Three-year funding term will mark 21 years of principal patronage, boosting the HK Phil’s community engagement efforts and international reach 

After 18 years of a flourishing partnership between the Swire Group (Swire) and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), we are delighted to announce today that Swire will be continuing its sponsorship of the HK Phil as Principal Patron for another three years, from April 2024. This commitment includes a generous grant exceeding HK$50 million, marking the biggest corporate donation in the orchestra’s history.

Since 2006, Swire has been Principal Patron of the HK Phil, and has bolstered the orchestra’s long-term mission to promote artistic excellence, expand access to classical music, enhance cultural participation in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland and elevate the city’s global reputation. For this latest sponsorship term, emphasis is given to community and youth engagement.

In addition to the ever-popular outdoor extravaganza “Swire Symphony Under The Stars”, Swire and the HK Phil are excited to launch “Swire Music for Everyone”, a brand-new educational programme that invites audiences to dive-deep into specific orchestral works. The “Swire Community Concert” series will be expanded, reaching a wider audience, and giving special attention to ensuring the concerts are enjoyable and accessible to people of all abilities and needs. Swire will also support other community initiatives, including performances at Swire venues in Hong Kong, as well as ticket giveaways to local non-profit organisations. By providing complimentary access to these initiatives, Swire aims to help maximise access to high-quality orchestral musical performances for the community.

Together with the regular concert series, “Swire Maestro Series”, “Swire Denim Series” and “Swire Family Series”, all the programmes allow the HK Phil to present a variety of music experiences to different groups of the public. For this sponsorship term, the orchestra will develop online content tailored to young people and audiences less familiar with orchestral music, and will expand its social media presence in the Chinese Mainland and internationally.

Mr Guy Bradley, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited, said, “I am delighted we are extending our sponsorship of the HK Phil once again, a development that will mark 21 years of our enduring partnership. Sharing the same value as the HK Phil, Swire is committed to bringing classical music closer to local communities, especially the younger listeners – and our HK$50 million grant underscores that commitment. World-class orchestral music has the power to bring positive energy to audiences in Hong Kong, and also cements our city’s reputation as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, as described in the 14th Five-Year Plan. Both the HK Phil and Swire are keen to help strengthen Hong Kong’s cultural connections to the rest of the Greater Bay Area, the Chinese Mainland and the wider world.”

Mr David Cogman, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the HK Phil, said, “We are deeply grateful to the Swire Group for its unwavering backing as Principal Patron over the years. Alongside the long-term support and partnership of the Hong Kong Government, Swire is providing the largest corporate sponsorship in our history. This will enable the orchestra to continue to flourish as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra, bringing the best of classical music to Hong Kong, and will open doors to many new opportunities around the world. We are excited about continuing our partnership with Swire for many years to come.”

Named “Orchestra of the Year” at the 2019 Gramophone Awards, the HK Phil is Hong Kong’s cultural ambassador and is committed to participating in cultural exchange work, showcasing the artistic excellence of Hong Kong to audiences around the world. Riding on the success of recent tours in the Chinese Mainland and internationally, the orchestra will continue to expand its footprint to more places in the coming years, including the Greater Bay Area and more cities in the Chinese Mainland, as well as cities in Asia, Europe and South America, fostering artistic and cultural exchange between China and the rest of the world.

Collaborating with internationally renowned conductors and soloists, the orchestra presents more than 150 concerts and attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. The HK Phil continues to present excellent performances with world-class musicians to engage Hong Kong audiences and attract overseas audiences to enjoy the cultural vibrancy of Hong Kong, the orchestra also promotes the work of local talented musicians by inviting home grown soloists, premiering new work by Hong Kong composers, and launching initiatives to promote cross-discipline collaboration with Hong Kong artists.

Please click here to download the photos:  

Mr Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism (centre), Mr Guy Bradley, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited (left) and Mr David Cogman, Chairman of the HK Phil Board of Governors (right) officiate the renewal ceremony.

Photo Credit: Eric Hong / HK Phil 

(From left)
•    Mrs. Mabel Lee, Board Member of the HK Phil
•    Ms May Lam-Kobayashi, Deputy Director, Public Affairs of Swire Properties Limited
•    Mr James Tong, Director, Group Public Affairs of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited
•    Mr Tim Blackburn, Chief Executive of Swire Properties Limited
•    Mr Augustus Tang, Director of John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Limited
•    Mr Guy Bradley, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited
•    Mr Raistlin Lau, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism
•    Mr David Cogman, Chairman of the HK Phil Board of Governors
•    Mr Benedikt Fohr, Chief Executive of the HK Phil
•    Ms Angela Yau, Board Member of the HK Phil
•    Mr Glenn Fok, Board Member of the HK Phil
•    Dr Lilian Leong, Board Member of the HK Phil
•    Mr Fan Ting, Board Member of the HK Phil
•    Mr Sonny Yau, Board Member of the HK Phil

Photo Credit: Eric Hong / HK Phil

 

Swire Symphony Under The Stars 2023

Photo Credit: Eric Hong / HK Phil 

 

Swire Community Concert

Photo Credit: Ka Lam / HK Phil

 

Music Director Jaap van Zweden and the HK Phil at the Tonhalle Zurich

Photo Credit: Desmond Chan / HK Phil

 

Music Director Jaap van Zweden and the HK Phil

Photo Credit: Ka Lam / HK Phil

 

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About the Swire Group 
The Swire Group is a highly diversified global corporation, with businesses encompassing property, beverages and food chain, aviation, marine, as well as trading and industrial activities. Its core businesses are mainly focused on Asia, with its key operations in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Within Asia, Swire's activities primarily come under the Group's publicly quoted arm, Swire Pacific Limited (HKSE: 00019/00087), which is the largest shareholder in two Hong Kong listed companies: Swire Properties and Cathay Pacific Airways.  

For more information, please visit www.swire.com. 

About the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra 
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is regarded as one of the leading orchestras in Asia. Professionalised in 1974, the orchestra celebrates its 50th anniversary during the 2023/24 season. Collaborating with internationally renowned conductors and soloists, the orchestra presents more than 150 concerts and attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. The HK Phil promotes the work of Hong Kong and Chinese composers, commissions new works, nurtures local talent and runs extensive education and community programmes. With Music Director Jaap van Zweden since 2012, the HK Phil has toured Europe, Asia, Australia and extensively across Mainland China. Long Yu has been Principal Guest Conductor since the 2015/16 Season, and Lio Kuokman was appointed Resident Conductor in December 2020. The HK Phil won the prestigious UK classical music magazine Gramophone’s 2019 Orchestra of the Year Award – the first orchestra in Asia to receive this accolade. Recent recording projects with Jaap include the complete Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner, Mahler’s Symphony no. 10 (concert version ed. Mengelberg/Dopper), and Shostakovich’s Symphony nos. 5, 9 and 10.

For more information, please visit hkphil.org.