Leanne Nicholls
Principal Oboe
Founder, Artistic Director and Principal Oboist of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, Leanne Nicholls was born in Australia has been involved in performing, teaching and promoting classical music in Hong Kong since the 1990s. She studied oboe in Australia with Czech oboe virtuoso Jiří Tancibudek and in Germany with Hans Elhorst and graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with First Class Honours from the University of Adelaide. She is the recipient of many awards and prizes including First Prize at the Adelaide Eisteddfod Non-Keyboard Concerto Competition. From the age of eighteen she has performed professionally with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra, the State Opera Orchestra of South Australia, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Macao Orchestra. From 1993 to 1999 she was a core member of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. In addition to solo, chamber and orchestral performances on oboe, Leanne Nicholls studied voice on a scholarship prize at the University of Adelaide and performed as a member of the RTHK Singers. She also enjoys teaching oboe and hosting Morning Call for RTHK Radio 4. Since 1999 Leanne has devoted her time to the development of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. In 2009 she was awarded a commendation certificate by the Secretary for Home Affairs of the Hong Kong SAR Government for her outstanding contribution to the development of arts and cultural activities.
"The solo oboe passage by Leanne Nicholls was very gentle and warm."
Tina Fu, International Association of Theatre Critics (2018)
"Soloist Leanne Nicholls’ creamy tone blended beautifully to create delicate, melancholy dissonances."
South China Morning Post (2017)
"Leanne Nicholls' oboe was perfect in both tone and technique, making the orchestra-only portion of the concert equally attractive!"
Hong Kong Economic Journal (2016)
"Stealing the show, however, was Leanne Nicholls as the elusive Miss Orb the Spider, who plays the eight missing oboe notes. She proves her vocal strength in her solo"
South China Morning Post (2015)
"Cast in the role of Miss Orb the Spider, Leanne Nicholls made a special impression as she spun the eight notes from her spider web, and displayed a variety of talents"
Hong Kong Economic Journal (2015)
"Leanne Nicholls' fine oboe solo contributions"
South China Morning Post (2010)
"I was particularly impressed by Leanne Nicholls' oboe solo performance in Astor Piazzolla's famous piece Oblivion."
The Map (2010)
"A galaxy of stars of the oboe played. A simple lullaby was a particularly touching moment exquisitely played by Leanne Nicholls"
The Adelaide Advertiser (2004)
"Leanne Nicholls (nee: Chesson) played the Martinu oboe concerto with agility and feeling"
The Adelaide Advertiser (1988)
"Leanne Nicholls (nee: Chesson) displayed a fine feel for Ravel's expression and style, creating a sometimes menacing, always thrilling atmosphere"
The Adelaide Review (1987)
黎燕欣
首席雙簧管
黎燕欣是香港城市室樂團的創辦人、藝術總監及雙簧管首席。從九十年代開始在香港參與古典音樂演出、教學和推廣工作。黎燕欣生於澳洲，早年跟隨捷克雙簧管家譚志寶德學習雙簧管，並赴德國跟隨艾豪斯習藝，後畢業於澳洲愛德雷特大學，獲頒一級榮譽音樂學士學位。黎燕欣曾獲多個音樂獎項，包括愛德雷特艾斯德福非鍵盤協奏曲大賽第一名。她從十八歲開始參與多個職業樂團的演出，包括愛德雷特交響樂團、愛德雷特室樂團、南澳洲國立歌劇院樂團、香港管弦樂團及澳門樂團；1993至1999年期間任香港小交響樂團成員。黎燕欣除了作雙簧管獨奏、室樂及樂團演出外，亦是一位聲樂家。她在愛德雷特大學就學時曾獲獎學金修讀聲樂，在港亦是香港電台合唱小組一員。她也是一位熱心教學的雙簧管老師，又在香港電台第四台主持音樂節目「清晨妙韻」。黎燕欣自1999年起全力投入發展香港城市室樂團的工作，更於2009年獲香港特別行政區政府民政事務局局長頒發嘉許獎狀，表揚她對促進文化藝術活動方面的傑出貢獻。
「雙簧管首席黎燕欣 (Leanne Nicholls) 的獨奏片段非常溫柔且溫暖。」
傅瑰琦 國際演藝評論家協會 (2018)
「 黎燕欣的雙簧管獨奏使音樂會生色不少。」
《南華早報》(2017)
「由藝術總監演奏的雙簧管音色與技巧臻至完美，令節目的音樂部分同樣吸引！」
《信報》(2016)
「不過整個演出最耀目的，是黎燕欣飾演的那位行蹤飄忽的蛛圓小姐，那八個欠缺的雙簧管音符就靠她奏出來了；獨唱部份更顯她的聲樂實力。」
《南華早報》(2015)
「飾演蛛圓小姐的黎燕欣，先由她奏出八個音開始，再在空中結網亮相，印象深刻。她的才藝超出平時觀眾的想像」
《信報》(2015)
「皮亞梭拉名曲《遺忘》中，最感人的是黎燕欣的雙簧管獨奏。」
《李歐梵，藝術媒介雜誌》(2010)
「一流雙簧管好手雲集。一首簡單的搖籃曲，由黎燕欣娓娓奏來，竟能觸動心弦，令人感動至深。」
《愛德雷特廣告人》(2004)
「黎燕欣吹奏馬爾蒂努的雙簧管協奏曲，具見靈巧，感情充沛。」
《愛德雷特廣告人》(1988)
「黎燕欣演繹拉威爾，不論在表情或風格上，均表現得細膩深入，能做到時而咄咄逼人、時而振奮的氣氛。」
《愛德雷特評論》(1987)