YOMP - Scholarship Recipient - Ingrid Malmberg

Hello, my name is Ingrid Malmberg and I am currently studying with Ebus Academy which is an online school.  I am in Grade 10.

Why did you choose the violin?  What got you interested in playing?

My parents are professional musicians, so they introduced me to the violin.

How long have you been playing?

I have been playing violin for twelve years now.

What are some music goals that you have?

Recently I got accepted to the Vancouver Symphony's Whistler Institute in July this year. I'm really excited (and nervous!) to play Don Juan and Rite of Spring, and I'm really looking forward to it.

What's one piece that you've always wanted to play?

Mendelssohn Violin concerto is one of my favorite pieces.

If you could go back in time, what composer would you like to meet?

Because I am Lutheran, I would want to meet Bach, and see what he was thinking when he composed all of his works for the Lutheran Church. I'd like to attend a church service in Leipzig where he worked.

If you could choose to learn another instrument, what would it be?

I have been dying to learn pipe organ for so long, but there is no organ close to me where I can practice. I also have a piano background, so pipe organ would not be too hard to learn. It's one of my favorite instruments.

If Mozart was a musician today, what genre do you think he'd write in?

I have no idea, but one thing I always wonder about is what would happen if any of the really famous composers lived today when they had access to social media. I always wonder what Mozart could have done with a YouTube channel!

What is your favorite thing about playing in an orchestra?

I enjoy working in a team, and one thing I have discovered is that no matter what my job is, I like to have colleagues. I'm not so fond of solitary practice, but I always look forward to seeing colleagues each week.

What have you learned during your time in the orchestra?

It's been a privilege to play in an adult orchestra. I am no stranger to orchestras, as I currently play in the Vancouver Youth Symphony, but most of my orchestral opportunities have been with youth orchestras. It's a whole other level of social interaction working with adults, one that has been quite enriching in my life.

YOMP - Scholarship Recipient - Pearl Chang

Hello, my name is Pearl Chang, and I am currently studying at R.A. McMath Secondary.  I am in Grade 11.

Why did you choose the cello?  What got you interested in playing?

I chose the cello because I have a cousin who played cello when I was younger. I really looked up to her, and naturally, I wanted to play cello.

How long have you been playing?

I’ve been playing cello for 12 years.

What are some music goals that you have?

My ultimate goal is to make others happy with the music I play. I would also like to play in an orchestra that plays movie soundtracks, but unfortunately those do not exist...

What's one piece that you've always wanted to play?

I’ve always wanted to play 1812 because it’s very exciting! (and the cannons, of course)

If you could go back in time, what composer would you like to meet?

I would like to meet Saint-Saens. He is one of my favourite composers, and both Ravel and Fauré were his students, who are also some of my favourite composers. I remember playing the Swan when I was younger and loving it. He’s a really awesome composer who taught really awesome students.

If you could choose to learn another instrument, what would it be?

I would choose the viola! This instrument is very underrated, but it has a beautiful sound just like all others.

If Mozart was a musician today, what genre do you think he'd write in?

Perhaps he would write in some form of pop. Maybe electro-pop or dance pop, similar to Lady Gaga or Michael Jackson.

What is your favourite thing about playing in an orchestra?

I love how everybody plays their own parts, but they all come together to form something nobody could do on their own.

What have you learned during your time in the orchestra?

I’ve learned to listen to others because your own part itself doesn’t make up the piece- the whole orchestra does.

Beethoven & Brahms - World Premiere By Spencer Tsai

We are thrilled to announce a world premiere at our Beethoven and Brahms by 11 year old violinist, pianist and composer Spencer Tsai. He is the youngest recipient of the Royal Conservatory ARCT diplomas in both violin and piano. He has won numerous awards for both his violin and piano performances and has appeared as violin soloist with the Richmond Orchestra on several occasions.

Spencer has studied composition with Mr. KC Foong and has composed over 180 pieces including concertos, symphonic poems and he is currently working on his first Symphony. If you would like to hear more of Spencer’s music please visit www.spencertsai.com.

