Born in Seoul, after graduating from Seoul National University, Soprano Sumi Jo studied at the Conservatory of Music in Santa Cecilia, Italy. She has won prestigious international competitions such as the Naples Zonta, Francis Viotti, Spanish Viñas, South African Pretoria, and Verona International Competitions.

In 1986, she made her European operatic debut as “Gilda” in Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Teatro Comunale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste. This performance drew the attention of Maestro Herbert von Karajan, who proceeded to cast her as “Oscar” in Un ballo in Maschera opposite Plácido Domingo for the 1989 Salzburg Festival. Karajan’s death during festival rehearsals prevented Jo from singing on stage under his baton (Georg Solti conducted the performances) but she did sing under Karajan in the studio recording of Ballo, made in the early months of 1989 for Deutsche Grammophon.

Sumi Jo has released more than 40 solo albums, which include recordings with Maestro Herbert von Karajan, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, and others. She celebrated the 35th anniversary of her world debut in 2021 by releasing the album LUX3570 with I Musici, a famous Italian baroque ensemble, and successfully completing a nationwide tour.

She was awarded the “La Siola d’Oro” in 1993, which is the highest award for the best soprano in Italy of that year. In the same year, she celebrated a Grammy-winning moment with Sir Georg Solti – Die Frau ohne Schatten for Decca London. In 2008, she received The Puccini Award to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Puccini’s birth.

Simple Song Number 3, written by David Lang, performed by Jo, and featured in Paolo Sorrentino’s 2015 film Youth, was nominated for an Academy Award as well as Golden Globe Award in 2016 in the Best Song category. In 2019 she was awarded the Order of Goodwill and the title of Cavaliere, awarded by the Italian government given to those who have contributed to revitalizing Cultural exchanges.

Her international stage performances have been held at famous stages around the world, including Lincoln Center in New York, Vienna, Hong Kong, Salzburg, Moscow and Sydney, Australia.

She also contributed to discovering young talent by participating in the judges of world-renowned vocal competitions such as BBC’s Cardiff Singer of the World.

Sumi Jo, who also places great importance on social activities, donated a wheelchair swing for the disabled to major Korean cities as part of her steady efforts to help the disabled. She continued her UNESCO “Artist of Peace” activities, such as participating in the Vienna UNICEF Charity Concert in Vienna, the Red Cross Charity Night, and the Celebrity Fight Night in Italy 2017, a charity concert in which world-class entertainers such as Andrea Bocelli and Elton John participated at the Colosseum in Rome. In March 2018, as an ambassador for the Pyeongchang Winter Paralympic Games, the official theme song Here as ONE was presented at the opening ceremony.

In addition to her vigorous performing activities around the world, she is currently expanding his field of activity as a judge of international competitions and masterclasses.

Phillip Jeong is a distinguished crossover tenor and musical singer from Korea. Phillip has a strong foundation in vocal training, shaped by both Korean and Italian influences.  He studied vocal performance at the Korean National University of Arts and became known to the Korean public after appearing on JTBC’s television audition program Phantom Singer 2 in 2017.  The program aimed to form a male crossover quartet and Phillip proceeded to the finals with the crossover team, Miraclass, which consisted of Julian Joo Taek Kim, Kang Hyun Park and Tain Han. Phillip teamed up the duo Feel In with fellow Miraclass member Tain Han. Since 2019, Phillip has also been involved in Korean musical theatre.  In 2024, Phillip’s recital, titled Esòrdio, marks his debut in Hong Kong. He performed at the Concert Hall of HKAPA, paying homage to his classical music roots with pieces from composers like Tosti and Bellini while also exploring beloved international music. Phillip’s ability to seamlessly blend classical and contemporary styles has earned him recognition in the music world. His recitals promise to be an unforgettable evening, celebrating both tradition and innovation in vocal performance.  Currently he is actively performing in numerous Miraclass concerts and the group is expecting a release of new album and overseas performances. 

Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi (pronounced “Chewy”) is celebrated for his passionate interpretations, emotional depth, and dynamic stage presence. Praised for “dazzling the audience with a combination of flawless technique and heartfelt expression” (El Informador, Guadalajara), he has appeared with leading orchestras and at prestigious venues worldwide. Beyond the concert stage, Chooi is recognized as a cultural leader, committed to expanding access to classical music through education, outreach, and digital platforms that have reached millions of viewers worldwide. His artistry reflects the traditional roots of Asia, the elegance of European training, and the openness of his North American upbringing—embodying the voice of a 21st-century violinist.

A laureate of some of the world’s most distinguished competitions, Chooi won First Prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Second Prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition in Brussels, and the Yves Paternot Prize from Switzerland’s Verbier Festival. His career has been supported and mentored by luminaries including Pinchas Zukerman and Anne-Sophie Mutter, whose encouragement has helped shape his path as one of today’s leading violinists.

Chooi has collaborated with renowned conductors including Gianandrea Noseda, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Michele Mariotti, Xian Zhang, and Pinchas Zukerman. His orchestral partners include the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Wiener Concert-Verein, and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

He made his solo concerto debut at age 16 with l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM), launching a career that has since taken him to Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, London’s Royal Albert Hall, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

The 2025–26 season marks a significant milestone in Chooi’s career, highlighted by his debuts with the NHK Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, as well as a major European tour with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra across Munich, Innsbruck, Paris, Antwerp, Eindhoven, Linz, and Prague. Other highlights include Hong Kong’s Generation Next Arts Festival; concerto engagements with the Calgary Philharmonic and other North American orchestras; and his appointment as Artistic Partner of Wiener Concert-Verein for the 2025–26 season, including a concert at the Musikverein Wien and performances in France. Festival appearances include the Verbier Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and recitals in Vancouver, Brussels, Antwerp, Tokyo, Seoul, Ottawa, and New York City.

