Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street V6J 4R9 Vancouver, BC, Canada

Look out for VAM alumna Olivia Yelim Cho in the National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts "What Keeps Me Awake" livestream this Saturday November 28, 5:00pm PST. Watch it here: https://nac-cna.ca/en/event/27753

"Rainbows introduce us to reflections of different beautiful possibilities so we never forget that pain and grief are not the final options in life." Aberjhani, Journey through the Power of the Rainbow: Quotations from a Life Made Out of Poetry

Come get your VAM mask! Just $5 each. Now available at the front office.

What freedom, when the composer allows you to play the movements in any order! Well, the VAM Junior Symphony chose to perform "Waltz No. 2" from Shostakovich's Suite for Variety Orchestra. Did you know it's actually the seventh movement? Performance video coming soon!

Congratulations to Olivia Yelim Cho on a fantastic performance!

Sneaking away, tiptoeing as quietly as possible from the trolls and their king - what a predicament Peer Gynt has gotten himself into! Stay tuned for the video of VAM Pre-Junior Symphony performing Edvard Grieg's "In the Hall of the Mountain King."

Remembrance Day 2020

VAM will be closed Wednesday November 11th to observe Remembrance Day. There will be no access to the building on this day.

Call for submissions! From now until November 13, we are accepting videos of your performances at home for the next installment of Virtual Strawberry & Tea. Click here for the submission form: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com/digital-concert-strawb/

Well done, all, with the marathon recording sessions these past few days! Stay tuned for video releases in the near future!

Hot drink for a cold day? Yes please! For just $10, come get your brand new VAM mug. Inquire at the front office for purchases.

Catch the Koerner Piano Trio at their Anvil Centre concert on November 8, 2pm & 4:30pm. Presented by Vancouver Chamber Music Society, music by Mozart, Turina, and Smetana are sure to delight listeners! Visit https://anvilcentre.com/our-events/koerner-piano-trio/ for tickets and more information.

Question time! If you've heard Beethoven's Fifth Symphony before, was it a recording or a live performance? Comment and share your answer below, and tag a friend to ask them!

Premiering tonight at 7:30PM PST! In partnership with Poly Culture North America, Poly WeDo, and Poly Theatres, this free online concert features VAM Symphony Orchestra performing digitally with Poly WeDo Music Children's Chorus, in addition to performances by Joseph Elworthy, Ian Parker, Gao Can, Yuan Ding, and more.

Catch Anne-Elise Keefer in Virtual Classics for Kids as she performs on the piccolo, alto flute, Baroque flute and more, at 11am PDT today! The online event is hosted by Whistler Public Library and Youth Services at Whistler Public Library.

"MURAL DU CANADA" in VAM's foyer is by Hungarian-French artist Victor Vasarely, the father of Optical Art. For more dynamic pieces, head to the Vancouver Art Gallery to check out the exhibit! More information at: https://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/exhibitions/victor-vasarely Vancouver Art Gallery

You still have time! Book a free audition to join VAM's choirs! Adapted for online delivery, these 45-minute weekly sessions will cover warm-up exercises, vocal technique, diction, ear-training, performance analysis and much more. Click here for more information: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com//book-free-vocal-asse/

Starting Monday October 19, face masks will be required in VAM’s facilities. Non-medical masks may be used, or you can even make one from a scarf or cloth. Thank you for doing your part to help stop the spread of COVID-19! For more information, please visit: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com/vams-response-to-covid/

Fireside Performance - The Koerner Piano Trio plays W.A. Mozart's Piano Trio in B-Flat Major, K. 502, Movement II - Larghetto. Performance commissioned through the support of Peter Roth. Link to video: https://youtu.be/PJ5v8Gucv-E Nicholas Wright (violin); Joseph Elworthy (cello); Amanda Chan (piano)

Have a good one!

VAM's Ensemble-in-Residence, Koerner Piano Trio, is performing at the Grosvenor Theatre on October 22. For tickets and more information, please visit: https://kaymeek.com/music-series

We are excited to tell you about modifications made to our facilities to help keep our community safe and healthy. Please click on the link to watch the video: https://youtu.be/SJdYbvB0--M Special thanks to the Koerner Piano Trio for the audio track!

