Main Page > Publication > Appreciation of Sacred Music > Knowing Our Musicians > Viola Yuen

Introduction    Research:Sacred Music Commission, Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong (2013)

　　Viola Yuen is an active composer, arranger, conductor, and a singer who focuses on writing with human voices, with a varied catalog including works for western chamber music, Chinese musical instruments, electronic and electro-acoustic creations, choral singing, and multi-media compositions.  One of her recent works is a multi-media composition “An Old House by a Lonely Track” in 2009.  She also composed contemporary A Cappella pieces such as “Nostalgia” (2008), “On a Sleepless Night” (2010) and “Village Dance” (2010).  Moreover, as the music director, she has arranged a huge number of a cappella pieces for the Sregnis Singers, a contemporary A Cappella group in Hong Kong.

　　Viola graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist College and the Academy for Performing Arts, obtained an advanced diploma as well as a Bmus (Hons) degree in Music, specializing in Composition under the direction of Mr. Chan Pui Fan, Dr. Hearon, Mr. Law Wing Fai, Dr. Richard Tsang, and Mr. Clarence Mak.  She also took choral conducting under Mr. Byron Mcgilvary, Dr. Yip Wai Hong, Mr. Angus Watson, Mr. Gordon Kember and Dr. Angela Tam; as well as orchestral conducting under Miss Yip Wing-sie and Mr. Denis de Coteau.  She is also a singer. She studied vocal techniques under Mr. Mak Chi Sing and Ms Poon Chi Ching, and obtained an Associated Teacher Diploma in vocal studies from the Trinity College of Music in 1985.  She is now continuing her Master Music Degree at the Academy for Performing Arts, majoring in composition and electronic music.  In 2009 and 2010, she was awarded the Lions Joseph Koo Music Foundation Scholarship.

　　Viola also devotes her time in choral education.  She was a teacher in the Music Institute of Hong Kong, the International Music Institute, and the School of Continuing and Professional Studies (CUHK).  She is now teaching at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and instructing a choral conducting course under the Sacred Music Commission - Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.  Currently, she is also the Music Director of the Sregnis Singers.  Since 1990, she has been the conductor of the Diocesan Choir - Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong.

　　She is also the director of the Composers’ Guild and a member of the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong (C.A.S.H.).


Compositions:

Lamentor  《哀歌》(2010)
  A three movements orchestra piece with choir
Viola . Yuen 《Viola . 阮》  (2010)
For Viola and 4 zhongruans
Lullaby  《安眠曲》  (2010)
For Mezzo Soprano and Bass Clarinet
On a Sleepless Night 《不寐倦長更》 (2010)
For nine-parts A Cappella and Dongxiao (chinese bamboo flute)
Village Dance  《舞曲》 (2010)
For nine-parts A Cappella and Erhu.
Mass: Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei   (2010)
For Mixed Choir (SSAATTBB) and solo Cello
Longing…  《依依…》 (2010)
A multi-media music in Three acts
For Flute / Alto Flute, Oboe, Clarinet / Bass Clarinet, Cello, Piano, Female Singer, Male Dancer, with Lighting and Staging.
Chanting  《吟》 (2009)
For Zhonghu, Zheng, 2 Erhus, Cello and two Voices
An Old House by a Lonely Track 《纜車徑旁的一所老房子》 (2009)
For eight-parts A Cappella, solo Male Dancer,
Libera Me   (2008)
For Solo Baritone and Orchestra
Living With Despair   (2008)
  For Clarinet in B flat/Bass Clarinet, solo Female Voice, Electronic and Electro-Acoustic
String Quartet   (2009)
For 2 Violins, Viola, and Cello
Nostalgia 《茫》 (2008)
  For nine-parts A Cappella
Awakening III Renaissance   (2009)
For Flute/ Alto Flute, Clarinet/Bass Clarinet, Horn, Cello, Percussion and Piano
Awakening II Wandering  (2007)
For clarinet, horn, cello, percussion, and piano
Awakening I Abyss  (2007)
For horn, cello, piano


Arrangements for Nine-Parts A Cappella:

Libertango (2010)
心竅 (2010)
Duetto di due gatti (2010)
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea <崖上的波兒> (2010)
難為正邪定分界 (2009)
Lakme,Flower Duet (2009)
Cry ヤマトより愛をこめて (2009)
Oh Gal…(2009)
Auld Lang Syne (2009)
Revival ( Ribaibaru ) (2007)
假如愛有天意 (2007)
Air from 金枝慾孽 (2007)
吉祥三寶 (2005)
黑夜不再來 (2005)
YMCA (2005)
O Sole Mio (2005)
Reason (2003)
Romance (2003)
If You Love Me (2001)

- Appreciation of Viola's compositions
- To know more about Viola, please visit Sregnis Singers website

(Article uploaded on 26 November 2008)