CONDUCTORS
Richard Pontzious
Founder & Artistic Director
Richard Pontzious founded the Hong Kong-based Asian Youth Orchestra in 1987 with the distinguished violinist, conductor and humanitarian Yehudi Menuhin.
The idea for the creation of an orchestra that would unite the region and celebrate the talents of East Asia’s brightest young musicians came as the result of Mr. Pontzious’ work as conductor, writer, teacher and mentor in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan. Critics have called AYO “astonishing” and the “finest among youth orchestras around the world.” In 2010 the Orchestra was awarded Japan’s Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists, a global arts prize.
Joseph Bastian
Principal Conductor
The Asian Youth Orchestra warmly welcomes as principal conductor one of the most exciting talents of the younger generation, French-Swiss conductor Joseph Bastian.
The former bass trombonist of the Symphonie Orchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Bastian burst into the international spotlight in February 2016, when he stepped in at the last moment to conduct the orchestra in three subscription concerts -- replacing an indisposed Robin Ticciati - with the blessing of his Chief Conductor and conducting mentor, Mariss Jansons.
Jader Bignamini
Principal Guest Conductor
Jader Bignamini was appointed Music Director of the Detroit Symphony in January 2020 and is currently in his third season with the orchestra.
In addition to concerts in Detroit, the 2022/23 season sees Jader debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Frankfurt’s hr–Sinfonieorchester and at the Deutsche Oper Berlin (Simon Boccanegra). 2023/24 highlights include debuts with the London Philharmonic and Bergen Philharmonic, alongside returns to the Wiener Staatsoper (Manon Lescaut) and Opéra de Paris (La forza del destino).
Sophie Mok
Assistant Conductor
Sophie Mok is currently the Assistant Conductor of the Frost Symphony Orchestra. Described as "the most supple and prepared for the spontaneous happening", Mok won the 2nd prize at the International Conductor’s Competition at the 2019 Deutsches Musikfest. In 2022, she was selected to participate in Le Domain Forget Conducting Academy to work with maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and a finalist chosen among 300 candidates in maestro Riccardo Muti’s Italian Opera Academy with the Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini.
ARTIST-FACULTY
Yehudi Menuhin
Founding Music Director
Richard Pontzious
Founder & Artistic Director
Yeonjin Kim, cello
David Sheets, double bass
Eugenio Abbiatici, trombone & tuba
Sergiu Comissiona
Conductor Laureate
Jospeh Bastian Jader Bignamini Sophie Mok
Principal Conductor Principal Guest Conductor Assistant Conductor
Monnaie Opera Brussels
Real Orquesta Sinfonica de Sevilla, Spain
Tianjin Juilliard School, Mainland China
Tianjin Juilliard School, Mainland China
Baltimore Symphony
London Philharmonic Orchestra (former), Donizetti Conservatory of Bergamo
Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse, France
Orchestra Della Radio Svizzera Italiana