Enjoy the day and stay safe!

Fireside Performance - Sarah Kwok (viola) plays Viola Space No. 4, "Nine Fingers", by G. Knox. Performance commissioned through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/SBAYM4ePx3o

VAM will be closed in celebration of Thanksgiving on Monday October 12. Classes will run as scheduled on Saturday October 10 and Sunday October 11, unless otherwise specified by your teacher. Please note that the office will not be open this weekend.

Here's the third and final video in our Technical Tips series! VAM harp faculty, Dr. Joy Yeh, demonstrates correct hand posture and placement for harp scales. Link to video: https://youtu.be/f-01PE1dh7Y

We're looking forward to a great season with our young performers! Concerti are wonderful opportunities to see and hear the collaboration between a soloist and the orchestra. Deadline for application: October 5, 2020 For more information: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com/events/competitions/

Fireside Performance - Katie Rife (percussion) plays "Steadfast" and "Tranquil" from E. Doolittle's Minute Etudes, Book II (2002), transcribed for vibraphone by K. Rife. Performance commissioned through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/f2oXE2wmXLs

Fireside Performance - Ellen Marple (trombone) improvises on the opening of R. Marois' new composition, "Ellenaide". Performance commissioned through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/NHZyHJrC-wU

Fireside Performance - Ian Parker (piano) plays "Auf dem Wasser zu Singen" by F. Schubert, transcribed by F. Liszt. Performance commissioned through the support of Ayako Sakaino. Link to video: https://youtu.be/sCUeFitP9bA

Fireside Performance - Heather Beaty (Baroque flute), plays Fantasia No. 1 in A Major, TWV 40:2, for solo flute by G. Telemann. Performance commissioned through the support of Sandra and Brian McG. Link to video: https://youtu.be/u-Wa1aF09w4

Fireside Performance - Sunny Qu (piano) plays Grande Valse Brillante in Eb Major, Op. 18, by F. Chopin. Performance made possible through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/eN0sesKvpCA

Fireside Performance - John Marcus (violin) plays La Folia by A. Corelli. Performance commissioned through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/0zYUzfTSvGI

Have a safe & relaxed B.C. Day!

Members of the Vancouver Academy of Music Intermediate Symphony (VAMIS) collaborate virtually to perform J. Strauss' ever popular Radetzky March, Op. 228. Many thanks to Dario Acosta (VAM College - Artist Diploma Composition student) for his work on the audio mix! Principal conductor: Joseph Elworthy (VAM President & CEO)... Orchestra manager: Adam Junk See more

Educational and entertaining! Watch VAM faculty members (violinist John Littlejohn, violist Anthony Cheung, and cellist Alex Cheung) perform as the Infinitus Trio with Lincoln Center's #ConcertsForKids.

Fireside Performance - Ian Parker (piano) plays Rhapsody in Blue by G. Gershwin, arranged for piano by I. Parker. Performance made possible through the support of Judah Williams. Link to video: https://youtu.be/Eb-PA2fsq3o

The 4th installment of VAM's Virtual Strawberry & Tea is here! A big thank you to Michiyo Mizuta Yu for her artwork tribute. Link to video: https://youtu.be/dnGTNgF2u-Y

Fireside Performance - Joy Yeh (harp) plays Schöne Erinnerung: Fantasiestück für Harfe solo by A. Hahn. Performance made possible through the support of Wendy. Link to video: https://youtu.be/lbrzzNkan4Q

Congratulations to VAM student Henry From for winning the 1st Artistic Prize at Jeunesses Musicales Canada's Home Sweet Home Contest! Link to performance video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y01jsw4LNSY&feature=youtu.be

VAM is very thankful for the ongoing support received from the Vancouver Recital Society. Their recent partnership with Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin for "A Festival of New Music" can be live-streamed. "A Festival of New Music" website: https://boulezsaal.de/festival-of-new-music For more information: https://mailchi.mp/vanr/bring-on-the-2019-20-season-1291289

Fireside Performance - John Marcus (violin) plays the cadenza from P.A. Locatelli's Violin Concerto No. 12, 'Harmonic Labyrinth'. Performance made possible through an anonymous supporter. Link to video: https://youtu.be/RZBXi56qQmw

Happy Canada Day!

