Praised as "outstanding performer" by Arts News, RTHK Radio 4, and "fantastic, excellent player" by Gerard Schwarz, conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong concert saxophonist Tak Chiu Wong is an international soloist, chamber musician, educator, and arranger.
Wong has been invited to perform extensively as a soloist throughout Asia and United States. It includes collaborations with the Hong Kong Band Directors Wind Orchestra, NAFA New Music Ensemble, BSRU Wind Symphony, EdUHK Orchestra, University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, West Virginia University Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Wind Orchestra, among others.
As a chamber and also orchestral musician, he has been performed with several ensembles and orchestras over 15 countries. It includes 4UNLIKE, Amigo Saxophone Quartet, La Sax, Hong Kong Saxophone Ensemble, Hong Kong Wind Kamerata, Hong Kong New Music Ensemble, Asian Contemporary Ensemble, Hong Kong Symphonic Winds, Orchestre d’harmonie de RATP, Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Frederick Symphony Orchestra, and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.
Besides playing traditional classical music, Wong is also passionate in developing contemporary music from the works of living composers. He has been commissioned and premiered over 70 works that are dedicated to him. In 2016, he was awarded the renowned Barlow Award for commission project between Amigo Saxophone Quartet and composer Diana Soh, making it the first and only saxophone ensemble to receive such award since its establishment in 1983. His important premieres includes Pierre Boulez's Dialogue de l'ombre double, Qigang Chen's Feu D'ombres, Chen Yi's Chinese Folk Dance Suite, Narong Prangcharoen's Perpetual Motions, Jean-Philippe Vanbeselaere's Tribute to Mister L., Satoshi Yagisawa's Saxophone Concerto. These works were published by BabelScores, Europa Musica Publishing, and Theodore Presser Company.
Apart from performing, Wong is enthusiastic in teaching. He currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Saxophone at the School of Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. Prior to his current position, he has served as faculty at Chinese University of Hong Kong, Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University, and University of Hong Kong. Wong is also the artistic director and faculty of the Asia Pacific Saxophone Academy in Thailand, aiming to enhance the education and communication among saxophonists and students from Asia Pacific countries. Outside the academy, Wong was invited to present master classes in China, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Besides, he has served as one of the jury members of international competitions such as Asia Pacific Saxophone Composition Competition (Thailand), Asia Pacific Saxophone Competition (Thailand), ENKOR Competition (Germany), Shenzhen Winds and Percussion Competition (China), Singapore Woodwind Festival Competition, and Wuhan Conservatory Saxophone Competition (China).
Arranging music for varies instrumentation has been a great interest of him. Wong has arranged over hundreds of arrangements, from solo instrument, duo, trio, quartet, ensemble, to windband and orchestra. They include almost all genres, from early music, classical, jazz, movie music to pop songs, for all levels of players. These arrangements have been performed extensively in Asia, Australia, Europe and United States, including Central Conservatory of Music (China) and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music(Australia). Some of his arrangements are published by Sheet Music Press and Theodore Presser Company.
Wong has studied in Hong Kong, France, and United States. He was invited to join the Pi Kappa Lambda, a national music honor society in the United States in 2013, due to his outstanding academic achievement. Prior to his completion of his doctoral degree, Wong won numerical prizes including: Hong Kong Academy Concerto Competition (2006, Hong Kong), Concour de Saxophone Parisien (2008, France), Jacoby Concerto Competition (2013, U.S.A.), and WVU Young Artist Competition (2015, U.S.A.) His mentors include Michael Campbell, Jean-Yves Fourmeau, Michael Ibrahim, Jennifer To, and Scott Turpen.
Wong is a Selmer Paris and D’addario artist. He plays exclusively on the Selmer Paris saxophones with D’addario reeds.