Lunar Concert
Harmonia & WVYB Strings
Ring in the new year with LunarFest!
Enjoy a night of music, arts, and storytelling. This year, we are bringing together various artists and communities in a wonderful party. Great for all ages, discover new stories and tunes in a celebration that honours traditions while opening doors for new friends to join in.
The Pancouver Bridge Builder Awards presentation will kick off this year’s concert. A Taiwanese family theater group will bring the magic of storytelling to life. Discover a new Canadian-made Lunar New Year song by Jade Music Fest artists. Enjoy classical music from different cultures and eras with Harmonia and friends.
Featuring international artists as well as our favourite local musicians, we invite you to celebrate the Year of the Horse together!
Programme
- Kirt Mosier: Overture to the Wind
- Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No. 7, Mvt. II
- Sam Wu: Eagle Huntress
- Joseph Haydn: Concerto for Violin in G Major, Mvt. I
- Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 6 with the WVYB – Strings
- Che-Yi Lee: 天空落水 Raining Sky with the WVYB – Strings
Harmonia
In 2004, Tony Lee brought together a group of enthusiastic string players to read orchestral music in his home. This became a frequent event at the Lee residence, and soon, the group decided to perform concerts publicly.
The objective of the group is to play chamber works that are rarely performed by large symphonic orchestras. Initially, a whimsical name was chosen for the ensemble – I Musici Sushi – to give the group a “West Coast flavour”. Under the I Musici Sushi banner, the ensemble held a few concerts a year. Admission was by donation, and the proceeds were donated to charities.
The ensemble continued to evolve into a formal ensemble, and concerts showcased a refined ensemble. In December 2018, the group’s name was officially changed to Harmonia to reflect both the musicality and charitable goals of the ensemble.
WVYB Symphonic Strings
WVYB (West Vancouver Youth Band) is comprised of 3 string orchestras and 4 bands, ranging from very beginner to advanced – ages 7-19. The Symphonic Strings (performing tonight) is a gold medal winner at the Con Brio Festival, and heralded for their many community performances, including the annual ‘Lift’ concert. String players from across the North Shore and beyond gather once a week to rehearse, prepare concerts, and learn what it means to create as an ensemble.
Nicholas Urquhart
Nicholas Urquhart is a vibrant musician bringing out the best in the ensembles he works with. He brings a verve and vitality to his music-making. His blend of sophistication, wit, and joy has earned him many return engagements and a reputation for excellence.
Nicholas has worked with a multitude of ensembles and has formal positions with many groups. He is the principal conductor of the Harmonia Ensemble as well as an Associate Conductor with the West Coast Symphony, Ambleside Orchestra, and New Westminster Symphony. He has served as Assistant Conductor with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra and the Kelowna Pops Orchestra. Nicholas is the director and conductor of the WYVB Strings and runs an impressive string orchestra program at Killarney Secondary
Emma Qu (Soloist)
Emma Qu is a student of Dominic Woo and has been a member of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra (VYSO) since 2019. Emma has won the VYSO’s annual concerto competition twice and has performed in chamber groups across Vancouver. She has been awarded scholarships from the Vancouver Academy of Music and VYSO. Outside of violin, Emma volunteers at her church, NLCC, and edits for Polyphony Lit.
Sponsors & Partners
About LunarFest
An annual celebration of the Lunar New Year through arts and storytelling. We invite the diverse communities of Canada to join us in creating new traditions to welcome a new year, together!
LunarFest Vancouver is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered on this land, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples whose cultures and stories inspire us to bring communities together.