KPU International Music Festival
Due to COVID-19, we will be online only through 2021. Our regular venue is Kwantlen Polytechnic University Langley Campus - 20901 Langley ByPass Langley, BC, Canada

Dr. Scott MacLennan, Delta, BC (Concert Bands & Orchestras) Dr. Scott MacLennan is the Music Director of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Wind Symphony, an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia teaching conducting, and Music Director at the Byng Arts Academy in the Performing and Visual Arts in Vancouver, B.C. As an in-demand guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, he frequently works with ensembles, schools, and festivals in Western Canada. He holds... a Bachelor of Music (1988) and a Bachelor of Education (1990) from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Music (2010) in Conducting (Wind Band) from Sam Houston State University, Texas, and a Ph.D. (2015) from the University of British Columbia. He studied conducting with Ken Hsieh, Morihiro Okabe, and Wayne Toews and participated in numerous conducting master classes given by Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Anthony Maiello, Ralph Hultgren, and Robert Ponto. Some of the other specialists he worked with are: Paula Crider, Ed Lisk, Eugene Rousseau, Tim Lautzenheiser, Sam Pilafian, Pat Sheridan, Lowell Graham, Robert Spring, Jan Van der Roost, Robert W. Smith, Allen Vizzutti, and Johan de Meji. With Johan de Meji’s endorsement, Dr. MacLennan conducted the Canadian premiere of his composition At Kitty O’Shea’s in March 2011. His Ph.D. research involved studying students’ conceptions of ancillary movements (physical movements not necessary in the production of sound) in instrumental music performance. Dr. MacLennan’s teaching philosophy is based upon striving for musical excellence in performance as well as the education of the whole student through an embodied approach to teaching. Through this approach, music performance becomes so much more than just an intellectual appreciation of master works, but a re-examination of music as a vehicle for self and group meaning-making. Student engagement is increased through linking conceptual images of past experiences (physical and non-physical) with expressive musical qualities in the music being performed. As well, students become active participants in the decision-making process surrounding the subtle details of their artistic response, while the music director still holds overall artistic license of the music to be played. Since 1997, he has conducted his award-winning ensembles in various locations throughout the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, China, the United States, and Canada. His ensembles have performed in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall, New York, USA, and Santa Maria della Pieta (Vivaldi’s Church) in Venice, Italy. As an active music educator, he has worked for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to edit and draft curriculum for their VSO Connects (Secondary) program, chaired the BC Music Educator’s Association’s Conference Pulse 2006, and currently sits as a board member of the Chamber Music in the Schools Society, BC Band Association, and the Vancouver School Music Teachers’ Association.

Cathy Wilmot, Vancouver, BC (Musical Theatre/Contemporary Voice) Born in Terrace B.C. but raised in the Vancouver area, Cathy loved performing from a young age. Her love of music was nurtured in many choirs, festivals, and school programs, and by high school she knew that being in the Arts was her path in life. She attended Douglas College Theatre program, and upon graduation landed her first contract in dinner theatre where she honed her comedy, dancing, and singing skills. ...Ten years later, she decided that it was time to get back into theatre in Vancouver and she hasn't stopped since. In 2014 Cathy went back to finish her Bachelors with the ultimate goal of teaching theatre at the University level. In 2017 she completed an MFA in Musical Theatre with an emphasis in vocal pedagogy at The Boston Conservatory. She has performed in various musicals and plays and has worked in almost every other job theatre has to offer - Cathy is truly an interdisciplinary artist. She has helped devise pieces for The Vancouver Fringe Festival, The Revolver Festival, and the International PuSh Festival. Cathy has performed all over the lower mainland, in the United States, and in 2018 she performed in London, England with a concert celebrating Canadian Musicals.

Dr. Philip Grant, Vancouver. BC (Classical Voice) Through his performances on the concert and operatic stages, Dr. Philip Grant has become known for his exciting rich tone as well as his dedication to excellent musicianship. In 2004, Philip co-founded ‘The Canadian Tenors’ and in 2006 subsequently founded Romanza Entertainment. In addition to his administrative duties as Executive Director, he has since performed in and produced over 300 professional performances around the w...orld. Highlight performances include engagements with San Francisco Opera and the National Centre for Performing Arts in Seoul, S. Korea. A highly sought-after clinician, Philip has given lessons to over 200 students and has given workshops to more than a dozen choirs since he began coaching in 2018. He joined the faculty at Harmony University in 2019 and has enjoyed designing and teaching a variety of courses such as Mechanics of Artistic Singing, Vocal Techniques for Directors, and the very popular class, Bel Canto to Barbershop. Dr. Grant has recently been accepted into the Barbershop Harmony Society Judging Program but most of all, he delights in singing with his wife Donya and her brothers in their award winning A Capella quartet, Metzin’ Around. Registration is open now at https://vayafestivals.ca/kpu-international-music-festival/ Deadline: Feb. 12/21

