VPS 2025 Program

Vancouver Piano Sessions where classical music intertwines with inner awakening

THIRD EDITION

AUG 2 - 14, 2025

vancouverpianosessions.com

I would like to convey my warmest greetings to everyone attending the 2025 Vancouver Piano Sessions (VPS).

Now in its third year, the VPS offers students a unique opportunity to learn from internationally acclaimed professors. I am certain that participants will appreciate the many performances, masterclasses and seminars planned for this year’s edition.

I would like to thank the organizers for bringing this event to the community and for their commitment to supporting young musicians.

I wish you all a wonderful festival.

The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., O.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Ottawa 2025

Contents 2025 program

4

donna fishwick series

22

mindfulness and reconciliation

42

adult sessions, student ambassadors

44

2025 artist faculty and participants

48

biographies

50

donors and sponsors

50

volunteers and the vps team

54

merchandise

59

ticketing and social media

60

VPS THIRD EDITION

SUN 08.03 12:00 – 5:30 pm

CONCERTO COMPETITION

Final Round

pyatt hall (vs0)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

SPOTLIGHT

MJ Lee, S. Starcevich, E. Schumann, W. Weng

pyatt hall (vso)

10:30 – 11:45 am KIDS

Community Morning

tom lee music hall

2:00 – 5:00 pm

RECONCILIATION

A. Dawson

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

OPENING RECITAL

Performing Artists

pyatt hall (vso)

2:00 – 3:00 pm

LECTURE

E. Schumann

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 8:00 pm

SPOTLIGHT

S. Myer, W. Weng

pyatt hall (vso)

8:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Performing Artists

pyatt hall (vso)

10:30 – 11:45 am KIDS

Community Morning

tom lee music hall

2:00 – 4:00 pm

MINDFULNESS

T. Scherer

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Performing Artists

pyatt hall (vso)

2:00 – 4:00 pm

MINDFULNESS

T. Scherer

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Performing Artists

pyatt hall (vso)

2:00 – 3:30 pm

MASTERCLASS

A. Kobrin

christ church cathedral

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

60 Flying Fingers

christ church cathedral

MON 08.04

TUE 08.05

WED 08.06

THU 08.07

FRI 08.08

venues

4

PROGRAM

SAT 08.09 2:00 – 3:00 pm

LECTURE

A. Edwards

pyatt hall (vso)

3:00 – 4:00 pm

LECTURE

E. Xiang

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Alexander Kobrin

christ church cathedral

SUN 08.10 tom lee music hall

10:30 – 11:45 am KIDS

Community Morning

FULL DAY

EXCURSION

Whistler

2:00 – 4:00 pm

MASTERCLASS

Y. Kohlberg, N. An

pyatt hall (vso)

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Performing Artists, Adult Sessions

pyatt hall (vso)

11:30 – 1:00 pm

LECTURE (adult sessions)

C. Petersson

2:00 – 4:00 pm

MASTERCLASS

M. Cann, WY Yang

7:00 – 9:00 pm

RECITAL

Haochen Zhang

2:00 – 3:30 pm

MASTERCLASS

H. Zhang

7:00 – 9:00 pm

CLOSING GALA

Gala Concert

3:00 – 5:00 pm

RECONCILIATION

Spakwus Slolem

stanley park

5:00 – 6:00 pm

CELEBRATION

VPS 2025

stanley park

MON 08.11

TUE 08.12 tom lee music hall pyatt hall (vso) christ church cathedral

WED 08.13 pyatt hall (vso) christ church cathedral

THU 08.14

5

Embrace our mission Virtuous Present Solidarity at the heart of VPS

support us

VALUES

Experience a transformative celebration where classical music intertwines with inner awakening. VPS is a unique sanctuary where musical transcendence, mindful moments, community healing, and urban revival converge into one extraordinary journey.

VISION Vancouver Piano Sessions envisions a world where the freedom of self expression is fused with acceptance, respect and understanding of all humankind through the universal language of music which knows no limitations or prejudices.

MISSION Vancouver Piano Sessions is an annual festival dedicated to deepening the understanding and appreciation of classical piano music. Musicians of all ages develop and refine their personal expression of humanity through the international language of music. The freedom to express oneself through performance is deepened by the ability to accept the visions of all people. Distinctively, we are the only piano festival to offer Mindfulness workshops, expanding the awareness of self and the importance of oneself in the broader collective environment. Through our Reconciliation and community Sessions, we create a more vibrant and harmonious future for Vancouver.

CORE VALUES Understanding Noble Insight Quietly Unifying Emotions

← VPS 2024 © Si Ming Zheng

7

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23rd Season Opening Concert Preliminary Jury

David Fung Dmitri Novgorodsky Cristina Valdés ­

­

Final Jury

Ning An Spencer Myer

Elizabeth Schumann

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9

x

Concerto Competition Preliminary Jury

Final Jury

David Fung Dmitri Novgorodsky Cristina Valdés

Ning An Spencer Myer Elizabeth Schumann

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Final round 08.03 12:00 PM Pyatt Hall (VSO) Gala Concert 08.13 7:00 PM Christ Church Cathedral 9

FINAL ROUND Finalists (ages as of 06.21.25)

Kristen Fong 13 Richmond, BC, Canada wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)

Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 I. Allegro

Pei-Heng Jiang 14 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Concert No. 2 in F minor, op.21 I. Maestoso

Adam Li 14 Newmarket, NH, United States sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

Concert No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 I. Moderato

Yuyang Liu 12 Bellevue, WA, United States franz liszt (1811–1886) Fantasia on Hungarian Folk Melodies, S. 123

Sophie Xin Meng 13 West Vancouver, BC, Canada robert schumann (1810–1856)

Concert in A minor, op. 54 I. Allegro affettuoso

Chloe Sun 14 Vancouver, BC, Canada sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Concert No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 I. Moderato

Victoria Sun 13 Newport Beach, CA, United States felix mendelssohn (1809–1847)

Concert No. 1 in G minor, op. 25 I. Molto allegro con fuoco

Huiping Cai 27 Rochester, NY, United States sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Concert No. 3 in D minor, op. 30 I. Allegro, ma non tanto

Yuxiang Ji 19 Surrey, BC, Canada sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

Concert No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 I. Moderato

Madison Yan 21 Palm Beach, FL, United States frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Concert No. 2 in F minor, op. 21 10

