The Canadian Chinese Orchestra Chamber Ensemble (CCOCE) is an ensemble of traditional Chinese instrumentalists whose mission is to promote the rich cultural heritage of Chinese music in Canada. Forming the professional core of the Canadian Chinese Orchestra (CCO), CCOCE consists of musicians who are passionate about showcasing traditional Chinese music as well as exploring new directions for Chinese instruments. Each member of CCOCE has received professional training in Canada or abroad, and are experienced as solo, chamber, and orchestral musicians.
CCOCE’s mission encompasses two interrelated streams: performance and education. As performers, members of CCOCE regularly appear as soloists in CCO’s annual concerts. The ensemble also performs as a group at music festivals, including the Rhythms of Canada Festival (hosted by the Aga Khan Museum), Together We Rise Music Festival of Asian Arts, and Age of Literati Cultural Festival (hosted by Canada One Family Network). As part of its mission to explore new directions for Chinese music, CCOCE’s performances often involve collaborations with other musical cultures. Recent partnerships include the Canadian Sinfonietta (Western orchestra), Roa Lee (Korean gayageum), and Ravi Naimpally (Indian tabla), among others.
As educators, musicians of CCOCE serve as section leaders and mentors for the larger CCO, whose members range from preteens to seniors and come from all walks of life. CCOCE musicians can also be found teaching in private studios and at Yip’s Canada’s annual Chinese Music Summer Program, a day camp that introduces Chinese instruments to children aged 6 to 14. In this educational role, CCOCE contributes to its mission by promoting Chinese music to future generations.
Mike Liu
Associate Conductor
– Biography –Biography
Mike (Zhuo Chong) Liu is a Toronto-based musician currently serving as the associate conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra. known for his expertise in conducting, performing, and arranging. His conducting journey began in 2017 at HMCS York, and he has since led choirs, string ensembles, bands, and orchestras across the Greater Toronto Area. His mentors include Dr. Gillian MacKay and Maestro Uri Mayer at the University of Toronto. He further honed his skills in 2023 by attending a conducting course in Taiwan, invited by Dr. Chen of the Little Giant Chinese Orchestra.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Toronto and a Master of Teaching from OISE. He can regularly be found playing either tuba or sheng around the GTA.
Amely Zhou
Artistic Director & Conductor
– Biography –
Amely Zhou is a dedicated and multifaceted musician, specializing in erhu and guzheng performance, adjudication, and conducting. She graduated from York University with a Specialized Honours B.A. in Music in 2014 and an M.A. in Ethnomusicology in 2023. Amely began studying conducting under Lisette Canton and Mark Chambers and has participated in conducting programs such as the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium in 2016, UBC Wind Conducting Symposium in 2017, and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Conducting Masterclass in 2018 and 2019.
From 2014 to 2016, Amely served as the conductor of the Toronto Chinese Youth Orchestra. From 2019 to 2020, she was Music Director of the Ontario Multicultural Music Association’s Mix Instruments Youth Orchestra, furthering her dedication to nurturing musical talent in diverse communities. In 2017, she assumed the role of Music Director for the Canadian Chinese Orchestra (CCO), leading the orchestra on tours in China and performing at prestigious venues such as the Markham Theatre, Sony Centre, and Mississauga Living Arts Centre. Amely Zhou is also the co-conductor of the NextGen Youth Orchestra at the Laurier Academy of Arts and Music.
Amely’s adjudication experience includes serving as a judge for the 16th Chinese Arts and Literary Contest for Youth in 2016, the Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival in 2017 and 2019, MusicFest Canada in 2023, and the Ottawa Kiwanis Music Festival in 2024.
As a soloist, Amely has achieved significant recognition, including winning the concerto competition at York University where she performed “Red Plum Capriccio” with the York University Symphony Orchestra. She was also invited to perform with the Canadian Sinfonietta. Amely has performed numerous new works composed for her by international composers and has contributed to over twenty albums, helping to promote global appreciation for Chinese music.
In 2020, Amely led a multi-ethnic ensemble called Estro-genesis, performing a series of Canadian works for the Toronto Music Garden’s summer music program. She also directed the Borderless Music project and produced a music documentary with the Small World Music Society, documenting the intersections of different musical cultures. She is a member of the Labyrinth Ensemble and has extensive experience collaborating with musicians from diverse backgrounds.
