2007 Events Archive
2007 Annual Concert
Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto
多倫多華人合唱團
CCCT Annual Concert 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
7:00 p.m.
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto
5183-5193 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough
Foreword
Over 4 years ago, on Oct 18, 2003 this Choir held a benefit concert at Toronto Korean Presbyterian Church. All the proceeds less the expenses were donated to the Phase II expansion fund of The Chinese Cultural Centre, specifically for the building of this Theater. Tonight we are performing for the first time in this Theater and we are proud to be one of the many contributors.
Our special Guests tonight are none other than our former conductor Mr. Yan Qiao Wang and our old friends Esther Tse, Li Wang and former Choir members. Mr. Wang left the Choir over three years ago to take up the prestigious teaching post at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing . We are fortunate that Mr. Wang can make time to guest conduct our concert tonight. Also by his request, we also called some of the Choir alumni to join with him on his segment of the performance. This is indeed a happy reunion of our Choir family.
The audiences tonight are treated to experience the two distinctive styles of music treatments and interpretations by two conductors. There are a wide variety of selections of music by both of them. It will be a symphony of different music and treatments. The end result will still be the same: together, we make music.
We chose to close the concert with the Hymn “It is well with my soul” to let the world know that the Choir is fine now although it was painful at first to have lost a long time conductor of 13 years. We wish Mr. Wang continued to enjoy and be successful with his new endeavor. We thank our current resident conductor Mr. Chung for guiding us through those difficult times in the history of the Choir.
Thanks for coming and supporting our Choir. Please enjoy the concert.
President, CCCT
Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto 多倫多華人合唱團
As a registered non-profit organization, the Choir was founded in 1983 with the purpose of promoting choral music in the Greater Toronto Area.
Over its 24 years’ history, the Choir has been directed by many distinguished conductors. Most notably by renowned composer Mr. Yanqiao Wang who led the Choir for 13 years from 1991 to 2004. Mr. Wang was invited back to his alma mater the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing for a prestigious teaching assignment. The Choir is now conducted by Mr. Andrew Chung.
The Choir has participated in numerous major concerts in the past: The Yellow River Cantata 1988; East Meets West Concert IV in San Francisco 1988; the song of Everlasting Sorrow Cantata 1989; Toronto Camarata 1995; Choral Gala on the 200th anniversary of the City of Scarborough 1996; Gala Concert for the return of Hong Kong to China 1997; the Toronto Millennium Concert 2000; A concert Tribute to Maestro Li, De-Lun 2001; Ode to Yellow River 2002; Mississauga Chinese Arts Festival 2004 .
The Choir is also a long standing member of the annual Overseas Chinese Art festival the Choral Music Gala; the Multicultural Choral Music Gala “Sing Together”.
In 1994 & 1995 the Choir participated and won the Gold Status in the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival.
The Choir had collaborated with Cathay Melodiers Choir of Detroit; Hongshen Choir of Michigan; Vancouver Chinese Choir Association; Mississauga Chinese Choir; the Chinese Melody of Guelph, Maple Leaf Children’s Choir; Creative Note Children’s Choir, Toronto Season Choir and Alata Harmonia Chorus.
Biography
Andrew Chung, Conductor 鍾 輝
Andrew Chung was appointed as Music Director of the Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto (CCCT) in 2005. Apart from his engagement with the CCCT, he is also the Music Director of the Halton Chamber Youth Orchestra, the University Settlement Orchestra, the Scarborough Community Concert Band, Xiao Ping Chorus(prior to 2006 season), and the Assistant Conductor of the Calvin Presbyterian Church Choir. While attending University of Toronto , he was appointed as Music Director of the Pickering Philharmonic Orchestra and the Assistant Conductor of the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra . He had also served as Music Assistant at the Opera Mississauga (now Royal Opera Canada). Andrew Chung has guest conducted the Hart House Orchestra, the North York Concert Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonia, the Northdale Concert Band, the Toronto Chinese Youth Orchestra, the Mississauga Youth Orchestra, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, and the Milton Youth Choir.