I. Maestoso

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

12:00 pm

sunday 08.03

VPS CONCERTO COMPETITION Frederick Chen 11 Dublin, CA, United States frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Concert No. 2 in F minor, op. 21 I. Maestoso

Emily Tianru Jin 10 Lexington, MA, United States wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)

Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 I. Allegro maestoso

Rachel Wang 11 Richmond, BC, Canada wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)

Concerto No. 20 in D minor, K. 466 I. Allegro

Sunny Li 17 Vancouver, BC, Canada sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)

Concerto No. 3 in C major, op. 26 III. Allegro, ma non troppo

Ian Lin 15 Wakefield, RI, United States frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11 III. Rondo – Vivace

Mina Stefanovic 15 Tsawwassen, BC, Canada edvard grieg (1843–1907) Concerto in A minor, op. 16

III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato – Quasi presto – Andante maestoso

Paul Wang 18 North Vancouver, BC, Canada frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11 I. Allegro maestoso

Rachel Wei 17 Vancouver, BC, Canada sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)

Concerto No. 3 in C major, op. 26 I. Andante – Allegro

Kyle Yeung 17 Irvine, CA, United States sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943) Concert No. 2 in C minor, op. 18 III. Allegro scherzando

Yi-Wei Tao 16 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791) Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 I. Allegro maestoso

11

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

7:00 pm

sunday 08.03 SPOTLIGHT

MYONG-JOO LEE, SASHA STARCEVICH, ELIZABETH SCHUMANN, WAYNE WENG Tian-Yi Zhang Myong-Joo Lee

Derik Soltanian Wayne Weng

DJ Shin

Elizabeth Schumann

Max Tian

Sasha Starcevich

frédéric chopin

Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60

(1810–1849)

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 32 in C minor, op. 111 (1770–1827)

I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato

claude debussy

Estampes

(1862–1918)

I. Pagodes, III. Jardins sous la pluie

frédéric chopin

Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. 27 No. 1 Étude in A-flat major, op. 10 No. 10

(1810–1849)

13

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

monday 08.04

7:00 pm

OPENING RECITAL

PERFORMING ARTISTS Che Li

igor stravinsky (1882–1971)

Nathaniel Zhang Pei-Heng Jiang

The Firebird Suite (transcr. Agosti) Infernal dance

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, op. 81a “Les Adieux” (1770–1827)

I. Das Lebewohl

alexander scriabin

Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp major, op. 30

joseph haydn

Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50

(1732–1809)

I. Allegro

sergei rachmaninoff

Élégie in E-flat minor, op. 3 No. 1

franz liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat major, S. 244

frédéric chopin

Étude in C-sharp minor, op. 25 No. 7

glinka/balakirev

The Lark

hiromi uehara

The Tom and Jerry Show

alexander scriabin

Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor, op. 19

(1872–1915)

I. Andante

frédéric chopin

Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60

joseph haydn

Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:48

(1732–1809)

II. Rondo (Presto)

robert schumann

Variations on the name “Abegg,” op. 1

franz liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, S. 244

frédéric chopin

Waltz in A-flat major, op. 42

franz liszt

Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141

(1811–1886)

La Campanella

alexander scriabin

Fantasy in B minor, op. 28

frédéric chopin

Sonata No. 3 in B minor, op. 58

(1872–1915)

Chloe Sun Max Tian

(1873–1943)

Lucas Yu

(1811–1886)

Cara Fan

(1810–1849)

Karina Zhang

(1837–1910)

Colyn Li

(1979–)

Madison Yan Tian-Yi Zhang

(1810–1849)

Victoria Sun Frederick Chen

(1810–1856)

Xing Chen

(1811–1886)

Gabriel Sun

(1810–1849)

Lukas Kan Yi-Wei Tao

(1872–1915)

Kyle Yeung

(1810–1849)

← Ray Zhang / VPS 2023 © Alisha Weng

IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto

15

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

2:00 pm, 7:00 pm

tuesday 08.05

2:00 pm

LECTURE

ELIZABETH SCHUMANN Stanford University

Music Beyond the Stage How can music help us understand the world, and how can the world help us understand music? This talk explores ongoing research that connects music performance with neuroscience, engineering, and mental health. From force sensing gloves and ergonomic piano design to collaborative songwriting in community settings, we will see how music both draws from and contributes to efforts that improve human well-being, communication, and equity.

7:00 pm

SPOTLIGHT

SPENCER MYER Indiana University, Bloomington WAYNE WENG Founder & Director of Reconciliation Sessions | University of British Columbia Karina Zhang

Spencer Myer

Santino P. Robles Wayne Weng

wolfgang a. mozart

Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330

(1756–1791)

I. Allegro moderato

isaac albéniz

Iberia Suite, Book I

(1860–1909)

II. El Puerto

8:00 pm

RECITAL

PERFORMING ARTISTS DJ Shin

frédéric chopin

Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61

maurice ravel

Sonatine

(1810–1849)

Elizabeth Li

(1875–1937)

Chency Hung Matthew T Liu

II. Mouvement de menuet, III. Animé

ludwig van beethoven Sonata in C major, op. 2 No. 3 (1770–1827)

I. Allegro con brio

frédéric chopin

Nocturne in C-sharp minor, KK IVa/16

césar franck

Prélude, choral et fugue

nikolai kapustin

24 Preludes in Jazz Style, op. 53

(1937–2020)

XV. Moderato, III. Larghetto, X. Allegro

frédéric chopin

Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 31

sergei prokofiev

Toccata in D minor, op. 11

(1810–1849)

Haosen Wang

(1822–1890)

Flora Tu Rami Pan

(1810–1849)

Jessi Lin

(1891–1953)

17

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music.ubc.ca |

@ubc_music

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

7:00 pm

wednesday 08.06 RECITAL

PERFORMING ARTISTS Dora Chen Ryan Hong

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, op. 7 (1770–1827)

I. Allegro molto e con brio

benjamin lees

Fantasia

wolfgang a. mozart

Sonata No. 2 in F major, K. 280

(1756–1791)

I. Allegro assai

johannes brahms

Seven Fantasien, op. 116

(1833–1897)

I. Capriccio, II. Intermezzo

sergei prokofiev

Sonata No. 3 in A minor, op. 28

robert schumann

Sonata No. 2 in G minor, op. 22

(1810–1856)

II. Andantino, IV. Rondo

frédéric chopin

Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23

maurice ravel

Miroirs

(1875–1937)

III. Une barque sur l’océan

sergei prokofiev

Sonata No. 6 in A major, op. 82

(1891–1953)