周嘉丽是一位多才多艺的音乐家，专长于二胡和古筝演奏、评审和指挥。她于2014年获得约克大学音乐专业荣誉学士学位，2023年获得民族音乐学硕士学位。周嘉丽开曾在利塞特·坎顿（Lisette Canton）和马克·钱伯斯（Mark Chambers）指导下学习，并参与了2016年多伦多大学管乐团指挥研讨会、2017年UBC管乐团指挥研讨会以及2018年和2019年香港中乐团指挥大师班。
2014至2016年间，周嘉丽担任多伦多青年乐团的指挥。2019至2020年，她担任安大略省多元文化音乐协会混合乐器青年乐团的音乐总监，进一步推动了在多元社区中培养音乐才俊的工作。2017年，她担任加拿大红枫华乐团乐团（CCO）的音乐总监，带领乐团在中国巡演，并在万锦剧院、索尼中心和密西沙加生活艺术中心等著名场馆演出。周嘉丽还是劳瑞尔艺术与音乐学院NextGen青年管弦乐团的指挥。
周嘉丽的评审经历包括担任2016年第16届青少年中国艺术与文学大赛评委、2017年和2019年多伦多Kiwanis音乐节评委、2023年加拿大音乐节评委，以及2024年渥太华Kiwanis音乐节评委。
作为独奏家，周嘉丽曾获得显著的认可，包括赢得约克大学协奏曲比赛，并与约克大学交响乐团合作演出《红梅幻想曲》。她还受邀与加拿大交响乐团合作演出。周嘉丽还演奏了许多国际作曲家为她创作的新作品，并参与了二十多张专辑的录制。
2020年，周嘉丽领导了一个名为Estro-genesis的多民族乐团，演奏了一系列加拿大作品，参与了多伦多音乐花园的夏季音乐项目。她还导演了无国界音乐项目，并与小世界音乐协会合作制作了一部音乐纪录片，记录了不同音乐文化的交汇。她还是Labyrinth乐团的成员，并拥有与多种背景音乐家合作的丰富经验。
Dr. Matthew Poon
Guest Conductor
– Biography –
Currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Matthew Poon’s career embraces an eclectic range of interests. As a music theorist, his research primarily focuses on issues of musical form and the analysis of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Western music; however, he also pursues secondary interests in music perception and harmony in Japanese anime music. He has articles published in Music Theory Online, Indiana Theory Review, Journal of the International Conductors Guild, and Frontiers in Psychology, a forthcoming publication in Music Theory Spectrum, and has presented papers at the Society for Music Theory, Society for Music Perception and Cognition, and regional conferences in Canada and the United States.
As a conductor, Matthew currently serves as the music director of the St. Croix Valley Orchestra located on the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, as well as the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony in Eau Claire. He was most recently the music director of the Strings Attached Orchestra in Toronto, a community string orchestra whose charitable mission involves bringing live music to hospitals and long-term care centers. Prior to that, he served as conductor of the Toronto Chinese Orchestra (an orchestra consisting of traditional Chinese instruments) and assistant conductor of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, McMaster University Choir, and McMaster Women’s Vocal Ensemble (now the Cantemus Vocal Ensemble). He maintains close connections with the performing arts scene in Toronto as music director of the ME & Lau Family Foundation’s bi-annual concerts, which feature professional musicians working alongside students with intellectual disabilities.
Matthew holds PhD, MA, and MM degrees from the University of Toronto, a BM and diploma from McMaster University, and an ARCT diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto). He previously taught music theory at Oberlin College & Conservatory and the University of Toronto, and conducting at Tyndale University in Toronto.
Conducting
Dr. Matthew Poon combines a multi-faceted career as a conductor and music theorist. He is currently Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Music Director of the St. Croix Valley Orchestra, and Music Director of the Chippewa Valley Youth Symphony. Prior to arriving in Eau Claire, he taught music theory at Oberlin College in Ohio and the University of Toronto, conducting at Tyndale University, and conducted the Strings Attached Orchestra and Toronto Chinese Orchestra. Despite moving to northwestern Wisconsin, Matthew remains connected to the Toronto music scene by serving as Music Director of the ME & Lau Family Foundation’s String Music & Art Exhibitions and Artistic Advisor to the Canadian Chinese Orchestra.
Matthew holds PhD, MA, and MMus degrees from the University of Toronto, a BMus from McMaster University, and an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He studied with conducting teachers such as Chih-Sheng Chen in Taiwan, Harold Farberman, Mark Gibson, Gustav Meier, and Paul Vermel in the United States, and David Briskin, Uri Mayer, and Victor Feldbrill in Canada.
