by John Hallberg

On July 9, 2011, saxophonists from around the world gathered in Hong Kong for the Second Hong Kong International Saxophone Symposium (HKISS). During this weeklong intensive symposium, active participants and auditors took part in daily private and group lessons and master classes with world-renowned saxophonists. Along with the academic schedule, a number of concerts, rehearsals, and lectures also took place.

Participants had private lessons with each faculty member. Group lessons, which incorporated both the active participants and auditors, covered a range of topics including warm-ups (Julia Nolan), playing in a quartet (Zagreb Saxophone Quartet) and working on reeds (Kenneth Tse). Julia Nolan, the ZSQ, and Kenneth Tse gave master classes during which the active participants performed pieces of their choice. During the final days of the symposium, the participants’ quartet held open rehearsals coached by the ZSQ, Thomas Liley presented an intriguing lecture on the development of the classical saxophone repertoire and a brief biography of Eugene Rousseau, and interested auditors were able to sign up for private lessons with the faculty.

Highlights of the evening activities included a jazz class by Saša Nestorović of the ZSQ that allowed everyone to work on their jazz and improvisational skills. The Hong Kong Festival Wind Orchestra, conducted by Ma Shun-yi Fanny, accompanied the faculty on the July 10th concert, and pianist Yvonne Lai Yim Fong accompanied on the July 13th faculty recital. Both programs included stunningly performed virtuosic repertoire. In preparation for the final student concert, Kenneth Tse rehearsed a 28-piece saxophone ensemble. The diligent, hard-working participants and auditors held extra rehearsals and practiced late into the night. The final student recital included solos, saxophone trio and quartets trios, and the saxophone ensemble. All soloists and ensembles gave outstanding performances.

While everyone put in hours of hard work, there was more than enough time to socialize and mingle during breaks and meals, and everyone was able to explore Hong Kong and experience life as locals. A group tour to Repulse Bay and Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island’s highest mountain, took place immediately after the student recital. A hot pot dinner with the faculty, participants, auditors, and HKISS helpers concluded the symposium. Everyone who participated in this event will remember the friendships, and saxophone experiences that took place in Hong Kong.

The HKISS faculty members were Kenneth Tse (University of Iowa), Julia Nolan (University of British Colombia), Thomas Liley (Joliet Junior College), and the Zagreb Saxophone Quartet (Dragan Sremec, Goran Merčep, Saša Nestorović, and Matjaž Drevenšek). The active participants included Calvin Wong (Hong Kong), “Chris” Chik Chi Him (Hong Kong), John Hallberg (Tustin, CA), Jack Cheung (Guangzhou, Guangdong, China), Yi Chen (Artesia, CA), Jacky Leung (Hong Kong), Gilbert Ho (Hong Kong), Kei Kimura (Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan), “Andy” Kuan-Wen Chen (Taipei City, Taiwan), Charles Ng (Hong Kong), and Dennis Kwok (Hong Kong).