Fantasies in Dialogue: Traditions and Transformations—Ryan Chan and Anne Lam Organ Recital

A Hong Kong organ story: teacher and protégé, three centuries of music on one extraordinary instrument

A concert that explores how composers inherit, re-interpret and transform the music that came before them—the sacred and the secular, original works and transcriptions, counterpoint and jazz, in a vibrant dialogue across generations. Mozart’s dramatic F minor Fantasia meets a jazz-infused reimagining by Gárdonyi, while Bizet’s Carmen is re-invented as a dazzling organ showpiece. From Bach to the present day, these works showcase the Hong Kong Cultural Centre’s Rieger organ—with its 8,000 pipes and 93 stops—in all its colourful, orchestral splendour.

Raised in Hong Kong and trained in the United States, organists Ryan Chan and Anne Lam share a deep musical history: Chan studied with Lam before going on to the Eastman School of Music—home to one of the world’s leading organ programmes—where he, following in Lam’s footsteps, is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts under Department Chair David Higgs. Chan’s debut album Paris Milieu was praised by The American Organist for its “effortless technique” and “sensitive and thoughtful performance”. In 2024 he won first prize and the Audience Prize at the American Guild of Organists National Young Artists Competition, and he now returns to Hong Kong to share the stage with his mentor.

Lam teaches organ performance (Music Department) and sacred music (Chung Chi Divinity School) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and has appeared as guest organist with the Vienna Philharmonic and soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the 2017 Hong Kong Arts Festival. A passionate advocate for organ culture in Hong Kong, she takes on a role in initiating the Young Organist Competition (2021, 2025) and Organ Festival (2025) with the Hong Kong Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and hosted an RTHK Radio 4 series, introducing the instrument to a broader public. As part of this Festival programme, Lam will also lead a conversation session with the audience: an invitation to step closer to the King of Instruments.

Advance Bookings will start at 10am on 7 October 2026