A celebration of the serene joy of life with two premieres 

Inspired by the poetic nature of 'komorebi', the Japanese word for sunlight filtering through swaying leaves, this programme celebrates the serene joy of life in the simplest of things. Highlights of the concert include the world premiere of promising Hong Kong composer Adrian Wong’s new work, which NOĒMA commissioned, and the Hong Kong premiere of Footsteps by emerging British composer Owain Park. Additionally, the programme features three sets of French chansons by Paul Hindemith, Darius Milhaud, and Morten Lauridsen, all with texts by the great Austrian literary pioneer Rainer Maria Rilke, in celebration of the poet's 150th anniversary. Like sunlight streaming through branches, these translucent pieces illuminate every subtle moment of joy and delight. 

ce qui pèse et nourrit (fr): what weighs and what nourishes

Presenter: NOĒMA 

Choir: NOĒMA 

Conductor: Sanders Lau

Programme

Ildebrando Pizzetti Cade la sera 

Ildebrando Pizzetti Il giardino di Afrodite   

Claude Debussy Trois chansons de Charles d'Orléans   

Darius Milhaud Quatrains valaisans   

Paul Hindemith Six chansons 

Morten Lauridsen Chanson éloignée 

Owain Park Footsteps (Hong Kong premiere) 

Adrian Wong A new commission (World premiere) 

NOĒMA

NOĒMA is a leading chamber choir dedicated to advancing Hong Kong’s choral scene. Comprising some of the finest local choral musicians, the group has quickly become one of the city’s premier ensembles under the dynamic leadership of Artistic Director Sanders Lau, who founded the choir in 2022. NOĒMA has performed to critical acclaim, with invitations from eminent presenters, including MUSE of The University of Hong Kong (HKU), Tai Kwun, and most recently, the Hong Kong Arts Festival in the sold-out multimedia choral concert ‘Garden of Repose’. This cross-disciplinary performance was specifically designed and curated for the choir and has received high praise. It was nominated and shortlisted for the 2024 Classical:NEXT Innovation Award. 

The choir’s ethos is centred on applying ideals of rhetoric––the art of persuasion––to its performances, always exploring and harnessing the expressive landscape in its repertoire. NOĒMA is known for its innovative and thought-provoking programming, creating profound dialogues among music, poetry, and spirituality, and reaffirming the relevance of choral art in contemporary society, offering a diverse and stimulating repertoire. 

Collaborations are integral to NOĒMA’s endeavour. The group has partnered with artists such as the Cong Quartet, composer Adrian Wong, director/choreographer Ivanhoe Lam, and set designer Ruby Law. In the 2024/25 season, NOĒMA will again collaborate with Ivanhoe Lam in a multimedia theatrical performance as part of his artist residency at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre. Additionally, NOĒMA is partnering with the HKU Chamber Singers as part of the inaugural HKU Doming Lam Composition Prize, furthering its commitment to developing Hong Kong’s choral community.

Sanders Lau

Founder and Artistic Director

Sanders Lau is a multifaceted conductor with an unwavering conviction in choral music’s singular power to express and connect. He is the Artistic Director and founder of NOĒMA, and has established the choir as one of the most dynamic and innovative forces in the city’s choral landscape. Sanders believes home-bred professional choral performances will be vital in advancing the local scene. He is known for his approach to programme curation that sparks contemplation, blending standard repertoire with contemporary writings, many of which were Hong Kong and world premieres, in seamless narratives.   

Sanders has also served as Resident Conductor with Die Konzertisten, where he has collaborated with a constellation of internationally renowned conductors, including Stephen Layton, Jonathan Cohen, and John Butt, and has cultivated a specialised interest in the historically informed performances of early music. 

A highly sought-after choral artist, Sanders frequently guest-conducts, adjudicates, and offers masterclasses and clinics for eminent organisations such as the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Voices of Singapore Festival, and Hong Kong Inter-School Choral Festival. He is ardent about nurturing the next generation of choral leaders and has coached choirs from major universities in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau, as well as numerous other youth and school choirs. His conducting courses have been attended by hundreds of school music teachers and young professionals, furthering his impact on the choral community. 

In 2023, Sanders won the First Prize and two Special Awards at the Romano Gandolfi International Competition for Choral Conductors. As a tenor, Sanders recently debuted as the Evangelist in Bach’s St John Passion.