Featuring Aaron, Annie, and Chris. A unique experience presented by our resident artists. Stay tuned for special surprise!
Program
J. S Bach - Violin Sonata No.1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Eugène Ysaÿe - Sonata for Solo Violin in D minor “Ballade”, Op.27 No.3
Jenö Hubay - Fantasie Brillante on Bizet’s Carmen
Ede Poldini - Dancing Doll (Arr. Kreisler)
Antonín Dvořák - Songs my mother taught me (Arr. Kreisler)
Joseph Suk - 6 Pieces, Op.7:1. Love Song (Arr. Kocián for Violin and Piano)
Richard Heuberger - Der Opernball: Midnight Bells (Arr. Kreisler)
Aaron Chan, violin
Chris Soong, piano
Annie Kwok, piano
Tong Wang, piano
Aaron Chan (he/him)
Violin
Currently as a resident of the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Performance Residency Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Aaron came to public attention when he won the Golden Violin Competition in 2019. Aaron received his Bachelor of Music with Stephen Rose and Jinjoo Cho at the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) and McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, and completed his Masters degree at Rice University’s Shepherd School of music under the guidance of Paul Kantor. As a soloist and chamber musician, Aaron has participated in established festivals such as MISQA, Kronberg Academy Masterclass, Verbier Festival Academy (Soloist and Chamber Music), ENCORE Chamber Music, etc.
Chris Soong (he/him)
Piano
Toronto native Chris Soong began his piano studies at the age of five with Professor Nancy Hou and received his ARCT in Piano Performance with Honours in 2009. Chris completed both his Bachelor (16’) and Master of Music (18’) degrees in Piano Performance at the University of Toronto, having studied with Professors Boris Lysenko and Marietta Orlov. He completed his Graduate Diploma in Performance Degree (21’) in Collaborative Piano at McGill University, under the tutelage of Professor Kyoko Hashimoto. Chris actively participates in international summer festivals such as the Orford Arts Academy (Canada), Texas State International Piano Festival (USA), Adamant Music School (USA), Gijon International Summer Festival (Spain), Bowdoin International Music Festival (USA) and The International Holland Music Sessions (Netherlands) and the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity (Canada). He has had the privilege of working with renowned faculty such as Anton Nel, John O’Conor, Menahem Pressler, Boris Berman, Robert McDonald, Ronan O’Hora, Julian Martin, Yong Hi Moon, Logan Skelton, to name a few. Chris is currently in his second year of doctoral studies (DMus) in Collaborative Piano at McGill University, continuing his studies with Professor Kyoko Hashimoto.
Annie Kwok (she/her)
Piano
Annie Kwok began studying the piano at age four in her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, where her teachers included the late Ellen Masaki and Dr. Thomas Yee. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees with a Music-In-Education concentration from the New England Conservatory of Music, studying with Bruce Brubaker. Interested in transforming the dynamics of audience-performer relationships, Annie has curated community performances and interactive programs as an NEC Community Performances and Partnerships fellow, Early Education Music intern at the Rock and Roll Daycare in Cambridge, and member of From The Top's Center for the Development of Arts Leaders. Following graduation, Annie traveled the world performing chamber music on ships as a Lincoln Center Stage pianist, eating, zip-lining, and hiking her way through 30 different countries. She currently teaches at the Masaki School of Music in Honolulu, Hawaii, where her students range from age five to 15.