HK Phil 2026/27 Tickets on Sale Now
Lio Kuokman Conducts From Gladiators to Valkyries and Vanessa Scammell Leads BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Dennis Wu
Director of Marketing 
Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[6 August 2026, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will kick start its 2026/27 season soon, and tickets are available at URBTIX from today. In late August and early September, the HK Phil will present two family friendly programmes – HK Phil Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman leads the “Swire Denim Series: From Gladiators to Valkyries”, spotlighting the HK Phil’s own Principal Clarinet and the trombone section; while Australian conductor Vanessa Scammell takes the podium for the “BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert”, bringing the nature documentary to life with a live orchestral performance of its score.

Swire Denim Series: From Gladiators to Valkyries (27 & 28 August)

Led by Lio Kuokman, the concert opens with Fučík’s Entrance of the Gladiators, followed by selections from Hans Zimmer’s score for Gladiator. The concert showcases the HK Phil’s own players, featuring Principal Clarinet Andrew Simon in Artie Shaw’s jazzy Concerto for Clarinet, and the Trombone section, Jarod Vermette, Christian Goldsmith, Kevin Thompson, and Aaron Albert, in Koetsier’s Concertino for 4 Trombones and Strings: movement I. The lineup also includes “Sabre Dance” from Khachaturian’s ballet Gayane, “Danse Bacchanale” from Saint-Saëns opera Samson et Dalila, and concludes with Wagner’s iconic “Ride of the Valkyries” from Die Walküre.

“Swire Denim Series: From Gladiators to Valkyries” will be held on 27 August 2026 (Thu) at 7:30PM and 28 August 2026 (Fri) at 7:30PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at $520, $420, $320 and $220 are available at URBTIX. please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert (4 & 5 September)

Planet Earth III brings the wonders of our planet to the stage with breathtaking footage from the acclaimed BBC Studios series, accompanied by the score from Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea, and Sara Barone, performed by the HK Phil under Vanessa Scammell with vocalist Michelle John and presenter George Lacey. The concert takes audiences across deserts, forests, coastlines, and oceans to witness extraordinary animal dramas, revealing how wildlife adapts to new challenges in a world where humans play a pivotal role, in a series filmed over 1,904 days across 43 countries and six continents.

“BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert” will be held on 4 September 2026 (Fri) at 7:30PM and 5 September 2026 (Sat) at 3:00PM and 7:30PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at $520, $420, $320 and $220 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Concert Sponsor: Sun Hung Kai & Co. Limited
 

Ballot Arrangements for Selected Programmes

In the 2026/27 season, the HK Phil will present a total of 35 orchestral programmes, showcasing an international roster of distinguished artists and ensembles. Tickets for “Tarmo Peltokoski Conducts Mahler 8”, “Standard Chartered Global Private Bank Proudly Sponsors: Yo-Yo Ma Plays Elgar” and “Jockey Club TUTTI Programme: Jockey Club Masters Series: Gustavo Dudamel: Beethoven 9 with HK Phil” will be sold via real-name registration ballot ticketing arrangement at URBTIX. For “Tarmo Peltokoski Conducts Mahler 8”, online registration for the ballot will be accepted from 16 to 17 September 2026 at URBTIX. For the other two programmes, the ballot registration details will be announced in due course. Please stay tuned.

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Artists

Swire Denim Series: From Gladiators to Valkyries

Lio Kuokman, conductor [full description]

Currently Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, 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.

Andrew Simon, clarinet[full description]

Boasting a distinguished career spanning over three decades, New York-born clarinettist Andrew Simon has appeared as soloist and guest lecturer on four continents. As Principal Clarinet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (since 1988), Simon has recorded solo works by Baermann and Stravinsky and has performed concerti over 70 times, including John Corigliano's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra which he studied with the Academy Award-winning composer.

Jarod Vermette, trombone[full description]

Jarod Vermette joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Trombone in 1996 at the age of 20. He has performed Frank Martin’s Ballade during the 1997 subscription series and Derek Bourgeois’s Concerto in 2002. In 2012 Vermette performed John Mackey’s Harvest Concerto with the Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia and Roland Szentpáli’s Trombone Scenes with The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Brass and Percussion Ensemble.

Christian Goldsmith, trombone[full description]

American trombonist Christian Goldsmith is a player of versatility and range. His diverse background includes orchestral playing, chamber music, big band, marching band, concert band, jazz and pop music. A native of Southern California, Christian attended the prestigious Los Angeles County High School of the Arts. He went on to complete undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in classical trombone performance at the University of Southern California (USC) with Prof Terry Cravens.

Kevin Thompson, trombone[full description]

Kevin Thompson was appointed to the trombone section of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016 as Utility Trombone. His duties in the orchestra include playing Second and Principal Trombone, as well as bass trumpet and euphonium. He was trained at the University of Victoria and University of Toronto, and did post-graduate work in England, with Denis Wick (former Principal Trombone of the London Symphony).

Aaron Albert, trombone[full description]

Aaron Albert was appointed as Bass Trombonist for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2020. He also held the bass trombone position in the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and has played with orchestras such as the Cleveland Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert

Vanessa Scammell, conductor[full description]

Vanessa has an extremely diverse portfolio of work as a conductor of ballet, musical theatre, concert repertoire and opera. Post graduate study includes a Master’s degree in Conducting and she has been the recipient of the Brian Stacey Award and the Robert and Elizabeth Albert Conducting Fellowship for The Australian Ballet.

Michelle John, vocal [full description]

Whether it was singing as a child in her local gospel choir or recording and touring with stars including Eric Clapton, Annie Lennox, Carole King, George Michael, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Tom Jones, and Andrea Bocelli, the diversity of her musical background and the wide range of artists she has worked with have given Michelle a great vision for her musical destiny.

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Swire Denim Series: From Gladiators to Valkyries

27 & 28 | 8 | 2026

THU & FRI 7:30PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$520 $420 $320 $220
Tickets now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme

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BBC Planet Earth III Live in Concert

4 & 5 | 9 | 2026

FRI 7:30 & SAT 3PM & 7:30PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$520 $420 $320 $220

Film screening with live orchestra performance

For ages 3 and above

Artist