Taking a look back at the year in the local classical music scene, 2016 was said to be a year with both ups and downs, in which a number of significant music events and music achievements took place, such as young conductors Adrian SIT and Wilson NG attaining significant achievements in competition and music festival held in Germany and the United States. The public, however, was saddened by the loss of the Hong Kong Chinese music master YAU Siu-pun and violinist WONG Wai-ming. In a search for the most critical local music news that have been influential on cultural and academic development in Hong Kong, Radio Television Hong Kong Radio 4 has organized a poll “Top 10 Music Headlines” for the 31st consecutive year. The results are unveiled today (21 January).

 

        Among the 20 nominations, the news about “To celebrate composer Doming LAM’s 90th birthday, Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra, Music Department of Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Composers’ Guild, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and RTHK organize several concerts to celebrate the occasion” tops the list with 56.5% of votes.

 

        Other notable music headlines include the following: “The West Kowloon Cultural District Authority faces financial pressure, and has to look into an alternative funding proposal for constructing its batch 3 arts and cultural facilities” and “Young oboist CHENG Chi-yuen Bobby is appointed Principal Oboe of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse in France. He is the first foreign principal oboist in a major orchestra in France”. These rank second and third with 53.7% and 53.2% of votes respectively.

        

        This year, a shortlist of 20 items of music news was nominated by music practitioners, critics and cultural news editors. These items were selected based on their influence on cultural and academic development in Hong Kong. Listeners were then invited to vote online or complete a postal vote application form. Voting by the public accounted for 60% of the total and by the music professionals, 40%. During the three-week polling period from 24 December 2016 to 12 January 2017, 2,490 voters participated. 

 

        Voting results will be announced on Radio 4 (FM97.6 – 98.9) “Artbeat” today (21 January) at noon and on “2016 Top 10 Music Headlines” on the following day (22 January) at 8pm. Both programmes will be archived on RTHK website (radio4.rthk.hk). For the results, as well as photos and detailed audio descriptions of all nominated news, please visit “2016 Top 10 Music Headlines” special webpage (rthk.hk/musicheadlines2016).