Hong Kong Voices' former music director Ken Lam King-kei has just landed a position with one of America's oldest orchestras. As of September, Lam will be an assistant conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under renowned director Paavo Jarvi. 'They drew nearly 500 applicants from all over the world,' Lam (above) said. 'I was lucky to be one of the few invited to apply for the position. I think one of the reasons was David Zinman recommended me and wrote a letter. He's the musical director of the Aspen Music Festival and one of the most sought-after conductors today.' Since leaving town three years ago to study in the US, Lam has been building his classical credentials at workshops, festivals and conducting classes, including with maestro Leonard Slatkin of the National Conducting Institute. Through Slatkin, Lam also got another prized slot later this month. 'I'm conducting the National Symphony in concert in about two weeks at the Kennedy Centre. That will be the biggest gig of my career so far. I think I've been very lucky but it's also a case of perseverance.' For one last chance to see Lam before he moves to Ohio, he's leading the Hong Kong Voices choir and the Hong Kong Camerata in concert this Saturday, at 7.30pm at the Concert Hall of the Academy for Performing Arts.
