Hong Kong Philharmonic fires programme head Lam Fung, despite pledge to work closer with local talents
- The HK Phil did not offer reasons for the sudden dismissal of Lam, who received a “perfectly fine” appraisal in March and had had no warnings
- His dismissal directly contradicts what music director Jaap van Zweden said last month about it being “very important” to work with local talent
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has fired its programme head – a top home-grown composer from the city – just weeks after it pledged to collaborate more with local music talent.
Lam Fung, who became the orchestra’s director of artistic planning in 2017, was abruptly dismissed on May 22 despite having an unblemished record with the company.
For 39-year-old Lam – whose resume includes three BBC commissions, one of which premiered at the BBC Proms in 2012, and two commissions for the HK Phil – the sacking was both “unreasonable and unusual”, he said.
“My last [job] appraisal was on March 19 and at the time, the then [HK Phil] chief executive Michael MacLeod gave me a perfectly fine appraisal, which was then countersigned by board chairman Y.S Liu on April 23,” Lam said.
“Just looking at that appraisal, there was absolutely no sign of any sort that would suggest my overall performance, over the past two years, was below par to such an extent that it would warrant this sudden termination of employment. Neither have I received any verbal or written warnings before that.”
