Sound of Dragon Society preserves ancient traditions of Chinese music and celebrates diversity and creativity in the contemporary applications of this music, resulting from the interaction between musicians of various ethnic and musical backgrounds. By presenting musicians and ensembles from different ethnicities, nationalities, and musical trainings/genres, Sound of Dragon Society re-defines Chinese music and reflects Vancouver’s multicultural environment and a highly creative music scene.
Objectives
- To reflect/raise the awareness of the diversity of practices among the musicians in our community
- To facilitate exchange/foster opportunities by connecting artists from different genres to collaborate in new projects
- To increase the public’s interests and knowledge through workshops and outreach activities
- To support/invite artists unfamiliar with the Chinese instruments to start to collaborate
- To program/commission new works through the creation of a new ensemble – Sound of Dragon Ensemble
宗旨
Sound of Dragon Society為登記於加拿大BC省的非謀利音樂機構，透過舉辦音樂節、音樂會、講座等活動，宣揚及保存華裔移民原生地的傳統音樂，同時鼓勵不同族裔的音樂家交流合作，創新發展融合東西方特點的新樂種，打破民族、地域、音樂類別的界限， 重新定義加拿大特色的華裔音樂，展現溫哥華音樂圈的多元與活力。
目標
反映及宣揚加拿大華裔音樂家多元化的音樂活動
推動來自不同背景的音樂家／樂團的交流互動
透過推廣活動，提昇大眾對華裔音樂的興趣與認識
邀請及協助對華裔傳統樂器不熟悉的音樂家參與
透過龍吟滄海樂團的成立，促成新跨文化作品的演出與創作
The Society
Based in Vancouver, the Sound of Dragon Society was registered as a non-profit society in 2013 under the leadership of artistic director Lan Tung. The first board members were Bob Baker, Dorothy Chang, Gloria Wong, Cal Koat, and Naomi Liu. Our regular activities include producing a bi-annual festival, concerts, and outreach events to celebrate Chinese heritage and innovation.
The inaugural Sound of Dragon Music Festival in May 2014 was held at the Roundhouse, with outreach events at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, Richmond Public Library & Performance Hall, Vancouver Public Library, and Burnaby Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. The festival presented Vancouver’s entire Chinese music community, showcasing ancient repertoire, contemporary compositions, jazz, world, fusion, and avant-garde improvisation in solo, chamber, and orchestral performances in over 20 concerts. This was important for the festival’s first year as it aimed to seek a new and broader definition of Chinese music to reflect its contemporary development in Canada. In addition, free public events included workshops, video screening, interdisciplinary performances and installation, and “Chinese instrument petting zoo”.
Although Vancouver is the home for many professional Chinese musicians, never before the community has come together for one large event. The festival created a sense of community and encouraged creativity and collaboration. The audiences were introduced to artists they had not seen before, and musical styles unfamiliar to them. The overwhelming response from the media in 2014 included interviews on CBC TV news program, SHAW TV, Fairchild TV, preview and review articles at Georgia Straight and every other local English and Chinese newspaper, features on magazines, podcast, and internet radio programs. The success of the festival has led to a collaboration with Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra to tour in Toronto, Markham, London and Waterloo in 2015, bringing the spirit of the festival and sampling the diverse music with Ontario audiences.
The Sound of Dragon Society is the only presenter in Canada devoted to presenting contemporary music of Chinese roots or influences. It is the voice of the highly achieved professional Chinese Canadian musicians who transform their traditions and strike for innovation. These include many individuals who otherwise have no access to government supports requiring non-profit status.
With the expertise in Chinese music and the connection to global Chinese music communities, the society facilitates collaboration and dialogues between musicians, ensembles, and composers of different genres. Through the Sound of Dragon Music Festival, the society has brought together international collaborators to work with Vancouver musicians, ensembles, and composers. Past success includes the collaboration between Vancouver’ Turning Point Ensemble and Taiwan’s Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra, leading to Turning Point’s debut tout in Taiwan and China. The society has connected numerous Canadian composers with Asian ensembles to receive commissions and premieres in Asia.
The Sound of Dragon Society represents the creativity and diversity of Vancouver’s “Chinese music” community, which has expanded beyond the traditional definition based on ethnic background to include the abundant innovative cross-cultural collaborative projects in the city. With particular emphasis on contemporary application of Chinese traditions, the society supports, presents, and encourages the works of our musicians, composers, and collaborators. With a broader definition of “Chinese music”, it aims to stimulate the Chinese music community to embark on new projects and directions.