Global Symphony Orchestra (GSO)
Institutional Foundations & Mission:
The Global Symphony Orchestra (GSO), established in 2015 by visionary Music Director Maestro Gustav Ka Lok Mak, is an elite, non-profit charitable organization recognized under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO) of Hong Kong. Born from a profound vision to unite top-tier professional musical talents following Hong Kong’s historic return to China in 1997, GSO is dedicated to artistic excellence and cross-border cultural dialogue. The ensemble is primarily composed of distinguished Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese conservatory graduates trained at prestigious music institutions both locally and abroad.
International Acclaim & Strategic Milestones
Under the leadership of Maestro Mak, GSO has earned extensive international renown. Most notably, the orchestra was honored with the prestigious Austrian Music Theatre Prize in 2018—a world-class distinction celebrated with an acclaimed live performance at the awards gala in Vienna.
The orchestra has consistently achieved monumental artistic milestones, including securing a Guinness World Record for its historic participation in the "Concert of Ten Thousand" at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 2014. Furthermore, GSO shared the global stage with world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli in Macau and has graced historic international venues, including St. Charles's Church in Vienna and the Grand Theatre in Wenzhou.
The Signature "World Symphony Concert" Series
Annually, GSO presents its flagship "World Symphony Concert" series at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall, serving as a dynamic platform for global cultural exchange. The orchestra routinely collaborates with an illustrious array of local and international masters across diverse musical genres: Tenors: Andrea Bocelli, John Nuzzo, Warren Mok, Jiang Jing; Sopranos & Mezzo-Sopranos: Nancy Yuen, Samantha Chong, Soo Yeon Kim; Pianists: Aliena Wong, Annacecile Nayun Kim; Violinists & Violists: Elena Tanski, Bonjiu Koo, Karel Untermueller; Traditional Chinese Instrumentalists: Wong On Yuen, Tam Po Shek
Choral Ensembles: Opera Hong Kong, The Opera Society of Hong Kong, The Allegro Singers; Pop Icons: Miriam Yeung, Elisa Chan, Alfred Hui, Rowena Cortes
Cultural Diplomacy & National Broadcasts
In alignment with its core mandate to promote Chinese culture globally, GSO proudly presents original masterworks composed by Maestro Mak. His celebrated opera, The Legend of Confucius, was staged in Hong Kong to mark the 25th Anniversary of the HKSAR in 2022, streamed nationwide by the China Public Culture Association (CPCA) Theatres in 2021, and officially honored as an "Outstanding Theatrical Work" by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism following its selection at the 5th China Opera Festival in 2023.
GSO is a frequent guest at major national cultural festivals, including the China Arts Festival, the China Opera Festival, the Chopin Music Festival in China, and Hong Kong’s ISCM "Musicarama" Festival. Reinforcing its massive regional reach, GSO joined forces with the Guangzhou and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestras for CCTV’s landmark 2020 Greater Bay Area New Year Concert and was featured on a dedicated global broadcast of the program Music Traveler on CCTV Channel 15 in 2025.
Through its compelling live performances, high-profile media broadcasts, and meaningful artistic-diplomatic efforts, the Global Symphony Orchestra continues to serve as a vibrant, essential musical bridge, fostering creative dialogue between China and the West.