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ADVANCE TICKETS: 

Adult: $18.00
Senior/Student: $15.00
Children (under 13): $6.00

DOOR PRICES:

Adult: $20.00
Senior/Student: $18.00
Children (under 13): $10.00

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CONCERT DETAILS: 

Date: May 7, 2016
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Richmond Pentecostal Church
Address: 9300 Westminter Highway, Richmond BC

 

Richmond Sings 2016! - Fundraiser for RASS

FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT THE RICHMOND ADDICTION SERVICES SOCIETY (RASS)

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“Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens.” So wrote Baroness Maria Von Trapp, the matriarch of the famous family in the film The Sound of Music.

Many Richmond choirs are hoping that their music will inspire people to open their hearts and pocketbooks during Richmond Sings, a benefit concert for the Richmond Addiction Services Society (RASS) which will take place on Monday, May 2 at 7:00pm at Fraserview Church in Richmond.

RASS is dedicated to creating a healthy and safe environment for children, youth and families in our community. Addiction services are historically underfunded but early and sustained access to counselling and treatment can make a huge difference in someone’s life.

May 2 is Music Monday in Canada, which sees musicians from all across the country come together to celebrate the power of music in our community. Helping in this endeavor will be singers from 8 to 80! The participating choirs include the Richmond Chorus, the Richmond Youth Honour Choir, the Steveston London Secondary Choir, the McNair Secondary Choir, the Canada Melody Choir, Our Saviour Lutheran Church Choir, Gilmore Park United Church Choir and South Arm United Church Choir.

With this diverse group of choirs there’s sure to be music to appeal to all musical tastes! So join us on May 2 for Richmond Sings, a wonderful night of entertainment for a very worthy cause.

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CONCERT DETAILS:

Monday, May 2, 2016 @ 7:30pm
Admission by donation
Doors open at 7:00pm

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CONCERT VENUE:

Fraserview MB Church
11295 Mellis Dr, Richmond, BC V6X 1L8

 

Artist Feature - Erin Burkholder - Violinist

On May 7, 2016 at 7:30pm, violinist Erin Burkholder will be performing the Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 composed by Johannes Brahms.   Considered to be one of the greatest concerto's to be composed for the violin, we wanted to take a closer look at artist that will be performing this towering work.

Q: Who are your three musical heroes?

A: David Oistrakh, Martha Argerich, and Ivan Galamian. Among many others.

Q: What is your favourite piece of music?

A: I have a firm belief that it is a musician's job to genuinely find a way to fall in love with every piece they play. In line with that, I try not to think in terms of favourites and unfavourites. So for this concert, the Brahms Violin Concerto is my favourite piece. That said, I do get a special thrill from re-listening to pieces that I've played before and that are associated with special memories - Schubert's Octet, for instance, which I performed last year with a group of my dearest friends and colleagues; or Mahler's 5th Symphony, which was the first piece I performed as part of a full-size symphony orchestra.

Q: Who is your favourite composer?

A: The above answer applies here as well. But Prokofiev, Messiaen and Janáček are the composers whose music I think mine would most resemble if I had any talent for composition. Their approaches and styles make a lot of sense to me.

Q: What are the most challenging aspects of the Brahms concerto?

A: I would say its size, and I mean that in all senses of the word. It's long, difficult throughout, and the powerful sound it demands of the soloist is unparalleled among the other major violin concertos. The orchestra is so musically integrated: very rarely does it play the role of simple 'accompaniment', and it takes a lot of stamina for the soloist to maintain a sound that can cut through everything going on underneath.

Q: Who are five people (real or imaginary) you would most like to invite to dinner?

A: Honestly, I would probably pick five of my real-life closest friends. If I really wanted to pick the brain of a historical figure or a fictional character I think I would want much longer than one meal to do so. I'd rather have a lengthy written correspondence, and save dinner for the company of my friends.

Q: If you could choose a super power, what would it be?

A: It's definitely a bit unethical, but I sure would love to be able to read minds!