Leanne Nicholls
Principal Oboe
Leanne Nicholls is an award-winning oboist and music theatre producer. She is currently the Principal Oboist and Artistic Director of City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. She studied at The University of Adelaide where she received a Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree with First Class Honours in oboe performance and the Selborne Moutray Russell Scholarship Prize for soprano voice. Her musical mentors include Jiří Tancibudek (former Principal Oboe, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra), Prof Hans Elhorst in Switzerland and Australian soprano Gwenyth Annear. In 1988 she won First Prize at the Adelaide Eisteddfod Non-Keyboard Competition with her performance of the Martinů Oboe Concerto. Her performing career includes engagements with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, the Adelaide Chamber Orchestra and the State Opera Orchestra of South Australia. Following her move to Hong Kong in 1989, she performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the RTHK Singers and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta (1993 to 1999). Her solo performances include the Bellini Oboe Concerto in the presence of the last Governor of Hong Kong. On CD she has recorded works for solo oboe and orchestra by Piazzolla and Bill Connor on the Orchid Classics and Forgotten Records labels. Leanne Nicholls is also committed to nurturing young talents for the stage and has coached numerous students both in Australia and Hong Kong. Her musical theatre creations Bug Symphony and WILD (The Musical) have won YAMawards in Portugal and Belgium. In 2022 she received a commendation in the HKSAR’s Chief Executive’s Honours List for her contributions to classical music in Hong Kong.
"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
得獎雙簧管演奏家及音樂劇製作人黎燕欣，現為香港城市室樂團的藝術總監及雙簧管首席。她畢業於澳洲阿德萊德大學，獲音樂學士（榮譽）學位，主修雙簧管演奏並以一級榮譽畢業；同時亦獲Selborne Moutray Russell獎學金（女高音聲樂）。她的音樂恩師包括：捷克愛樂團前雙簧管首席譚志寶德、、澳洲女高音安尼雅，並於瑞士跟隨艾豪斯教授學習。1998年，黎燕欣於阿德萊德文化節（非鍵盤比賽）中，憑馬爾蒂努雙簧管協奏曲贏得第一名。她的職業演出包括與阿德萊德交響樂團、阿德萊德室樂團、南澳洲國立歌劇院樂團等合作。自1989年移居香港後，她曾與香港管弦樂團、香港電台合唱小組以及香港小交響樂團（1993至1999年）同台獻藝。她的獨奏演出包括為最後一任港督演出貝利尼雙簧管協奏曲。她亦曾灌錄唱片，為Orchid Classics 及 Forgotten Records 唱片公司錄製皮亞梭拉和比爾.康納的雙簧管與樂團作品。黎燕欣同時熱心培育舞台新秀，並於澳洲和香港指導無數學生。她創作的音樂劇《失蝨室樂團》及《野地之聲》，曾於葡萄牙及比利時榮獲「年輕觀眾音樂大獎」。2022年，她香港特別行政區行政長官頒發社區服務獎狀，以表揚她對香港古典音樂的貢獻。
「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)