Yiu-Kwong Chung

Yiu-Kwong Chung (鍾耀光, 1956- ) is a percussionist, composer and conductor. Since 1991 he has been residing in Taiwan, and previously served as the conductor of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra.
==LIfe and career==
Yiu-Kwong Chung, born in Hong Kong, initially received his foundational music training under the guidance of teacher Yip-Kwong Pan (Chinese: 潘裔光). In 1974 he joined the Western Orchestral Orchestra at Hong Kong Baptist University as a percussionist. In 1977 Yiu-Kwong Chung traveled to the United States to further his studies. He first enrolled at the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and subsequently pursued a major in percussion at The City University of New York: Brooklyn College. In 1982 he earned a master's degree in the field. After graduating, Yiu-Kwong Chung was admitted to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, where he served as the associate principal percussionist. Later, he went on to establish the "Hong Kong Percussion Group." To expand the group's repertoire, Yiu-Kwong Chung embarked on self-study in music theory and composition, adapting and composing pieces for the ensemble. In 1986 he composed a piece titled "Chariots Ballad", featuring a marimba solo accompanied by seven percussionists. This composition earned him the championship in a composition competition organized by the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) in the United States. Due to Yiu-Kwong Chung‘s lack of formal training in traditional music theory, he returned to the United States in 1987 to further his studies in composition and percussion. He enrolled in the City University of New York, where he learned composition from Robert Starer and David Olan. In 1991 he obtained a Doctorate in Percussion Performance, followed by a Doctorate in Composition in 1995. His doctoral dissertation, titled "Theoretical and Performance Analysis of Henze's 'Five Scenes from the Snow Country,'" received the Barry S. Brook Dissertation Award for the best dissertation at the City University of New York.
In 1991 Yiu-Kwong Chung settled in Taiwan. Initially, he served as the Planning Director for the National Theater & Concert Hall. In 1996 he transitioned into teaching at the National Taiwan University of Arts. From 2007 to 2015 he held the position of Conductor of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra. Yiu-Kwong Chung is also an active composer, and his works span a wide range of genres and styles. His compositions encompass large Western orchestral pieces, instrumental solos, chamber music, wind ensemble compositions, concertos for traditional Chinese instruments, large-scale Chinese orchestra compositions, traditional Chinese opera music, musicals, theater music, and even smaller pieces in the New Age style. During his tenure as the Conductor of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Yiu-Kwong Chung produced multiple albums for the orchestra. These albums were recorded by the Swedish BIS record label and distributed globally. Some of these albums include "Memories Lost" in 2017, "Ecstatic Drumbeat" in 2012, "Trombone Fantasy" in 2012, "Harmonious Breath" in 2011, and "Whirling Dance" in 2009, among others. Yiu-Kwong Chung has received accolades for his work, including the Best Composer Award at the 24th Golden Melody Awards and the Best Arranger Award at the 19th Golden Melody Awards. He retired from the National Taiwan University of Arts in 2022 but continues to be deeply involved in composition. He has dedicated efforts to developing marimba playing techniques and incorporating them into his compositions. Since 2022, Yiu-Kwong Chung has also become a collaborating composer with Universal Edition. 
==Awards==
* 2013: Best Composer Award at the 24th Golden Melody Awards.
* 2010: "Whirling Dance" album, recorded with the Taipei Chinese Orchestra, received the Jury Award and Best Ethnic Music Album at the 21st Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan.
* 2008: Best Arranger Award at the 19th Golden Melody Awards.
* 2000: First place in the Original Composition Category of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra 21st Century International Composition Competition with the work "Eternal City."
* 1991: His doctoral dissertation, "Theoretical and Performance Analysis of Henze's 'Five Scenes from the Snow Country,'" received the Barry S. Brook Dissertation Award for the best dissertation at the City University of New York.
* 1987: Received the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Award from the Louisville Orchestra in the United States.
* 1986: First place in the composition competition organized by the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) in the United States with the work "March of the Soldiers."
Category:Percussionists
Category:Composers
Category:Conductors
Category:1956 births
Category:People from Hong Kong