Research
Matthew Poon is Assistant Professor of Music Theory at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto and was most recently Visiting Assistant Professor at Oberlin College & Conservatory. His research interests include musical form, nineteenth-century orchestral music, performance & analysis, and music perception, and he has articles published in Music Theory Online, Music Theory Spectrum, Indiana Theory Review, Journal of the Conductors Guild, and Frontiers in Psychology.
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Dr. Di Zhang
Di Zhang
Di Zhang (MA and Ph.D. in Music from York University) is a professional artist active in Canada’s Music scene and academic discipline. She has performed at the Toronto Music Garden, Wilfred Laurier University, York University, and the University of Toronto, among others. Tours have led her to performances in Vancouver, Montreal, Regina, Prince Edward Island, Saskatoon, Macau, Mainland China, and Portugal.
In addition to her performance, she is especially interested in ethnomusicology, classical and contemporary music improvisation, and composition. She was the director of several projects, including York University’s Global Improvisation Lab, World Music Ensemble, CD album the Path to Contemporary, etc. Her improvisation and original work are featured on the CD, which is one of the pioneers of the yangqin album featuring jazz and contemporary improvisation, has been heard in concert performances, and is available on several videos that presented Live Transcontinental Improvisation in performance. Her research thus far has revolved around the cultural study of the yangqin, Chinese notation systems, pedagogical approaches to improvisation, improvisation in ancient and contemporary regional Chinese music and Western music, and the influence of the Silk Road and China’s New Government on the development of Chinese music, the limitation of Chinese music education system in modern society, a pedagogical model in teaching improvisation, etc.
Di is dedicated to and passionate about the promotion of new music. By sharing her experience in music creation and performance, she is willing to create and explore new music by a blend of world music elements and contemporary composition methodology.
Dizi
Lipeng Wu
Lipeng Wu
Lipeng Wu is a young musician who actively contributes to the music scenes in Canada. Since he was seven, he has been studying dizi under the influence of Jinming Cai, a dizi virtuoso from Nanjing University of the Arts. In 2005, he got invited to join Nanjing University’s Chinese orchestra. With the orchestra, he played in many festivals and also participated in a culture-exchange tour to Japan and South Korea. After moving to Canada in 2007, he has been frequently asked to perform at the Saskatoon Chinese New Year Gala and annual Folk Fest as a dizi soloist. Bringing Chinese traditional music to the local communities and expanding the love for Chinese music became the goal in his music career. After settling in Toronto, he joined Toronto Chinese Orchestra where he found lots of people had shared the same goal as his. He regularly performed with TCO in annual concerts as well as playing dizi concertos. In 2010, he has been invited to join a Chinese-Western fusion instrumental band ͞Spire͟ where he performs regularly in many festivals and New Year galas. Lipeng currently teaches dizi both privately and at other organizations, including Yip’s Canada: Music Montessori School and Toronto Shaolin Quanfa Institute. He also conducted workshops for the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s Asian Heritage Month and World Music Class at York University. His music demonstrates refined techniques and strong manifestation of expressions in the art of dizi playing.
Guzheng
Lina Cao
Lina Cao
Lina Cao is a world-renowned guzheng virtuoso celebrated for her profound contributions to Chinese traditional music and her visionary approach to blending Eastern and Western musical traditions. Spanning continents, Lina has redefined guzheng artistry, breaking cultural boundaries and establishing herself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary Chinese music.
Beginning her guzheng studies at the age of five, Lina demonstrated exceptional talent from a young age. Lina trained under China’s top masters, including Wang Wei, Ren Jie, Yanai Hua, and Li Meng, and earned degrees from the Nanjing University of the Arts and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Combining tradition with modern expression, Lina’s performances have graced prestigious stages worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, captivating global audiences.
Throughout her career, Lina has collaborated with premier ensembles such as the China Broadcasting Film Symphony Orchestra, the Atalanta Youth Wind Symphony，the London Symphonia， the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, the Toronto Chinese Orchestra, and the Canadian Arabic Orchestra. Lina has worked with renowned conductors like Pang JiaPang, Wang Aikang, Teri Dunn, Kira Omelchenko and Matthew Poon, and she has also worked with renowned composers like He Zhanhao，Alice Ho, Sandeep Bhagwati, and Andrew Stainland, premiering critically acclaimed works that push the boundaries of guzheng performance.
