VideoHong Kong’s youngest world champion harmonica player on a mission to ‘rebrand’ his humble instrument
CY Leo, crowned world harmonica champion at the age of 19, will join classical musicians for a free concert this month and has been exploring another genre, jazz, as he seeks to elevate the mouth organ’s status
When he was 19 years old, in 2013, Leo Ho Cheuk-yin, better known as CY Leo, was named the youngest ever World Solo Harmonica Champion.
Now, one year into his full-time career as a musician, the 23-year-old is living the dream and is determined that his music reach a bigger audience. To that end he has been honing his talent and exploring new repertoire.
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As a performer on cruise ships he has been to more than 40 cities. Just last week, the group he formed with friends from his alma mater, King’s College in Hong Kong’s Mid-Levels, the Veloz Harmonica Quartet, was invited to perform at a gala concert at Switzerland (where they live-streamed themselves playing an impressive rendition of Flight of the Bumblebee on the snowy slopes of the Jungfrau peak in the Alps). And earlier this year, Smash, a trio he formed with pianist Wong Ka-jeng and saxophone player Timothy Sun, showcased their music to audiences in London.
Such career success was entirely beyond Ho’s expectations, however. Just a few years ago, he considered being a full-time musician such a gamble that he studied occupational therapy at Hong Kong Polytechnic University to give himself a plan B.
Still, having remained active in the city’s music scene while a student, Ho built himself a solid following in Hong Kong and was able to book jobs even before he graduated.
It helps that he is a charismatic performer, having learned how to work the crowd and cultivate his stage presence when performing night after night alongside comedians, magicians and even a hypnotist while working on cruise ships.
