Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

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The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (Traditional Chinese: 香港管弦樂團; pinyin: Xiānggǎng Guǎnxián Yuètuán), commonly abbreviated HKPO (港樂), is the main symphonic orchestra in Hong Kong. It turned professional in 1974 although its predecessor, the Sino-British Orchestra, gave its first concert way back in 1895.

The orchestra has promoted Hong Kong-based composers by commissioning and premiering numerous works of contemporary music, including the recent five-work cycle of Voices of Hong Kong, by John Chen, David Gwilt, Daniel Law, Law Ping-leung and Richard Tsang.

In the autumn of 1995, the HKPO travelled to 9 cities in the United States and Canada in its North American début. In 2003, the orchestra made its European début with performances in London (Barbican Hall), Belfast, Dublin and Paris (Théâtre des Champs-Élysées).

Dutch conductor Edo de Waart has been the orchestra's Artistic Director and Chief Conductor since the 2004/2005 season. Past Music Directors include internationally renowned conductors such as David Atherton, who is now the orchestra's Conductor Laureate.

Of its HK$95 million budget for the 2004/2005 season, about 60% came from the Hong Kong Government. The remaining 40% came from box office revenue, performance fees, sponsorship, advertising and donations.

The orchestra gives more than 140 performances annually to an audience of over 180,000 in various venues including the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the City Hall Concert Hall. In addition to classical performances, it occasionally appears backing local pop stars such as Jacky Cheung and Teresa Carpio.

In the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, there are 15 first violins, 13 second violins, 11 violas, 10 cellos, 8 double basses, 4 flutes/1 piccolo, 3 oboes/1 cor anglais, 3 clarinets/1 E flat clarinet/1 bass clarinet, 3 bassoons/1 contra bassoon, 6 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones/1 bass trombone, 1 tuba, 1 timpani, 3 percussions, 1 harp and 1 keyboard.