Lio Kuokman, JP
Currently Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival, Chief Conductor of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Partner of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Lio Kuokman was praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”. He was the second prize winner of the third Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris with Audience Prize and Orchestra Prize, and he has served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
The 2025/26 season marked Lio’s second at the helm of the RTV Slovenia Symphony, in which he also celebrated the orchestra’s 70th anniversary. During the 2026/27 season, Lio’s repertoire focus in Ljubljana continues to be the interpretation and presentation of the core romantic repertoire. In addition, Lio is strongly dedicated to promoting Slovenian composers both in live performances and through recordings.
With the Macao Orchestra, Lio continues to expand the orchestra’s repertoire and in 2026/27 the focus is celebrating Beethoven throughout the season, with the composer’s Ninth Symphony forming the season finale. Other highlights include Bartok’s Bluebeard's Castle in concert and celebrating some of the late works of composers including Mahler’s Symphony no. 10, Mozart’s Requiem and Bruckner’s Symphony no. 9.
Currently in his sixth year as Resident Conductor of the Hong-Kong Philharmonic, Lio continues to explore diverse repertoire with the orchestra, featuring contemporary music as well as core orchestral repertoire. Highlights with the orchestra in the 2026/27 season include a concert of cinematic and theatrical music, a World Premiere and performances of pieces by several contemporary composers, Stravinsky’s The Firebird and a concert of American music featuring works by Adams and Glass.
Known for his dynamic interpretations and his ability to draw the musicians and audiences in, during the 2026/27 season Lio continues to collaborate as a regular guest with orchestras such as the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, Monte Carlo Philharmonic, China National, Tokyo Philharmonic, Castilla y Leon Symphony Orchestra and he looks forward to making debuts with Singapore Symphony, Stuttgart Philharmonic and Galicia Symphony. Recent guest conducting highlights include appearances with the Antwerp Symphony, Vienna Symphony, Brussels Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Seoul Philharmonic.
On the operatic stage, Lio Kuokman has collaborated with the Taichung Theater on a production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Other opera performances include titles such as La Bohème, L’elisir d’amore, Pagliacci, Turandot, Il Trovatore, Rigoletto, Madama Butterfly and Carmen.
Educated at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, and the New England Conservatory, Lio is a founding member and President of the Macao Chamber Music Association. For his contributions to the development of arts and culture, he has received Certificate of Commendation and Medal of Cultural Merit from both governments of Hong Kong and Macao. In 2021, Lio is the recipient of the Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons award. In 2022, he is awarded Artist of the Year (Music) of the 16th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards and appointed a Justice of the Peace by the HKSAR Government.
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