Tiger Grinding Teeth Overture 《老虎磨牙》序曲

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eJgxQm8s8s

My Heart for China 我的中國心

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-naK1ATbjio

Herdsmen’s New Song 牧民新歌

www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4nD56_lm9I

Tune from Yangzhou 揚州小調

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRjpnFPp_Gk

Harvest Festival Dance excerpt 祭樂歡舞

www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7OiQmWSgkM

Encore: Shearing Sheep 剪羊毛

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBlFih9Oe4s

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-naK1ATbjio

王福齡曲 梁家棟改編
Composer: Wang Fuling
Arranger: Tony K.T. Leung

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v67SSBo1ifc

Tune from Yangzhou 揚州小調
Erhu: Patty Chan

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBzznX3_eJI

Herdsmen’s New Song 牧民新歌
Dizi: Frederick Yiu

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8xzbx_Nv3U

Harvest Festival Dance 祭樂歡舞
Conductor: Tony K.T. Leung

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cVyFilZJho

TCO: How long have you been with the TCO?
L: Since late July in 2010.

TCO: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing?
L: I play the dizi (Chinese bamboo flute). I have been playing since I was in grade 1, which was in 1993. It has been almost 17 years now.

TCO: How did you get started with this instrument?
L: My music teacher found that I could play the recorder pretty well, so she brought me to a professor from our local arts college who was also a flutist. He let me try some tests on following rhythm and melodies, and then he decided to teach me to play dizi. I remember my music journey started after my parents asked me if I wanted to learn this instrument, but I didn’t even know what a dizi looked like at that time… haha~~

TCO: What other instruments do you play?
L: I learned to play the saxophone when I was in high school for about 3 years. I can also play a little bit of erhu and guitar.

TCO: Other activities that you enjoy on spare time?
L: I love drawing very much and also like playing basketball and table tennis.

TCO: Anything you’d like to share with other TCO members and fans that come to the concerts?
L: TCO is the best. Everyone is very passionate about Chinese music. I am currently practicing hard to catch up. I hope I can perform with the orchestra soon and contribute to this great group.

TCO: How long have you been with the TCO?
C: I’m a new member to TCO. Just joined last year 2009.

TCO: What keeps you coming back?
C: I am highly appreciative of TCO for their relentlessness in bringing Chinese traditional music to the Canadian society. Through the regular rehearsals, performances and gatherings, I got to know the orchestra and other members better, and a very special kind of chemistry has been built up already. Each performance, just like an assigned project, is fully dedicated to bringing the best Chinese music to broad audience. The excitement from the success of each performance is hard to describe in words. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be part of this exciting adventure.

TCO: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing?
C: I play traditional 21 pipes Sheng in the orchestra and I started my first lesson in 1987. My first orchestra experience was in 1988. Later I joined the H.K. Youth Chinese Orchestra until 1993.

TCO: How did you get started with this instrument?
C: It was first initiated by my younger sister. She joined the violin class at the Music office and my mother preferred that I pick up another instrument with the same time slot. It turned out that the only available class was for Sheng. It took me about 4 years to achieve the honors certificate (Advanced class) from the HK Schools Music Festival.

TCO: What other instruments do you play?
C: 36音中音排笙/抱笙, Piano and Erhu

TCO: Other activities that you enjoy on spare time?
C: Reading, attending concerts and ballets, golfing, traveling and fine dining

TCO: Anything you’d like to share with other TCO members and fans that come to the concerts?
C: To begin with, I would like to thank Karl and Frederick for giving me an opportunity to join the orchestra. TCO is one of the few Chinese orchestras in Canada to conduct school visits, participating in community fundraising events, cultural events and music festivals. It has a strong structure, and I am fascinated and impressed by the TCO committee, whom are all volunteers. They are brave to take on many new projects and challenges. I am encouraging everyone that has the same ambitions join the TCO family without any hesitation. At last, I would like to take the opportunity to say thank you to Tony for this interview, and urging all readers to come and see our upcoming performances.

TCO: How long have you been with the TCO?
A: I’ve been with TCO for about 4 – 5 years.

