Vancouver Chopin Society

06/13/2026

Enjoy this beautiful performance of Mozart's Concerto No. 23 in A Major by Saskia Giorgini.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spUPFf-sPfY&list=RDspUPFf-sPfY&start_radio=1

Her Vancouver recital will take place on Sunday, November 22nd, at 3:00 p.m. Do join us!

Piano Concerto No. 23 KV 488, in A majorAllegro - 00:32Adagio - ...

06/12/2026

Commenting on William Yang's performance at the finals of the 2025 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Michael Moran writes of his interpretation of the F minor concerto, "There was certainly a maestoso feeling in his fertile and attractive phrasing and expressive musical gestures. He seemed to have achieved an ideal dynamic balance with the orchestra. The Larghetto had the enchanting texture, tone and tempo of a nocturne. He produced some highly sensitive, embroidered fiorituras. I found the whole recollection and emotional aspiration captivating."

In addition to being a laureate of the Chopin competition in Warsaw, William is also first prize winner of the 2025 National Chopin Piano Competition in Miami, Florida.

William Yang will make his Vancouver recital debut on Monday, October 12th (Thanksgiving Day) at 3:00 p.m. Do join us!

06/08/2026

For her recital on Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., Saskia Giorgini will include "Trois Morceaux pour piano" by the French composer Lili Boulanger.

Born in 1893 to a musical family, Lili Boulanger was just two years old when she began to be noticed for her musical prowess. The great composer Gabriel Fauré, a friend of the family, spotted that she had perfect pitch. Her parents nurtured her abilities and encouraged a prestigious music education. Before the age of five she was accompanying her older sister, Nadia, to lessons at the Paris Conservatoire.

In 1913, she became the first woman to win the highly prestigious Prix de Rome, an award previously bestowed upon Berlioz, Bizet and Debussy.

A prolific composer and diligent worker, Boulanger continued writing music on her sickbed. Her final piece, a haunting and evocative ‘Pie Jesu’, was completed in her 24th year in 1918, before she succumbed to intestinal tuberculosis.

Join Saskia Giorgini in her voyage of discovery, and experience the beauties of the music of this composer who was taken away from us far too early.

06/05/2026

Ever since winning the coveted gold medal at the 2012 Leeds International Piano Competition, Federico Colli has maintained an active career as a recitalist, concerto soloist and recording artist on the Chandos label.

On Sunday, May 2nd, at 3:00 p.m., Colli will appear on the stage of the Playhouse for a recital of music by Scarlatti, Debussy, Schubert and Mozart.

An artist who always has something fresh to offer in every performance he gives, he has been praised by The Daily Telegraph for “his beautifully light touch and lyrical grace” and described by Gramophone as “one of the more original thinkers of his generation". His debut album featuring Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti won Presto Classical’s “Recording of the Year.” His second volume of Scarlatti sonatas was named “Recording of the Month” by both BBC Music Magazine and International Piano Magazine and was selected as one of the best classical albums of 2020 by BBC Music Magazine.

Federico Colli's return to Vancouver is presented with the Vancouver Recital Society.

This is an artist whose performances you never want to miss. Join us!

06/03/2026

Single tickets for our 2026-2027 season are now available for purchase!

On Sunday, November 22nd at 3:00 p.m., we present the young Italian pianist Saskia Giorgini in music by Mélanie Bonis, Lili Boulanger, Debussy and Chopin.

The name Mélanie Bonis may not be familiar to some music lovers, but she is an incredibly gifted composer with an interesting life story. Born to a Parisian family in 1858, her musical gift was apparently at an early age. She studied with César Franck, and later entered the Conservatoire. She was a classmate of Debussy. Because being a composer was deemed not to be a profession for a woman, she took the pseudonym Mel Bonis.

She had a passionate love affair with a fellow student, Albert Domange, but marriage with a fellow artist was fiercely rejected by her family, and she was forced to resign from the Conservatoire. A marriage was arranged by her family, to a widower 25 years her senior with five sons of his own.

Throughout her outwardly bourgeois life, her music was played by the most famous performers in the greatest concert halls. Her eventful life - one that is worth reading more about - took many other dramatic turns, but suffice it to say that when she died, she left us with a large body - more than 300 pieces - of very beautiful music in many genres.

For her recital, Saskia Giorgini will include two shorts works by Bonis, Ophélie (Op. 165) and Mélisande (Op. 109).

Join us in this voyage of musical discovery with Saskia Giorgini!

05/29/2026

On Monday, October 12th (Thanksgiving Day), at 3:00 p.m., William Yang, laureate of the 2025 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, will make his Vancouver debut on the stage of the Playhouse.

After William's second round recital at the Chopin Competition, Jed Distler of Gramophone magazine lauds him as being in a class by himself. Distler continues, "He approaches every phrase, every dynamic directive, every expressive indication as an art conservator might restore a painting by an old master, removing decades of accumulated dust and grime." The detailed review concludes with the words Robert Schumann uttered when he first encountered Chopin's music, "Hats off. A genius."

And following the young artist's Carnegie recital, The New York Classical Review writes, "His artistry was in plain sight, deceptively simple and with subtle idiosyncrasies. The combination of his touch and articulation was superb, with strength and a feeling of mass in each note yet no heaviness."

Please join us in welcoming to Vancouver this very special young artist.

05/25/2026

A rousing ovation from a capacity audience greeted Vincent Ong following his hugely successful debut performance this afternoon. After stunning performances of Chopin's Preludes, Op. 28, Mendelssohn's Songs without Words, and Prokofiev's Sonata No. 8, the audience clamour for more, and Vincent graciously obliged with an absolutely magical performance of Robert Schumann's Arabeske, Op. 18.

Vincent's recital concluded our 2025 - 2026 concert season. Please remember that subscriptions for our 2026 - 2027 season are now available for purchase.

We thank you for your support and encouragement, and we look forward to seeing you at all our concerts next season!

05/16/2026

The Vancouver Chopin Society is greatly honoured to be a part of the VSO's annual Day of Music.

The talented young pianist Hamilton Lau represented our society, and gave a short recital of music by Albeniz, Brahms, Psathas and Prokofiev, in front of an enthusiastic audience. Hamilton is a student of Corey Hamm at the University of British Columbia's School of Music.

Thank you for having us as part of this very special day celebrating the richness of musical life in our city!

05/15/2026

The third concert of our 2026 - 2027 season features pianist Saskia Girogini, on Sunday, November 22, at 3:00 p.m.

Winner of the International Mozart Competition Salzburg (2016), she appears regularly in recital and broadcast at major venues including the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Wigmore Hall London, the Musikverein and Konzerthaus Vienna, the Mozarteum Salzburg, Seoul Arts Center, Suntory Hall Tokyo, the Warsaw Philharmonic, Teatro La Fenice Venice, and MiTo Settembre Musica.

A prolific recording artist, her album of the music of Liszt is praised by International Piano as, "A superb recording… a miraculous experience… a major voice in the world of Liszt.”

Please remember that subscribers receive substantial discounts off regular ticket prices. Single tickets go on sale June 2nd, so do subscribe now and choose your favourite seat in the hall!