The Portsmouth Philharmonic is delighted to announce the permanent appointment of Ka Wai Cheng (above) as Musical Director and Conductor.
Gosport-based Ka Wai has been working with the orchestra on an interim basis since April after the retirement of Hugh Carpenter and the committee decided earlier this month to ratify the appointment.
Chair of the orchestra, Di Lloyd said: “Everyone is delighted Ka Wai has agreed to take on the role permanently. She has impressed everyone with her approachable manner combined with a rigorous approach to conducting. We have already been challenged and inspired by her.”
Ka Wai said: “I am thankful to take on the role as the orchestra is full of talented and friendly musicians. Their adventurous manner, capabilities and flexibilities make our music making process one filled with excitement, laughter, satisfaction and happiness. I am really motivated to explore the musical world further together with the orchestra."
Her first full concert with the baton will be on Sunday December 1 (3pm) at the Church of the Resurrection in Penrhyn Road, Drayton, which is being staged in aid of the Portsmouth branch of Read Easy.
The programme features Tchaikovsky, Goldmark, Bizet, Grieg and a seasonal offering from Leroy Anderson. Tickets, priced £10, are available on the door or online by clicking here (booking fees apply).
Ka Wai is a clarinettist, conductor, educator and woodwind technician, who graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama with a masters in clarinet performance
After studying with Cheng Tan in both orchestral and choral conducting, later she participated in conducting masterclasses with Dr Timothy Reynish MBE, Mark Heron, Philip Schott and Rodolfo Saglimbeni.
Ka Wai did premières for a number of Hong Kong composers including Lee Tak Kwan - Reminiscence (2004) and Shirley Ma - Hiding Among the Bushes and A White Rose for Clarinet, Soprano and Piano (2014).
She has worked with the Hong Kong Festival Wind Orchestra as clarinettist and assistant conductor, principal clarinet for the Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Symphonic Band, among others. Since coming to the Portsmouth area she has been guest conductor and percussionist for the Gosport Solent Brass and clarinettist for the Royal Navy Volunteer Bands Association.
She has collaborated with pianist, Kate Burrows, to form a clarinet and piano duet, and they have given recitals at Portsmouth Cathedral and private functions. In 2020, Ka Wai founded the Solent Philharmonic Winds and is its Music Director. Its aim is to promote the orchestral wind repertoire to wider musicians and audiences.
The Portsmouth Philharmonic, founded in 2009, plays three charity concerts a year and has raised more than £23,000 to date.