16 February 2018
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Nga Anna Vienna Ho
Shoppers in Birmingham are in for a treat as classical musicians will perform a series of pop-up shows to celebrate Chinese New Year
Shoppers in Birmingham are in for a treat, as classical musicians from China and the UK will be performing a series of pop-up shows to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Comprising a mix of traditional Chinese and Western pieces, the performers – all from Birmingham City University’s Royal Birmingham Conservatoire – will host concerts in iconic locations such as the Bullring, one of the UK’s busiest shopping centres, and Selfridges department store.
Performances will also be taking place between Friday 16 and Sunday 18 February in Birmingham Cathedral, Grand Central shopping centre and the Patrick Studio at Birmingham Hippodrome, the latter having organised the Chinese New Year Festival in the city.
One in five students at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire originates from China – more than any other UK music college. Meanwhile, Birmingham City University is the most popular destination for art and design among Chinese students who choose to study in the UK.
Performers taking to the stage as part of the Conservatoire’s Chinese New Year Festival include the winner of the International Robert Schumann Piano Competition, International Germany Irmler Piano Competition and Champion of the Instrumental Solo at the Abergavenny Festival of Music, Nga Anna Vienna Ho (pictured). Originally from Hong Kong, Anna is currently studying towards an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, under the tutelage of Anthony Hewitt and Margaret Fingerhut.
Elsewhere, music fans can enjoy Taiwanese percussion duo Yu-Tzu Kung and Tsu-Jo Huang, British percussion duo Alexander Henshaw and Andrew Woolcock, the Fletcher Quartet and Taiwanese pianist Fu-Min Tseng.
Professor Julian Lloyd Webber, Principal, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, said:
‘Throughout its history, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire has nurtured some of China’s leading classical musicians… It is therefore fitting then that, to mark the Year of the Dog, some of our current rising stars from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong will be showcasing their talents across the city of Birmingham as they prepare to embark on their own international careers.’
Other performances and events taking place as part of Birmingham’s Chinese New Year Festival include lion dances, acrobatics, circus, martial arts and family-friendly workshops.