IV. Vivace

nikolai kapustin

Variations, op. 41

johannes brahms

Sonata No. 3 in F minor, op. 5

(1924–2010)

Claire Luo Sienna Falanga Adam Li

(1891–1953)

Tom Zhang Grace Wang

(1810–1849)

Henry Shao Matthew Yu Jerry Chang

(1937–2020)

David Yu

(1833–1897)

I. Allegro maestoso

19

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

7:00 pm

thursday 08.07 RECITAL

PERFORMING ARTISTS Elliana Sun

felix mendelssohn

Rondo Capriccioso, op. 14

(1809–1847)

Isaac Sung Santino P. Robles Olivia Li

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57 “Appassionata” (1770–1827)

I. Allegro assai

isaac albéniz

Iberia Suite, Book I

(1860–1909)

II. El Puerto

franz schubert

Impromptu in C minor, D. 899 No. 1

frédéric chopin

Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, op. 20

franz liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A minor, S. 244

frédéric chopin

Étude No. 11 in A minor, op. 25

(1797–1828)

Kathryn Lau

(1810–1849)

Wei Han Lu

(1811–1886)

Brian Li

(1810–1849)

Alexander Merpaw frédéric chopin

Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, op. 47

Ruohan Huang

franz liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor, S. 244

lowell liebermann

Gargoyles, op. 29

(1810–1849)

(1811–1886)

Ian Lin

(1961–)

I. Presto, II. Adagio semplice, III. Allegro moderato, IV. Presto feroce

21

Donna Fishwick Series Van Cliburn winners The Donna Fishwick Series brings world-class pianists to the intimate Christ Church Cathedral. Featuring consecutive Van Cliburn Competition winners Alexander Kobrin (2005) and Haochen Zhang (2009), it represents the pinnacle of piano artistry. This rare opportunity to experience back-to-back gold medalists from the 'Olympics of Piano' showcases two distinctive artistic voices that have shaped contemporary piano performance at the highest level.

about Donna Fishwick (1938 – 2020) Donna Fishwick was a remarkable force in Vancouver’s classical music landscape. Beginning her musical journey at age of three, she was recognized as a child prodigy who later refined her talents at the Royal College of Music in London. Throughout her distinguished career, she established herself as one of Canada’s most respected piano teachers, whose studio produced generations of award-winning students.

Her impact extended far beyond individual instruction. Donna founded the Donna Fishwick Young Artists in Recital Society, which showcased exceptional talent internationally. She co-created the Royal City Youth Ballet with Dolores Kirkwood and established the Music Man Piano Festival (later Festival on the Lake), enriching Vancouver’s cultural landscape.

The musical community continues to feel Donna’s influence through her former students, many of whom have established successful teaching careers of their own.

DONORS Anonymous Keitha and Jules Campeau

SPONSORS

22

Donna Fishwick Series Van Cliburn winners ALEXANDER KOBRIN He surrendered neither the smoothness nor the dynamic fluidity that the modern piano allows, and he gave his sense of fantasy free rein… creating an almost confessional spirit.

The New York Times

MASTERCLASS 08.08 2:00 PM RECITAL 08.09 7:00 PM

HAOCHEN ZHANG Such a combination of enchanting, sensitive lyricism and hypnotizing forcefulness is a phenomenon encountered very rarely.

The Jerusalem Post

RECITAL 08.12 7:00 PM MASTERCLASS 08.13 2:00 PM

DONORS Anonymous Keitha and Jules Campeau

SPONSORS

23

christ church cathedral

2:00 pm

friday 08.08 MASTERCLASS

ALEXANDER KOBRIN

Guest Artist | Eastman School of Music Jerry Chang Madison Yan

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, op. 81a “Les Adieux”

(1770–1827)

I. Das Lebewohl

frédéric chopin

Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61

robert schumann

Fantasie in C major, op. 17

(1810–1849)

David Yu

(1810–1856)

I. Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen

This masterclass is part of the Donna Fishwick Series: Van Cliburn winners, with generous support from Anonymous and Jules and Keitha Campeau.

The Donna Fishwick Series is proudly sponsored by

← Alexander Kobrin © Üjin Studio

25

christ church cathedral

7:00 pm

friday 08.08 RECITAL

60 FLYING FINGERS sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)

2 pieces for 6 hands II. Romance (12 hands)

Starcevich, Lee, Weng / An, Yoo, Myer

johann sebastian bach Toccata in E minor, BWV 914 (1685–1750)

An

franz liszt

Années de pèlerinage II, S. 161

(1811–1886)

VI. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca

franz schubert (1797–1828)

Impromptu in C Minor, D. 899 No. 1 Weng

sergei rachmaninoff

Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, op. 5

Myer

(1873–1943)

II. Oh night, oh love

frédéric chopin (1810–1849)

Nocturne in D-flat major, op. 27 No. 2 Lee

baldassare galuppi

Sonata No. 5 in C major

(1706–1785)

I. Andante

earl wild

Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Songs by George Gershwin

(1915–2010)

Yoo, Myer

II. Somebody Loves Me III. The Man I Love IV. Embreacable You

Starcevich

camille saint-saëns (1835–1921)

Le Carnaval des animaux An, Weng / Yoo, Myer / Lee, Starcevich

This concert is part of the Donna Fishwick Series, with generous support from Anonymous and Jules and Keitha Campeau.

The Donna Fishwick Series is proudly sponsored by

27

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

2:00 pm

2:00 pm

saturday 08.09 LECTURE

ALISON EDWARDS

California State University, Fullerton

The Performing Artist as Self-Coach This session explores how the performing artist can be their own “coach” through effective practice strategies and self-reflection. It presents examples of how to maximize practice and links these methods to performance psychology, including concepts from sports psychology and peak performance. The session emphasizes different practice formats, mental approaches to practice, preparation for auditions and competitions, and creative ways to approach performance preparation.

3:00 pm

LECTURE

YI EITHAN XIANG

Senior Director, Product Manager at Blue Origin

The impact of AI on classical music and performance This lecture explores how artificial intelligence is beginning to shape the world of classical music, with a special focus on performance. While AI may still feel distant from daily practice for many musicians, its influence grows rapidly across industries—including education, performance, and even artistic interpretation.

Drawing on real-world experience leading AI transformation at Blue Origin, this session highlights how AI changes physical processes and decision-making in high-stakes environments—and what that means for music. The talk contrasts common fears about AI with a forward-looking, optimistic view: AI increases access to resources, shortens feedback loops, and makes human-centered skills like empathy even more essential for teachers and performers.

