ABOUT MYO
"Passionate and vibrant, a very refined youth orchestra"
— Lu Siqing, first Asian winner of the Paganini violin competition
Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Hong Kong (MYO) is a registered charity and one of the finest youth orchestras in Asia founded in 2003. MYO consists of five orchestras tailored to various levels and genres, from beginner to advanced level. Under the leadership of Synthia Ko, our Artistic Director and Chief conductor, together with our junior orchestra conductors, Keith Cheung, Jacky Leung and Alan Wong, more than 450 young musicians join us and share their passion for music through weekly rehearsals.
MYO brings excellent classical music performances every year with the world’s finest musicians and conductors to audiences in Hong Kong and all over the world. In 2010, MYO performed in Japan and was highly praised by Maestro Shinya Ozaki for our “Energetic and passionate performance”. In August 2012 and 2013, MYO was invited to perform in the prestigious Musikverein – the Golden Hall in Austria. The experience set a new milestone for the Orchestra and won its international recognitions.
In recent years, MYO charged on to produce top-class performances, collaborated with world renowned conductor Yang Li, violin virtuosi Lin ChoLiang and Lu Siqing, pianists Michelle Kim, Nancy Loo and Colleen Lee, and the famous visual theater group Magic Circle Mime Company from the United States.
‘Music Excellence with A Soul’ has always been MYO’s motto. Since the establishment of MYO in 2003, the Orchestra has hosted a variety of charity concerts, aspiring to serve our community through music. Concert proceeds go to various local and global social organizations. MYO strives to explore the unlimited possibilities in music. The Orchestra has shared the stage with inspiring musical figures including 4-finger pianist Lee Hee-Ah (Korea), limbless life warrior Nick Vujicic, one-handed violinist Adrian Anantawan (Canada), former Disney Animation Master Davy Liu (Taiwan), Watoto Children’s Choir (Uganda), visually impaired local singer Pinky Li, visually impaired pianist Li Hin, and autistic pianist Lau Chi Ming.
In recent years, MYO has frequently represented Hong Kong on international and local stages, having been invited to perform by prestigious organizations including the Hong Kong Tourism Board, the Hong Kong Airport Authority, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and Hong Kong Exchanges (HKEX). Key performance highlights include the 20th Anniversary of the HKSAR Gala Dinner in London (2017), the Hong Kong International Airport 25th Anniversary Celebration (2023), the International Financial Leaders Investment Summit Reception (2023), the Hong Kong Trade Development Council Cocktail Reception (2024), the WTCF Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit (2025), and the HKEX 40th Anniversary Celebration (2026). Notably, the orchestra was invited as the guest performer for the UNICEF Charity Run for three consecutive years from 2024 to 2026, and actively participated in the French May Arts Festival community outreach project “The Little Prince: A Musical Journey”
Beyond grand stage events, MYO has been bringing orchestral music into the heart of the community through flash mob performances since 2014, blending popular Cantonese classics and iconic film scores. The online videos of those performances have received over 10 million views.
MISsion
The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Hong Kong is committed to nurturing the musical talent of young people by providing high-caliber training, performance opportunities, and international exposure. Our mission encompasses:
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Delivering comprehensive musical education through a structured program that emphasizes both individual skill development and ensemble playing.
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Organizing a wide array of performances that challenge and showcase our members’ talents, from local concerts to international performances, ensuring that every musician experiences the thrill and discipline of public performance.
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Engaging with the broader community through innovative outreach programs that include flash mobs and community events, strengthening a love for music and an appreciation for its social value.
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Promoting cultural diplomacy through global music events and exchanges, where our musicians can learn, share, and grow with peers from around the world, enhancing their global perspective and cultural understanding.
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Pioneering new ways to experience and interact with music through the integration of technology and diverse artistic crossover, making classical music accessible and relevant for today's audiences.
milestones
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2020
2017
2016
2015
2014
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2005
2003
Invited by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) to perform at the HKEX 26th Anniversary Celebration.
Invited by the French May Arts Festival to present The Little Prince community outreach program.
Invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to perform a flash mob at the WTCF Hong Kong Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit.
Held a series of flash mob performances across major shopping malls and financial institutions event in Hong Kong.
Performed at the Cremona Music Festival in Italy and broadcast on the local TV channel Cremona1.
Performed flash mobs at the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong International Airport and at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit.
Performed at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit.
Conducted online rehearsals and produced an adaptation "My Class Will Go On" during the pandemic.
Performed in London to promote Hong Kong, invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
Invited by the Airport Authority Hong Kong, the Hong Kong International Airport flash mob performances went viral, reaching over 5 millions online.
Invited by the Hong Kong Tourism Board to perform at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.
Since 2014, MYO has been enriching local communities with orchestral flash mob performances, praised for their excellence and creativity. These performances feature melodies that tap into the collective memories of Hong Kong, with videos going viral and reaching over 10 million viewers worldwide.
Gave a highly received performance in Musikverein, Vienna, where the audience was particularly impressed by the two east-meets-west repertoires.
Participated in a unique music learning experience at Brahms Easter School of Music, Mürzzuschlag, Austria.
Visited Kagoshima, Japan, and performed with MBC Youth Orchestra. Maestro Shinya Ozaki praised MYO for their "energetic and passionate performance."
Invited to perform at the Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts and Tianjin Concert Hall, setting a new milestone for the orchestra. MYO also had the honor of performing with well-known choral conductor Professor Yang Hong Nian and the Children and Young Women Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra.
Invited by Johannes Brahms Music School in Austria, under the patronage of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Maestro Nikolaus Harnoncourt, to première in the prestigious Haydn Hall in Esterházy Palace.
Shared the stage with renowned violin virtuoso Lu Siqing, the first Asian winner of the Paganini Violin Competition, in the Butterfly Lovers violin concerto. The same night, MYO played the Yellow River piano concerto with Korean pianist Michelle Kim, earning high praise for being "compatible with professional orchestras."
Invited to perform in the finale concert of the Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the opening performance of the British Youth Orchestra Festival, the only youth orchestra in Asia to be invited to both festivals.
Performed with the Magic Circle Mime from the US at the Shanghai International Children's Theatre Festival, held at the Shanghai Concert Hall, and received the "Excellent Production Award."
Performed with world-renowned cellist Wang Jian in a charity concert. Wang Jian remarked, "I am deeply impressed by the performance of MYO through this collaboration. These young musicians are the new blood of Hong Kong's classical music scene."
Since 2003, MYO has collaborated with renowned Hong Kong pianists Nancy Loo, Colleen Lee, Les Six, New Art Strings Quartet, Russian pianist Maria Raszwetaeva, conductor Ernest Smole, Robert Rieder, Mak Ka Lok, Choi Ho Man, Jerome Hoberman, and Yang Li, among others, to present a variety of concerts.