Why this young Hong Kong-born conductor chose to build his career in Seoul, as the popularity of classical music in South Korea soars
- Wilson Ng says turmoil at the Seoul Philharmonic allowed him the rare chance to audition for a big orchestra, in which he was selected from among 113 applicants
- He will bring his current orchestra, the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, to his home city in March for the Hong Kong Arts Festival
It is 10am on a Wednesday at The Korea Economic Daily’s office in Seoul and all 18 floors of South Korea’s biggest financial news organisation are packed with journalists going about their daily business.
Presenters are updating stock prices live in a television studio and reporters are typing their news stories.
Amid the bustle of the newsroom, soothing harmonies emerge from a large hall in the building. The Hankyung Arte Philharmonic, an orchestra founded by the media company in 2015, is rehearsing The Faint Gingko, a contemporary work by Chinese composer Ye Xiaogang.
Directing the orchestra from a central podium is 34-year-old Wilson Ng, the Hong Kong-born conductor wearing his signature red trousers.
“First and second viola, I love how you start but let’s do more diminuendo. Let’s try again,” Ng says in English. A softer viola tune follows.
Ng was appointed the first principal guest conductor of the Hankyung Arte Philharmonic in November 2023 and will be bringing the orchestra, and Korean pianist Minsoo Sohn, to Hong Kong in March for the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