TCO: What keeps you coming back?
A: Playing together as a whole, listening to other sections and trying to help each other improve by practicing. It is more fun to make music with people who enjoy it and play with passion.

TCO: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing?
A: I play many instruments in the percussion section of TCO, such as paigu (set of drums), cymbals, wooden fish, big/small drum, bells, and much more. I started out playing smaller instruments when I first joined the orchestra because it felt more comfortable to me and I was not confident in drumming. I’ve been playing in the percussion section for a few years.

TCO: How did you get started with this instrument?
A: When I was younger, my Dad started taking me to the orchestra rehearsals every Friday. To me, all the instruments seemed really hard, and the percussion section was lacking players. I later then picked up some rhythms and learned how to keep steady tempos after learning how to read the x’s and o’s and going to rehearsals every Friday nights.

TCO: What other instruments do you play?
A: I play many instruments, but I’m not that great with them. I like experimenting and trying out instruments. Currently, I play the double bass and bass guitar at school. I’ve also played the cello, violin, percussion instruments (in TCO) and self taught piano a bit.

TCO: Other activities that you enjoy on spare time?
A: In my spare time, I enjoy gaming, reading about cats/virology, playing bass guitar/piano, and watching TV.

TCO: Anything you’d like to share with other TCO members and fans that come to the concerts?
A: Thank you to all the TCO members and fans that have made every year fun and successful! Special thanks to my Dad who introduced me to the orchestra/percussion section, my sisters Agnes and Jaimie (cellist and bassist of TCO) who I can laugh and share silly moments with, Frederick (principal dizi player) for assembling our percussion section rehearsals, our conductor, Karl Pang for teaching us many things to become a good orchestra member, and many friends in TCO who are very welcoming and supportive.

TCO: How long have you been with the TCO?
L: Too long….(thinking….) Maybe since 2000.

TCO: What keeps you coming back?
L: Challenging. Since I am not very skilled but every concert seems to have some pieces harder than the last one. It pushes me to upgrade myself. But most important is the group and the people. They are all very good friends and care for each other. We are like a big happy family.

TCO: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing?
L: I play Erhu only since the beginning until this year I have switched to Zhonghu. I started learning Erhu since my college days. That’s at least 10 years ago (wished I started younger).

TCO: How did you get started with this instrument?
L: I have always like instrumental music, especially Chinese music. Possibly got influenced from my father who loves Chinese Opera with a passion. One day while I am watching a TV Erhu performance, it struck me like lighting and wanted to get one to play with it. Then with my dad’s connection I’ve got through to become a student of John Lam 林日章. Then I have been Master Lam’s student ever since. It was John who first suggested to me to join TCO so I can have more fun and upgrade myself through concerts and group practices. “Thanks Master John Lam.”

TCO: What other instruments do you play?
L: I have been solely playing Erhu and only recently I started Zhonghu. I wish to learn other instrument as well.

TCO: Other activities that you enjoy on spare time?
L: I love badminton and golfing on my spare time. And, in the winter, I go for downhill skiing.

TCO: Anything you’d like to share with other TCO members and fans that come to the concerts?
L: Thanks to all TCO members. And fans, please come join us and let us add more colour to your life.

TCO: How long have you been with the TCO?
J: I have been with TCO for about 5-6 years.

TCO: What keeps you coming back?
J: My father, sisters, and everyone else in the orchestra keep me coming back. I have far too many good memories with many of the members.

TCO: What instrument do you play and how long have you been playing?
J: I currently play the double bass and have been playing it for about 4-5 years.

TCO: How did you get started with this instrument?
J: I actually began with the cello, but I eventually taught myself how to play the bass since there was no one to fill in the position in the orchestra.

TCO: What other instruments do you play?
J: I also play the cello.

TCO: Other activities that you enjoy on spare time?
J: Volleyball, badminton, and eating (especially mango-related food, Korean food, and Japanese food!).

TCO: Anything you’d like to share with other TCO members and fans that come to the concerts?
J: Mango is the most awesome fruit in the world! Just kidding.
I want to thank all the members who continue to put in their time and effort to make beautiful Chinese music. I am also extremely appreciative of those who come to our concerts every year — we definitely wouldn’t be here without your support.