City prodigy performs at music festival

Lively City column by Dan Hilborn
Published July 13, 2005


A young classical musician from Burnaby will be basking in the limelight during the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival at Crofton House School in Vancouver next week.

Jonathan Chan, a 15-year-old prodigy who plays both violin and piano, will be a featured performer in two of the shows during the 10-day event that brings some of the top classical musicians in the world to Vancouver.

Well known in the local classical music circle, Chan was the winner of the 2002 Music Man Piano Concerto Competition with his spirited performance of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major, then followed up with a similar first place finish at the Burnaby Clef Society Piano Concerto Competition in 2004. He has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

But according to a press release issued by the festival, Chan really got his big break last fall when he was asked to perform at the Orpheum Theatre in place of world renowned pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim.

Leila Getz, artistic director of the Vancouver Recital Society was so impressed by Chan's performance that she asked him to play at this summer's festival as one of only 23 musicians invited from around the world.

The Vancouver Chamber Music Festival evening concert series features pre-concert talks by the conductors and musicians, plus a picnic in the park. Talks are at 6:15 p.m. and the concerts are at 8:15 p.m.

On Saturday, July 23, Chan will perform alongside four other musicians on Dvorak's Quintet in G major in a performance that features Valerie Coleman of the Imani Winds.

On Tuesday, July 26, Chan will join a different group of musicians in performing Schubert's Quintet in E flat major in a show that features the Leopold String Trio.

The Vancouver Chamber Music Festival is celebrating its 20th season this year, and single tickets are available through Ticketmaster at $32 apiece. For more information or subscription details, visit the website www.vanrecital.com.

BURNABY TAKES OVER

There will be a decidedly Burnaby flavour on stage when Festival Vancouver gets underway from Aug. 1 to 14 at a variety of venues in the big city to the west.

Those who take in the free BMO Live at the Gallery shows, taking place on the steps of the Vancouver Art Gallery on Tuesday, Aug. 2, will have their chance to hear two Burnaby acts - the Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band at 12 noon, followed by local artist Qui Xia He and the Chinese fusion group Jou Tou at 1 p.m.

Festival Vancouver will also feature jazz legend Chick Corea, the Scottish supergroup Capercaillie and many of the top musicians from around the country and the world, including an Aug. 5 performance of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, led by Jacques Lacombe at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts.

Information on show times and venues is available at the website, www.festivalvancouver.bc.ca, and tickets are from Ticketmaster at 604-280-3311.

LOCAL REGGAE STAR

Burnaby's own solo reggae performer Jahronimo and his band will be among the warm-up acts when Jamaican music star Tony Rebel and the Rebel Rootz Krew come to the Commodore ballroom on Friday, July 29.

Jahronimo was last featured in the Burnaby NOW about three years ago after he teamed up with local artist Zukie Joseph to release their first CD In Jamaica.