where classical music intertwines with inner awakening
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.
Ottawa 2025
The Right Honourable Mark Carney, P.C., O.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada
11:30 – 1:00 pm LECTURE (adult sessions) C. Petersson
pyatt hall (vso)
pyatt hall (vso)
tom lee music hall
pyatt hall (vso)
7:00 – 9:00 pm RECITAL Haochen Zhang
2:00 – 4:00 pm MASTERCLASS M. Cann, WY Yang christ church cathedral
WED 08.13
2:00 – 3:30 pm MASTERCLASS H. Zhang
7:00 – 9:00 pm CLOSING GALA Gala Concert
pyatt hall (vso)
christ church cathedral
THU 08.14 stanley park
3:00 – 5:00 pm RECONCILIATION Spakwus Slolem stanley park
5:00 – 6:00 pm CELEBRATION VPS 2025
Embrace our mission
Virtuous Present Solidarity at the heart of VPS
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.
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
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 (1810–1849)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
claude debussy (1862–1918)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60
Sonata No. 32 in C minor, op. 111
I. Maestoso – Allegro con brio ed appassionato
Estampes
I. Pagodes, III. Jardins sous la pluie
Nocturne in C-sharp minor, op. 27 No. 1
Étude in A-flat major, op. 10 No. 10
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Che Li
Nathaniel Zhang
Pei-Heng Jiang
Chloe Sun
Max Tian
Lucas Yu
Cara Fan
Karina Zhang
Colyn Li
Madison Yan
Tian-Yi Zhang
Victoria Sun
Frederick Chen
Xing Chen
Gabriel Sun
Lukas Kan
Yi-Wei Tao
Kyle Yeung
igor stravinsky (1882–1971)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
alexander scriabin (1872–1915)
joseph haydn (1732–1809)
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
glinka/balakirev (1837–1910)
hiromi uehara (1979–)
alexander scriabin (1872–1915)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
joseph haydn (1732–1809)
robert schumann (1810–1856)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
alexander scriabin (1872–1915)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
The Firebird Suite (transcr. Agosti) Infernal dance
Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, op. 81a “Les Adieux”
I. Das Lebewohl
Sonata No. 4 in F-sharp major, op. 30
Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
I. Allegro
Élégie in E-flat minor, op. 3 No. 1
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat major, S. 244
Étude in C-sharp minor, op. 25 No. 7
The Lark
The Tom and Jerry Show
Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp minor, op. 19
I. Andante
Barcarolle in F-sharp major, op. 60
Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:48
II. Rondo (Presto)
Variations on the name “Abegg,” op. 1
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, S. 244
Waltz in A-flat major, op. 42
Grandes études de Paganini, S. 141
La Campanella
Fantasy in B minor, op. 28
Sonata No. 3 in B minor, op. 58
IV. Finale: Presto, non tanto
2:00 pm
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
WAYNE WENG
Karina Zhang
Spencer Myer
Santino P. Robles
Wayne Weng
Indiana University, Bloomington
Founder & Director of Reconciliation Sessions | University of British Columbia
wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)
isaac albéniz (1860–1909)
8:00 pm
PERFORMING ARTISTS
DJ Shin
Elizabeth Li
Chency Hung
Matthew T Liu
Haosen Wang
Flora Tu
Rami Pan
Jessi Lin
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
maurice ravel (1875–1937)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
césar franck (1822–1890)
nikolai kapustin (1937–2020)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)
Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
I. Allegro moderato
Iberia Suite, Book I
II. El Puerto
RECITAL
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61
Sonatine
II. Mouvement de menuet, III. Animé
Sonata in C major, op. 2 No. 3
I. Allegro con brio
Nocturne in C-sharp minor, KK IVa/16
Prélude, choral et fugue
24 Preludes in Jazz Style, op. 53
XV. Moderato, III. Larghetto, X. Allegro
Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 31
Toccata in D minor, op. 11
Study at the UBC School of Music
The UBC School of Music o ers comprehensive undergraduate training in performance, composition, music education, general studies, and scholarship. Your Bachelor of Music can be paired with other majors, minors, and dual degrees. Enjoy lifelong friendships and establish exciting musical collaborations and community.
Learn more by scanning the QR code below!
UBC Music o ers piano students enriching experiences in chamber music, large ensembles, contemporary and early music ensembles, piano pedagogy and literature, and more.
