Lucy's musical life
"Music makes me feel, live and capable of love. Without it, I turn into a cold stone."
Music has (can't say always) been part of my life since I was four when I began my violin lessons. So far, the most intense period I had with the violin was the 1.5 years before I went to univeristy, when I practiced 2 to 6 hours a day (fun fun!). Many practicing musicians at the time -- most notably/helpfully John Barnum -- encouraged me to pursue violin as a profession. So from 2000 to 2002, I was busy preparing for auditions, and gained admission to the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in their 2001 season as well as to the McGill University Violin Performance program in 2002. At the time, I was studying with Alec Hou and served as a Concertmaster of the Mississauga Youth Orchestra (MYO). But everything musical stopped when I left the McGill music program for Math and Physics at U of T. After 7 years of leaving my vioin in the freezer, I returned to it in September 2009, and I am now back studying with Alec Hou. This coming year (2010-2011), I am happy to be playing in Mississauga again, this time with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, where I'll play under the baton of the familiar John Barnum, hang out with other fine musician friends who "graduated" from the MYO, and perform in the familiar Living Arts Centre. I look forward to more intense periods with my violin in the future.
What else? I picked up classical singing at the end of my undergraduate years, and have since given many performances of vocal music (some vocal recitals, some staged opera exerpts). I have also been "fiddling" with a somewhat different art form, ballet, on and off since my undergrad. While I am not quite as good at it as at pure music, ballet has proven to be the most sustainable form of exercise for me!
I really enjoy rigorously practicing and performing music, and most of my musical experiences lie in performance. But I hope that some day I will start writing music, conducting and teaching music to future generations.
Music Resume, Biography and Repertoire
Performances: Past, Present and Future
The following performances are all public unless specified otherwise. Send me an email if you are interested in coming to any of them. ;-) The MSO concert tickets are significantly cheaper when purchased through me.
If you would like to further support my orchestral pursuit or if you liked our MSO concerts, please consider "adopting" me as a musician. I think you basically make a $50 donation to the MSO, and have your name appear in the program brochure. While there is no direct benefit to me, I will take it as a token of moral support and be thankful to your generous donation to my orchestra. Contact me if you are interested.
2011-2012
- Saturday, September 17, 2011, 1-2pm (Sheridan Centre Mall, Mississauga): volunteer performance with a string quartet at the MSO (Mississauga Symphony Orchestra) annual booksale.
- Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8pm (Living Arts Centre, Mississauga): MSO concert #1, with conductor Matthew Kramer.
- Thursday, October 20, 2011, 7pm (Basillie school of international affairs): 10-minute violin improv performance with Kaitlyn + 10-minute classical violin solo. [private function]
- Saturday, December 17, 2011, 4pm (Living Arts Centre, Mississauga): MSO concert #3, Christmas.
- Sunday, January 15, 2012, 7:30pm (Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, 10268 Yonge Street): Chinese Artists Society of Toronto Orchestra in the Toronto Chinese New Year Gala.
- Saturday, January 21, 2012, 7pm (Humanities Theatre, U of Waterloo): solo violin appearance at the WRCCA (Waterloo Region Chinese Community Association) Chinese New Year Gala, playing Scherzo by Tchaikovsky.
- Saturday, February 4, 2012, 7:30pm (St. Gabriel's Passionist Parish, Toronto): Sneak Peak Orchestra, featuring "Foundation for Cello and Orchestra" (Part I, Part II, Part III) by Kevin Lau, "Dream of Flying" by Rob Teehan, and Beethoven 7.
- Thursday/Friday/Saturday, March 8/9/10, 2012, 8pm (Isabel Bader Theatre, U of T): orchestra for Joseph Trefler's new musical "A Ladylike Murder".
- Friday, March 16, 2012, 7pm (Hart House Music Room): Math Talent Show, playing the Debussy Violin Sonata with pianist Ben Darwin.
- Saturday, March 24, 2012, 8pm (Living Arts Centre, Mississauga): MSO concert #5, French.
- Thursday, April 19, 2012, 6:30pm (PI Musical Pubnight, Waterloo): some sonata movements TBA.
- Thursday, April 19, 2012, 8pm (Silver Spoon Cafe, Kitchener): appearance as improv violinist with independent song-writers Kaitlyn Rathwell and Matthew Edwards.
- Friday, May 4, 2012, 9pm (L-Lounge, Kitchener): violin improv with independent song-writers M.D. Edwards at his "Walk Through Paint" 12" vinyl album release show.
- Wednesday, May 16, 2012 (KWCMS, Waterloo): KWCMS sonata concert with pianist Benjamin Darwin.
2010-2011
- Thursday, November 18, 2010, 8pm (HH Great Hall): HHO concert #1a.
- Saturday, November 20, 2010, 8pm (HH Great Hall): HHO concert #1b (with HHChorus).
- Saturday, December 18, 2010, 4pm (Living Arts Centre): MSO concert #3.
- Thursday, February 17, 2011, 8pm (HH Great Hall): HHO concert #2.
- Tuesday, March 22, 7pm (HH Music Room): Math 2nd Annual Talent Show, played Barber concerto 1st and 2nd movements.
- Saturday, March 26, 2011, 8pm (LAC): MSO concert #5.
- Thursday, April 7, 2011, 8pm (HH Great Hall): HHO concert #3.
- Saturday, May 7, 2011, 8pm (LAC): MSO concert #6.
- Thursday, July 7, 2011, 6:45pm (PI Musical Pubnight, Waterloo): short Bach violin solo + long jazz/other improv jam.