Risks and ethical considerations are also addressed, helping artists and educators understand both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with this powerful technology.

29

christ church cathedral

7:00 pm

saturday 08.09 RECITAL

ALEXANDER KOBRIN johannes brahms (1833–1897)

Six Klavierstücke, op. 118 I. Intermezzo in A minor II. Intermezzo in A major III. Ballade in G minor IV. Intermezzo in F minor V. Romanze in F major VI. Intermezzo in E-flat minor

Four Klavierstücke, op. 119 I. Intermezzo in B minor II. Intermezzo in E minor III. Intermezzo in C major IV. Rhapsody in E-flat major - intermission -

robert schumann (1810–1856)

Arabeske in C major, op. 18 Kreisleriana, op. 16 I. Äußerst bewegt (Extremely animated) II. Sehr innig und nicht zu rasch (Very inwardly and not too quickly) III. Sehr aufgeregt (Very agitated) IV. Sehr langsam (Very slowly) V. Sehr lebhaft (Very lively) VI. Sehr langsam (Very slowly) VII. Sehr rasch (Very fast) VIII. Schnell und spielend (Fast and playful)

This concert is part of the Donna Fishwick Series: Van Cliburn winners, with generous support from Anonymous and Jules and Keitha Campeau.

The Donna Fishwick Series is proudly sponsored by

← Alexander Kobrin © Mayowill Photography

31

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

2:00 pm

2:00 pm

monday 08.11 MASTERCLASS

YARON KOHLBERG President of Piano Cleveland NING AN Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore Matthew Yan

Yaron Kohlberg

Elliana Sun

Yaron Kohlberg

Cara Fan Ning An

franz schubert

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major, op. 22 (1770–1827)

I. Allegro con brio

frédéric chopin

Étude in C-sharp minor, op. 25 No. 7

(1810–1849)

Alexander Merpaw alexander scriabin Ning An

Impromptu in G-flat major, op. 90 No. 3

(1797–1828)

Sonata No. 5, op. 53

(1872–1915)

7:00 pm

RECITAL

PERFORMING ARTISTS, ADULT SESSIONS Yi Ethan Xiang

maurice ravel

Le Tombeau de Couperin

(1875–1937)

I. Prélude, VI. Toccata

felix mendelssohn

Rondo Capriccioso, op. 14

maurice ravel

Gaspard de la nuit

(1875–1937)

I. Ondine

pyotr i. tchaikovsky

The Seasons, op. 37a

(1840–1893)

XI. November

Osvaldo De Leon Davila

isaac albéniz

Iberia Suite, Book III

(1860–1909)

I. El Albaicín

Julia Gao

frédéric chopin

24 Preludes, op. 28

Jackson Wu

(1809–1847)

Ray Zhang Yuwei Song

(1810–1849)

Peixuan Jiang Lucas Yu

Nos. 1-7, 11

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 1 in F minor, op. 2 No. 1 (1770–1827)

II. Adagio

franz liszt

Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat major, S. 244

sergei rachmaninoff

Élégie in E-flat minor, op. 3 No. 1

dmitri shostakovich

Prelude and Fugue in E minor, op. 87 No. 4

frédéric chopin

Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23

claude debussy

Estampes

(1811–1886)

Bulut Kok

(1873–1943)

Zheng Lian

(1906–1975)

Cecilia Chen

(1810–1849)

Hanjin Xiao

(1862–1918)

Matthew Yan

III. Jardins sous la pluie

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57 “Appassionata” (1770–1827)

I. Allegro assai

33

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

2:00 pm

tuesday 08.12 MASTERCLASS

MICHELLE CANN Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music WEI-YI YANG Yale School of Music Frederick Chen Michelle Cann

Adam Li

Michelle Cann

Ian Lin

Wei-Yi Yang

Kyle Yeung Wei-Yi Yang

robert schumann

Variations on the Name “Abegg,” op. 1

sergei prokofiev

Sonata No. 3 in A minor, op. 28

frédéric chopin

Nocturne in E major, op. 62 No. 2

maurice ravel

Miroirs IV. Alborada del gracioso

(1810–1856)

(1891–1953)

(1810–1849)

(1875–1937)

← Michelle Cann © Titilayo Ayangade

35

christ church cathedral

7:00 pm

tuesday 08.12 RECITAL

HAOCHEN ZHANG robert schumann (1810–1856)

Fantasie in C major, op. 17 I. Durchaus fantastisch und leidenschaftlich vorzutragen; Im Legenden-Ton II. Mäßig. Durchaus energisch III. Langsam getragen. Durchweg leise zu halten

- intermission -

ludwig van beethoven Sonata No. 30 in E major, op. 109 (1770–1827)

I. Vivace ma non troppo, sempre legato – Adagio espressivo II. Prestissimo III. Gesangvoll, mit innigster Empfindung. Andante molto cantabile ed espressivo

Sonata No. 32 in C minor, op. 111 I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato II. Arietta: Adagio molto semplice e cantabile

Haochen Zhang appears by arrangement with Kanzen Arts.

Mr. Zhang’s concert has been made possible through the generous support of an anonymous benefactor.

This concert is part of the Donna Fishwick Series: Van Cliburn winners, with generous support from Anonymous and Jules and Keitha Campeau.

The Donna Fishwick Series is proudly sponsored by

← Haochen Zhang © Benjamin Ealovega

37

pyatt hall (vso school of music)

2:00 pm

wednesday 08.13 MASTERCLASS

HAOCHEN ZHANG Guest Artist

Victoria Sun

franz liszt

Paraphrase de concert sur “Rigoletto,” S. 434

igor stravinsky

The Firebird Suite (transcr. Guido Agosti)

frédéric chopin

Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61

(1811–1886)

Che Li

(1882–1971)

Nathaniel Zhang

(1810–1849)

Haochen Zhang appears by arrangement with Kanzen Arts.

Mr. Zhang’s masterclass has been made possible through the generous support of an anonymous benefactor.

This concert is part of the Donna Fishwick Series: Van Cliburn winners, with generous support from Anonymous and Jules and Keitha Campeau.

