The Hong Kong Oratorio Society (HKOS) is a non-profit-making organization founded in 1956 by Mr. Theodore Huang and a group of music enthusiasts who believed that singing beautiful music would bring joy to singers and listeners alike. It further helps to enhance our personal quality and provide citizens with rich spiritual and cultural life.
From a humble start with a handful of music enthusiasts to over a hundred members of different nationalities, the HKOS – guided by generations of great musicians – has become the most active choir with the longest history and the largest membership in Hong Kong. It usually presents 3-5 concerts per year with a total of more than three hundred concerts performed since inception. Its repertoire covers oratorios and major choral works by classical and contemporary composers. They include the masterpieces of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Chinese composers Xian Xinghai and Huang Zi. Many of these works were debuted in Hong Kong.
HKOS takes its name from its favourite genre of repertoire, the oratorio, which refers to extended choral works with religious or mythological stories. In recent years, HKOS has commissioned composers Chan Wing-wah, Victor Chan, Huang An-lun, David Chan, Elena Chiu, Alfred Wong, Li Cheong, Ng Cheuk-yin & Jessie You. Since 1996, HKOS has produced five CD recordings distributed worldwide.
The first conductor of the choir was Mr. Theodore Huang Ming-tung, and Mr. Frank Huang and then succeeded by Dr. Wong Wing-hee who has honored as the Conductor Emeritus until his passing. The present Music Director, Prof. Chan Wing-wah accepted the baton after several successful collaborations with HKOS in 1995.
The choir has performed under the baton of many famous conductors including Yan Liang-kun, Yan Hui-chang, Chen Zuo-huang, Shao En, Yu Feng, Chen Tscheng-hsiung, Zhang Yi, Cao Ding, Andrew Cheung, Jimmy Chan, Raymond Fu, Allison So, Angela Yeung, Carmen Koon, Sir David Wilcox, Veiga Jardim, Patrick Chiu, Gabriel Leung, etc. The Central Ballet Symphony Orchestra of Beijing, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Macau Orchestra, Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra have all collaborated with the HKOS. HKOS has toured Canada, Israel, the Philippines, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore as well as many major cities in Mainland China.
HKOS members are keen music lovers and enjoy singing. Its planning and execution are managed by the committee members on a non-remunerative basis elected by members during the annual general meeting. The Music Director and Honorary President are ex-officio members of the Executive Committee. The concerts are supported by several generous patrons. HKOS will endeavour to continue its contribution to the Hong Kong music arena through the production and performance of fine choral music for the community.