Hong Kong is a major cultural hub, regularly visited by the most renowned performers from all over the world and with an equally broad range of local cultures and talent. The Cosmopolis Festival aims to introduce audiences to music from a cross section of cultural, linguistic, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, representing traditions such as Indian classical music, Indonesian gamelan, Filipino jazz, Chinese orchestral repertoire, chamber music, as well as avant-garde, experimental, and multimedia works.

Organized by the School of Humanities and Social Science at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in collaboration with the Shaw Auditorium, the festival is designed to include new commissioned works and performances by prominent local musicians alongside distinguished international guests. Concerts are paired with talks, workshops, and masterclasses, serving an educational role within HKUST’s music program but open to the broader public.

The 2026 season features the renowned Palestinian singer Nai Barghouti; Armenian star jazz pianist Tigran Hamasyan and his quartet; Hong Kong's own Cong Quartet; celebrated American composer Sheila Silver; pipa virtuoso Zhang Ying; Brazilian guitarist brothers Sérgio and Odair Assad; and more.

Cosmopolis Festival Co-Artistic Directors

Ilari Kaila — Composer-in-Residence; Senior Lecturer, HUMA
Timothy Page — Assistant Professor of Composition, AMC

Festival Artistic Advisory Panel

Timothy Tsukamoto — Director of Artistic Planning, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Andrea Fessler — Founder and Executive Director, Premiere Performances
Kung Chi-shing — Former Head of Contemporary Performance, West Kowloon Cultural District
Anna Kwong — Program Director, Center for the Arts; Senior Lecturer, HUMA
Isaac Droscha — Vocal Artist; Senior Lecturer, HUMA
Galison Lau — Composer; Instructional Assistant, HUMA
Ali Akil — Postdoctoral Fellow, City University of Hong Kong
Anish Mishra — Program Liaison, SPIC MACAY; Doctoral Student, HUMA

Festival Production Team

Angi Law — Assistant Manager, SHSS
Yandy Poon — Officer, SHSS
Lorenzo Wan — Assistant Officer, SHSS
Galison Lau — Composer; Instructional Assistant, HUMA
Rod Yu — Pianist; Instructional Assistant, HUMA
Alvin Tam — Composer; Instructional Assistant, HUMA
Ilari Kaila — Composer-in-Residence; Senior Lecturer, HUMA
Timothy Page — Composer; Assistant Professor, AMC

Special Thanks To:

Shaw Auditorium Program Committee
Shaw Auditorium Unit Staff

Contact

Email: cosmopolis@ust.hk
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