Chooi’s artistry is widely broadcast and recorded, including collaborations with Anne-Sophie Mutter and Mutter’s Virtuosi for Deutsche Grammophon, Medici TV features, and appearances on NPO Radio Klassiek (Amsterdam), WQXR (New York), RTBF (Belgium), Swiss Public Radio, CBC Radio Canada, Deutschlandfunk Kultur, and Danish Public Radio.

Born in Canada to Chinese-Indonesian parents, Chooi is now Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa (Canada), where he received the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Award in 2025. His work emphasizes research in violin performance and classical music as a cultural connector, community engagement, accessibility, and nurturing the future of the violin as a mentor and teacher.

Timothy Chooi performs on the legendary 1714 “Dolphin” Stradivarius, once played by the legendary Jascha Heifetz, generously loaned by the Nippon Music Foundation. He also plays the 1741 “Titan” Guarneri del Gesù (Canimex Group, Drummondville, Québec) and a 1761 Landolfi violin (University of Ottawa).

Violist Hanna Lee has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia in such venues as Carnegie Hall, Kimmel Center, Jordan Hall, Suntory Hall, and Seoul Arts Center.   

Lee has appeared as a soloist with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Jungen Symphony Orchestra, and the Sungnam City Orchestra. As an avid chamber musician, she was invited to perform at Ravinia, Verbier, Kronberg, and Marlboro Festivals. As a member of the Kallaci String Quartet, she has performed complete string quartet works by Shostakovich and Beethoven and has toured in Korea and abroad. As a recitalist, she has appeared at Kumho Cultural Foundation and the Seoul Arts Center Series. 

A recipient of many honors and prizes, Lee’s awards include major prizes at the International Young Artist Competition (USA) and the Osaka International Competition (Japan). She is a graduate of Korea National University of Arts, Curtis Institute of Music, New England Conservatory, and Kronberg Academy. She has been invited to festivals worldwide, such as Music Alp Festival, Seoul Spring Festival, Pyeongchang Music Festival, and Seoul International Music Festival. She is also a member of the Kallaci String Quartet, Kumho soloists, Ensemble Opus, and guest principal violist at the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Lee served on faculty at Korea National University of Arts, Yonsei University, and Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts. 

She is currently a full-time faculty member at the Tianjin Juilliard School.

Hailed by The Straits Times as a musician with “a wonderful sense of colour and impeccably controlled articulation” and lauded by critics of his recital-presentation at Carnegie Hall in celebration of Leonard Bernstein’s Centennial as “ingenious” and “compelling”, Warren’s artistry has brought him to five continents, gracing stages of all sizes and forms and in collaboration with international artists and leading orchestras in Asia and beyond.  

Warren made his televised début with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of six and was the first-prize winner of the 1995 Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition and Grand Prix Ivo Pogorelich. A Steinway Artist since 2009, Warren’s discography includes 11 acclaimed solo and chamber music albums and is also featured on the Steinway Spirio catalogue. The American Record Guide calls him a “first-rate artist”. ​

Off the stage, Warren is a respected cultural leader, a devoted educator and an award-winning composer published by the likes of Universal Edition. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, Warren received the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award in Hong Kong in 2012, an Associateship from the Royal Academy of Music in 2015 and the Ian Mininberg Distinguished Alumni Award by the Yale School of Music in 2017. A lifelong learner, Warren also holds multiple postgraduate degrees in business administration, sports and media law and international property law.  

Hong Kong-native Andrew Ling is a concert violist and violinist, conductor, and music educator. Currently Principal Violist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), Andrew has garnered acclaim for his orchestral playing and solo recitals worldwide. His appearances as concert soloist have included the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and the China Film Orchestra.

A versatile and an all-round musician, Andrew has brought his musicianship to conducting engagements with the HK Phil, the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, Kunming Nie Er Symphony Orchestra and Finland’s Seinäjoki City Orchestra and Kuopio Symphony Orchestra. Handpicked to conduct the HK Phil in rehearsal for Christoph Eschenbach and the late Lorin Maazel, he has worked alongside some of the world’s foremost conductors, including Jaap van Zweden, Edo de Waart, Jun Märkl, and Leonard Slatkin. Ling was the finalist of the Besançon International Conducting Competition 2017.

Andrew’s journey with music began at six, where he studied violin with the late Professor Lin Yaoji at the Central Conservatory of music, Beijing. He went on to pursue Violin Performance at Indiana University under Henryk Kowalski, Mauricio Fuks, Alan de Veritch and the late Ik-hwan Bae, and was a protégé of Cho-Liang Lin at Rice University.

A successful musician and a much sought-after art educator, upon his return to Hong Kong, Andrew remains active in the classical music scene. He is often seen playing solo, chamber and conducting. After returning to Hong Kong, Andrew continued his career as a concert musician and conductor. He has played with many renowned musicians including Yu-Ja Wang, Cho-Liang Lin, Jaime Laredo, Ning Feng, Michael Guttman and The Shanghai Quartet etc.

Outside the concert hall, Andrew is passionate about cultivating the next generation of musicians. He holds teaching positions at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University and Hong Kong Chinese University, and has also served as director of The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Orchestral Fellowship Scheme.

Andrew is the recipient of Certificate of Commendation from Secretary of Home Affairs of Hong Kong in 2012.

Andrew plays on a violin and viola made by Gaetano Sgarabotto.

The HKGNA Young Virtuosi is Hong Kong’s elite ensemble of rising stars, handpicked from the prestigious HKGNA International Music Competition. These exceptional young artists represent the pinnacle of talent and promise on the global stage