SAR Philharmonic Orchestra

The SAR Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly the SAR Ensemble) is a Hong Kong symphonic orchestra and is the MusicAL arm of SAR Philharmonic Charitable Foundation, a Hong Kong Government registered organization. The orchestra performs several concerts a year and has raised over $7 million for local non-government organizations since its first concert in 1999.

The beneficiaries include:

  • Red Cross: for flood relief on Mainland (1999)
  • UNCEF: for Tsunami relief in South Asia (2005)
  • Hong Kong Organization: Helping Hand (2000)
  • The China Literacy Foundation (2000, 2001, 2005)
  • The Society for Abandoned Animals, H.K. (2001)
  • Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (2001)
  • Youth Outreach (2002, 2003, 2005)
  • The Child Development Centre at Matilda (2002, 2006)
  • The Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care (2002, 2003)
  • La Leche League, Hong Kong (2003)
  • The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society (2003)
  • The Hong Kong Institute of Education (2003)
  • Guy Hugh Chan Medical Education Foundation (2004)
  • The Society for the Relief of Disabled Children (2005)
  • Living Knowledge Communities (2005)
  • U-Hearts (2005)
  • Prince of Peace Charity Foundation (2006)

Orchestra members are dedicated volunteers who give their services freely - thus maximizing the financial benefits for the recipient charity. The orchestra boasts over 100 members and presents ambitious programs for full symphony orchestra.

Under the baton of our Music Director K. K. Chiu, we have performed Mahler's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 8th symphonies. Previous performances featured most of the classical greats and details can be found in the section on 'Past Seasons' in our website (www.sarpo.org). Almost all of the previous performances have been recorded and we now have more than 10 C.D.s in our catalogue.

The SAR Philharmonic enjoys a strong reputation in Hong Kong's musical community. The orchestra regularly collaborates with soloists of international renown such as violinist Yao Jue, clarinetist Andrew Simon, horn player C. C. Chow, the American pianist Robert Roux, piano duo, Correa and Stroup, Hong Kong pianist Nancy Loo, soprano Katusha Tsui-Fraser, Yuki Ip, Margaret Yim, Phoebe Tam, mezzo soprano Cynthia Luff, Shanice Ng, tenor Oliver Lo, Sam Kan, baritone Brian Montgomery, bass Edmund Kwan, cellist Richard Bamping and bassoonist Vance Lee.

The orchestra is also cultivating a love of music among children. The Classics for Kids concerts (joint presentation with My MusikBox) are proving a great hit with parents and children alike, including very young children normally excluded from concert halls. At the same time these concerts raise more money for worthy causes.

The SAR Philharmonic is going from strength to strength. We hope you will help us in our mission to live up to our motto of Helping to lessen suffering through Sweet And Romantic music.

Committee

  • Chairman Y. S. Liu,
  • Music Director K. K. Chiu,
  • Members Y. K. Wong, Alex Ling, Maggie Holmes, Richard Wallace,
  • Public Relations Michelle Liu (www.mymusikbox.com),
  • Librarian and Ticketing David Ho