Part of this year’s Macao International Music Festival includes the Bravo Macao Musicians Concert Series designed to encourage young local musicians to pursue their passion for music and help them achieve their dreams in the music world.
Part One of the series features performances by Sophia Feinga Su on violin and Hugo Loi on saxophone.
Fourteen-year-old Sophia Feinga Su is currently studying under distinguished violin professor Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School of Music in the U.S.A., one of the most prestigious music schools in the world. Sophia participated in the Macao Young Musicians Competition (MYMC) several times, winning First Prize in various categories and the Talent Prize twice. She received the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize at the 26th MYMC in 2008, becoming the youngest recipient of this prize since its inception. In the same year she won the Gold Prize at the National Children’s Art Competition (China), after which she was hailed “Macao’s Violin Prodigy” by the media.
Hugo Loi is a graduate of the famous Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, The Netherlands, where he concluded his Bachelor and Master degrees in Saxophone Performance. He won First Prize in the solo and chamber categories of the MYMC on several occasions, as well as the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize in 2006. He has been performing all over the world. Hugo is currently teaching at the Macao Conservatory, the Macau Band Directors Association and several local schools.
The second installment of the Bravo Macao Series presents pianist Ray Long and a viola performance by Katy Ho.
Pianist Ray Long, a four-time winner and recipient of the Talent Prize in the 21st Macao Young Musicians Competitions (MYMC) in 2003, was granted a scholarship to study in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under Professor Gabriel Kwok. He was then granted a scholarship by the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Macao Foundation and the Royal Schools of Music (U.K.) to complete his Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with first class honours at the Royal College of Music. Ray was the first runner-up in the Springboard – Brighton and Hove Performin Arts Festival, and was awarded the prizes for Most Distinguished Performer and for Best Concerto Performance in the Brighton Youth Orchestra Trust Discretionary Awards and the IBLA Grand Prize in Italy, respectively.
A graduate from The Juilliard School (USA) with both Master and Bachelor of Music degrees in viola performance, Katy Ho has won the first and second prizes in the Violin and Viola Categories of the MYMC on several occasions and won the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize in the 24th edition of the competition. While studying in the USA, she was granted full scholarships to participate in the 2011 Round Top Music Festival in Texas, 2012 Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, 2013 Fontainebleau School of Music, and in the 2014 New York String Orchestra Seminar. Additionally, Katy is enthusiastic about music education and social service; she was appointed to teach music performance in New York’s public schools and co-operates with various child organizations in Macao to assist children in need via the art of music.
Bravo Macao! I
25/9 | Friday | 8pm
Dom Pedro V Theatre
MOP 150, 120
Bravo Macao! II
26/9 | Saturday | 8pm
Dom Pedro V Theatre
MOP 150, 120