Fireside Performance - Robyn Driedger-Klassen (voice, piano) performs "Vos Me Matásteis", from Cuatro madrigales amatorios, by J. Rodrigo.Thank you to Jennifer Cote for the support! Link to video: https://youtu.be/5NWOHtcXD_8

Vancouver Academy of Music Pre-Junior Symphony (VAMPJS) members collaborate virtually to play for you an excerpt from Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major, BWV 1048. Thank you to Dario Acosta (VAM College - Artist Diploma Composition student) for his work on the audio mix! Principal Conductor: Joseph Elworthy (VAM President & CEO)... Orchestra Manager: Adam Junk See more

Brew yourself some iced tea with a side of strawberries, the 3rd installment of VAM's Virtual Strawberry & Tea is here! Link to the video: https://youtu.be/pkWUUtLyxAU

Fireside Performance - Joseph Elworthy (VAM President & CEO, cello) plays "Preludio-Fantasia" from G. Cassado's Suite for Solo Cello. Thank you to Bokhee for the support! Link to video: https://youtu.be/I5E-0W9nskY

Awesome! There's still time - you have until the end of today to post your portraits with your favourite composer. #VAMportraits

Vancouver Academy of Music Junior Symphony (VAMJS) members collaborate virtually to bring you the exciting finale to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Stay for heartwearming greetings from families at the end! Huge thanks to Dario Acosta (VAM College - Artist Diploma Composition student) for his work on the audio mix! Principal Conductor: Joseph Elworthy (VAM President & CEO)... Orchestra Manager: Adam Junk See more

Fireside Performance - Robyn Driedger-Klassen (voice, piano) performs "¿Con qué la lavare?", from Cuatro madrigales amatorios, by J. Rodrigo. Thank you to Jennifer Cote for the support! Link to video: https://youtu.be/FLfnyfUNTJQ

First Technical Tips video is here! Watch as VAM flute faculty, Anne-Elise Keefer-Rnic, gives advice on developing a focused tone on the flute. Video link: https://youtu.be/H2D52jQJvGw

The Spring 2020 Appassionato Newsletter is here! A special edition that bridges the past and the present, click on the link to start reading: https://www.vancouveracademyofmusic.com//Spring-2020-Newsl For the newsletter archive: https://vancouveracademyofmusic.com//appassionato-newslet/

Fireside Performance - Sarah Tatto (voice) sings "Poor Wand'ring One" by Gilbert & Sullivan, and "Care Selve" by G.F. Handel. Thank you to Marijn Eterman for the support! Link to video: https://youtu.be/Gn6PEWI2TAU

Fireside Performance - Joseph Elworthy (VAM President & CEO, cello) plays "Prelude" from J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major. Thank you to Peter Roth for his support! Link to video: https://youtu.be/Kuh4RLGHeFE

Registration for the 2020/21 academic year are now open! Take advantage of the Early Bird Registration Fee by registering and paying in June. The health and well-being of our students, faculty, and staff remain top priority. Click on and swipe through the photos for more information and details on COVID-19 safety measures.

Contest alert! Round 3 Find a portrait of your favourite composer, dress up as them, and take a photo of the two of you. Share your best photo from now until June 15, 2020 with #VAMportraits and be entered in a random draw to win a $25 Amazon.ca e-gift card. Contest rules below: 1. Your post must be public on Facebook in order to be eligible to win. 2. All currently registered VAM students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate and share. ... VAM acknowledges that this contest is not affiliated with Facebook or Amazon.ca in any way.

Fireside Performances are here! Click on the link below to watch the brand new performance videos. Huge thanks to the supporters! https://www.youtube.com/playlist

Project VAMSO brings the orchestra members together, virtually, to present to you Beethoven's "Ode to Joy". Thank you to Megan Hingson (VAMSO First Violin, Grade 12 student) for the amazing editing work! Music Director Emeritus: Leslie Dala Principle Conductor: Ian Parker... Orchestra Manager: Adam Junk See more