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Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is a symphony orchestra in Hong Kong.

The orchestra was formed in 1895 and turned professional in 1974.

The orchestra has promoted Hong Kong-based composers by commissioning and premiering numerous works of contemporary music, including the recent five-work cycle, Voices of Hong Kong, of John Chen, David Gwilt, Daniel Law, Law Ping-leung and Richard Tsang.

In 2003, the HKPO made its European d�but, with performances at London's Barbican Hall and Theatre des Champs-Elys�es in Paris.

The Dutch conductor Edo de Waart will be the orchestra's chief conductor and artistic director starting in September 2004.

Of its HK$85 million budget for the 2003/2004 season, about 70% comes from the Hong Kong Government, and the remaining 30% from box office revenue, performance fees, sponsorship, advertising and donations.

The orchestra gives more than 140 performances annually to an audience of over 180,000.

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