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.
ARTIST-FACULTY
Yehudi Menuhin
Founding Music Director
Richard Pontzious
Founder & Artistic Director
*Paçalin Pavaci, violin
Cecilia Laca, violin
Toko Inomoto, viola
*Rhonda Rider, cello
Christopher Jepson, cello
Eugenio Abbiatici, trombone & tuba
*On Sabbatical Leave
Sergiu Comissiona
Conductor Laureate
Jospeh Bastian
Principal Conductor
Monnaie Opera Brussels
Real Orquesta Sinfonica de Sevilla, Spain
Teatro San Carlo, Naples, Italy
Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra (former)
Triple Helix Trio & The Boston Conservatory
Sinfonieorchester Basel, Switzerland
Baltimore Symphony
London Philharmonic Orchestra (former), Donizetti Conservatory of Bergamo
Teatro Regio Orchestra, Parma, Italy
Orchestra Della Radio Svizzera Italiana
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
2022 ORCHESTRA MEMBERS
Violins
Chang Ssu-Yuan
Chen Wan-Xuan
Chiang Yu-Lin
Ho Wing Lok
Hong Pak Ho
Kanda Honami
Kim Jin Joo
Lee Sook Young
Lee Yin-Chi
Lin Yun-Chung
Suh Ji Hun
Sun Yi-Fan
Sutanto Natasha
Terakawa Aoi
Yeh Yi-Wen
Yoshizawa Erina
Violas
Chan Ching Ting
Chan Shiu Chit
Li Pei-Ying
Peng Yu-Yun
Shimura Eriko
Ting Ik Peng Eben
Cellos
Kim Na Young
Li Bo-Han
Wong Hei Chit
Wu Tsung-Lin
Double Basses
Chan Ho Yan Grace
Chau Wai I
Murakami Jun
Flutes
Aki Miyuki
Liu Yu-Chi
Oboes
Lu Ang
Chang Cheng-Li
Clarinets
Fukuoka Yuko
Wan Tze Chun
Bassoons
Cheung Ching Nam
Cadei Giulia
French Horns
Chan Wai Ling
Chang Hsiang-Chun
Trumpets
Tang Chien-En
Yu Long Ching
Tenor Trombones
Bombelli Nicolo
Chen Chih-Chen
Bass Trombone
Cornolti Lorenzo
Percussions
Arihara Yuka
Kil Min Woo
Luigi Piro