Irene Au (97/SC/Chinese Language and Literature) is the founding director of the Vienna Boys Choir Music Academy and its Foundation. She has over 25 years of experience in arts administration and cultural production. Though she's organized countless events, serving as the Adviser of Workgroup on Yo-Yo Ma's Visit for the Celebration Programmes of CUHK 60^th anniversary celebration was her most memorable experience. She recalled, "We spent one and a half year preparing for this, which is my longest project ever. When it finally came together, it felt "too good to be true." It was a blessing for all participants and CUHK to share in this moment." Having the chance to meet an artist so closely, Irene believes Yo-Yo Ma brought more than music, "His dialogue with students covered life, growth, and our world—using music to convey life lessons. I'm sure the students gained something priceless."

Q: Music captivated you since childhood. Why did you major in Chinese instead of Music? Was there a special reason for choosing Shaw College? Any particularly memorable people or moments?

A: My father loved classical and Western pop music—our home was always filled with it. My musical journey began in primary school with piano and vocal lessons. When I entered CUHK, I chose Chinese over Music because my passion for Chinese ran deeper. I remember joining speech competition as early as Primary One, later moving into public speaking and debate. This soon blossomed into a deep fascination with language. I believed understanding language was important, and I had grasped its logic and thinking methods, so I chose to major in Chinese. As for Shaw College, it was simply because it was a new college at that time. I knew I wouldn't get a hostel place as a Sha Tin resident, so hostel quotas didn't factor in. My real connection to Shaw was its weekly assemblies. The grand hall fascinated me with its proper stage, something we didn't have in secondary school. I treasure every sharing from those expert lectures. Beyond the college, what left the strongest impression on me was CUHK's General Education. Taking courses outside my major and meeting peers from other departments was invaluable. And of course, the debate team. It was a profoundly inspiring experience expanding my knowledge and thinking. The seniors who returned to coach us, sharing career insights, essentially became my first "mentorship experience."

Q: After graduation, you engaged in arts administration, how did you connect with the Vienna Boys' Choir?

A: In May of my graduation year, I saw a job ad in the newspaper for a Beijing opera cultural organization and applied. They were preparing The Legend of the White Snake for the Handover Ceremony Performance, bringing over 200 artists from four mainland cities to Hong Kong. As a fresh graduate, I suddenly became their liaison, meeting them at the train station and arranging hotel stays. That's how I joined the arts administration industry, and I've never left the field since.

I've always enjoyed event planning, and I was thrilled my first job was related to Chinese culture. I remember I being responsible for operating the subtitles during performances. Though the actors sang in dialects I couldn't understand, my musical intuition helped me. I used rehearsal time to memorize their phrasing and pulling it off smoothly. Later, I transitioned to other roles and started my own event company. In 2001, when the Vienna Boys' Choir needed a local producer for their performance in Hong Kong, my company won the bid. That's how our partnership began.

Q: Initially, this simply involved arranging the Vienna Boys' Choir performance in Hong Kong. How did that evolve into establishing a music academy here?

A: The Vienna Boys' Choir isn't just a choir—it is a school with a comprehensive education system. They develop students' full potential through music, including social skills and organizational abilities, putting holistic education into practice. Since Vienna is known as the "City of Music," it would be wonderful if Hong Kong students could experience or participate. So, I wrote to their director proposing workshops during their next visit, and they agreed. The two-week workshop filled up in half a day. Later, we periodically invited their teachers to Hong Kong, until one day we asked if they'd consider establishing a more permanent training presence in Hong Kong. That's how the idea for the music academy was born, which is the choir's first overseas outpost in its 500-year history. Now, their instructors train local teachers to deliver the Vienna curriculum in Hong Kong schools, bringing this musical legacy to our community.

Q: In your view, how does music education benefit children's development?

A: I've always mention that music should be among the most fundamental disciplines in education. By consolidating the music sector's currently scattered resources, I believe we can achieve transformative breakthroughs. This idea led me to found KALOS, a music creative platform empowering young musicians through peer networks, mentorship, and global industry connections. Music training is inherently creative—but when combined with entrepreneurship, it becomes transformative. This fusion unlocks their full potential to have a meaningful impact.

Q: You joined Shaw College Alumni Association in 2017—what motivated this commitment to give back to your alma mater? And as the Adviser of Workgroup on Yo-Yo Ma's Visit for the Celebration Programmes of CUHK 60^th anniversary visit, could you share how this extraordinary project unfolded?

A: The alumni association is my favorite place, it feels like home. I'm truly grateful to have met such wonderful alumni here. We are united by shared college memories and organizing events together, which is truly moving. Everyone is busy, yet their dedication inspired me to contribute. It began when the Alumni Affairs Office reached out to me, I'm grateful they did, as it gave me the opportunity to serve our alma mater!

For CUHK's 60^th anniversary, alumni groups were tasked with programming. As President of Shaw College Alumni Association and someone familiar with the music industry, I was entrusted with the concert. When we considered Yo-Yo Ma, I reread the book "My Son, Yo-Yo" at home, then discovered he is the nephew of CUHK's founding Vice-Chancellor Dr. Li Choh-Ming and received an honorary doctorate at CUHK's 30^th anniversary. I thought these ties might help our proposal. I was almost certain he would not come for a solo performance. Our best offer is collaborating with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, coincidentally celebrating its 50^th anniversary. Both of us hold high expectations for the concert. When Yo-Yo Ma confirmed his performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the most precious part was inviting him to visit CUHK for close interaction with students. When it finally happened, I worked with Yo-Yo Ma's team to coordinate every detail. Witnessing the entire university came together - from the Alumni Affairs Office coordinating rehearsals, the Student Affairs Office selecting student representatives and professors coaching student for the Q&A - was profoundly touching. As an alumna, I'm profoundly moved by this collective achievement.

Published on CU Alumni Magazine Issue 122 by Alumni Affairs Office 2025

Read online: CU Alumni Magazine Issue 122 (Chinese Version Only)
PDF: http://www.alumni.cuhk.edu.hk/magazine/202506/pdf/CUAM_202506.pdf
ISSUU: http://www.alumni.cuhk.edu.hk/magazine/issuu/