As an orchestral musician, he was the principal trumpet with the Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra, the Hong Kong Youth Symphony, the Asian Youth Orchestra (under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin and Alexander Schneider) and the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. He made his solo debut with the Mooredale Festival Orchestra. He has also played with Hamilton Philharmonic and Talisker Players.
He has attended the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the University of Hong Kong , the University of Toronto and the University of Freiburg, Germany. His trumpet teachers include Stephen Chenette, Robert Nagel, Henry Nowak, Jeffrey Reynolds and Larry Weeks. He also studied privately with Arnold Jacobs and Murray Crewe. A scholarship from the Centre d'Arts Orford allowed him to study conducting with Raffi Armenian and Agnes Grossman. He has also participated in the Conductors Apprentice Program with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts Orchestra. His other conducting teachers include Dwight Bennett and Kerry Stratton.
YAN-QIAO WANG, Conductor / Composer 王燕樵
A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing , China , Mr. Wang has been teaching and conducting since 1960. He had become the music director of the Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto during his stay in Toronto from 1991 to 2004. In 2004, Mr. Wang returned to China to accept a professorship offer at his alma mater Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing .
In 1980 Mr. Wang went to Japan and soon became a research fellow of the Japan International Culture Exchange Foundation. There he founded the Tokyo Chinese Instrument Ensemble which toured all over Japan and appeared in NHK.
Mr. Wang is a member of the Chinese Musician Association in China . His works cover areas on Chinese symphonic pieces, chamber music, concertos, ballet suite, etc. A prolific composer, he has written “The Red Women Army” ballet, “The Little Sisters in the Prairie” Pi-pa Concerto, the “Spring Arrived in Mount Tai Sin” overture, as well as music for the movies “The Wedding” and “The Rainy Spring”.
At present Mr. Wang is guest Professor of Beijing Central Conservatory of Music and Honorary Professor of Xinjian Conservatory of Music. He spent most his time in China teaching, researching, composing and taking part in many musical activities. He takes leave to his Toronto home on the balance of time.
Li Wang, Pianist 王犁
Pianist Li Wang's passionate and distinctively personal style of playing is quickly earning him recognition as one of Canada 's finest young artists. His most recent achievement in the arena of international competitions was in May of 2003, when he was awarded both the 2nd prize and Best Concerto Prize from a field of 62 pianists competing at the AXA Dublin International Piano Competition.
Mr. Wang was also a first prize winner in Brazil's Arts Livre Competition, a Gold Medalist in the First Canadian Chopin Competition (as well as receiving a special prize for both best Mazurka and best Polonaise), a Silver Medalist in the 9th Southern Missouri International Piano Competition, 3rd prize in the 37th Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona,
and a finalist (from a field of 80 pianists) at the prestigious Liszt Competition in Budapest.
He has been heard both as soloist and chamber musician in Canada , the United States , South America, Europe, and Asia .. In Canada he has been heard in venues such as the Ford Centre and Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto , and the Playhouse in Vancouver . His recital at the Seventh International Great Romantics Festival in Hamilton - a special invitation appearance as a result of his electrifying performances at the Liszt Competition in Budapest - earned a standing ovation. As well, his playing has been broadcast on CBC and CJRT radio, and both BRAVO! arts channel and City TV. Recent recital appearances in the United States include an appearance in Boston 's Jordan Hall.
Mr. Wang has performed in Europe numerous times, including appearances in France , Spain , the Netherlands , Russia and Ireland . As well, in September of 2000 he was invited to perform an all-Chopin recital at a Chopin Festival in Antonin , Poland . In Asia he has performed in China and, more recently, in Japan, in a concert sponsored by the Canadian Embassy that was attended by their Royal Highnesses, Prince and Princess Takamado. Mr. Wang's appearances with orchestra include concertos with the Hungarian Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Cultura Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland.