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Dora Chen
Ryan Hong
Claire Luo
Sienna Falanga
Adam Li
Tom Zhang
Grace Wang
Henry Shao
Matthew Yu
Jerry Chang
David Yu
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
benjamin lees (1924–2010)
wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)
johannes brahms (1833–1897)
sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)
robert schumann (1810–1856)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
maurice ravel (1875–1937)
sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)
nikolai kapustin (1937–2020)
johannes brahms (1833–1897)
Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, op. 7
I. Allegro molto e con brio
Fantasia
Sonata No. 2 in F major, K. 280 I. Allegro assai
Seven Fantasien, op. 116
I. Capriccio, II. Intermezzo
Sonata No. 3 in A minor, op. 28
Sonata No. 2 in G minor, op. 22
II. Andantino, IV. Rondo
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23
Miroirs
III. Une barque sur l’océan
Sonata No. 6 in A major, op. 82
IV. Vivace
Variations, op. 41
Sonata No. 3 in F minor, op. 5 I. Allegro maestoso
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Elliana Sun
Isaac Sung
Santino P. Robles
Olivia Li
Kathryn Lau
Wei Han Lu
Brian Li
Alexander Merpaw
Ruohan Huang
Ian Lin
felix mendelssohn (1809–1847)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
isaac albéniz (1860–1909)
franz schubert (1797–1828)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
lowell liebermann (1961–)
Rondo Capriccioso, op. 14
Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57 “Appassionata” I. Allegro assai
Iberia Suite, Book I II. El Puerto
Impromptu in C minor, D. 899 No. 1
Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, op. 20
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11 in A minor, S. 244
Étude No. 11 in A minor, op. 25
Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, op. 47
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 in C-sharp minor, S. 244
Gargoyles, op. 29
I. Presto, II. Adagio semplice, III. Allegro moderato, IV. Presto feroce
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
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.
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
The New York Times
ALEXANDER KOBRIN
Guest Artist | Eastman School of Music
Jerry Chang
Madison Yan
David Yu
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
robert schumann (1810–1856)
Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, op. 81a “Les Adieux” I. Das Lebewohl
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61
Fantasie in C major, op. 17 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
60 FLYING FINGERS
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
johann sebastian bach (1685–1750)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
franz schubert (1797–1828)
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
baldassare galuppi (1706–1785)
earl wild (1915–2010)
camille saint-saëns (1835–1921)
2 pieces for 6 hands
II. Romance (12 hands) Starcevich, Lee, Weng / An, Yoo, Myer
Toccata in E minor, BWV 914 An Années de pèlerinage II, S. 161
VI. Sonetto 123 del Petrarca Myer
Impromptu in C Minor, D. 899 No. 1 Weng
Suite No. 1 for Two Pianos, op. 5 II. Oh night, oh love Yoo, Myer
Nocturne in D-flat major, op. 27 No. 2 Lee
Sonata No. 5 in C major I. Andante
Seven Virtuoso Etudes on Songs by George Gershwin II. Somebody Loves Me III. The Man I Love IV. Embreacable You Starcevich
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
2:00 pm
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
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.
ALEXANDER KOBRIN
johannes brahms (1833–1897)
- intermissionrobert schumann (1810–1856)
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
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
2:00 pm
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
Alexander Merpaw Ning An
7:00 pm
franz schubert (1797–1828)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
alexander scriabin (1872–1915)
Impromptu in G-flat major, op. 90 No. 3
Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major, op. 22 I. Allegro con brio
Étude in C-sharp minor, op. 25 No. 7
Sonata No. 5, op. 53
PERFORMING ARTISTS, ADULT SESSIONS
Yi Ethan Xiang
Jackson Wu
Ray Zhang
Yuwei Song
Osvaldo De Leon
Davila
Julia Gao
Peixuan Jiang
Lucas Yu
Bulut Kok
Zheng Lian
Cecilia Chen
Hanjin Xiao
Matthew Yan
maurice ravel (1875–1937)
felix mendelssohn (1809–1847)
maurice ravel (1875–1937)
pyotr i. tchaikovsky (1840–1893)
isaac albéniz (1860–1909)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
franz liszt (1811–1886)
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
dmitri shostakovich (1906–1975)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
claude debussy (1862–1918)
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
Le Tombeau de Couperin
I. Prélude, VI. Toccata
Rondo Capriccioso, op. 14
Gaspard de la nuit
I. Ondine
The Seasons, op. 37a
XI. November
Iberia Suite, Book III
I. El Albaicín
24 Preludes, op. 28 Nos. 1-7, 11
Sonata No. 1 in F minor, op. 2 No. 1
II. Adagio
RECITAL
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 6 in D-flat major, S. 244
