ABOUT
"What is music, if not a bridge between mankind's earthly existence and its need to dream and reach for the heavens?
As implied by its name, the Elysian Trio performs music that connects us to our deepest aspirations and lets us dream."
The Elysian Trio is a Vancouver-based ensemble that showcases the fascinating colors and versatility brought about when flute, viola, and harp are combined. A classical ensemble that integrates newly commissioned works, innovative programming, and interdisciplinary elements to create a memorable concert experience, concerts this season include performances in the 14th World Harp Congress in Wales, Celebrate Canada Music Day, the Sonic Boom Festival, and concerts presented by the Vancouver Chamber Players.
The 2020/21 season features concerts with the West Coast Winter Music Series (Tofino), the Old School House Concert Series (Qualicum Beach), the Hornby Island Winter Concert Series, Concerts Denman (Denman Island), MüzeWest, Music Friends, the Roedde House Museum’s Classical Concert series, and a tour in Alberta. Past seasons have included concerts presented by the Post Modern Camerata and UBC Tunes at Noon, two sold-out shows in Taiwan, and a residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and
Creativity.
The trio has recorded two albums, First Impressions, and Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp, and a third, which includes four commissioned works by emerging Canadian composers, will be released in the winter of 2020.
Vivian Chen
Born in Taiwan, Vivian Chen first met harp on a family trip to Vancouver, where later on became her home. The memory of the elegant harpist, dressed in a blue silk dress, and plucking out magical notes from her beautiful instrument, left a strong impression on the young girl. Studying under Heidi Krutzen, the principal harpist of the London Philharmonia Orchestra, Vivian graduated first place from UBC School of Music in 2015, receiving the University of BC Medal. She then completed her Master of Music Harp Performance Degree with a full scholarship.
Vivian enjoys playing with different professional groups with diverse genre and variety of repertoires. She performed the Canadian Premier of Chinese Composer Tan Dun’s “TEA: A Mirror of Soul” with Vancouver Opera, and was invited back again as a guest principal harpist performing “Tosca”. She also performed “A Posy for the Christ Child”, a world premiere by Derek Healey, with Vancouver Chamber Choir in 2015. In the same year, she was selected as principal harpist of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and toured around the country. In 2016, Vivian performed Canadian Composer Caroline Lizotte’s “Suite Galactique for solo harp" in one of Taiwan's best performing halls, the Taiwan National Theater. Recently she was invited to play in the Formosa New Wave concert as part of the Hong Kong World Harp Congress.
Sarah Kwok
Born and raised in Vancouver, Sarah began her musical training at an early age and went on to attend the University of Toronto, where her teachers were Steven Dann and Scott. St. John. She has most recently completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of British Columbia, studying with David Harding.
An active freelancer, Dr. Kwok performs with the Vancouver Symphony, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the Vancouver Island Symphony and the Okanagan Symphony, and has played in concerts presented by the Chutzpah Festival, Sonic Boom Festival, and Music on Main. Sarah has also appeared with Turning Point Ensemble, Erato Ensemble, and the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, and participated in the Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, the St. Lawrence String Quartet Chamber Music Seminar and Tango for Musicians at Reed College.
In addition to performing with the Elysian Trio, she also plays Argentine tango music as half of Dúo Mala Yunta, a viola and guitar duo, and teaches at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Paul Hung
Born in Taiwan, Paul Hung entered the Langley Fine Arts School at the age of 13 and made his first concerto debut at the age of 16 at the Whistler Music Festival. He was then featured several times as the winner of the Vancouver Kiwanis competition and awarded the Tom Lee Music scholarship for Excellence in Music Performance. He was a recipient of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s “Galaxie Rising Stars Award” and placed Second in National Music Competitions 2008. Paul performed with the Vancouver Youth Orchestra as a result of attaining first place in the concerto competition in 2009. Soon after, he performed as a soloist with the Abbotsford Symphony and New Westminster Symphony. In May of 2011, Paul won a spot in the YouTube Symphony and performed with 100 other musicians around the world at the Sydney Opera House.
As an active soloist and chamber musician, Paul performed in music festivals such as the Banff music festival, Talis music festival in Switzerland, Domaine Forget, MusicFest Canada, Performing Arts BC, Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival, Redshift Music Society and Health Arts Society. Paul also plays frequently as a substitute with the Vancouver Symphony. He was the substitute principal flute at Vancouver Island Symphony, Okanagan Symphony, and Prince George Symphony.
Paul was a student of Mark McGregor, Lorna McGhee. He has also studied under Brenda Fedoruk, and currently under the guidance of Christie Reside. He is a faculty of Vancouver Academy of Music.