Lina’s accolades include double gold prizes for solo and ensemble guzheng at the Singapore International Chinese Arts Festival (2008) and China’s highest honors, the “Golden Bell Award” (2012) and the “Wenhua Award” (2008). Lina also received the “World Peace International Appreciation Award” at the Sino-Japanese Friendship Concert and was nominated for “Outstanding Chamber Performance” at the 40th Dora Mavor Moore Awards in Canada (2017). Lina’s performances have been broadcast by CBC Music（2020） and Chicago’s WFMT Radio Network（2014）, and in 2024, she received a funding from the Canada Council for the Arts.
As the founder and music director of the Toronto Guzheng Ensemble, Lina has led the group to premiere numerous innovative works at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Isabel Bader Theatre at the University of Toronto. Through performances and recordings, she has elevated guzheng chamber music to new heights.
Lina is also a dedicated educator, serving as the first guzheng instructor at Wilfrid Laurier University and frequently lecturing at institutions such as the music faculties of University of Toronto and York University. Using music as a cultural bridge, Lina continues to infuse new vitality into guzheng artistry, solidifying its place on the global stage.
Pipa
Lilian Yang
Lilian Yang
Lilian (Xiaolei) Yang, a Pipa (Chinese lute) musician, is a member of China Nationalities Orchestra Society, and a member of the Artist Society of Toronto, as well as a soloist and instructor of Canadian Chinese Orchestra. Born in Beijing, China, she began her Pipa studies at age 8, with the renowned Pipa soloists and musicians, Guilian Liu, Yuzhong Kuang and Weixi Sun from the prestigious Central Conservatory of Music.
In 1989, Lilian won the Best Performance Award at China’s first International Invitational for Chinese Traditional instruments (the ART Cup) . In addition, she won golden award in Beijing invitational Chinese instrument tournament multi times, and was subsequently featured on the People’s Music magazine’s national tour across China. In 1996, as the lead soloist, she was featured Beijing Television (BTV)’s traditional music show “Shuo, Yan, Tan, Chang” with Chinese folk arts masters such as Su Wen-mao and Ma Zeng-hui. She recorded many classic pieces such as “The Ambush from All Sides” and “Moonlight over Spring River”.
Lilian was a dynamic figure on Beijing’s traditional Chinese music stage, and a frequent performer in the celebrated Beijing Concert Hall and Forbidden City Concert Hall and was invited to perform for the highest level political leaders in Zhongnanhai, the Great Hall of the People and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
As an educator, Lilian was committed to teaching and instructing of Pipa music for over 25 years. She was the lead instructor of the Pipa ensemble for the opening ceremony of the 11th Asian Games in Beijing and served as advisors for multiple youth Chinese Orchestra. Hundreds of students achieve their goals with help from Lilian in national competitions and grade tests.
After moving to Canada, Lilian has been active in Toronto’s music scene as a leader in both performing and education. She regularly appears as a guest soloist or a member of Chinese Orchestra for organizations including Canadian Chinese Orchestra Annully Theme Concert, Anually Age of Literati Cultural Festival Theme Concert, Chinese Artist Society of Toronto Annual Concerts and Young Canadian Chinese Professionals. In 2023 and 2024 , Lilian was invited to be a jury of Canadian International Music Competition.
