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The renowned festival brings together musicians from Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Germany, Korea and Hong Kong.

The 11th edition of Musicus Fest runs from November 11 to December 3, bringing together top musicians from Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Canada, Italy, Germany, and South Korea for 10 concerts. This annual celebration of cross-cultural musicianship is presented by local music organisation, Musicus Society, which was founded by a group of music lovers dedicated to promoting international music collaborations and nurturing the next generation of talents.

The festival returns stronger than ever, following its 10-year milestone in 2022, for which the Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK) made its celebratory debut. The acclaimed new ensemble, which returns this year, was founded and is directed by Musicus Fest Artistic Director Trey Lee, an internationally-renowned cellist hailed by the New York Times for his “enveloping richness and lyrical sensitivity.”

Artistic Director Trey Lee said, “It’s a pleasure to invite world-class artists to join Musicus Fest in Hong Kong, where musicians at various career stages and diverse backgrounds come to connect and give awe-inspiring performances. We aim to deepen cross-cultural collaborations between local and international performers. And through raising the bar artistically and in terms of audience experience, we look forward to shaping the festival, and the city, as one of the world’s elite music-making destinations.”

MSHK, which performs at Musicus Fest on Nov. 21, assembles some of Hong Kong’s top next-generation artists — outstanding young soloists and chamber musicians studying in different parts of the world. The ensemble, which made its European debut earlier this year, aims to become a leading chamber group representing Hong Kong globally. MSHK is delighted to return to the Hong Kong stage this fall, performing with the French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie — one of the world’s most versatile and critically acclaimed pianists — as guest artistic director and piano soloist. Lortie’s remarkable musical range has been witnessed in performances with famous ensembles and orchestras and in award-winning recordings. He will be joined by acclaimed musicians from overseas, including Canadian violinist Elissa Lee as guest concertmaster, South Korean violist Sang-jin Kim, and cellist Martin Smith from Germany.

Since its founding in 2010, Musicus Society has supported numerous young artists and launched their careers as professional musicians. On Nov. 24, the festival presents Next Generation Virtuosi, a chamber music program that this year spotlights violinist Aaron Chan. In his solo recital, the winner of the 2023 Musicus Society Young Artist Audition will perform a handpicked program to showcase his talent, musical skills and sensibility. He will be accompanied by Colleen Lee, a renowned pianist from Hong Kong and prizewinner at the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition.

Founded in Mozart’s birthplace, Camerata Salzburg is one of the world’s leading chamber orchestras, regularly invited to perform at prestigious venues from Paris to Beijing. It makes its Musicus Fest debut this year with two performances, on Nov. 25 and 26. The celebrated group was founded in 1952 and is today known for its “Salzburg sound,” crafted over decades. It’s one of the core ensembles at the Salzburg Festival and the Mozartwoche Festival. Their first concert at Musicus Fest 2023 features Trey Lee performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, which will be a tour de force of the rhythmic power and relentless drive of his music, while marking the final stop in the Camerata and Trey’s multi-city Greater China tour in 2023. The Nov. 26 concert — the festival’s closing event — highlights two previous winners of the Young Artist Audition: violinists Fan Hiu-sing and Jeremy Hao, performing side-by-side in Mozart’s Concertone for two Violins and Orchestra, K. 190. In the grand finale piece, by Leó Weiner, students from Musicus’ Ensemble Training program will perform alongside Camerata Salzburg.

On Nov. 11, Musicus Fest presents Marco Polo’s Musical Encounter of East and West. The family-friendly concert features music by top-ranking local musicians and interactive theater elements. The performance introduces fun facts about Chinese and Western musical traditions, and instruments, geared toward children (aged 3+). The performance includes an imaginative story and educational interludes delivered in a light-hearted manner. Co-directors/writers and performers Ursula Volkmann (Germany) and Maddalena Recino (Italy) join a superb ensemble cast from Hong Kong.

Under the sponsorship of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the popular Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories concert series continues its aim to celebrate Hong Kong’s history with music and features composers and artists from other disciplines to create new works, bringing new perspectives to historical sites. Its predecessor, the Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Alive program, was recognized at the 2022 Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research APAC Region, under the auspices of UNESCO. This year, the concerts will take place at the Former North Kowloon Magistracy. Built in 1960, the Grade 2 historic building will become the venue for free concerts from Dec. 1 to 3, featuring guest violinist Martin Funda and other superb performers. The program will also incorporate guided tours and introduce the cheongsam, an iconic and charming Chinese fashion style dating back to the 1920s, via collaboration with the Hong Kong Cheongsam Association.

“Tickets for concerts at Hong Kong City Hall are available on URBTIX, visit  here for more details, while free tickets for the Former North Kowloon Magistracy concerts will be offered via registration with details coming soon.”