https://www.scmp.com/rss/524574/feed Aristo Sham Ching-tao is a highly accomplished Hong Kong-born pianist, recognised as a child prodigy who began playing at age three. He holds degrees from Harvard University and New England Conservatory, and an Artist Diploma from the Juilliard School. A decorated winner of numerous international competitions, his most significant achievement is the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Gold Medal. Sham has performed globally with leading orchestras and for royalty, demonstrating... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ambrose Li Ambrose Li With two weeks of Hong Kong’s art month remaining, the city will continue to host a rich array of events, from a pop culture convention to a slew of exhibitions. The South China Morning Post highlights some of the shows taking place in the rest of March. From ComplexCon to classical concerts Pop culture festival ComplexCon will return to Hong Kong for its third edition on March 21 and 22, with headliners including Jennie from K-pop powerhouse Blackpink and American rapper Yeat, making his Asian... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346632/blackpinks-jennie-art-basel-cj-hendry-top-hong-kong-events-catch-march?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3346632/blackpinks-jennie-art-basel-cj-hendry-top-hong-kong-events-catch-march?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 05:00:09 +0000 Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan In Washington, a city often in the spotlight for domestic and international politics, Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham views his instrument as a platform that can bridge cultures, transcend politics and connect people across borders. At 28, fresh from a landmark international competition victory, Sham is building a global career where his music often speaks louder than diplomacy. On Wednesday, just before stepping onto the stage at the US capital’s Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium for a Year of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344943/hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-brings-music-and-message-openness-washington?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/3344943/hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-brings-music-and-message-openness-washington?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 20:54:49 +0000 Kylie Knott Kylie Knott One of the most popular arts stories of 2025 shone a light on Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham, who in June was named the winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Shedding a less positive light on Hong Kong was a story about why so many classical music stars are skipping Hong Kong for other Chinese cities. A story about Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor – who became famous after a British king abdicated to wed her – also struck a chord. Here we look back at seven of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337980/7-best-arts-stories-2025-new-labubu-prize-winning-hong-kong-pianist?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3337980/7-best-arts-stories-2025-new-labubu-prize-winning-hong-kong-pianist?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:15:08 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls If you think that the tradition-steeped Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Rome has a voluminous name, you should hear the tutti forte and fortissimo sounds of the 117-year-old ensemble. On November 20, the orchestra flaunted its full power at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre under its music director, Daniel Harding, in the first of two concerts that kicked off its Asian tour. The ensemble impressed – most notably in Rachmaninov’s beloved Symphony No 2 in E minor after the break... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334014/champion-hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-joins-rome-based-orchestra-powerful-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334014/champion-hong-kong-pianist-aristo-sham-joins-rome-based-orchestra-powerful-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 03:07:02 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls Anyone planning to give the gift of music for Christmas should seriously consider Aristo Sham’s new solo piano album. Timeline, released by Universal Music Hong Kong on November 7, is a thoughtfully compiled selection based on the current world tour by the 2025 Van Cliburn gold medallist. At its core are transcriptions by Ferruccio Busoni, flanked by two unadapted works by Johann Sebastian Bach and Edvard Grieg. Concert pianists generally avoid recording Bach in the pure form, possibly for fear... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3331067/pianist-aristo-shams-new-album-joyful-masterpiece-bach-grieg-and-busoni?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3331067/pianist-aristo-shams-new-album-joyful-masterpiece-bach-grieg-and-busoni?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 23:15:09 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Bookings for the 54th Hong Kong Arts Festival have begun, following the release of the full line-up on October 16, which features more than 1,000 artists from around the world. The festival, which runs from February 27 to March 30, 2026, will open with Ballet Nacional de España performing the Asia premiere of Rubén Olmo’s dance drama La Bella Otero. The production, which features Flamenco and elements of Belle Époque, tells the life story of Carolina Otero, a 19th-century Spanish dancer and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3329250/hong-kong-arts-festival-2026-include-caravaggio-ballet-and-music-mozart-and-bach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3329250/hong-kong-arts-festival-2026-include-caravaggio-ballet-and-music-mozart-and-bach?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:45:08 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls Chances were that even if pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao had shown up for his first homecoming recital and only played variations on “Happy Birthday”, the audience would have been just as enraptured. On the heels of the Hongkonger’s triumph at the prestigious and famously gruelling Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June, it was no surprise that tickets for his two HKU Muse concerts at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) were snapped up like hot cakes after Sunday mass. The 29-year-old... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3324681/pianist-aristo-sham-wows-hong-kong-audience-bach-ravel-and-rachmaninov-recital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3324681/pianist-aristo-sham-wows-hong-kong-audience-bach-ravel-and-rachmaninov-recital?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:15:07 +0000