Philip Chiu’s performance promises to be a delight for both ears and eyes as he combines his brilliant piano playing with stunning photographs and videos.
The Montreal-based classical pianist returns to the Quadra Community Centre on Saturday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Noted by La Presse as “…a pianist-painter who turns every musical idea into a beautiful array of colors,” Philip Chiu is lauded for the brilliance, colour and sensitivity of his playing, and is particularly noted for his ability to connect with audiences on and off stage.
Inaugural winner of the 2015 Prix Goyer, Chiu is more than a summation of technical and musical abilities, he has become one of Canada’s leading musicians through his infectious love of music and his passion for communication and collaboration.
Chiu has developed a new program for solo piano and multimedia called Of Church & State which premieres this season. Working closely with the Noncerto group in Montréal, his program pairs solo piano performance with stunning videos of Quebec’s beautiful churches and delivers a poignant musical commentary on how nationalism and religion have influenced composers, musicians, and ultimately ourselves. This season also saw his solo Toronto debut in November 2017 for Music Toronto.
He continues to perform extensively as a chamber musician.
He has appeared in recitals with leading musicians of the world stage, including James Ehnes, Raphael Wallfisch, Patrice Fontanarosa, Regis Pasquier and Stefan Dohr.
He performs regularly with Jonathan Crow, concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony as well as Andrew Wan, co-concertmaster of l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.
He tours regularly with premier touring organizations, Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Debut Atlantic, and Prairie Debut.
Dedicated to elevating the standard and art of collaborative piano, Chiu is the creator and director of the new Collaborative Piano Program at the Domaine Forget International Festival and Academy.
He is an acclaimed accompanist and piano coach based at McGill University, has been an invited professor and collaborator for the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and l’Universite de Montréal.
Advance tickets are available for $17 at Inspirations in Quathiaski Cove, Works of H’Art in Heriot Bay, The Music Plant in Campbell River and online at Tidemark Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door for $20.
Children and young adults 16 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.