Li Wang was born in Beijing , China , in 1974. He began his piano studies under his father, Yan-Qiao Wang, a composer of distinction in China , and was accepted to study at the Beijing Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 6. His studies later continued in Japan under the renowned pedagogue Hiroko Edo, and in France at the Conservatoire national superiere de musique in Paris , under the tutelage of Brigitte Engerer. He went on to study in Canada at The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, where he was a student of James Anagnoson. He currently resides in Toronto .
Biography
Esther Tse, Soprano 謝孟瑩
Since joining the Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto in 1993, Esther has been soloist on many occasions, including various premiere performances of works by Yan-Qiao Wang such as “Old well” and “Shi Jing”.
A graduate of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto , and Esther has appeared with Toronto Operetta Theatre, Opera Buffa, Summer Lyric Theatre, the Alexander Singers and Players and Toronto Opera Repertoire. She has performed roles including Valencienne in the “Merry Widow”, Micaela in “Carmen”, Despina in “Cosi fan Tutte”, Adele in “Die Fledermaus”, Rose in “Ruddigore”, Gretel in “Hansel and Gretel” and Yum-Yum in “Mikado”.
When not performing, Esther enjoys teaching voice to her students who range 7 to 70. She is delighted to be performing with the Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto again.
Emmanuel Limsiong, Piano accompanist 林萬雷
Emmanuel studied piano and organ with Patricia Lim, Armando Salarza and William Wright. Back in his native Philippines , he was assistant organist of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and accompanist to its church and chancel choir for many years. Since immigrating to Toronto , Emmanuel accompanied various vocal groups including the choir of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Hillcrest Christian Church,
Toronto Chinese United Church and the Overseas Chinese Music Society. He is currently senior organist at Toronto Chinese United Church .
招募團員
為達到與眾同樂及增強陣容之目的，本合唱團繼續招募新團員，歡迎年齡十六歲以上之男女朋友報名參加。
應徵資格： 除熱愛歌唱外，須有基本視譜能力。有參與合唱團經驗更佳。
排練時間： 每星期日下午七時至十時
地點： Milliken Park Community Centre
4325 McCowan Road, Scarborough, ON
Closest Intersection (Steeles Ave East & McCowan)
聯絡電話： 416-756-9667 (章璋)
416-291-6907 (駱小薇)
Concert Programme
I. Choir Andrew Chung Conducting
Emmanuel Limsiong Piano
1. The Heavens are Declaring L.V. Beethoven
Solo part: Shella Tang
2. The Herding Song 牧歌 瞿希賢編
Herding a flock of sheep in the great pasture of Mongolia . The sheep dots the vast pasture like white pearls scattered on a sheet of green velvet. The rising sun is so welcoming and the endless plain of grassland is so peaceful and liberating
3. In Praise of Eight Stallions 八駿贊 思克巴雅爾曲
Solo part: Montgomery Lee
A folk song from the Mongolia region. It sings praise of the eight galloping stallions which would make the natural friend of the Great Genghis Khan and would no doubt be the pride of the Mongolian people.
4. Early one Morning arr. T.F. Dunhill
5. Green Sleeves arr. Philip Gray
English Folk Songs
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II. Soprano Solo Esther Tse Li Wang Piano
6. Un bel di Vedremo “Madama Butterfly” G. Puccini
Three years had past; Madam Butterfly sings that her lover will return on “one fine day”
7. Pastorale G. Bizet
In this pastorale, the young love-sick Shepard sings: “Ah, my shepardess, let me steal a tender kiss!” Upon hearing his plaintive singing, the shepherdess replies:” No, don’t steal a kiss….I will give it to you!”
8. Three Wishes of a Rose 玫瑰三願 籠七詞﹐黃自曲
I wish the envious wind and rain won’t hurt me
I wish my admirers won’t pluck me from my branch
I wish I can keep my beauty forever
______________________________________________________________________
III. Choir Yan Qiao Wang Conducting Li Wang Piano
9. Ave Verum Corpus A.W. Mozart
Mozart’s Ave verum is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever composed. It was written less than six months before his death
10. Love Song at the Tea Plantation 茶山情歌 陳澄雄編
Suzhou Folk Song.