The Donna Fishwick Series is proudly sponsored by

← Haochen Zhang © Benjamin Ealovega

39

christ church cathedral

7:00 pm

wednesday 08.13 CLOSING GALA

GALA CONCERT vancouver metropolitan orchestra Kenneth Hsieh conductor VPS Concerto Competition winners piano

Emily Tianru Jin Victoria Sun Huiping Cai

wolfgang a. mozart

Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467

(1756–1791)

I. Allegro maestoso

felix mendelssohn

Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op. 25

(1809–1847)

I. Molto allegro con fuoco

sergei rachmaninoff

Concerto No. 3 in D minor, op. 30

(1873–1943)

I. Allegro ma non tanto

frédéric chopin

Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11

(1810–1849)

III. Rondo – Vivace

edvard grieg

Concerto in A minor, op. 16

(1843–1907)

III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato

sergei rachmaninoff

Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18

- intermission -

Ian Lin Mina Stefanovic Kyle Yeung

(1873–1943)

III. Allegro scherzando

Emily Tianru Jin

10 Lexington, MA, United States

Victoria Sun

13 Newport Beach, CA, United States

Huiping Cai

27 Rochester, NY, United States

Ian Lin

15 Wakefield, RI, United States

Mina Stefanovic

15 Tsawwassen, BC, Canada

Kyle Yeung

17 Irvine, CA, United States 41

ADULT SESSIONS

In the pursuit of musical depth, we recognize the vital connection between mental well-being and artistic expression. VPS Mindfulness Sessions provides artists with essential tools for managing performance anxiety, enhancing focus, and maintaining emotional balance. Through tailored workshops and personalized guidance, we help musicians achieve their fullest potential both on and off stage. Our inclusive approach extends beyond performers to embrace everyone in the musical journey - from dedicated students to supportive mentors and the extended musical family that surrounds them.

wednesday 08.06

2:00 pm

workshop

pyatt hall (vso)

TERRI SCHERER / The Emotional Ear: Listening Within

thursday 08.07

2:00 pm

workshop

TERRI SCHERER / Healing: The Restorative Key

mindfulness

42

pyatt hall (vso)

MINDFULNESS

In the pursuit of musical depth, we recognize the vital connection between mental well-being and artistic expression. VPS Mindfulness Sessions provide artists with essential tools for managing performance anxiety, enhancing focus, and maintaining emotional balance. Through tailored workshops and personalized guidance, we help musicians achieve their fullest potential both on and off stage. Our inclusive approach extends beyond performers to embrace everyone in the musical journey - from dedicated students to supportive mentors and the extended musical family that surrounds them.

wednesday 08.06

2:00 pm

workshop

pyatt hall (vso)

TERRI SCHERER / The Emotional Ear: Listening Within

thursday 08.07

2:00 pm

workshop

pyatt hall (vso)

TERRI SCHERER / Healing: The Restorative Key

mindfulness

43

artwork by Aurora Sun (14 years old, Newport Beach, CA, United States)

RECONCILIATION

VPS celebrates the differences and strengthens the similarities of people living together.

Vancouver has the third largest urban Indigenous population of any Canadian city and our festival creates opportunities for open dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities that interact with, learn from, and listen to each other. Through workshops and seminars led by Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists, we are continuing to enhance Vancouver’s cultural landscape by creating a new generation of awareness, respect and love in our young people.

monday 08.04

2:00 pm

workshop

pyatt hall (vso)

ANJEANETTE DAWSON / Weaving workshop

thursday 08.14

3:00 pm

workshop

stanley park

SPAKWUS SLOLEM / Reconciliation with Nature and Community

reconciliation

45

ADULT SESSIONS

monday 08.11

2:00 pm

workshop

tom lee music hall

recital

pyatt hall (vso)

TERRI SCHERER / Mindfulness Sessions

monday 08.11

7:00 pm

ADULT SESSIONS, PERFORMING ARTISTS

tuesday 08.12

11:30 am

lecture

tom lee music hall

CARL PETERSSON / Godowsky — Portrait of a Pianist This lecture offers a portrait of Leopold Godowsky, one of the most fascinating and unjustly overlooked figures in classical music history.

Best known among pianists and piano aficionados, Godowsky was a cosmopolitan composer whose music reflects a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and artistic traditions. His Java Suite, inspired by his travels through Indonesia, is a vivid musical reflection of Southeast Asia, remarkable for its time and still striking today.

The lecture is presented by Canadian-Swedish pianist Carl Petersson, who explored Godowsky’s life and music as part of his doctoral research at the Academy of Music in Kraków, Poland.

Petersson has recorded and performed the complete Java Suite, and most recently performed selections from it at his recital for the Vancouver Chopin Society in November 2024. He has also presented similar lectures to university audiences across Europe, Asia and North America.

46

STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Our Student Ambassadors represent the next generation of engaged musical leaders in Vancouver. These dedicated young pianists take active roles in festival operations, from event organization to community outreach, while developing both their artistic and leadership abilities. Through this program, we empower students to become not only accomplished musicians but valuable community members who understand the importance of giving back and create meaningful cultural exchange.

We believe that actively engaging and encouraging young people to become true leaders who are committed not only to their own pursuits but also to the overall greater good of all citizens deepens their sense of value, empathy and responsibility.

In the creation of this very special program, we engage students to use their platform to learn how to give back to their community in addition to developing their unique musical skills.

Becoming a successful person means many things today. VPS believes that it is important to assist in the development of all qualities necessary to become not only a great musical artist, but also a great human being.

The most rewarding moment for a performance artist is the realization when they have managed to touch the hearts of their audience. Student Ambassadors of VPS learn that this is indeed true not only on the stage, but also in the active engagement, assistance, and encouragement within their community.

Our VPS board will actively recruit their peers to join them in this invaluable program, to inspire and engage a generation of young people to become the leaders and visionaries of tomorrow. As our board members leave to pursue their next life steps, they will put in place a new group of young people who have learned and been inspired by them.