G. Verdi Conservatory, Milan
Donizetti Conservatory of Bergamo, Italy
Orchestra Filarmonica della Fenice, Venice, Italy
Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa, Italy
Orchestra Della Radio Svizzera Italiana
Conservatory of Parma, Italy
National Symphony Orchestra, Taiwan
2024 ORCHESTRA MEMBERS
Violins
Xie Tian, China Mainland
Li Shiming, China Mainland
Xu Rui, China Mainland
Jiang Yutong, China Mainland
Ou Ziqi, China Mainland
Lam Hiu Wai, Hong Kong
Tsang Hin Hei Arthur, Hong Kong
Lee Ka Wai, Hong Kong
Chan Chak Him Joshua, Hong Kong
Kanda Honami, Japan
Takato Norihisa, Japan
Akashi Koharu, Japan
Otsuki Miri, Japan
Han Yu Don, Korea
Choi Ye Eun, Korea
Ooi Melanie, Malaysia
Nainggolan Norman Jefferson, Indonesia
Mercurio Matias Andrew, Philippines
Uson Cedric Rafael, Philippines
Romanban Vincent Owen, Philippines
Chang Chung Wei 張仲薇, Taiwan
Kao Wei Ting 高瑋婷, Taiwan
Chen Jie Yu 陳絜羽, Taiwan
Lin Kuan Yun 林冠妘, Taiwan
Wu Mu Rong 吳慕融, Taiwan
Chen Syuan You 陳宣佑, Taiwan
Lin Ting Feng 林廷峰, Taiwan
Chiang Yu Lin 姜佑霖, Taiwan
Tsai Yu Jung蔡雨融, Taiwan
Chen Hsuan 陳宣, Taiwan
Violas
Liu Yaqi, China Mainland
Sun Haowen, China Mainland
Yao Zishu, China Mainland
Satou Momoka, Japan
Han Hyokyeong, Korea
Tan Lydia Xiao Yan, Malaysia
Pharida Tangtongchit, Thailand
Tulagan Lance Morrison, Philippines
Chiu Mei Tzu 邱美慈, Taiwan
Chen Ho Yu 陳赫禹, Taiwan
Ho Gung-Hui 何恭慧, Taiwan
Siao Yuan-Lun, Taiwan
Cellos
Qin Xingyi, China Mainland
Zheng Jiaying, China Mainland
Fu Jiayi, China Mainland
Zhou Zhaoxing, China Mainland
Hwang Hae Won, Korea
Lee Chan Hee, Korea
Joey Ling Jo Ee, Malaysia
Lim Tze Yao, Malaysia
Shen Bo Yi 沈柏邑, Taiwan
Liu Chien-Wei, Taiwan
Double Basses
Xu Ke, China Mainland
Wang Kecheng, China Mainland
Chau Wai I, Macau
Yong Yoon May, Malaysia
Phattharaphon Jirathanatorn, Thailand
Dulcisimo S Terrado Jr., Philippines
Lee Wei-Ling 李威岭, Taiwan
Chien Ya Chen 簡雅貞, Taiwan
Flutes
Dang Yaxin, China Mainland
Lam Cyrus Chun Hei, Hong Kong
Lin Xiao Tong, Hong Kong
Ao Ieong Wai Teng, Macau
Oboes
Wang Yichuan, China Mainland
Jin Yusheng, China Mainland
Yamamoto Nao, Japan
Thongra-ar Natthapol, Thailand
Clarinets
Tse Ho San Toby, Hong Kong
Yamagata Tamae, Japan
Masuda Hana, Japan
Andra Franz Jensen, Philippines
Saxophone
Maeda Naoya, Japan
Phua Peh Ming Samuel, Singapore
Bassoons
Lau Hoi Shun Adrian, Hong Kong
Wu Hsin Ju 吳欣儒, Taiwan
Chen You Rong 陳宥蓉, Taiwan
French horns
Li Shaoxin, China Mainland
Liu Xinyi, China Mainland
Kanon Hara, Japan
Lee Yan Liang, Singapore
Watcharawith Nilkhong, Thailand
Wu Shuo-Cheng 吳碩宸, Taiwan
Trumpets
Li Jiashu, China Mainland
Song Xiaowei, China Mainland
To Hau Suet Venus, Hong Kong
Shiota Ayaka, Japan
Wong Abner Ho Khuen, Singapore
Phan Thanh Binh, Vietnam
Tenor Trombones/Euphonium
Hu Shaozhen, China Mainland
Zhang Chenwen, China Mainland
Takahashi Yoshihito, Japan
Bass Trombone
Long Zhenyu, China Mainland
Tuba
Chan Wai Chun, Hong Kong
Percussions
Saaya Dodo, Japan
Minami Takei, Japan
Kim Ji Hye, Korea
Ng Jeremy Chuan Kai, Singapore
Ng Lip Sheng, Malaysia
Nithit Rujikajorndej, Thailand
Harp
Hata Sakura, Japan
Chiu Yun Chieh, Taiwan