11. My Beautiful Homeland 美麗的祖國 馬思聰曲
Solo part : Susan Pan
Composer Ma Sicong had just returned to China from France since age 11and was amazed by the beauty of his Homeland.
12. Eight Hundred Heroes 八百壯士 夏之秋曲
Written in 1937, a song praising the 800 soldiers upholding a siege in Shanghai by the invading Japanese thereby shattered their prediction of overrunning China in 3 months.
______________________________________________________________________
INTERMISSION
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IV. Choir Yan Qiao Wang Conducting Li Wang Piano
13. Tell Me How Not to Think of Her
教我如何不想他 趙元任曲
Everything perceived or felt reminded of Her. Written in 1929 while China was in turmoil, the word « her » was probably meant the country and its people.
14. Guest from Afar, Please Stay
遠方的客人請你留下來 麥植曾編
Lead Singers: Janet Jiang, Carmen Jian, Susan Pan
Yunnan Folk song
15. Scarborough Fair/Sound of Silence arr. Philip Kern
An arrangement of the popular Simon and Garfunkel songs.
16. O Holy Night! Adolphe Adam
Solo part: Esther Tse
A well-known Christmas carol composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847
______________________________________________________________________
V. Piano Solo Li Wang
17. La Campanella F. Liszt
“The Little Bell” composed in 1838; revised in 1851, the theme is borrowed from the final movement of Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, a rondo in which the harmonics were reinforced in the ringing of a hand bell.
18. Fantaisie-impromptu F. Chopin
It is one of Chopin’s best known pieces. Composed in 1834 and dedicated to Julian Fontana. It is speculated that Chopin thought the piece was too much like Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, and refused to publish it while alive.
______________________________________________________________________
VI. Choir Andrew Chung Conducting
Emmanuel Limsiong Piano
19. Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name arr. B.W.Dennard
20. The Saints Go Marching In arr. W. Douglas
Traditional Spirituals
21. Life’s Sweet as Honey 人生如蜜 李抱忱曲
22. Flowers of Each Season 對花 施金波編
______________________________________________________________________
VII. Mass Choir Finale Andrew Chung Conducting
Emmanuel Limsiong Piano
23. It Is Well with My Soul Words: Horatio G. Spafford
Music: Philip P. Bliss
This hymn was written after two major traumas in Spafford’s life. The first was the great Chicago Fire of October 1871, which ruined him financially. Shortly after, while crossing the Atlantic , all four of Spafford’s daughters died in a collision with another ship. Several weeks later, as Spafford’s own ship passed near the spot where his daughters died, he was inspired to write the words of this hymn.
八駿贊
蔗！喝！叮啼哩.....蔗！叮啼哩，叮叮啼哩啼哩啼哩
黃驃馬鬃馱來太陽，黃驃馬尾掃落月亮，黃驃馬身連著草原，
黃驃馬背映著霞光，黃驃馬嘶威震世界，黃驃馬蹄踏破山崗。
黃驃馬呼喚著蒙古勇士，黃驃馬勇士渾身都是力量。
咪努庶！啼哩...喝！叮啼哩，啼哩哩...
