GBA Youth Orchestra Concert Tour draws applause in Shenzhen

On July 15, Shenzhen Concert Hall hosted the 2025 Concert Tour of the Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra (GBAYO), providing local audiences with a captivating experience of musical artistry.

Founded in 2022, GBAYO is a youth talent program jointly established by the Swire Group and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA). Over the past two years, Swire and HKAPA have collaborated to support GBAYO’s concert tours across the Greater Bay Area, aiming to nurture young musical talents and promote cultural exchange through the orchestra.

Musicians of the GBAYO and Austrian conductor Christoph Koncz perform during the concert. Photos courtesy of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

This year marks a significant milestone for GBAYO as Austrian conductor Christoph Koncz became its first overseas guest conductor, highlighting the orchestra’s expanding international influence.

Koncz currently serves as music director of the Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse and principal conductor of the Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss am Rhein. His involvement brings valuable international experience and a unique artistic vision to GBAYO.

Under Koncz’s baton, the concert featured a rich program including “Dance of the Golden Snake” by Tang Jianping based on Nie Er’s original work, Ernő Dohnányi’s “Symphonic Minutes,” Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé Suite No. 2,” and Béla Bartók’s “Concerto for Orchestra.”

Prior to the tour, 98 exceptional young musicians from across the Greater Bay Area gathered at HKAPA in early July for intensive training. Guided by Koncz and 12 distinguished instructors, they received 30 hours of professional coaching.

Christoph Koncz conducts the orchestra.

Koncz shared, “I am delighted to lead the GBAYO as its first overseas guest conductor. From the very first rehearsal it was immediately clear that these young musicians are promising and passionate individuals, and their eagerness to learn and connect through music is very inspiring. I’m very much looking forward to sharing this exciting journey with the musicians and our audience and to contributing to a programme that so meaningfully bridges cultures and nurtures the next generation of artistic talent across the region.”

Guy Bradley, chairman of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd., said, “As the Founding Patron, we are proud of what the GBAYO has achieved over the past three years and are pleased to renew our collaboration with HKAPA. Doing so furthers our shared mission of creating a world-class platform for young classical performers. At Swire, we are growing our presence in the GBA. At the same time, contributing to cultural exchange in the region is also important to us, as is promoting the GBA’s artistic achievements to the wider world.”

Young musicians from the GBAYO perform during the concert. 

Professor Anna CY Chan, director of HKAPA, remarked, “With the resounding success of our GBAYO concerts over the past three years, the Academy is proud to once again share the beauty of music with the public. Our commitment to young talent development is at the heart of this initiative, providing training and mentorship by renowned musicians that empower young musicians to excel on the global stage. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSARG, the Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality and the Swire Group for their invaluable support.”