Matthew Yu President of the Student Ambassadors program Lucas Yu Vice-President of the Student Ambassadors program ambassadors

Matthew Yu

Victoria Sun Secretary and App Developer

Lucas Yu

Victoria Sun

47

2025 ARTIST FACULTY

Ning An Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore Michelle Cann Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music Alison Edwards California State University, Fullerton Alexander Kobrin Eastman School of Music Yaron Kohlberg President of Piano Cleveland (Cleveland International Piano Competition) Myong-Joo Lee Founder & Artistic Director | California State University, Fullerton Spencer Myer Indiana University, Bloomington Carl Petersson Private Studio (Vancouver, BC) Elizabeth Schumann Stanford University Sasha Starcevich Founder & Artistic Director Wayne Weng Founder & Director of Reconciliation Sessions | University of British Columbia Carol Wong Private Studio (New York, NY) Wei-Yi Yang Yale School of Music Shirley Yoo Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute

48

2025 PARTICIPANTS

performing artists

Albert Xian Tang Canada

Jerry Chang United States

Yi-Wei Tao China

Dora Chen United States

Max Tian Canada

Frederick Chen United States

Flora Tu Canada

Cecilia Chen Canada

Grace Wang United States

Michelle Chou Canada

Haosen Wang China

Sienna Falanga United States

Jackson Wu United States

Cara Fan United States

Madison Yan United States

Julia Gao Canada

Matthew Yan United States

Ryan Hong Canada

Kyle Yeung United States

Ruohan Huang China

David Yu South Korea

Chency Hung United States

Lucas Yu Canada

Pei-Heng Jiang China

Matthew Yu Canada

Lukas Kan Canada

Fenglin (Tom) Zhang Canada

Bulut Kok United States

Karina Zhang United States

Ginger Lam Canada

Nathaniel Zhang United States

Kathryn Lau United States

Ray Zhang Canada

Adam Li United States

Tian-Yi Zhang China

Brian Li Canada Che Li China

adult sessions

Colyn Li Canada

Xing Chen United States

Elizabeth Li United States

Osvaldo De Leon Davila United States

Olivia Li Canada

Peixuan Jiang China

Zheng Lian China

Janet Sommerfeld United States

Ian Lin United States

Ben Wong Canada

Jessi Lin South Korea

Yi Xiang United States

Matthew T Liu Canada

Hanjin Xiao China

Wei Han Lu China Claire Luo United States Alexander Merpaw Canada Rami Pan Taiwan Santino Pardo Robles United States Henry Shao United States DJ Shin United States Derik Soltanian United States Yuwei Song Canada Chloe Sun Canada Elliana Sun Canada Gabriel Sun Canada Victoria Sun United States Isaac Sung United States 49

BIOGRAPHIES

ning an

Praised for his "flawless technique and mastery of the instrument" (New York Concert Review), pianist Ning An is a top prize winner of the Queen Elizabeth, Cleveland, and William Kapell Piano Competitions. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the London Symphony, Moscow Radio Symphony, and Warsaw Philharmonic, and performed at Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall, Milan's Sala Verdi, and Beijing's Great Hall of the People. Festival engagements include the International Chopin Festival in Poland, Gina Bachauer Piano Festival, and Interlaken Music Festival in Switzerland. A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with the Ysaye, Daedalus, and Takács Quartets. He graduated from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Russell Sherman, and previously studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Sergei Babayan. He previously taught at Lee University and CSUF, and is currently Associate Professor of Piano at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.

michelle cann

Lauded as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” by Gramophone, GRAMMY Award winning pianist Michelle Cann is one of the most sought-after artists of her generation. Recent engagements include appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A leading interpreter of Florence Price, she won GRAMMYs for recordings of Price's Piano Concerto and Beyond the Years with soprano Karen Slack. Cann holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and an Artist’s Diploma from the Curtis Institute of Music. She joined the Curtis piano faculty in 2020 as the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies. She is also on the piano faculty of the Manhattan School of Music.

alison edwards

Passionately devoted to both piano pedagogy and performance, Alison Edwards has enjoyed a multifaceted career in music. As soloist and collaborative pianist, she has presented recitals throughout the United States and in China. In addition to being concerto soloist with several Southern California orchestras, her solo and collaborative performances have included recitals at Southern Methodist University, The Blair School of Music, the Shenandoah Conservatory and Florida State University, to name a few. Edwards serves as Associate Professor of Piano and Piano Area Coordinator in the School of Music at California State University, Fullerton. She leads both the undergraduate and graduate piano pedagogy programs at CSUF. Alison received her Master of Music Degree from the University of Southern California, and her BM in Piano Performance from Cal State Fullerton. Her principle piano teachers have been Earle Voorhies, Daniel Pollack and Dr. Stewart Gordon.

david fung

Praised for his “ravishing and simply gorgeous” performances in The Washington Post, pianist David Fung is widely recognized for interpretations that are elegant and refined, yet intensely poetic and uncommonly expressive. Mr. Fung is a regular soloist with the world’s premier ensembles including the Cleveland Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Israel Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the major orchestras in Australia.

Notable festival appearances include Aspen, Blossom, Caramoor, Edinburgh, Hong Kong Arts, and Ravinia Festival. Mr. Fung is a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition and the Arthur Rubinstein Piano International Masters Competition. He graduated from the Colburn Conservatory in Los Angeles, where he studied with John Perry, and later worked with Peter Frankl, Claude Frank and Arie Vardi at Yale University and the Hannover Hochschüle. Mr. Fung serves on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and the University of British Columbia.

50

BIOGRAPHIES

alexander kobrin

Called the “Van Cliburn of today” by the BBC, pianist Alexander Kobrin has placed himself at the forefront of today’s performing musicians. His prize-winning performances have been praised for their brilliant technique, musicality, and emotional engagement with the audience. The New York Times has written that Mr. Kobrin was a “fastidious guide” to Schumann’s “otherworldly visions, pointing out hunters, flowers, haunted corners and friendly bowers, all captured in richly characterized vignettes.” In 2005, Mr. Kobrin was awarded the Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Gold Medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth, TX. His numerous successes in competitions also include top prizes at the Busoni International Piano Competition (First Prize), Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (Top Prize), and Scottish International Piano Competition in Glasgow (First Prize). In July 2017, Mr. Kobrin joined the faculty of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. Mr. Kobrin is a Shigeru Kawai artist.

myong-joo lee

Praised for her “shapely, expressive, songful performances” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), pianist Myong-Joo Lee won First Prize at the Pro Piano and Joanna Hodges International Piano Competitions and is a laureate of the Cleveland, Chopin Kosciuszko, and Guild International Competitions. She has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Seoul Arts Center, and appeared with orchestras such as the Romanian Broadcasting Symphony and Nashville Symphony. Festival engagements include Art of the Piano, Music Fest Perugia, and Jeju and Taiwan International Piano Festivals. A respected pedagogue, she has taught and adjudicated across North America, Asia, and Europe, and her students have won top prizes at major national and international competitions. A graduate of Indiana University and the University of Southern California, she is on faculty at California State University, Fullerton and is Artistic Director of the Vancouver Piano Sessions.

