Supported by TD Bank

Three talented young women with roots in China, Korea, and Vietnam weave together musical traditions and modern sounds to create a unique new repertoire for this specially commissioned video concert.

Roa (HyunYoung) Lee is a Gayageum musician from Korea. She began playing when she was 7 years old and received formal training at a high school and university for traditional performing arts. Interested in collaboration and incorporating the Gayageum with various music genres, this desire led her to study music in a multicultural city, Toronto. Since college, she has continued to perform as well as to compose and arrange music. Her music is based on traditional Korean music and also integrates different elements from world music. 

An expressive and dynamic figure on stage, Canadian Chinese musician, Amely Zhou, pursues a diverse career both as a conductor and an erhu soloist. As an established Erhu soloist, she frequently collaborates with different organizations including University of Toronto, Harbourfront Centre, Chinese Culture Centre, Canadian Music Centre and Small World Music Centre. Kiwanis, the largest music festival in GTA, invited Amely to adjudicate for Non-Western Strings categories in 2018 and 2020. Amely is currently the Artistic Director of the Canadian Chinese Orchestra, and the Music Director of the Ontario Multicultural Music Association.

Anh Phung is a shining example of the modern musician: as a child, she earned her virtuosity while sweeping flute contests across Canada, and has since used her mastery of the flute as a compass to navigate countless styles of music, constantly learn new instruments and consistently deliver exciting performances. Not bothered by the conventions and standard limitations of the flute, her powerful musical voice steers her through everything from hip-hop to bluegrass to Bulgarian folk music, and she is the leader of prog-rock tribute band Tullstars and performance art act Hairbrain. 

The broadcast will culminate in a ‘first-meeting’ between these purveyors of traditional and contemporary music for an exciting new sound that brings the Year of the Tiger to life.

Presented as a part of 25 for 25 - Small World Music's 25th Anniversary Program