Gerard Salonga named assistant conductor of HK Philharmonic Orchestra

GERARD Salonga hopes to tour the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra all over the country. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Multi-awarded musical director Gerard Salonga has been appointed as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) in the 2016-2017 season, the group announced on Monday.

HK Phil said Salonga, together with Hong Kong native Vivian Ip, was chosen among 170 applicants around the world.

“We were delighted to attract such a strong field for the position, and that the orchestra and Jaap van Zweden chose two such talented people to share the post. Both Vivian and Gerard are great communicators, and have proven skills as conductors. We look forward to working together,” Raf Wilson, HK Phil director of artistic planning, said in a statement.

“This role benefits both conductor and orchestra. The Assistant Conductor works with guest artists and the musicians on stage, advising on sound balance and providing musical assistance to the performers. Many great conductors have begun their careers in this fashion,” Wilson said.

HK Phil said Salonga will start his role with principal guest conductor Yu Long in the season opening concerts in September.

Salonga said his appointment as HK Phil assistant conductor was a “dream come true.”

“The opportunity to work with and learn from Maestro Jaap van Zweden and the musicians of the orchestra is a dream come true, and I am grateful for their vote of confidence. I look forward to many more great musical experiences with the HK Phil, and am very happy to be a part of this amazing orchestra. The big bonus is that I get to spend more time in one of my favorite cities, Hong Kong,” he said in a statement.

Salonga’s sister Lea also took to Facebook to congratulate her sibling: “I’ve been waiting forever to announce this bit of good news. Congratulations, Gerard!”

Salonga is the current music director of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra. His works have been performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic, New York Pops, National Symphony (Washington DC) and other orchestras in the US.

Aside from HK Phil, he has conducted at Shanghai Opera House Orchestra and Chorus, The Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic, Bangkok Symphony, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. With Bayani San Diego, Philippine Daily Inquirer/JE