衛武營國家藝術文化中心 National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Weiwuying)

The harmonica is a highly distinctive instrument, small yet imbued with infinite possibilities, often hailed as the king of popular instruments. It can not only interpret classical music but also span genres such as pop, jazz, and contemporary music. However, in Taiwan, the harmonica is considered a niche instrument, and most people hold the stereotype that it is only used to play old songs and traditional tunes.

Sirius Harmonica Ensemble, the recipient of 2017 Harmonica Group World Champion, is a representative contemporary harmonica group dedicated to the innovation and promotion of harmonica music, interpreting various styles of music through ensemble arrangements. When collaborating with musicians from different countries, they have been deeply moved by the diverse musical cultures. Recently, during a performance tour in Europe, the enthusiastic applause and profound resonance from the local audience astonished the ensemble, highlighting the success of local music education and emphasizing the necessity of localizing and integrating music into everyday life.

Since 2012, Sirius Harmonica Ensemble has been committed to promoting harmonica performances across various cities and counties in Taiwan, receiving much encouragement and support from the public. Through their performances, they hope to introduce more people to Taiwan's high-quality harmonica ensemble music and to foster a deeper appreciation for cultural and artistic activities, thereby promoting the development of the arts in Taiwan.

This year in Weiwuying Showtime, they will reinterpret various musical styles through the rhythmic sounds of harmonica ensemble. In just one hour, the program will lead the audience on a swift journey through pop, Latin, jazz, and other musical elements. The fusion of styles ensures that every note brings boundless surprises!

  Program  

Tango pour Claude

Isn't She Lovely

Theme of Detective Conan

Theme of A Cruel Angel's Thesis

Love Me Do

Dynamite

Theme of Chibi Maruko Chan

New York Tango

Sweet Child O'mine

  Autograph Session 

2025/4/23(Wed)21:05 Recital Hall 1F Lobby

  Artists  

Chord Harmonica｜Yen-ming Emery CHEN

Chromatic Harmonica｜CHANG Chao-teng, CAI Ming-sian,  CHEN Yi-hsiang, WANG Yen-hua

Bass Harmonica｜HUANG Kuan-chih 

  Team Introduction  

Sirius Harmonica Ensemble is the recipient of Harmonica Group World Champion in 2017 World Harmonica Festival (WHF), and was invited as judges, performing guests, and workshop lecturers by WHF in 2013 and 2021. In 2022 and 2023, Sirius Harmonica Ensemble received the Taiwan Top Performing Arts Group award from National Culture and Arts Foundation, Taiwan. In the past decade, they has remained active in various international harmonica events in Europe and Asia including Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival, Seoul International Harmonica Festival, Harmonica F E N Festival and Penang Harmonica Festival, and have been regarded as one of the most globally renowned harmonica ensemble influencers at the present time. Sirius adopts a wide range of musical styles from Latin, tango to pop and jazz. In addition to the exploration in harmonica music, they have also devoted themselves to the popularization and education of harmonica music. Besides the annual concert and concert tours in Taiwan, Sirius organizes the Taiwan Harmonica Music Festival (THMF), which has become the most important annual harmonica event in Taiwan and a resounding harmonica festival in east-Asia. In recent years, Sirius has expanded into harmonica hardware development, with band members TSAI Ming-hsien  and CHANG Chao-teng , establishing the handmade harmonica brand "Laelaps." Sirius hopes to create a sound environment for harmonica music, dedicating efforts in various aspects such as professional arts, educational outreach, and hardware promotion.