spencer myer

Lauded for “superb playing” and “poised, alert musicianship” by the Boston Globe, and labeled “definitely a man to watch” by London’s The Independent, American pianist Spencer Myer is one of the most respected and sought-after artists on today’s concert stage. His orchestral, recital and chamber music performances have been heard throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, and Asia. He has been soloist with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Boise, Dayton, Rhode Island, Cape Town, Johannesburg and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestras, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston, the Baton Rouge, Indianapolis, Knoxville, New Haven, Omaha, Phoenix, Santa Fe and Tucson Symphony Orchestras, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Mexico’s Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco and Beijing’s China National Symphony Orchestra. A renowned pedagogue, Spencer Myer is currently Associate Professor of Piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he received the 2024 Trustees Teaching Award.

dmitri novgorodsky

Hailed by the press as a “…breathtaking” and “…stunning” pianist, Dmitri Novgorodsky was born into a musical family in Odessa, Ukraine. He began to play the piano at age five and was admitted into a special music school for gifted children in Almaty, Kazakhstan a year later. By the age of 16, he had won the First Prize at the Kazakhstan’s National Piano Competition, and later the Gold Medal of the National Festival of the Arts. Mr. Novgorodsky graduated from the studio of Professor Victor Merzhanov at Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory with high honors in 1990. In 1992, he was offered a full scholarship for advanced studies at Yale University School of Music in the United States. Under the tutelage of Professor Boris Berman, he earned the Master of Music, the Master of Musical Arts, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He joined the Ithaca College School of Music in 2015 and attained the rank of Associate Professor in 2020.

51

BIOGRAPHIES

carl petersson

Born in 1981 in Lund, Sweden, Carl Petersson began playing the piano at the age of fifteen. Within ten years, he graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with degrees in piano and pedagogy under José Ribera. During his studies, he partook in numerous international master classes in Denmark, Sweden, and Israel. Carl continues to perform in Canada, the United States, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, France, the Czech Republic, Germany and Israel. Carl has collaborated with conductors JoAnn Falletta, Kerry Stratton, Jiri Starek and Niklas Willén with orchestras such as Buffalo Philharmonic, the Toronto Concert Orchestra, and the National Czech Radio Orchestra. In 2013 Carl Petersson received his Ph.D. from the Music Academy in Kraków, where he assisted Mariola Cieniawa’s class.

elizabeth schumann

Pianist Elizabeth Schumann has a diverse career portfolio of projects, recordings, and performances which have brought her all over the world as recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist. The Washington Post noted her playing as “deft, relentless, and devastatingly good—the sort of performance you experience not so much with your ears as your solar plexus.”

The first place winner of both the Bösendorfer International Piano Competition and the Pacific International Piano Competition, Elizabeth has won over 25 prizes and awards in other major national and international competitions, including the Cleveland International Piano Competition and the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. She has performed solo recitals and chamber music concerts worldwide, in such venues as the Kennedy Center, Vienna’s Bösendorfer Saal, Toronto’s Koerner Hall, and Montreal’s Place des Arts. Elizabeth is the Billie Bennett Achilles Director of Keyboard Studies at Stanford University.

sasha starcevich

Pianist Sasha Starcevich is currently enjoying a rewarding career as an international performer and teacher with his engaging performances and passionate teaching, both at home and around the globe. As a recitalist, he has appeared in many renowned venues such as New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, and in London’s Wigmore Hall. His debut recital there was met with critical acclaim, and a review in the Musical Opinion stated: “The repertoire was brilliantly conceived; a thoroughly enjoyable recital at every level.” His students have established themselves as grand prize winners in national and international piano competitions, and his past students have gone on to pursue serious study at the world’s most renowned musical institutions, such as the Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute, the Peabody Conservatory, the Yale School of Music, and the Royal Academy of Music in England, to name a few.

cristina valdés Recently hailed by Fanfare Magazine as “excellent” and “clearly sensitive,” Cuban-American pianist Cristina Valdés is known for presenting innovative concerts with repertoire spanning over 300 years. A fierce advocate for new music, she has premiered countless works, including many written for her. She has performed across four continents and in venues such as Lincoln Center, Benaroya Hall, Carnegie Recital Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, Roulette, Miller Theatre, Jordan Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Ms. Valdés has appeared both as a soloist and chamber musician at festivals worldwide including New Music in Miami, the Foro Internacional de Música Nueva in Mexico City, Brisbane Arts Festival, the Festival of Contemporary Music in El Salvador, Havana Contemporary Music Festival, and the Singapore Arts Festival. She is currently an artist-in-residence at the University of Washington, where she teaches piano and is the director of the UW Modern Music Ensemble.

wayne weng

Praised for his “vibrant and immensely musical” playing (Wiltshire Gazette & Herald), pianist Wayne Weng won first prize at the 2013 Iowa International Piano Competition and was a laureate of the Washington International Piano Competition. He has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has appeared as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria

52

BIOGRAPHIES

Symphony Orchestra, Sioux City Symphony, among others. A dedicated educator, he teaches at the University of British Columbia, chairs the Piano Department at Lindeblad School of Music, and runs a Steinway Select studio in Vancouver. He is co-founder of the Vancouver Piano Sessions, and his students have won major competitions and entered conservatories including Juilliard. Weng holds degrees from Eastman, Mannes, Guildhall, Yale, and CUNY.

carol wong

Carol Wong enjoys a flourishing career following performances at Carnegie’s Zankel and Weill Halls, the Wednesday at One Series at Alice Tully Hall (New York), the Kennedy Center, the Kreeger Museum (Washington, DC), the California Center for the Arts (San Diego), the Krannert Center (Illinois), the Pro Arte Musical (Puerto Rico), the Gardner Museum (Boston) and live broadcasts on WXQR in NYC, K-Mozart in Los Angeles and on NPR’s Performance Today. Ms. Wong has taught master classes at Orvieto Musica, a music festival in Italy. She was also invited to perform and teach for an underserved community in Hilo, Hawaii. A committed teacher, Carol was a senior examiner at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and taught at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Indiana University under the tutelage of Menahem Pressler.

wei-yi yang

Pianist Wei-Yi Yang has received worldwide acclaim for his captivating performances and imaginative programming, having performed across America, Asia, Europe, and Australia. A dynamic chamber musician with a diverse repertoire, Yang is a frequent guest artist at esteemed festivals in Europe, Latin America, and the United States and collaborates regularly with distinguished soloists and chamber ensembles. Many of his performances have been featured prominently on radio and television broadcasts around the world. Yang has also curated inventive interdisciplinary projects and worked with several notable composers to prepare their works for premiere and recording. At the Yale School of Music, Wei-Yi Yang teaches a studio of select undergraduate- and graduate-level piano students, in addition to coaching chamber music, leading departmental seminar, and chairing the DMA committee. In demand beyond Yale as a dedicated teacher, Yang has presented master classes and performances across four continents.

shirley yoo

Heralded by the Washington Post as a pianist with “extraordinary sensitivity and technical skill,” Shirley Yoo has performed internationally at venues such as the Tata Theatre, Mumbai; Arts Center, Seoul; Penderecki Festival, Banff; Società Filarmonica, Trento; and Steinway Hall, London.

