Author: OCHM Marketing

 Introduction：

Melodies dance, and new resonance emerges. The Macao Chinese Orchestra is always committed to discovering, nurturing, and supporting young musical talents. To further this mission, the Orchestra is rolling out the “Orchestra Members” and “Young GBA Soloists” audition campaign as part of the “Blossom and Flourish” Elite Concert in its 2025-26 Concert Season. This initiative provides a valuable platform for young musical talents in Macao and the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to collaborate with a professional orchestra and showcase their exceptional potential. This audition comprises two categories: “Orchestra Members” and “Young GBA Soloists”, with no restrictions on Chinese musical instruments in the “wind, plucked string, bowed string, or percussion” sections.

The Macao Chinese Orchestra “Blossom and Flourish” Elite Concert will take place at 3:00 p.m. on 12 April 2026 at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. The concert will be conducted by Rupert Woo, the runner-up in The Second International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music, and the winner of the Outstanding Young Conductor of Hong Kong Award. This audition is aimed at further enriching the Chinese music ecosystem in Macao, enhancing the public’s music literacy, and promoting the outstanding cultural traditions of Chinese musical instruments. We look forward to your participation. Let’s bring new energy and vitality into the music scene together!

• “Orchestra Members”: open to Macao tertiary or full-time secondary students with passion in Chinese music. Selected participants will collaborate with the Macao Chinese Orchestra to perform the two pieces: “Green • Song of the Wind” and “Galloping Horses”.
• “Young GBA Soloists”: open to young individuals aged 16-35 from the Greater Bay Area (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Hong Kong, and Macao), including students graduated or studying for a diploma, bachelor’s degree or higher relevant instrumental performance at a professional conservatories or tertiary institution, as well as students of affiliated secondary schools of conservatories. Up to two participants will be selected, and the Macao Chinese Orchestra will provide professional orchestral accompaniment for the chosen finalists.

Audition regulations for “Orchestra Members”：

1. Eligibility: Applicants must be tertiary or secondary students in Macao who have a passion for Chinese music and demonstrate strong performance abilities in Chinese instruments.
2. Selection dates: the evaluation will be based on submitted application materials, and the application is open until 23:59 on 10 February 2026.
3. Required application documents (to be submitted in PDF format):
   • Completed application form (click to download the form)
   • Copy of a valid identification document or a valid student ID card issued by a local tertiary institution or the Education and Youth Development Bureau of Macao (both front and back sides)
   • Copies of certificates or awards (if available)
   • Solo performance video link (Upload the video in MPEG-2 or MP4 format to YouTube/youku/bilibili as “Unlisted”. Recommended specifications: High-definition 16:9 aspect ratio, with resolution of 1280 x 720 or higher. A valid video link must be included in the application email.)
4. Application guidelines：
   • Application fee: Free of charge
   • Submission deadline: Applicants must submit all required documents and their solo performance video link via email to [email protected] by 11:59 PM on 10 February 2026. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission.
   • Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
   • All application materials will be used solely for this audition process. The information will be kept confidential and will not be returned.
   • Applicants must ensure that all submitted information is accurate and complete. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any applicant if there is reasonable doubt regarding the authenticity of the provided information.
   • The selection results will be officially announced after an initial screening of application materials and the judging panel’s evaluation. No finalists will be selected if none of the participants meet the artistic standards required, and no dispute shall be raised against the final decision.
   • Solo performance video requirements:
     • The video must feature one self-selected piece performed in its entirety.
     • The performance must last at least 3 minutes.
     • The video must have been recorded within the past 3 months.
     • The performance must be a solo with no accompaniment. The video must clearly show the performer’s face, hands, and instrument, with the highest possible sound quality.
5. Announcement of results: Selected participants will be notified via email.

Rehearsal dates for “Orchestra Members”:

Orchestra Members must participate the section rehearsals on the evening of 26 February and 19 March and early April 2026, as well as the orchestra rehearsals between 6 and 12 April 2026.*The detailed rehearsal schedule will be announced in due course.**Participants must attend at least 80% of the rehearsals (including both section and orchestral rehearsals) to be eligible to perform in the concert.

Audition regulations for “Young GBA Soloists”

1. Eligibility:open to young individuals aged 16-35 from the Greater Bay Area (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Zhaoqing, Hong Kong, and Macao), including students graduated or studying for a diploma, bachelor’s degree or higher relevant instrumental performance at a professional conservatories or tertiary institution, as well as students of affiliated secondary schools of conservatories. Up to two participants will be selected.
2. Selection dates:Selection dates: The audition process consists of two stages:
   • Preliminary selection: 12 February 2026 – evaluation based on submitted application materials.
   • Final selection: 7 March 2026 – live audition; applicants unable to attend will be considered to have relinquished their application.
3. 3. Required application documents (to be submitted in PDF format):
   • Completed application form (click to download the form)
   • Copy of a valid identification document or a valid student ID card issued by a tertiary institution (both front and back sides)
   • Copies of certificates or awards (if available)
   • Solo performance video link (Upload the video in MPEG-2 or MP4 format to YouTube/youku/bilibili as “unlisted”. Recommended specifications: High-definition 16:9 aspect ratio, with resolution of 1280 x 720 or higher. A valid video link must be included in the application email.)
4. Application guidelines:
   • Application fee: free of charge.
   • Submission deadline: Applicants must submit all required documents and their solo performance video link via email to [email protected] by 11:59 PM on 12 February 2026. A confirmation email will be sent upon successful submission.
   • Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
   • All application materials will be used solely for this audition process. The information will be kept confidential and will not be returned.
   • Applicants must ensure that all submitted information is accurate and complete. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any applicant if there is reasonable doubt regarding the authenticity of the provided information.
   • After an initial screening of application materials, eligible applicants will proceed to the preliminary selection. The selection results will be officially announced after evaluation by the judging panel. No finalists will be selected if none of the participants meet the artistic standards required, and no dispute shall be raised against the final decision.
   • Solo performance video requirements:
     • The video must feature one self-selected concerto performed in its entirety.
     • The performance must last at least 8 minutes.
     • The video must have been recorded within the past 3 months.
     • The performance must be a solo with no accompaniment. The video must clearly show the performer’s face, hands, and instrument, with the highest possible sound quality.
5. Announcement of results:Selected participants will be notified of the final selection via email. Orchestral accompaniment for their pieces will be subject to the instrumentation of the Macao Chinese Orchestra.

