Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble
Guest Artists
SE:UM is a fusion of jazz and Korean traditional virtuosos who united through the pulsating beats of ancient folk tunes and shamanistic rhythms.
Led by Joon Lee, this quintet is a powerhouse ensemble that will be joining Jasmine Jazz in Vancouver May 2024.
Joining forces with saxophonist Hachul Song, trumpeter Jongsang Park, bassist Jaeha Lee, and traditional percussionist Minhyeong Lee, this eclectic quintet is known for their boundary-breaking music. Through years of collaboration, they've harmonized their styles, dismantling barriers between genres.
Allen Zhou is an exciting new addition to the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, bringing a fresh sound to their traditional and contemporary Chinese music performances.
He has recently collaborated with renowned dizi player Yong Sun, appearing on his latest recordings (2023). With his talent and dedication to his craft, Allen impresses audiences with his dynamic cello performances.
Emily M Cheung is a gifted performer, with a passion for genuine connection.
She will be featured in Michael O'Neill's compositions "Turkish Rug" and "Log Cabin" and performing live at a concert with the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble on May 14, 2023
Jodi Proznick is a Canadian jazz bassist, composer, educator, and producer. She has been named Jazz Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and has been nominated for three Juno Awards.
Jodi worked with us to produce the album Jasmine Jazz, a work that fuses Jazz music and Chinese Instruments in a warm hug.
Twice nominated “best jazz clarinetist” in the National Jazz Awards, composer/performer James Danderfer has been performing and recording with some of the finest jazz musicians in North America. He is a part of our Jasmine Jazz album, a brilliant, composer and performer that made the recording possible.
Richard Cheung – cello
Born into a musical family, Richard has studied the cello and piano since childhood. He studied the cello under professor Ding Fu Xiang and Fu Xian Lu of the Sichuan Conservatory. In 1980, he joined the Sichuan Film Symphony Orchestra of the Urban Council as the Assistant Principal cellist. He has performed with the orchestra in many major concerts in Hong Kong and overseas and has been invited to perform in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Canada and China. Richard was invited to perform as the Principal cellist in Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta Orchestra and the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra.
出生於音樂家庭，自幼學習鋼琴及大提琴，在四川音樂學院師從丁浮祥教授及傅先祿教授學習大提琴。1980年，章虹成為四川電影交響樂團，並參與電影音樂的配音工作。85年加入香港市政局香港中樂團並擔任大提琴助理首席。期間多次隨團往日本、台灣、新加坡、加拿大和中國各等地演出，在香港期間亦參與香港交響樂團、香港小交響樂團、泛亞交響樂團等音樂會演出。現定居於溫哥華。
(Stringing Zithers Concert)
Born and raised in the Tohoku area in Japan Kozue has played koto since she was 3 years old. Her koto is always near her.
Kozue says “the koto is in a way a part of my body.”
She also plays shamisen and shinobue. Kozue believes that music animates moments in our world. Kozue has performed at many shows, including the Powell Street Festival, the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival, and other intercultural community events.
(Stringing Zithers Concert)
Grace Jong Eun Lee is a composer and a performer dedicated to inter-culturalism. She is currently the president of Grace Music School and teaches as well as directs performances with the School of Music Korean Ensemble at Vancouver Community College.
She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the University of British Columbia in Piano and Composition.
She is also an Associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre. Her compositions have been performed worldwide in renowned galleries, churches ,and concert halls. Her interest in playing both traditional and contemporary music and composing for the Kayagum began in Canada. Her compositions reflect a combination of Korean, Chinese (Erhu) and Western instruments (flute, clarinet, piano, string and percussion). The sounds of nature strongly influence her and often uses them in her works to convey an East Asian sense of space and emptiness.
(Plucking Strings Concert)
Neelamjit Dhillon is a professional musician equally versed in both Eastern and Western traditions. He obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies from Capilano University and has also completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary Music Education from the University of British Columbia. He is currently pursuing his masters in tabla performance at the California Institute of the Arts. Neelamjit has had the fortunate opportunity to work with some great names in jazz such as Bob Mintzer, Kurt Elling, Nenna Freelon and Cedar Walton. He has also had the distinction of working with some of India's finest such as Louiz Banks, Fazal Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurassia and Taufiq Qureshi. This firm rooting in two distinct styles gives Neelamjit a unique perspective into the universality of music. For more information please visit the birds of paradox website.