ZHI-PEI LIU

Graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, China and the University of Hartford in the USA, majoring in both orchestra conducting and piano as a fellow of the prestigious Hartt School Talent award for his doctoral studies, the highest distinction possible in the school of music. 

At the age of 24, he made his conducting debut with the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra.  Since then he has frequently been invited as both Conductor and Piano Soloist to perform with many orchestras, including China Central Philharmonic Orchestra, Beijing Concert Hall Chamber Orchestra, China Film Philharmonic Orchestra, and Symphony of the University of Wisconsin in the United States, McGill Conservatory Chamber Orchestra, National Academy Orchestra and Brott Music Festivals in Canada etc.  He has also collaborated and performed with distinguished soloists such as Anton Kuerti, Daniel Taylor and Suzie Le Blanc and Pinchas Zuckerman.

While in Beijing, Liu was appointed the Music Director of the National Band of China, regularly performed for national leaders and visiting foreign dignitaries, such as Chinese Presidents Deng and Jiang, former US President Reagan, USSR President Gorbachev, British Prime Minister Thatcher.

As music teacher, Liu has taught piano, music theory and the art of ensemble, and given many concerts and lectures as a conductor and pianist at universities and public forums in China and in North America.  He served as the Music Director of the Symphony and Chorus in the Arts Academy in Beijing, and directed the CAST Youth Orchestra & Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto in Canada.

Liu’s successful performances and teaching have been interviewed, reported on and reviewed by Central Television, Beijing Television, China International Broadcasting, China Daily and People’s Daily in China, The Hamilton Spectator and Wisconsin Television in North America.  His interpretation of music, teaching skills and his constant pursuit of perfection have won him great honor and respect in music circles in China and abroad.

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YAN-QIAO WANG

A graduate of the Central Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Beijing, China, Yanqiao 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 at his alma mater CCM. 

Before coming to Toronto, Mr. Wang went to Japan in 1980 and took up his studies in composing and conducting.  He conducted the Chinese Folk Orchestra in Japan and taught in the Tokyo Music Conservatory for several years.

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 Sim overture, as well as music for the movies The Wedding and The Rainy Spring.

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JACK MAN

Mr. Jack Man is a native of Shanghai and a graduate of Shanghai Teachers' University, Dept. of Music.

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SERENE LIANG

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TAK-NG LAI

Tak-Ng Lai commenced his music education at the Canton Conservatory of Music in China. He furthered his studies in Hong Kong, and completed them at the Vienna Conservatory of Music with a joint major in violin and conducting before coming to Canada in 1977 as a participant in the Conductor's Workshop at the University of Toronto. He held a teaching position at Brock University; and currently teaches violin, viola, and conducting in the Toronto area. 

Maestro Lai is a past director of both the Niagara Youth Orchestra and the Mississauga Youth Orchestra. He was the first conductor of the Canadian Chamber Academy and during his early years in Canada he served as the assistant conductor of the Niagara Symphony Orchestra. For several years he served as the Principal Guest Conductor of the Canton Philharmonic and Choral Society. Mr. Lai has guest conducted in Europe, North America, and Asia with, among others, the Moscow Symphony, the Ural State Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony, the Windsor Symphony, the Niagara Symphony, the Shanghai Philharmonic, the Taiwan Symphony, the Beijing Symphony, and the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestras. 

Over the years, Maestro Lai has contributed a great deal to the musical life in Toronto. In 1977 he founded the Toronto Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra and in 1983, he established the Chinese Canadian Choir of Toronto. He has been Music Director and Conductor of both organizations since their founding. Currently, aside from being Music Director and Conductor of the Canadian Sinfonietta, he is also is the Music Director and Conductor of the Toronto Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toronto Chinese Youth Orchestra, the Toronto Cantata Chorus and has served the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra in these capacities since 1986. 

Maestro Lai has collaborated with many prominent musicians, among them Ofra Harnoy, Jacques Israelievitch, Naida Cole, Isabel Bayrakdarian, James Campbell, Robert Aitken and Paul Brodie. He has also recorded with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, a set of CD's, which features the works of Canadian composer An-Lun Huang. 

As a result of his many achievements, Maestro Lai received the prestigious Order of the Knights of Rizal in 2000 and in 2002, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Chinese Canadian Legend.

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RICHARD HOOI

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