VCSA Toronto Proudly Presents:

"East Meets West: Classical Music in Vietnamese Hearts"

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Date:  December 16^th, 2006

Time:  16:00 – 17:30

Location:  The Heliconian Hall

Address:  35 Hazelton Avenue, Toronto, Ontario (Click for Map)

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Performer Biographies:

Lam Vu, Hong Diem:  Professionally trained since the age of six, Hong Diem graduated Summa cum laude in Piano Performance from the Saigon Conservatory of Music.  She continued her musical studies at York University, Toronto where she earned her Honours Bachelor in Fine Arts, specializing in Piano Performance.  Since returning from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where Hong Diem furthered her professional training at the Master’s level in Piano Performance under the guidance of Professor Timothy Steeves, she is completing her Master in Ethnomusicology at York University, Toronto. Her research interest focuses on “Canada Classical Music:  Women Composers of 19th and 20th Centuries.” in which she is examining the impact of both colonialism and post-colonialism on the development of classical music in Canada.  Currently, Hong Diem is teaching at York University under direction of Professor Christina Petrowska Quilico and Karen Rymal.

Phu, Chi Son:  Holding a Diploma of Professional Pianist and having graduated with First Class Honours with Distinction in Piano Performance from the Saigon Conservatory of Music, Son furthered his musical studies at York University, Toronto under the training of Professor Antonin Kubalek. He received several Scholarships and graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Piano Performance and Music Education.  An active educator, Son is an Affiliate Teacher of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and also a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association.  An inspired teacher, under his guidance many of his students have achieved outstanding grades, including First Class Honours and First Class Honours with Distinction in piano and theory exams at the Royal Conservatory of Music.  In addition, his students have often been top winners in piano competitions:  the Toronto Piano Competition; Peel Region Music Competition; Ontario Academy of Music Annual Competition; and the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto.  Son has been involved in numerous Annual Recitals as performer and producer. He was a member and a piano accompanist of the Youth Ensemble Orchestra and the Choir of Saigon Conservatory of Music. As a member of Piano/Violin/Clarinet Trio, he also performed chamber music in Toronto.

Nguyen, Phuc The Khai:  As second violin for the well-respected “Asian Youth Orchestra” The Khai toured extensively with the orchestra in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan during his professional studies at the Conservatory of Music in Saigon.  After graduating in Master of Violin Performance at the Conservatory of Music of Saigon, The Khai won a full-scholarship to study Violin Performance at the National University of Singapore (the former Singapore Conservatory), where the music program was sponsored and designed by the highly-reputed United States music institution:  the Peabody Conservatory.  Recently, The Khai graduated from the Advanced Certificate Program in Violin Performance at the University of Toronto where he studied under direction of the Professor Annalee Patipatanakoon.

Degtyar, Zoya:  A native of Russia, Zoya studied professionally at Simseropol Music College in Ukraine, where she earned her Honours Bachelor in Music, specializing in Music Theory.  After further training at York University, Toronto, she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Fine Arts (Summa cum laude), focusing in Piano Performance.  Her recent “Performance Option” course at York University, in which she researched and performed music of the Russian composers Karamanov, earned her the exceptional grade of A plus. In summer 2006, Zoya graduated from the Master of Musicology Program at York University, Toronto. Her main research interest is in Contemporary Russian Music under the direction of Professors Dorothy DeVal and Christina Petrowska Quilico.

Dabrowsky, Jaroslaw:  An active Jazz musician in the Toronto musical landscape, Jaroslaw started his professional training in Classical Guitar in Poland but soon shifted his focus to Jazz.  He graduated from York University, Toronto with an Honours Bachelor in Fine Arts degree, specializing in Jazz Performance.  During his studies at both the Undergraduate and Graduate levels at York University, Toronto, Jaroslaw won many awards, prizes, and scholarships including a prestigious $17,000 scholarship from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada.  He is also an active performer who is comfortable in genres ranging from classical guitar, jazz to World Music.  Jaroslaw graduated in summer 2006 from the Master of Ethnomusicology Program at York University, Toronto with his master’s thesis “Jazz in Poland:  Communism and Capitalism”  

Schnee, Daniel: Daniel is currently enrolled in the Ph.D program at York University, with a field of concentration in Ethnomusicology. He earned his Masters in Ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta, under the supervision of Dr. Regula Quershi, one of the most respected professors in Canadian musical culture.