BC Children's Hospital Foundation philanthropy coordinator Ashleigh Gulkeiwicz bestowed the title of "superhero" on violinists Edmund Chung as the top senior philanthropist, and Angelica Chen as top junior philanthropist, for their tireless efforts organising, performing, and bringnig people out to the JOY of MUSIC 2011 benefit concert, which raised funds and awareness for research and treatment for childhood cancer. Please come out and support us in 2012!!

Violinists Edmund Chung, Yujin Jung, Adora Wong, Fiona Wu, Jessie Wu, Trillian Mitchell and Angelica Chen have been honoured with Community Service Awards for their volunteer efforts to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer research and treatment through the BC Children's Hospital Foundation, by organising and performing the JOY of MUSIC benefit concerts for the past two years.

These students are selected by the  British Columbia Registered Music Teachers Association. Edmund Chung received a Gold level certificate for his many hours preparing as the concert-master and principal soloist for the VIOLINPOWER orchestra for the past two  years. Yujin Jung and Fiona Wu, recieved Silver certificates and Trillian Mitchell, Jessie Wu and Angelica  Chen recieved Bronze certificates for their volunteer efforts for JOY of MUSIC 2010 and 2011

The historic set of discs being recorded by the Seoul Philharmonic for Deutsche grammaphon

are available at:

Sikora's Classical Records

www.sikora'sclassicalrecords.com

432 West Hastings

Vancouver B.C.

604-685-0625

for 19.99

orders can be phoned in and shipped out

The Seoul Philharmonic has been awarded a ten disc contract with the iconic Deutsche grammphon label.

This is  the first Asian orchestra to win a  recording contract with Deutsche Grammphon.

Reocrdings to date are:  

French program;

Ravel              Ma Mere L'Oye

Debussy          La Mer

Ravel              La Valse

The Russian program:

Mussorgsky  Pictures at an Exhibition

Tchaikovsky   Symphony #6 in B minor the "Pathtetique"

These historic recordaings are available in Vancouver at Sikora's Classical Records.

The Seoul Philharmonic will be performing in Vancouver

as part of their North American West Coast Tour.

The performance is Sunday April 15th, Orpheum Theatre, 7:30pm

Myung-Whun Chung Conductor

Wu Wei  Sheng Soloist

Program:

Ravel     Ma Mere L'Oye

Chin      Su  

Tchaikovsky Symphony #6 in B minor the "Pathtetique"

Soo Young Kim, a graduate from my violin class holds the title of Assistant Principal 2nd Violin with the Orchestra.

This is an article about the JOY of MUSIC project written by Toni Stanick, published in Progressions magazine.  Click here to view PDF of publication.

On Friday January 29th I had the pleasure and honour of attending a performance of the Tokyo String Quartet with Andrew and Karen Dawes. This was very exciting as Andy was  frist violin of the Tokyo for more than a year  touring and concertising. It was also fitting that while Andy was on tour with the Tokyo, present first violin Martin Beaver filled Andy's position at the University taking on Andy's students.

We pulled up the the Church, which was packed, and we went immediately backstage where there was much good cheer at the reunion of these musicians.

In the presence of legends: Ian McDougal and Al Kay

I had my first experience at ther Jazz Cellar Sunday January 24th and it was awesome. McDougal and Kay were smooth as silk and played as effortlessly as the swaying hips of the girl from Ipanema. Their sound was fluid and easy while ringing true with bell-like clarity, the upper registers were like the smoothest trumpets you ever heard and the lower registers were sonorous and warm. I was mesmerised by the astonishing technique of these artists as they wove up and down and inside each others musical lines, trading melodies, and creating harmonies with impeccable balance and timing.