Asia-Pacific Catholic University Choirs to Gather in Hong Kong for Regional Choral Symposium

More than 150 student singers from Catholic universities across Asia and the Pacific are expected to gather in Hong Kong next month for the inaugural Asia Pacific Catholic Universities (APCU) Choral Symposium 2026.

The five-day event, themed “Harmony in Diversity,” will be held from June 17 to 21 at St. Francis University in Hong Kong. It aims to strengthen musical excellence, intercultural dialogue, and faith formation among young people in Catholic higher education.

The symposium will open on June 17 with a liturgical concert at St. Andrew's Church, followed by workshops, masterclasses, lectures, rehearsals, and collaborative performances on the university campus.

Organizers said the gathering will provide a platform for students from different cultures and traditions to learn from one another while deepening their appreciation of sacred choral music.

Keynote sessions on June 18 will feature Msgr. Jose Luis Mariblanca, Head of the Holy See Study Mission in Hong Kong, and Felix Yeung, Director of Music at St. John's Cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of Hong Kong.

Msgr. Mariblanca will speak on “Harmony in Diversity,” while Yeung's presentation, “The Spirituality of Choral Sacred Music,” will examine the role of sacred music in fostering unity, intercultural understanding, and shared spiritual experience.

Artistic leadership for the symposium will be provided by Ko Matsushita, a renowned Japanese composer and conductor who will serve as the event's guest of honor. Under his direction, participating choirs will prepare a massed performance showcasing sacred and contemporary choral works from across the Asia-Pacific region.

The symposium will conclude with a public concert on June 20 at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium. Organizers expect more than 1,000 audience members to attend the performance. Participating institutions include Fu Jen Catholic University, De La Salle University Chorale, Universidade Católica Timorense, and the host St. Francis University Choir.

A focus group discussion on June 21 will bring together selected participants and facilitators to evaluate the symposium's outcomes, exchange insights on intercultural collaboration, and explore future opportunities for cooperation among Catholic university choirs in the region.

Organizers said the symposium seeks to promote friendship, cultural exchange, and faith-based engagement among young musicians while strengthening networks among Catholic universities across Asia and the Pacific.

The APCU Choral Symposium 2026 is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of Catholic university choirs in the region in recent years, highlighting the role of choral music as a means of fostering dialogue, community, and shared faith across cultural boundaries.