成吉思汗的忠實伙伴，大自然母親的無私恩典。
蒙古的驕傲，戰馬的威嚴，千歌萬曲留芳草原。
崇拜的圖騰，必勝的信念。
激情的火，智慧的源，心中的旗，強者的箭。
理想的駿馬，意念的昇華，戰鬥的銳氣，振興的朝霞。
我們讚美你，八匹黃驃馬唷，理想的駿馬唷，理想的駿馬唷。
喝！啼哩，啼哩....叮。
八百壯士
中國不會亡 中國不會亡
你看民族英雄謝團長
中國不會亡 中國不會亡
你看那八百壯士孤軍奮守東戰場
四方都是砲火 四方都是豺狼
寧願死不退讓 寧願死不投降
我們的國旗在重圍中飄蕩飄蕩 飄蕩飄蕩 飄蕩
八百壯士一條心 十萬強敵不能擋
我們的行動偉烈 我們的氣節豪壯
同胞們起來 同胞們起來
快快趕上戰場 拿八百壯士做榜樣
中國不會亡 中國不會亡
中國不會亡 中國不會亡
不會亡 不會亡 不會亡
人生如蜜
蜜，蜜，甜如蜜，人生如蜜如蜜；是花開，不是葉落， 是鳥鳴，不是猿啼，是喜悅，不是悲悽，為了重逢，強忍分離。 情人的淚，點點如蜜，人生甜如蜜。
蜜，蜜，甜如蜜，人生如蜜如蜜；是星閃，不是月滅，
是日出，不是雲起，是歡欣，不是憂鬱，為了彩虹，強忍愁雨。 淚的小花，朵朵如蜜，人生甜如蜜
Ave Verum Corpus
Ave verum corpus, natum
De Maria Virgine,
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine,
Cuius latus perforatum
Unda fluxit et sanguine,
Esto nobis praegustatum
In mortis examine
Hail, true body,
Born of the Virgin Mary,
Truly suffered, sacrificed
On the Cross for mankind,
Whose pierced side
Flowed with water and blood,
Be for us a foretaste
In the trial of death.
It Is Well with My Soul
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!
And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.
Performers List
Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto
Soprano
Carmen Jian* Cecilia Lui Cynthia Chow Dolly Yip Esther Cheng*
Esther Tse* Gao Shuo° Grace Sum Grace Tong Janet Jiang*
Linda Ho* Mary Shek Olina Lin Pearl Chan Rey-Ing Huang*
Shella Tang Susan Pan* Susanna Yeung Violet Lam Xing-Ling Yuan
Mei Mei Zhao
Alto
Agnes Chang Chang Chang Charlmane Wong Dana Kam Helen Feng
Helena Butt Mary Chan Rita Koo Tsze-Yuk Wai Maria Tse*
Yvonne Leung
Tenor
David Tse* Edward Lo Jeffrey Liu Leong Chan Montgomery Lee
Peter Luk Richard Chen Tat Sum Wong Tom Ho Yiu Chung Li*
Kwan Chun Hung°
Base
Alan Su Carolus Chen Daniel Eng George Kam Sit Yan°
Thomas Yeung° Huang Chung Tze*
* Choir Alumni of previous years °Friends of CCCT
Production Committee:
Producer Daniel Eng
Media George Kam, Tat Sum Wong
Programme Book Daniel Eng
Ticketing Dana Kam
Treasurer Agnes Cheng
Uniform Kitty Lau , Grace Sum
Stage Manager Augustine Mao
Reception/ushers Mrs. Lee, Mabel &
Vincent Kan
Video/Photography David Tse , Vincent Kan
Programme Coordinators Grace Sum, Dolly Yip
Music Librarian Cecilia Lui
Alumni Coordinator Maria Tse
External Helps Acknowledgement:
We are grateful to the following friends of our Choir for helping us in this concert in their different capacities.
Augustine Mao
Vincent & Mabel Kan
Mrs. Montgomery Lee
Lucy Liu
Facilities Acknowledgement:
The Choir acknowledges the following organizations’ generosity for letting us use their facilities for various practices sessions before this concert.
YIP's Music & Montessori School
Toronto Chinese United Church
Sponsorship Acknowledgement:
The Choir is appreciative to the following persons and organizations for their financial support in this concert.
Dr. & Mrs. Sheldon Berger
Le Commensal Fine Vegetarian Cuisine
Dollar Thrifty Car Rental
Jensen Injury & Health Clinic
Chen Xi Wing Chun Martial Arts Academy
Paul Ng
CYE Production Company
Richard Yu
Millie’s Flower
Creative Note Music Centre