Lio Kuokman, Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), has been named as Artist of the Year (Music) by Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC).
HKADC organises the Arts Development Awards as an annual flagship event to give formal recognition to distinguished arts practitioners who have achieved excellence and made significant contributions to the development of the arts in Hong Kong.
Educated at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the New England Conservatory, Lio Kuokman has worked with many leading orchestras around the world and has been Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival since January 2020. He was the second prize winner of the third Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris with audience prize and orchestra prize, and he has served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Benedikt Fohr, Chief Executive of the HK Phil, said, ‘Lio Kuokman has been collaborating with the HK Phil for many years and he became a family member of the HK Phil as a Resident Conductor since 2020. He is a home-grown conductor who has earned remarkable recognition internationally. He is talented with great passion, enthusiasm and commitment to music-making. His achievement is well-recognised. We are very proud that Lio was awarded the Artist of the Year and look forward to continuing our exciting musical journey with Lio in the coming seasons’.
Lio Kuokman said, ‘I am honoured to be named as the Artist of the Year by the HKADC. Since the age of four, I have been dreaming of being a conductor. I am truly grateful for all the mentors who gave me guidance and opportunities throughout my musical journey. I wish to continue to make fine music for the audience in Hong Kong as well as around the world, together with the HK Phil and any other brilliant musician. I also want to bring music to the community and use music to connect people.’
The 2022 awards presentation ceremony is available for viewing on YouTube.
