For fifteen years, siblings Trey and Chui-Inn Lee have been quietly building what Hong Kong’s cultural policy now calls for – a self-sustaining ecosystem that connects world-class artistry with local talent. Through their non-profit Musicus Society, the duo has turned a family vision into a platform that nurtures young musicians, bridges East and West and brings international collaboration to the city’s stages,...
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] For fifteen years, siblings Trey and Chui-Inn Lee have been quietly building what Hong Kong’s cultural policy now calls for – a self-sustaining ecosystem that connects world-class artistry with local talent.
Through their non-profit Musicus Society, the duo has turned a family vision into a platform that nurtures young musicians, bridges East and West and brings international collaboration to the city’s stages, culminating this November in the 15th anniversary Musicus Fest.
The Hong Kong government has in recent years called for greater promotion of local arts development. As an example of this effort, the Blueprint for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries Development, announced in late 2024, outlines more than 17 initiatives to strengthen the city’s position as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.
“It’s exactly what we’ve been doing for 15 years,” says Chui-Inn. And together with her younger brother, the celebrated cellist Trey Lee, she co-founded Musicus Society in 2010, long before such efforts became part of the government’s cultural agenda. From a modest start to a cultural institution Their modest initiative to connect local musicians with international mentors has since transformed into one of Hong Kong’s most respected classical music institutions, with programmes ranging from festivals and educational outreach to performances that span continents.
“We saw a gap,” says Chui-Inn. “At the time, Hong Kong had talented young musicians, but very few opportunities for them to perform side-by-side with world-class artists. Musicus Society was born out of a wish to offer such crucial opportunities to local talents which were done in the West. Roots in a musical family
The story of Musicus is inseparable from that of the Lee family. Raised by a mother who studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the three siblings – Chui-Inn, her younger sister and youngest brother Trey – were sent to New York’s Juilliard School as children.
“We were very young when we moved,” she recalls. “My mother believed that a true musical education meant immersing ourselves in the best environment possible.”
Years later, Chui-Inn returned to Hong Kong in the 1990s and began working behind the scenes in the creative industry. Later when Trey won first prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition, she stepped in as his manager. That partnership would become the foundation of Musicus Society.
“Trey was always driven by the belief that music connects cultures,” she says. “I shared that vision and I wanted to make it sustainable, not just artistically but educationally. We wanted to build something lasting for Hong Kong.” Four programmes, one mission
Fifteen years on, Musicus Society stands on four key programmes, all anchored in its mission of cross-cultural collaboration and artistic development.
The first, Musicus Fest, is its annual flagship festival, bringing world-class international artists to Hong Kong to perform alongside promising young talents. Musicus Inspires! offers students and emerging professionals opportunities for training and performance both in Hong Kong and overseas, sharing the stage with distinguished masters. It also brings outstanding musicians into local schools by introducing classical music to young audiences in an engaging and accessible way.
Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK), founded and directed by Trey, is a professional chamber ensemble comprising next-generation Hong Kong artists, many of them come from top music institutions or won international prizes. The ensemble has represented the city to perform internationally and collaborated with preeminent artists such as violinist Barnabás Kelemen and Cameristi della Scala.
Finally, the Musicus Heritage Stories series, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, stages concerts in historic sites across the city, pairing music with stories of Hong Kong’s past. Anticipating Hong Kong’s cultural direction Chui-Inn explains: “All four are connected. The festival gives exposure, the education programmes nurture talents, the soloists represent Hong Kong abroad, and the heritage concerts root our music in local history. Together they complete the circle.”
“The government rightly encourages the growth of local arts and creative industries,” she says. “When we began, our mission and activities were something of a novelty that needed to be proven. The government recognised our work early on, offering its first grant in 2014 in support of our vision, and a second in 2016 after we had demonstrated tangible results. We wanted to show that a home-grown organisation could reach international standards while nurturing its own community.”
Today, the Society receives institutional support through public funding and sponsorship, including the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme. “The government has been very supportive,” she acknowledges. “Without that help, many of our performance and educational programmes would be impossible. It’s encouraging to see the arts becoming a recognised part of Hong Kong’s social fabric.” A milestone festival for a 15-year journey
That journey comes full circle this autumn with Musicus Fest 2025, marking the Society’s 15th anniversary. The festival opens on November 1 at Hong Kong City Hall, where Trey Lee performs with the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO), the world’s most recorded chamber orchestra and long-time collaborator of artists such as Daniel Barenboim and Hilary Hahn.
The concert reprises their acclaimed album Seasons Interrupted, a reflection on climate change through Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony. “It’s not only beautiful music but a reminder of how art can speak to our shared human experience. Even environmental issues can be felt through sound,” says Chui-Inn.
Adding to the cross-cultural spirit, young talents from the Musicus Ensemble Training Programme will perform alongside ECO musicians in works by Boccherini and Holst – a signature Musicus tradition of pairing youth with professionals.
In December, Musicus Soloists Hong Kong take the stage with two concerts – one at Shenzhen Concert Hall on December 5, making their Mainland China debut, and another at Hong Kong City Hall on December 7, led by Finnish violinist Minna Pensola and joined by Angela Chan and Jacques Forestier, joint winners of the 2024 Joseph Joachim Violin Competition. Cultivating the next generation
Music has the power to change young lives. Over the years, Chui-Inn has seen students from grassroots families become professional musicians and teachers, supported by financial aids offered to those unable to join Musicus Ensemble Training. For her, it’s about giving young people a path in music, whether they ultimately become soloists or not.
“I would encourage parents, children and of course all who love the arts to join us at our November and December concerts. Experience it as a form of cultivation, a way to nurture the next generation through music. That’s what Musicus has always been about.” Tickets for Musicus Fest 2025 are now available through URBTIX, with performances running from November 1 to December 15 at venues across Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Full programme details can be found at musicussociety.org.