Élégie in E-flat minor, op. 3 No. 1
Prelude and Fugue in E minor, op. 87 No. 4
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, op. 23
Estampes
III. Jardins sous la pluie
Sonata No. 23 in F minor, op. 57 “Appassionata”
I. Allegro assai
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 (1810–1856)
sergei prokofiev (1891–1953)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
maurice ravel (1875–1937)
Variations on the Name “Abegg,” op. 1
Sonata No. 3 in A minor, op. 28
Nocturne in E major, op. 62 No. 2
Miroirs IV. Alborada del gracioso
HAOCHEN ZHANG
robert schumann (1810–1856)
- intermission -
ludwig van beethoven (1770–1827)
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
Sonata No. 30 in E major, op. 109
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
Guest Artist
Victoria Sun
Che Li
Nathaniel Zhang
franz liszt (1811–1886)
igor stravinsky (1882–1971)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
Paraphrase de concert sur “Rigoletto,” S. 434
The Firebird Suite (transcr. Guido Agosti)
Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, op. 61
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
GALA CONCERT
vancouver metropolitan orchestra
Kenneth Hsieh conductor
VPS Concerto Competition winners piano
Emily Tianru Jin
Victoria Sun
Huiping Cai
- intermission -
Ian Lin
Mina Stefanovic
Kyle Yeung
wolfgang a. mozart (1756–1791)
felix mendelssohn (1809–1847)
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
frédéric chopin (1810–1849)
edvard grieg (1843–1907)
sergei rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
I. Allegro maestoso
Concerto No. 1 in G minor, op. 25
I. Molto allegro con fuoco
Concerto No. 3 in D minor, op. 30
I. Allegro ma non tanto
Concerto No. 1 in E minor, op. 11
III. Rondo – Vivace
Concerto in A minor, op. 16
III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato
Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op. 18
III. Allegro scherzando
Emily Tianru Jin
Victoria Sun
Huiping Cai
Ian Lin
Mina Stefanovic
Kyle Yeung
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
workshop 2:00 pm
TERRI SCHERER / The Emotional Ear: Listening Within
workshop 2:00 pm thursday 08.07
TERRI SCHERER / Healing: The Restorative Key
hall
pyatt
(vso)
pyatt hall (vso)
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
workshop 2:00 pm
ANJEANETTE DAWSON / Weaving workshop
thursday 08.14
workshop 3:00 pm
SPAKWUS SLOLEM / Reconciliation with Nature and Community
pyatt hall (vso)
stanley park
monday 08.11
tom lee music hall workshop 2:00 pm
monday 08.11
ADULT SESSIONS, PERFORMING ARTISTS
tuesday 08.12
hall (vso) recital 7:00 pm
TERRI SCHERER / Mindfulness Sessions tom lee music hall lecture 11:30 am
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.
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.
ambassadors
Matthew Yu President of the Student Ambassadors program
Lucas Yu
Vice-President of the Student Ambassadors program
Victoria Sun
Secretary and App Developer
Matthew Yu Lucas Yu Victoria Sun
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
performing artists
Jerry Chang United States
Dora Chen United States
Frederick Chen United States
Cecilia Chen Canada
Michelle Chou Canada
Sienna Falanga United States
Cara Fan United States
Julia Gao Canada
Ryan Hong Canada
Ruohan Huang China
Chency Hung United States
Pei-Heng Jiang China
Lukas Kan Canada
Bulut Kok United States
Ginger Lam Canada
Kathryn Lau United States
Adam Li United States
Brian Li Canada
Che Li China
Colyn Li Canada
Elizabeth Li United States
Olivia Li Canada
Zheng Lian China
Ian Lin United States
Jessi Lin South Korea
Matthew T Liu Canada
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
Albert Xian Tang Canada
Yi-Wei Tao China
Max Tian Canada
Flora Tu Canada
Grace Wang United States
Haosen Wang China
Jackson Wu United States
Madison Yan United States
Matthew Yan United States
Kyle Yeung United States
David Yu South Korea
Lucas Yu Canada
Matthew Yu Canada
Fenglin (Tom) Zhang Canada
Karina Zhang United States
Nathaniel Zhang United States
Ray Zhang Canada
Tian-Yi Zhang China
adult sessions
Xing Chen United States
Osvaldo De Leon Davila United States
Peixuan Jiang China
Janet Sommerfeld United States
Ben Wong Canada
Yi Xiang United States
Hanjin Xiao China
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.
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.
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
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.
Vancouver Piano Sessions gratefully acknowledges the generous support of our donors, whose contributions make our festival and its programs thrive.
symphony
Anonymous
Keitha and Jules Campeau
sonata
Robert Yu
Peter and Katherine Lee
Anonymous
Joy Wang and Li Zhang
Yeung Family
Shaun Hong
Max Jia
Faith Wei
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prelude
Sarah Liu
Theresa Chang
Jeanne Ellis
Gaye Oncul Kok
Yi Xiang
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Mao Asukata
Chunyan Li
Yihan Liu
Nino Merabishvili
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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.
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
