Keen educator to hold baton

New artist associate Jason Lai will conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in several concerts and participate in some of the orchestra's new educational initiatives this season.

A cellist, pianist and composer by training, Lai was assistant conductor to the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra from 2002 to 2005 as the winner of the BBC Young Conductors' Workshop. Apart from conducting in Europe and Asia, he is a broadcaster for the BBC and a keen educator.

The orchestra introduced the artist associate scheme in the 2006-2007 season, with the aim of providing a platform for intensive collaboration with one or more artists. While the artist associate works closely with the orchestra and the music director, new ideas are explored to expand the horizons of classical music.

Previous artist associates are composer and multimedia artist Samson Young, Grainger Quartet from Australia and composer Ng Cheuk-yin.