International Youth Music Festival II. | Bratislava Music Agency

International Youth Music Festival II. 2025
July 21 - 24, 2025, July 20 - 23, 2026, Bratislava

Festival's profile Information Competition categories Application form Jury Ensembles Schedule

Ensembles

St Stephen's College Symphonic Band

Hong Kong, China

Established in 2005, the St. Stephen's College Symphonic Band has grown into one of the school’s representing music ensembles and serves as a vital pillar in supporting the school orchestra. Beyond presenting a wide range of wind band repertoire, the band’s members also perform in smaller chamber groups—including brass ensemble, woodwind ensemble, and saxophone quartet—bringing a rich variety of styles and textures to their performances. This year, the symphonic band won the Gold Award in the Junior category at the Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows, and excelled at the 77th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, where they achieved a Silver Award in the Intermediate category. The saxophone quartet secured third place, the woodwind ensemble earned second place, and the brass ensemble won champion, showcasing impressive results. The band also actively participates in local and international music festivals, including the 2024 Australian International Music Festival in Sydney and the Hong Kong Flower Show. The Symphonic Band is active on both local and international stages, with recent invitations to perform at the 2024 Australian International Music Festival in Sydney and the Hong Kong Flower Show. Through these diverse opportunities, the band continues to exemplify excellence and enrich the cultural life of the school community.

Ma Man-ki

Conductor / Leader

A recipient of the Ohel Leah Synagogue Charity Postgraduate Scholarship, Ma Man-ki graduated with distinction from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts(HKAPA) in 2022 as the Academy’s first master student majoring in Conducting for Western Orchestras. He studied conducting under the guidance and tutelage of Professor Sharon Andrea Choa. He also took Chinese orchestral conducting classes with Mr. Ho Man Chuen during his study at the HKAPA. Man-ki conducted in the masterclasses by Jaap van Zweden, Kuokman Lio, Jerry Junkin and etc. He competed in the Warsaw Wind Ensemble Conducting Competition 2021 and 2023, and finished both competition as semi-finalist. In 2022, he performed with Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic and North Czech Philharmonic Teplice. Man-ki serves as the Music Director(Orchestral) in his alma mater St. Stephen’s College. He is a part-time faculty in HKAPA teaching conducting class as well as a conductor of The Education University of Hong Kong. He is also the Music Director of Men of Winds and Wind Director of Music Children Foundation, an organization inspired by El Sistema, providing music education to children from underprivileged families for free.

Back to the list of ensembles