Canadian Youth Chinese Orchestra members, Sky Yang and Tony Tong are on TVOkids! Check out the new TVOkids program Backyard Beats in introducing different instruments, and DIY your own instrument at home! Two young members from CYCO have been invited to tell you more about their instruments and musical journeys on TVOkids. Tune in to tvokids.com online or TVOkids youtube channel to watch the episodes on making your own DIY Erhu and DIY Dizi!

Wednesday August 5th at 3:45pm on TVOkids.

There is a live stream available on the TVOkids YouTube channel as well. Some episodes are starting before schedule, so I recommend tuning in 5 mins before. It will also replay Friday at 5:50pm and Saturday 10:50am. You will find links to the episodes on tvokids.com and the TVOkids YouTube player after it has gone to air.

Monday July 6th at 6.00 pm on TVOkids.

Some episodes are starting in advance schedule, so we recommend tuning in 5 mins before. The episode will also replay Tuesday at 11:40am and Sunday 12:10pm. You will find links to the episodes on tvokids.com and the TVOkids YouTube player after it has gone on air.

A twelve year old boy likes to play video games and, for Sky Yang, this develops to an interest in composing music. Sky will lose no time to adhere to these hobbies particularly at this stay-at-home time during the pandemic. Music influences his life tremendously. He plays a variety of Chinese and Western instruments and participated in many different orchestras. Composing music has won him numerous awards on both provincial and national stages. Furthermore, Sky has been performing and broadcasting on many TV shows. Sky is a young fellow who also loves public speaking. He was shy to speak up and face people at a younger age and it was after his parents enrolled him in public speaking classes that he discovered his talent in this field. As a confident speaker, Sky levelled his achievements in music and won many awards in public speaking at the North York Music Festival and also competed at provincial challenges. Now, Sky is a youth man delighted to face the audience both on music and public speaking arenas. Sky’s pursuits lead him to a goal of bringing joy and entertainment to all people.

Thirteen years old Tony, Weiyuan, TONG has learnt the Chinese flute, Dizi, under Lipend Wu, professional Dizi performer and master, for 3 years in Canada. Being diligent and talented to this musical instrument and with good comprehension, Tony joined the Canadian Youth Chinese Orchestra (CYCO). CYCO has practice and rehearsal sessions every Sunday. He advanced steadily in his technical skill and has performed at numerous occasions such as the
CYCO annual concerts 2017, 2018 and 2019; the Chinese Zither Concert 2018 and 2019; the Asian Multicultural Concert 2018; the Literati Heroes Concert 2018; the C.H.E.E.R.S. 10 th Anniversary Celebration Concert 2018 and the Dragon and Lion Festival Gala 2019. Born 2007 in Beijing, China, Tony was delighted to have the opportunity to travel with CYCO the China Tour to several Chinese cities in 2018. In addition to performance opportunities, his enthusiasm in music and capability in playing the Dizi have consolidated tremendously while interacting with musical fellows from various places. He also made a lot of friends, adding fun and boosting maturity in his life. Tony is gratified to be participating at the tvokids television program
‘Backyard Beats’ where he plays a song has an interview with the host who will also introduce the Dizi to audience. Tony experiences an elevation in confidence in mastering the Dizi as well as his passion to Chinese music.