When Lynn Liu sits down for brunch in Yaletown, she’s eager to speak about the upcoming Vancouver International Music Festival. As the lead organizer, she’s thrilled that this event features a talented and diverse group of 11 artists in residence. They include UBC and Manhattan School of Music faculty member celebrated concert pianist David Fung, Vancouver zheng virtuoso Dailin Hsieh, and U.S. classical pianist and The Juilliard School faculty member Jerome Lowenthal. The 11 artists in residence will perform recitals during the festival, which runs from August 20 and 25 at the VSO School of Music.
“We will have two recitals every day—at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.—and we welcome people to join us,” Liu tells Pancouver. “Those are ticketed.”
Liu is president of a registered charity, the Canada International Arts & Music Society, which is presenting the festival. Even though she’s a talented pianist and teacher, she won’t be performing or judging the students who will attend masterclasses and also perform during the day.
“I’m really excited but also a little nervous,” Liu says with a smile. “We’re ready for any challenges.”
As an example of diversity, she cites Edgar Muenala, a composer born in Cotacachi, Ecuador. He draws on his Indigenous heritage and electronic digital effects to create a unique sonic landscape. Muenala, who’s based in Vancouver, is a master of the pan flute.
“He will give a workshop so people will know the logic and function of that instrument,” Liu reveals.
Muenala’s workshop and recital is at 5:30 p.m. on August 24. That will be followed by the 92-year-old Lowenthal at 7:30 p.m. He will perform pieces by Frédéric Chopin (Fantasy, Opus 49), Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (The Seasons: January through June), and Franz Liszt (Nuages gris, Années de Pèlerinage, Sursum Corda).
Dailin Hsieh will perform at two recitals
Meanwhile, Hsieh will offer a guzheng recital and workshop at 5:30 p.m. on August 21. She will perform “Liu Yang River” (composed by Bi Guang Tang), “High Mountain and Flowing River” (traditional Zhe Jiang music), “Red flowers all over the mountain” (Shan Bei folk song, arranged by Jin Hai Jiao), “Jackdaws play in water” (Traditional Chau Zhou music), “Fighting the typhoon” (composed by Chang Yuan Wang), and improvisation.
Multi-instrumentalist and Capilano University erhu instructor Jun Rong is another artist in residence. A graduate of the China Conservatory of Music, Jun has performed with top Canadian symphony orchestras and released several CDs. She plays with the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra, Vancouver Erhu Quartet, and Han Music Ensemble.
Jun will join Hsieh for an erhu and guzheng recital and workshop at 5:30 p.m. on August 22. They will perform six songs in their program: “Flickering Candle Lights” (composed by Liu Tianhua), “The Moon’s Reflection on the Second Spring” (composed by Hua Yanjun), “Birds Singing in a Desolated Mountain” (composed by Liu Tianhua), “Listening to the pines” (composed by Hua Yanjun), “A Beautiful Evening” (composed by Liu Tianhua), and “Songs of Fishing Boats at Dusk” (arranged by Cao Zheng and Zhu Yuzhi).
Music from Zimbabwe will take centre-stage at 5:30 p.m. on August 23. Kurai Mubaiwa and Curtis Andrews make up the duo Zhambai. Mubaiwa plays the ancient mbira (thumb piano), which is central to the Shona people’s musical traditions.
In addition to Lowenthal, western classical music will be well-represented by other artists in residence. Veteran cellist and music educator Eric Wilson and star violinist Jasper Wood, who’s also the Galiano Concert Society artistic director, will each perform.
Musicians interpret great classical compositions
Wilson’s cello recital is at 7:30 p.m. on August 21. He will be accompanied by pianist Bogdan Dulu, co-chair of the VSO School of Music piano department. They will play Samuel Barber’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Opus 6 and Zoltán Kodály’s Sonata for Cello and Piano, Opus 4.
Wood’s recital is at 7:30 p.m. on August 22. It features compositions by Antonín Dvořák (Sonatina, Opus 100) Ernest Bloch (Nigun Ysaye Violin Sonata No. 1—fugato and finale), and Robert Schumann (Fantasiestücke). Wood will also be accompanied by Dulu on piano.
Furthermore, the Vancouver International Music Festival will present a recital at 5:30 p.m. on August 20 by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra principal flautist Christie Reside. Her program includes Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach’s Sonata in A minor for solo flute (13″), Jocelyn Morlock’s i conversed with you in a dream (13″), Robert Muczynski’s Three Preludes for Unaccompanied Flute (5′”), and Henri Dutilleux’s Sonatine (10″). Dulu will accompany Reside on the piano.
There will also be a recital by Seattle Symphony Orchestra principal harpist Valerie Muzzolini at 7:30 p.m. on August 23. Her program includes music by Gabriel Faure (Impromptu for Harp, Opus 86), Kaija Saariaho (Fall), Marcel Tournier (Au matin), Claude Debussy (La fille aux cheveux de lin), and Felix Godefroid (La Danse des Sylphes).
Public can attend students’ recitals for free
Tickets for all of these concerts are available on Eventbrite. Fans of classical music have two options. They can purchase a festival pass for $100, which provides to all the recitals. Alternatively, they can buy day passes for $40, enabling them to see both recitals on that day.
Liu emphasizes that people are also welcome to attend free student performances during morning and afternoon sessions. The entire schedule is available on the festival’s website.
She also wants to thank the many sponsors, including Frobisher International Enterprise, The Osmanthus restaurant, Tom Lee Music, Best SSAT Prep, Reading Town, and Thunderbolt Sign.
The Vancouver International Music Festival will close on August 25 with a gala concert featuring the top students in each category. This is also a ticketed event and it’s not included in the festival pass.
“The students will perform, as well as our artists in residence,” Liu says. “They will collaborate with each other and become a chamber group with a piano, violin, and and cello. The three artists are David Fung, Eric Wilson, and Jasper Wood.”
The Vancouver International Music Festival runs from August 20 to 25 at the VSO School of Music. For tickets, visit Eventbrite. The full schedule of events is on the festival website. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia and on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
