Pachelbel, Vivaldi)
• Classic Classical (Beethoven, Dussek, Haydn, Krumpholtz, Mozart)
• Romantic (Alvars, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schubert)
• Impressionist (Bizet, Debussy, Fauré, Ravel, Satie)
• Twentieth Century (Grandjany, Hasselmans, Renié, Saint-Saëns, Salzedo)
• Modern (including Pop, Jazz, Broadway and Chinese music)

Note: Participation in the ‘EncoreTet' is not intended as teaching sessions but will bring the benefits of enhancing team playing skills of the participants and sharing the joy of playing and performing music

Audition Qualification
Applicants are generally expected to have obtained Grade 3+ of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) or equivalent in instruments of their choice.

Audition Process
All applicants will be asked to come for at least two rounds of auditions, [including at least one live audition]. Some applicants will be asked to stay for a brief, informal interview at the end of the audition.

Audition Repertoire
Applicants to submit 3 pieces of their choice from which the Chamber's Advisors and Guest Advisors will choose one to two pieces to be performed.

General Criteria for Selection
Other than the applicant's present technical accomplishment, we are seeking talented applicants with the following characteristics:
1) A commitment to practice and continuous improvement in music knowledge.
2) Demonstrated musicality, vivid imagination, courage and emotional power.
3) Ability to work as a part of an ensemble including the strength of sustained concentration and sensitivity necessary to partner and be partnered.
4) Applicants with good English language skills have advantages, since at times we would invite overseas advisors to provide comments to the ‘EncoreTet'.
5) Applicants who have vocal capabilities may have advantages but this is not a requirement.

Fees
All practice fees are waived for selected ‘EncoreTet' applicants. However, an administrative fee is charged for processing the application of all candidates wishing to be selected for the ‘EncoreTet'.

Similar music community programs conducted or scheduled in 2006 include:
Central Library of Hong Kong
City Hall Library
French Alumni Assocation
Hong Kong Children & Youth Services
Kowloon Public Library
Against Child Abuse Limited
Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)
Shatin Public Library
University of Waterloo HK Alumni Association

For audition updates, please make enquires at enquiry@harpchamber.com
 
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