Greetings from Hong Kong

I'm just begining an exciting trip to Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. There will be many photographs and stories to share! The main purpose of my trip is a lecture for violinmakers at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, while delivering some commissioned violins. But, I've also been able to do some sightseeing and revisit some places and friends from my trip last year. Take a look at these photos from Hong Kong!

My friend and customer K.C. Siu showed me around one of his record stores at the posh Pacific Place shopping center in Hong Kong. It is a busy place with a fine classic music division. Mr. Siu has a wonderful collection of stringed instruments. Touring around in his awesome blue Maserati GranCabrio was a thrill in itself.

(L to R) Angelina Siu - wonderful pianist and host, K.C. , me, and Fan Ting - principle 2nd violinist in the Hong Kong Philharmonic

(L to R) K.C., me, Yat-Wah Cheng, and Fan Ting. Yat-Wah Cheng is a respected teacher at the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts. We are holding 2 Alf violins I brought over, and violins from H.C.’s collection: a Viullaume and a Scarampella

Fang Ting, Principle 2nd violin of the Hong Kong Philharmonic talks with me about his latest violin. Professor Cheng studies a special edition, Opus 200, that I had just finished for Cheng’s colleague at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Professor Yang C. Lin.

10 year old Alex Young has just received his Gregg Alf violin, posing L to R with his grandfather, me, grandmother and his mother Katherine.

Again with Alex’s father Karl Young on the left. They have been my host family in Hong Kong.

Alex was eager to get back to his violin after a wonderful vegetarian dinner party in the Causeway Bay district of Hong Kong

The streets are very crowded at night; everyone's having a good time.

More pictures to come soon!