Nancy Allen, New York, NY (Harp) Hailed by The New York Times as a major artist following her New York recital debut in 1975, Nancy Allen joined the New York Philharmonic in June of 1999 as Principal Harp. She maintains a busy international concert schedule as well as heading the harp departments of The Juilliard School and the Aspen Music Festival and School and teaching at Stony Brook University. In addition, Ms. Allen appears regularly with The Chamber Music Society of L...incoln Center and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. In May 2000 Ms. Allen was featured in the Philharmonic’s US Premiere of Siegfried Matthus’s Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra, with Music Director Emeritus Kurt Masur and Principal Flute Robert Langevin. Ms. Allen’s busy performing schedule includes solo appearances at major international festivals, and has featured collaborations with soprano Kathleen Battle, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, and guitarist Manuel Barrueco, and with flutist Carol Wincenc and Philharmonic Principal Viola Cynthia Phelps in their trio, Les Amies. She has appeared on PBS’s Live From Lincoln Center with The Chamber Music Society, as well as with Ms. Battle, and has performed as a recitalist for Music at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Ms. Allen’s recording of Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro with the Tokyo Quartet, flutist Ransom Wilson, and clarinetist David Shifrin received a Grammy Award nomination; she can also be heard on Sony Classical, Deutsche Grammophon, and CRI. Ms. Allen is a native of New York, where she studied with Pearl Chertok and undertook private lessons in piano and oboe. The summer of 1972 took her to Paris, where she studied with Lily Laskine. During that same year, she entered The Juilliard School to study with Marcel Grandjany. In 1973, Ms. Allen won the Fifth International Harp Competition, in Israel, and was later awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Award. Ms. Allen’s students hold positions in prominent orchestras around the world. She currently resides in New York with her daughter, Claire, who studies piano and cello.

The Fall 2020 KPU Virtual International Music Festival is under way! There is still time to register for Piano (deadline: November 1) and Strings (deadline November 15). For all the details, look here: https://vayafestivals.ca/kpu-international-music-festival/... If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected] and we will get back to you promptly. This virtual festival/competition is open to everyone - no matter where you are located! #MusicCompetition

https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com//21st-annual-kpu-inte/

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! 2020 SPRING VIRTUAL PIANO FESTIVAL AWARDS Solo Piano - Senior Division... KE NICOLE HU - KPU International Music Festival Award: $100.00 for an outstanding ARCT/OPEN Piano performance CHRISTY HUNG - KPU International Music Festival Award: $100.00 for an outstanding ARCT/OPEN Piano performance IVY LIN - Tom Lee Music Award: $100.00 gift card for an outstanding ARCT/OPEN Piano performance ELISA MA, BRIANNA HOU, WENDY ZHAO, BRENDA LAM & MIGUEL VILLARICA Outstanding Performance Medallions OWEN YISU WANG - Ed Janus Outstanding Performance Award: $150.00 to a Promising Senior Piano Student 13 Years or Younger JUDAH WILLIAMS - KPU International Music Festival Award: $100.00 for an outstanding Grade 10 Piano performance Solo Piano - Intermediate Division VERITY LEUNG Heather Woolley Memorial Award: Trophy and $150.00 for the Most Outstanding Intermediate Piano Performer NATHANIEL HOU - KPU International Music Festival Award: Medallion and $100.00 for an Outstanding Intermediate Piano Performer MINA STEFANOVIC - KPU International Music Festival Award: Medallion and $50.00 for a Promising Intermediate Piano Performer LARA HAMZAVI - KPU International Music Festival Award: Medallion and $50.00 for a Promising Intermediate Piano Performer AVA LEE, FRANK LU Outstanding Performance Medallions Solo Piano - Advanced Junior Division ARIEL LIU - KPU International Music Festival Award: Medallion and $100.00 for an Outstanding Advanced Junior Piano Performer Solo Piano - Junior Division ALEXIS PAN - KPU International Music Festival Award: $100.00 to an outstanding Junior Piano Performer AVA PAN - Dorothy Van der Ree Award: $100. to an outstanding Junior Piano Performer ETHAN YICHUN WANG - Tom Lee Music Award: $100.00 gift card for an outstanding Junior Piano Performer FELICIA HU, KARINA JAGPAL, ETHIAN WAU, NADINE FERNADES, SANJNA ANAND, SOPHIA FAN, MICOL MILANO, YERIEL CHO, ELLIOT REBELE, ADA PHAM, HELENA KONG, ISABELLE BASTIEN, TIFFANY FONG, DAVID RAM, DANIEL MAO, SOROUSH TORFEHNEJAD & THEODORE LEUNG - Outstanding Performance Medallions

NEW VIRTUAL PIANO FESTIVAL - DEADLINE MAY 31! VAYA YOUTH ARTS SOCIETY OFFERS A VIRTUAL SPRING PIANO FESTIVAL FOR ALL LEVELS... We are offering an optional Spring 2020 Virtual Piano festival for students across British Columbia and have many medallions, trophies, and cash prizes to award. - NOTE: We cannot recommend participants in the virtual festival to compete at the 2021 Provincial Festival - We cannot accept registrations for piano ensembles or concertos (unless all parties are from the same household) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE VAYA SPRING 2020 VIRTUAL PIANO FESTIVAL: 1) If you are currently registered for the 2020 KPU International Music Festival, send a message to [email protected] to let us know you will be participating. 2) Film a video of your performance(s) one video for each class. Concert Group selections should all be on one video, if possible. 3) Upload your recording to your own YouTube channel as an UNLISTED video so anyone with the link can view the video. - Make sure you announce your name and title of selection at the beginning of your video. - Make sure your hands, face, feet, and keyboard are visible. - NO VIDEO EDITING IS PERMITTED. - Send your YouTube link to [email protected] along with your name, repertoire, and class number - You do not need to upload sheet music or proof of purchase. 4) DEADLINE: MAY 31. Results and awards will be forwarded by June 30. VIRTUAL PIANO FESTIVAL ADJUDICATORS: Introductory to Grade 6: Graham Yates Grade 7 and up: Peteris Zarins Please see bios here: https://vayafestivals.ca/kpu-international-music-festival// Please see syllabus here: https://vayafestivals.ca/kpu-international-music-festival// *** REGISTRATION OPEN NOW HERE *** https://vayafestivals.ca//kpu-international-music-festiva/