Asian Heritage Month Concert 2025
Date: May 8, 2025, 7pm
Venue: Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto, 2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto.
FREE ADMISSION | Please register here.
Artistic Directors: Professor Chan Ka Nin, Ms Alice Ping Yee Ho, Dr. Vania Chan
MC: Dr. Vania Chan
Land Acknowledgement
Welcome speech
Mr. Justin Poy, Honourary Patron, Asian Heritage Month-CFACI
PROGRAMME
I. Excerpts from The Monkiest King
Scene 1 Birth Song and The Race
Librettist: Marjorie Chan
Composer: Alice Ping Yee Ho
The Canadian Children’s Opera Company
Conductor: Teri Dunn
Patty Chan, Erhu Wendy Zhao, pipa
The whole Asian Heritage Month Concert will be framed by Professor Chan Ka Nin’s piece “Once …”, written for Daegeum (Korean flute performed by Ji Yun Song), newly composed with the message Love Makes Us One. It provides the narrative structure for other performances to fit into.
WORLD PREMIERE | Once …
ONCE … is a three-movement work for solo Korean flute: I. “Little Bird..”. II. Go My Own Way. III. Curiosity. Having six grandchildren, composer Chan Ka Nin is reliving his own childhood by observing how they view the world through their eyes. “Little Bird…” is an imagined conversation between a child and a bird. “Go My Own Way” describes the amazing determination of a young mind. It is fascinating to see children full of curiosity, a quality an adult once had.
II. WORLD PREMIERE | Once…first movement “Little Bird” by CHAN Ka Nin
Jiyun Song, daegeum
This work is supported by grants from the Ontario Art Council, Toronto Arts Council, Art Council Korea, and Liquidsound
III. Guzheng and other instruments performance by Alice Gao and company
1) Lake one Cultural Association & Lyra Music
Blossom on a Moonlit River in Spring 春江花月夜
A timeless and poetic masterpiece of traditional Chinese music, this piece evokes the tranquil beauty of a moonlit river in spring. Flowing melodies and gentle harmonies reflect the elegance of blooming flowers, the shimmering water, and the quiet night sky. Deeply atmospheric, it invites listeners into a serene world of reflection and natural harmony.
Performers: Esther Zhu, Austin Zhu, Mikayla wen Chen, Brianna Wong Calliope Chuck
2) Bayin Ensemble
Performers：Amely Zhou (Erhu), Di Zhang (Yangqin), Annora Anqing Sui (Percussion) + two Guzheng
Galloping Horses
This energetic erhu piece vividly portrays the thrilling speed and strength of horses racing across the plains. With rapid bowing techniques and rhythmic precision, the music mimics the gallop and spirit of a cavalry charge, showcasing the erhu’s expressive power and virtuosity.
General’s Command
– Erhu, Yangqin, Percussion, 2 Guzheng
A bold and dramatic yangqin composition that captures the intensity of a battlefield and the authority of a commanding general. The piece paints a scene of military precision, courage, and strategic command through powerful strikes and dynamic passages.
IV. WORLD PREMIERE | “Love Makes Us One”
Text: Jodelyn Huang
Music: CHAN Ka Nin
Vania Chan, soprano, Adelyn Griffin, Baydon Griffin, Ryland Griffin, Charlie Karantjas, Naomi Karantjas, Theo Karantjas, actors, Alice Ho, piano
Text by Ms. Jodelyn Huang, Toronto Catholic District School Board using key phrases that were proven to work for youths and students to combat anti-Asian Racism:
I am different, I am me and I have so much to share.
Love has no limit. Love me for who I am.
You are special, you are unique. You are enough. Aim for the stars.
Children are precious gifts from God; in all shapes, sizes, color and form.
Love brings color: black or white, yellow, or brown. Color red, our blood, makes us one.
V. WORLD PREMIERE | Once…, second movement “Go my own way”
Jiyun Song, daegeum
VI. Vocal Pieces
“听雨” (Listening to the Rain) by Zhao Yuan Ren
“教我如何不想他” (How can I not think of her?) by Zhao Yuan Ren
鴛鴦(Tea-coffee) by Hong Kong poet 也斯 Leung Ping Kwan (1949 – 2013) World Premiere
Music: Hippocrates Cheng
Duet “La ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”.
Vania Chan, soprano | Matthew Li, bass | Alice Ho, piano
VII. WORLD PREMIERE | Once …, third movement “Curiosity”
Jiyun Song, daegeum
VIII. Excerpts from The Art of Vanishing by Lynne Kutsukake
Lynne Kutsukake, author and reader
Music: Jiyun Song, Daegeum player & improviser
Photos: Tam Kam Chiu and Stephen Siu
IX. Ayame Kai Japanese Dance group
3 Japanese Dances under the direction of Susan Nikaido
Aka Tonbo – Isla Miller, Emma Tingle, and Kiyomi Yep
Kojo – Mizuki Shimozato and Amaya Nakashima
Kokoro Zake – Yiko Zhang and Olivia Yoshimoto
The National Anthem | O Canada
Music: Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Soprano: Dr. Vania Chan | Bass: Matthew Li
O Canada sung in the Official languages, as well as in Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Register soon because space is limited.
We hope you’re able to join us!
Event co-organizers: Asian Heritage Month—Canadian Foundation for Asian Culture (Central Ontario) Inc.; Toronto Public Library; Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, University of Toronto; Richard Charles Lee Canada Hong Kong Library, University of Toronto; Chinese Canadian Photography Society of Toronto; Social Services Network; Cambridge Food and Wine Society
Asian Heritage Month Festival is partially funded by the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Asian Canadian Artists in Digital Age is funded by Canada Council for the Arts Digital Strategy Fund