The 5th International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music is set to be organized by the HKCO and the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

The fifth International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music will be organized by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra in Wuxi in 2025.

The news was released at the fourth iteration of the competition, which was held in HK from July 18 to 27.

Four winners of the final 4th International Conducting Competition for Chinese Music pose with judges and observers on July 27. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

The Wuxi Chinese Orchestra has also hired Yan Huichang, artistic director and principal conductor for life of the HKCO, as chief advisor, as well as the top winner of the first edition, Sun Peng, as chief conductor.

HKCO organized the second and third editions of the conducting competition with Xi'an Conservatory of Music and an orchestra in Taiwan in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

Musicians of the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra pose for a photo. [Photo/WeChat account: wuxishilvyouju]

Although Wuxi and HK are thousands of miles apart, they are closely connected with deep cultural roots and spiritual bonds. In 2023, Wuxi carried out a successful promotion of its cultural and tourism resources in HK.

In the second half of this year, the Wuxi Chinese Orchestra will collaborate with HKCO and Zhuhai Chinese Orchestra to offer a concert. To deepen cultural exchanges, the Wuxi orchestra will also kick off a tour in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, familiarizing locals with the unique charm of Jiangnan watertowns.