Her numerous performances in the United States include radio broadcasts of solo and chamber recitals on WQED and WQLN. After earning her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Peabody Institute, for several years she taught at the Conservatory and at Temple Preparatory and worked at Curtis Institute as staff accompanist. She then held a professorship in piano and was Artist-in-Residence at Mercyhurst University. She has since returned to teach at Peabody Conservatory and resides in Baltimore.

haochen zhang

Since winning the Gold Medal at the Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Haochen Zhang has appeared with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Munich Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Berlin, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, performing under conductors such as Lorin Maazel, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, and David Robertson.

He has made acclaimed debuts at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Carnegie’s Zankel Hall, and the BBC Proms, and was named Artist-in-Residence at Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts. A dedicated chamber musician, he has collaborated with the Dover, Brentano, and Tokyo Quartets, and performed at Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and La Jolla Summerfest. His recordings on BIS and Harmonia Mundi include solo works, the complete Beethoven concerti, and concertos by Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Zhang is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Gary Graffman.

53

DONORS

Vancouver Piano Sessions gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our donors, whose contributions make our festival and its programs thrive.

symphony

$25,000 +

Anonymous Keitha and Jules Campeau

sonata

$1,000 +

Robert Yu Peter and Katherine Lee Anonymous Joy Wang and Li Zhang

Yeung Family Shaun Hong Max Jia Faith Wei

prelude

$100 +

Sarah Liu Theresa Chang Jeanne Ellis Gaye Oncul Kok Yi Xiang

Mao Asukata Chunyan Li Yihan Liu Nino Merabishvili

Join VPS supporters Be celebrated as a supporter, enjoy exclusive experiences, and help shape tomorrow’s leaders and Vancouver’s cultural future Your donation helps nurture talent, foster cultural exchange, and bring music to life for everyone

54

SPONSORS

Vancouver Piano Sessions gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our sponsors, whose contributions help make our festival possible.

symphony

$25,000 +

concerto

$10,000 +

sonata

$1,000 +

prelude

$100 +

55

VOLUNTEERS

At Vancouver Piano Sessions, we believe in the power of music to unite, inspire, and transform communities. Our events, workshops, and outreach programs thrive thanks to the passion and dedication of our volunteers. Their time, energy, and spirit help make VPS truly exceptional. We are endlessly grateful for their contributions, which help bring music to life for everyone we serve.

Maximiliano Baltazar Aguilera Gotham Chau Shua Cho Tommy Deng Gustav Ge Joshua Hong Navneet Kaur Rua Kim Ingrid Kuo Iris Li Matthew Li Alexander Loreth

volunteer VPS 2023 volunteers © Alisha Weng

56

Kristy Lui Matt Loc Nguyen Wilson Shi Jeff Starcevich Mina Starcevich Jonathan Wang Nina Wang Yunbo Wang Cassady Rachel Wei Aubrey Yip Sujin Yun

VPS TEAM

Vancouver Piano Sessions brings together passionate musicians and music lovers in an intimate festival setting. We create spaces where artistic excellence meets community connection, fostering meaningful musical experiences through performances, masterclasses, and educational programs. Our holistic approach embraces both artistic growth and personal well-being, while honoring the diverse cultural fabric that enriches our musical community.

Myong-Joo Lee & Sasha Starcevich Founders and Artistic Directors Wayne Weng Founder and Director of Reconciliation Sessions Gioele Abbati Director of Operations June Xiao Director & Ambassador for Young Talent

about us

Natasha Wei Director of Marketing Janet Sommerfeld Adult Sessions Facilitator

about us from left to right: G. Abbati, MJ Lee, S. Starcevich, W. Weng, N. Wei © Mayowill Photography

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Proud Partner of Proud of Sessions Vancouver Piano ProudPartner Partner of Vancouver Piano Sessions Proud Partner of Vancouver Piano Sessions Vancouver Piano Sessions

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in downtown Vancouver, with elegant guest rooms and in downtown Vancouver, with elegant guest rooms and award-winning dining at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar award-winning dining at Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar —steps f rom the city's vibrant arts and culture scene.

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TICKETING

ONLINE

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On-site box office opens: • 60 minutes before concerts • 30 minutes before masterclasses, lectures, and other events

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VPS 2024: Alexander Kobrin’s recital © Mayowill

SOCIAL MEDIA

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60

See you in 2026!

STUDENT AMBASSADORS

Our Student Ambassadors represent the next generation of engaged musical leaders in Vancouver. These dedicated young pianists take active roles in festival operations, from event organization to community outreach, while developing both their artistic and leadership abilities. Through this program, we empower students to become not only accomplished musicians but valuable community members who understand the importance of giving back and creating meaningful cultural exchange.

We believe that actively engaging and encouraging young people to become true leaders who are committed not only to their own pursuits but also to the overall greater good of all citizens deepens their sense of value, empathy and responsibility.

In the creation of this very special program, we engage students to use their platform to learn how to give back to their community in addition to developing their unique musical skills.

Becoming a successful person means many things today. VPS believes that it is important to assist in the development of all qualities necessary to become not only a great musical artist, but also a great human being.

The most rewarding moment for a performance artist is the realization when they have managed to touch the hearts of their audience. Student Ambassadors of VPS learn that this is indeed true not only on the stage, but also in the active engagement, assistance, and encouragement within their community.

Our VPS board will actively recruit their peers to join them in this invaluable program, to inspire and engage a generation of young people to become the leaders and visionaries of tomorrow. As our board members leave to pursue their next life steps, they will put in place a new group of young people who have learned and been inspired by them.

Matthew Yu President of the Student Ambassadors program Lucas Yu Vice-President of the Student Ambassadors program

VPS 2024 Student Ambassadors

Victoria Sun Secretary and App Developer

ambassadors