Rehearsal dates for “Young GBA Soloists”:
Orchestral rehearsals are scheduled between 6 and 12 April 2026.* The detailed rehearsal schedule will be announced in due course.

 

Contact information:

• Macao Orchestra Company, Limited (Macao Chinese Orchestra)
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (+853) 8898 3534
• Address: Macao Chinese Orchestra Office, 5th Floor, Government (Coloane) Administration Building, No. 108 Hong He Road, Coloane, Macao

Remarks:

• Macao Orchestra Company, Limited holds the right to final interpretation for this audition process.
• All submitted application materials will be handled with strict confidentiality and used solely for audition purposes.
• The organiser reserves the right to change the programme and the performers at any time.

 

“Double Celebration of Macao’s Return to Motherland and Christmas”

Programme Introduction

“Portuguese Celebration”
Comp. Rão Kyao Arr. Kuan Nai Chung
Come on. Come to my party with me. It’s for you too! Oh, my bacalhau, my wine, my olive oil, my guitar, my music! Santo António onde casei Meu São João padroeiro no Entrudo já fui Rei Pras festas sou o primeiro.

Come on. Get up. Dance. This vira is great. I came from afar with it. It rocked me in the waves and saw me through the storms. I landed with it here. Oh, twirl, twirl, twirl. Thanks for bringing me into safe harbour. We made friends and family, let’s enjoy the joy of our party. Always different, but ours. A Portuguese party. Oh, twirl, twirl dancing on the waves, in the balancing of ships and tankas. Oh, twirl, vira so close to us. Oh, twir, twirl… twirl. No!

“Silent Night”
Comp. Franz X. Gruber  Arr. Kuan Nai Chung
The original lyrics were written in German and the melody was done by Franz Gruber, the principal of an Austrian elementary school.

“At Sunrise”  Suona and orchestra
Comp. Tian Ding  Arr. Lou mai shuo

The zither can always produce nice music yet good times cannot be retained.

Yet each musical note from it represents true feelings.

Adagio is reminiscence of the past, tinged with Master Zhuangzi’s bewilderment lost in the dream of possibly being a butterfly, as well as Emperor Wang’s desire of an amorous spring heart. Love precipitated in time, melodies flowing in the heart, music becomes an obsession, lingering, fluttering. Do I feel dismayed? Not really. 

Finding light in the darkness of depression, one comes to know that behind the obsession stands persistence, in pursuing the original dream.

That dream is presented in the allegro’s bright, vivid rhythms, interconnected phrases, which give off a touch of youth.

They all say that the past cannot be changed, and youth cannot be retained. But with music and rhymes around and singing uttered, are we not reliving the free, passionate days of youth?

Life keeps moving forward, with untold fetters. May we understand each other in the melody and keep our love and friendship always fresh in the rhyme.

Joy to the world
Comp. Händel  Arr. Kuan Nai Chung
As one of the most famous Christmas carols, the work conveys the idea that joy and love replace sin and sorrow.

“Ode to the Sun”   Comp. Wang Dan Hong
The 3rd movement: Longing
Developed from the Bayu (Chongqing) region folk elements. The pieces have a strong Bayu flavour and cultural traits, profound emotional connotation and imposing power, showing the broader life spirit and tenacious vitality of the working people.

“Santa Claus is coming to town”
Comp. Haven Gillespie  Arr. Kuan Nai Chung
is a well-known traditional Christmas tune, joyful, melodious and giving off strong Christmas vibes.

“Ave Maria”
Comp. G.Caccini   Arr. Chan Sze Ngon
Selected and adapted from a collection of Catholic hymns.

“Guo Feng”  Comp. Chiu Chi Ping
This piece is based on the ancient music “Three stanzas of plum-blossoms”, which symbolizes the fusion of old and new in Chinese music.

The Song of the Seven Sons
Comp. Li Haiying  Arr. Hao Weiya
Song of the Seven Sons – Macao – the first piece of a series of seven patriotic poems written by Chinese poet and scholar Wen Yiduo in 1925 – depicts the struggle of the Chinese nation against destiny. This adaptation gives it a new charm and emotionality. The touching melodies of Song of the Seven Sons will make audiences feel the deep bond and love between Macao and the motherland.