“…a startling conducting talent.” -Philadelphia Inquirer
“…opening the concert evening and leading the orchestra with grace and assurance.” -The Chautauquan Daily
“…beautiful sense of control.”- Star Telegram
Macau-born conductor Lio Kuokman is currently one of the most high-profile Chinese conductors on the international stage.
Currently serving as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Macao Orchestra, Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival, Chief Conductor of RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Lio has been praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent.” He was the second prize winner of the third Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris, with the Audience prize and Orchestra prize, and has served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
LIO has successfully collaborated with many leading orchestras across the globe. Recent distinguished appearances including a celebration concert with the HK Phil in the presence of the President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. He was invited as the first Chinese conductor to conduct subscription concert with the Vienna Symphony; Invited by the French government to lead the first Saudi Arabia performance tour with Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse; Appearance at Music in PyeongChang Festival and conducted the season closing concert with Hong Kong Philharmonic. Other collaborated orchestras including Detroit Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre Philharmonique de Marseille, Seoul Philharmonic, NHK, Hiroshima, Tokyo Metropolitan, Kyoto Symphony, Russian National Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Latvian National Symphony, etc.
LIO has received numerous awards, including the Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons award in 2021 and Artist of the Year (Music) of the 16th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards in 2022. In recognition of his achievements in culture and art, LIO was awarded the Medal of Cultural Merit by the Macao SAR Government and appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Hong Kong SAR Government. LIO educated at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory .
