Young pianist wins fellowship to attend famed music school in US

A young pianist has won a fellowship to attend the renowned Aspen Music School.

Yap Man-shan, a piano student from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA), has left for Colorado, United States, where she will undergo intensive training at the school this summer.

Man-shan's studies are being funded by the Asian Cultural Council's Lady Fung Music Fellowship, donated by Sir Kenneth Fung Ping-fan to honour his wife, a singer and musician.

Chairman of the Asian Cultural Council and a long-time supporter of cultural activities Kenneth Fung Hing-cheung said: 'Music and art represent the soul of any society.' The US$10,000 (HK$78,000) fellowship is earmarked for outstanding APA students to take summer studies at the Aspen Music School, an internationally-renowned music camp. Its distinguished faculty members hail from leading orchestras and conservatories from all over the world.