杨小磊简介
杨小磊, 中国民族管弦乐学会会员，多伦多华人艺术家中心会员, 加拿大红枫华乐团指导教师。CIMC-MOMA加拿大国际音乐大赛评委。 师从中央音乐学院著名琵琶演奏家刘桂莲，并得到邝宇忠，孙维熙等琵琶名家的悉心指导。演奏以功底扎实，情感细腻见长。
1989年在国际ART杯中国乐器邀请赛中获得优秀表演奖。多次在北京市民族器乐邀请赛中获一等奖。作为获奖者代表，照片曾被选入《人民音乐》杂志，并在全国各地巡回演出。1996年应邀与苏文茂、马增蕙等艺术大师一起, 同台参加北京电视台《说演弹唱》节目，并录制播出了琵琶独奏《十面埋伏》《春江花月夜》等曲目。
杨小磊的琵琶演奏以功底扎实，情感细腻见长。移民加拿大前，一直活跃在北京音乐厅，中山音乐堂等重要演出场所，并多次应邀在中南海，人民大会堂，钓鱼台国宾馆等地为国家领导人及各国首脑进行演出。
多年来一直从事琵琶教学以及音乐教育研究工作，兼任多所中小学的民乐团指导教师，指导的琵琶齐奏曾参加了北京市亚运会的演出。并帮助众多学生在琵琶考级和各类艺术考试中取得了理想的成绩。
移居多伦多以后，创立小磊琵琶工作室，继续从事琵琶演出教学活动。多次应邀参加琴情缘系列音乐会，文人艺术主题系列音乐会，华音国韵多伦多民族经典音乐会，多伦多华人艺术家中心新人新曲音乐会，以及国家旅游局宣传活动，中加青年创业者协会颁奖礼等各类演出活动。
Suona
Herman Li
Herman Li
Herman (Huiming) Li was born in Shaanxi Yu Lin, China, under the influence of his father, began to play Suona and learnt northern Shaanxi traditional music since eight year old. In 2004, he graduated from the Hongkong Asia School of Music. He then further his studies at China’s first contemporary music school, the Beijing Midi Music School and the Jazz department of Nmit Academy, Melbourne, Australia. From 1998 to 2003, he served as a Suona performer at the Shenzhen (Jinxiu Zhonghua Development Co., Ltd.). He performed at the China and Ger-many Extemporaneous Jazz Music Festival, Shenzhen Pengcheng Ge Feiyang Original Music Festival, Hong Kong International Poetry Festival, ‘Soho’ Poetry Festival, China and Germany Electronic Experimental Music Festival, Toronto Xing (The Nutcracker Doll) Ballet and so on. Li Huiming acted as Music Director at the 2006 Toronto Xing (soul dance) Ballet, he was the original music arranger and director for the debut performance of the Shenzhen ‘Heart’ Orchestra in 2017. In 2016, Huiming immigrated to Toronto and joined the Canadian Chinese Orchestra as a music instructor in 2017. Composed and produced music for the Little Pear Garden Dance Company in 2020 and 2022. Invited as a suona and guan soloist for Canadian Chinese Orchestra’s annual concerts in 2018, 2019 and 2022. Composed and produce concert from Tang to Contemporary and performed on October 7th 2022 for the Canada One Family Network. Invited as a soloist to perform at the Dragon Festival in September 2022.
李惠明 (Herman) 生于峡西愉林，受父亲影响从八岁开始演奏陕北唢呐、管子、竹笛，并学习陕北传统音乐。 2004 毕业于香港亚洲音乐学院，继而在中国第一所现代音乐学校 — 北京迷笛音乐学校 (MIDI)– 及澳洲墨尔本Nmit学院现代爵土乐系深造。
Herman 音乐天才横溢，除在各学院皆获优等成绩外，更考取萨克斯及长笛 MIDI 制作专业的成就。他亦专长于陕北民歌演唱、民族管乐、唢呐、管子(筚篥) 、尺八和打击乐等！
Huiming 热爱音乐, 2003 成为中国民族管弦乐协会会员，2008 获得香港亚洲音乐学院导师资格证书，并受聘为深圳乐器城培训中心管乐导师。
他1998 至2003 于深圳市（锦绣中华发展有限公司）表演部任唢呐演奏员，2003 在甘肃省酒钢艺术团、省职工艺术团、嘉峪关丝绸之路艺术团担任艺术编导及担当民族管乐、萨克斯独奏，2004与甘肃省酒钢艺术团各地慰问演出，2005 参加北京MIDI 国际爵土音乐节，2006 赴加拿大参加魁北克省国际艺术节及蒙特利尔民族融合音乐艺术节。
李惠明 2008 至今从事音乐教育推广工作，与国内、外音乐人一起并肩为音乐而努力，并在各类型的音乐节演出。例如，杭州迷笛音乐节、中、德迷笛音乐节、深圳山海音乐节、深圳鹏城歌飞扬原创音乐节、香港国际诗歌节、苏荷诗歌节、中、德电子实验音乐节、多伦多Xing (核桃夹子娃娃) 舞剧配乐演奏等。
李惠明音乐领域广阔，不断为音乐奋斗。他于 2006 多伦多 Xing (灵舞) 的演出作舞剧配乐并出任音乐总监，2017 为深圳心乐团原创首演编曲总监，并加入多伦多红枫乐团任音乐导师。现定居加拿大，为自由音乐人，除演出外，从事教育、录制专辑歌剧、电影配乐等专业工作，提升社区及各地的音乐水平！
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