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BIOGRAPHY

Former Principal Cellist at Royal College of Music London, prize-winning cellist Kai-Hei Chor is one of the most active Hong Kong young cellists.

Prize winner of Schoenfeld International String Competition and International Competition 'Giovanni Musicisti - Città di Treviso', Italy, KAI HEI CHOR is currently a Cellist at the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble and Artistic Director of local music group Musicademics.

He is recently appointed as a Expert Advisor at Music Office, LCSD, Hong Kong Government. He was also the Staff Ensemble-in-Residence at The Chinese University of Hong Kong at 2021-22 season.

His recent season include performances and recordings in Hong Kong, Europe, Middle East, Beijing, Bangkok, Taipei, Shanghai etc. 

Awarded ‘Hong Kong Scholar” by the HKSAR Government in 2015, Kai Hei is frequently invited to perform in music festivals and concerts all over the world, including many with the presence of the key government officials such as Chief Executive, Chief Secretary; as well as foreign leaders , nobility and ministers.  He also appeared in major HK media, including South China Morning Post, RTHK and other major TV channels.  

As an orchestral cellist, Kai Hei was the first Hong Kong-er to be appointed as principal cellist in both the RCM Symphony and RCM Philharmonic. He also guest-led the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong KongHong Kong String Orchestra, Gustav Mahler Orchestra Hong Kong and most of the leading youth orchestras in Hong Kong. Orchestras he worked together with include London Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta etc. working with conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Bernard Haitink, Lorin Mazzel, Vladimir Jurowski etc; and composers including Sir James Macmillan, Unsuk Chin, Du Yun etc.

Kai Hei discovered his musical passion during his spell at the Diocesan Boys' School. He then received his BA (Hons) in Music at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, receiving numerous scholarships and Dean's List award. He pursued his postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus & MPerf) with full scholarship from Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund; before he further obtained an Artist Diploma in Performance (highest academic qualification in performance) at the Royal College of Music London with full scholarship from Croucher Foundation, where he was also awarded the Leverhulme Arts Scholarship award.

As an educator, Kai Hei is on the faculty of The Education University of Hong Kong; and serving as orchestral Tutor in various famous schools. He is recently appointed as Staff Ensemble-in-Residence in The Chinese University of Hong Kong. See Teaching for more.

Apart from his busying performing and teaching schedule, Kai Hei enjoys cooking, food hunting and watching football. He is especially grateful to kind donors who support him with a 1854 Charles Adolphe Gand cello.

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