The Hong Kong Sinfonietta is preparing for the resignation of some of its players as it makes members work full-time under the new leadership of conductor Yip Wing-sie.
The reform of the previously part-time orchestra will formally begin in September when rehearsals will be held during the day instead of at night.
The orchestra - which supported Luciano Pavarotti at his Hong Kong concert last year - has 54 part-time contract musicians. The Hong Kong Philharmonic is now the only orchestra made up of full-time musicians.
Ms Yip, who succeeded music director Tsung Yeh on April 1, said making the musicians work full-time would consolidate the group's status as a professional orchestra.
There is no specific time frame for the reform. Ms Yip admitted that the change might lead to the resignation of four players who had full-time jobs during the day.
'I have spoken to some musicians and we will try to accommodate the needs of as many of them as possible, though we can't please all. We guess the four players may quit and there will be new openings at some point,' Ms Yip said.
Sze Wing-ching, chairman of the orchestra's board of governors, said rescheduling rehearsals to daytime would make players more devoted to the orchestra.