York Bowen Festival
Hong Kong
originally from Balmaseda (Bizkaia), Spain.
Since 2026, the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong has been launched and has become a preparatory festival of the York Bowen Festival in Spain, providing a platform for young, developing musicians to explore and express themselves through music performance.
Every summer, the Hong Kong Festival will recruit talent from Hong Kong and China, providing high-quality music training and performance opportunities. Additionally, students have the opportunity to receive a scholarship to participate in the York Bowen Festival in Balmaseda, Spain, the following year.
2026 Events
2026 Youth Gala Concert
Date: late August, 2026 (TBC)
Location: TBC
The Summer Concert serves as a key highlight of the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong Academy, providing a valuable performance platform for young musicians.
All performers are required to pass an audition conducted by the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong. It brings together emerging talents to showcase their musical development in a professional setting, while gaining essential stage experience and artistic exposure. Through this concert, participants are encouraged to express their musicality, build confidence, and engage with a wider audience.
Summer Academy: Beginner Class (Violin and Viola)
Lesson: July to August, 2026
Location: M5 Music, Mong Kok
The York Bowen Festival Hong Kong – Summer Academy Beginner Class offers young violin and viola students a solid foundation in classical music through small-group lessons and individual coaching, nurturing both technical skills and a lasting love for music.
The programme aims to introduce fundamental musicianship, develop proper instrumental technique, build performance confidence, and prepare students for future musical growth. Participants will also have the opportunity to perform in the prestigious Gala Concert, showcasing their progress on a professional stage.
Summer Academy: Solo and Chamber Music Coaching Session
Lesson: August 2026
Location: M5 Music, Mong Kok
To provide greater opportunities for both chamber music groups and solo performers, the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong will offer coaching sessions led by tutors from both the York Bowen Festival and the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong Academy.
Tutors for the coaching sessions will be assigned by the York Bowen Festival Hong Kong Academy. However, students may request specific tutors from the available list. While we will make every effort to accommodate these preferences, we cannot guarantee that all students will be assigned their first choice due to tutor availability.
Faculty (2026)
Adrian Martinez
- Director of York Bowen Festival (Spain)
- Consultant of York Bowen Festival Hong Kong Festival
Bio
SSelected in 2020 at the age of 18 by the Holstein Orchestra in Germany, Adrián Martínez quickly established himself as a rising musician. At the age of 19, he received several awards in international music competitions, including King’s Peak, László Spezzaferri, and the Moscow Competition. He has also been recognised in local competitions such as the Young Musicians of the Basque Country, both as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition, he has been awarded a merit scholarship from the Provincial Council of Vizcaya on three occasions, as well as a full scholarship covering his university studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Adrián Martínez is currently a professor at the Conservatory of Music of Aragón. He has worked with some of the most prominent conductors, including Semyon Bychkov, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Mark Elder, Ryan Bancroft, and Juanjo Mena. He has performed with various orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra of the United Kingdom, the Amman Chamber Orchestra of Jordan, and OV430 of Spain. Throughout the year, he tours internationally as an orchestral musician, performing in major venues across Berlin, London, Riyadh, Jordan, and Spain.
In addition to his orchestral career, Adrián maintains an active chamber music profile. He has performed in prestigious venues including the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, Magdalena Royal Palace, Guggenheim Museum, Campos Elíseos Theatre, Arriaga Theatre, Euskalduna Palace, Artaza Palace, and Horkasitas Palace.Tweet
Caleb Li
- Director of York Bowen Festival (Hong Kong)
- Violin and Viola Tutor
Bio
Hongkongese violist, composer, and violinist who works as a professional musician, teaching and performing professionally.
He began his musical journey at the age of five as a violinist and later embraced roles as a composer and violist. Caleb has performed across Europe and Asia, including Switzerland, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, China and Hong Kong. He has participated in several music festivals in Europe and received the title of ‘Hong Kong Youth Musician Representative’ from the Hong Kong Youth Concerto (HKYC) in 2023. As an orchestral musician, he performs with professional orchestras in both the UK and Hong Kong. He has held leadership positions in different orchestras, including Principal Viola in the Royal College of Music Opera Orchestra, Principal Viola in the Hong Kong Youth Philharmonia, and Principal Viola in the University of London Symphony Orchestra, as well as leadership roles in various recording projects and classical performances.
As a educator, Caleb has trained many promising young musicians. Several of his students are currently studying music in college, and some have achieved excellence in music competitions.
Caleb graduated with First Class Honours in BA Music from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he studied violin, viola, and composition. He then attended the Royal College of Music in London, receiving full tuition support from the college. During his studies, he focused on violin, viola, and composition, and several of his compositions have been premiered in Asia, Europe, and the USA.
Corvus Chu
- Violin Tutor
Bio
Corvus Chu is a professionally trained violinist, educator, and collaborative artist with an international background spanning Hong Kong and Vienna. He studied in Friedrich Gulda School of Music Wien, where he completed both a Konzertfach (performance) diploma and an instrumental pedagogy diploma in classical violin.
As an active performer, Corvus has experience in both Western classical and cross-cultural music settings. He has worked as a cooperative artist in projects blending Chinese and Western musical traditions, and has participated in Cantonese opera performances, demonstrating versatility across genres and artistic disciplines.
Alongside his performance career, Corvus is a dedicated violin educator. He has taught at multiple music institutions and as a private tutor, guiding students in technical development, music theory, and preparation for graded exams and competitions. His teaching approach emphasizes both strong foundational technique and musical expression.
Corvus also serves as a church violinist and choir member, contributing regularly to liturgical music settings. With a passion for performance, education, and cultural exchange, he continues to develop a multifaceted career as a violinist in both solo and collaborative environments.
Faculty from York Bowen Festival in Spain (2026)
*only for remote teaching on a request basis.
Violin
- Sergey Teslya
- Itzia Oyarzabal
- Pablo Suárez Calero
- Jordán Tejedor
- Tatiana Samouil
Viola
- Adrián Martínez *(Music Director)
- Natalia Tchitch
- Paul Silverthorne
- Isabel Villanueva
- Claudia Do Minh
- Noemí Funez
- Rubén Menéndez
Cello
- Michal Dmochowski
- Aldo Mata
- Alberto Martos
- Alba Reiris
- Iagoba Fanlo
Double Bass
- Antonio Torres
- Antonio Díaz
Piano
- Michael Davidov
- Tensy Krismant
- Karla Martínez
Canto
- Marina Pardo
Certificate and Awards
All participants who pass the Summer Concert will receive a certificate titled “York Bowen Festival Hong Kong 2026” at the conclusion of the concert.
Summer Academy’s student pass the Summer Concert will be awarded a certificate titled “York Bowen Festival Hong Kong – Summer Academy 2026”.
The panel formed York Bowen Festival will select one student from the Summer Concert to receive the Best Performance Award, which includes a prize of HKD 1,200.
In addition, students demonstrating outstanding musical potential may be selected to participate in the York Bowen Festival 2027 in Balmaseda, Spain, with the possibility of being awarded a scholarship.
Applications Deadline
Youth Gala Concert:
15th July, 2026
Summer Academy: Beginner Class (Violin and Viola):
1st July, 2026
Summer Academy: Solo and Chamber Music Coaching Session:
1st July, 2026