2026 Sound of Dragon Music Festival

The 7th Sound of Dragon Music Festival – April 2-5, 2026

“Vancouver’s biennial celebration of Asian sounds returns with a program that spans everything from new Chinese chamber music to a genre-smashing showcase of intercultural improvisation”. – Georgia Straight

presented by the Sound of Dragon Society        

Three Concerts at The Annex, 823 Seymour Street, Vancouver

1) Jade Emperor‘s Great Race – PhoeNX Ensemble (Toronto) & Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan)
8pm Thursday April 2, 2026年4月2日星期四晚上8點
【生肖紀年】– 鳳鳴九皋樂集(多倫多)、小巨人絲竹樂團(台灣)

The 2026 Sound of Dragon Music Festival’s opening concert The Jade Emperor‘s Great Race is inspired by a Chinese legend of the 12-year zodiac cycle. To measure time, the Emperor held a race, awarding the first 12 animals to arrive with a corresponding year. The order was: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Toronto’s PhoeNX Ensemble has commissioned 14 works in the themes of the 12 animals and the Jade Emperor from composers in Asia and across Canada. The PhoeNX Ensemble will collaborate with Taiwan’s Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra to give the BC premiere of this program.

PhoeNX Ensemble video

Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra video

2) Strum, Bow, Roar – 88 Strings, Vancouver Erhu Quartet, Multicultural Wind Ensemble
7:30pm Friday April 3, 2026年4月3日星期五晚上7點半
【彈、拉、吹】– 88弦彈撥樂團、溫哥華二胡四重奏、多元文化管樂團

This concert presents three Vancouver ensembles: 88 Strings, Vancouver Erhu Quartet, and Multicultural Wind Ensemble. While using instruments within the same family, either plucked, bowed, or winds, they bring together musicians and traditions from different cultures. Reflecting Canada’s multicultural environment, these ensembles and their collaborating composers explore the similarities and differences between their instruments and musical traditions.

88 Strings video 1  88 Strings video 2

Vancouver Erhu Quartet audio     

Multicultural Wind Ensemble video 1      Multicultural Wind Ensemble video 2 

3) Encounter: Taiwan/Toronto/Vancouver
Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan), PhoeNX Ensemble (Toronto), and Vancouver music community
special guest Wayne Lavallee
8pm Saturday April 4, 2026年4月4日星期六晚上8點
【喜相逢: 台灣/多倫多/溫哥華】

Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan) 台灣小巨人絲竹樂團:
Chih Sheng Chen 陳志昇 – conductor 指揮
Fu-Yun Teng 鄧馥芸 – dizi 笛子
Chung-Chi Tsai 蔡忠祈 – erhu 二胡
Fu-Hsuan Teng 鄧馥萱 – pipa 琵琶

PhoeNX Ensemble (Toronto) 鳳鳴九皋樂集:
Patty Chan 陳慧敏 – erhu 二胡
Sanya Eng – harp 豎琴
Ryan Scott – percussion 打擊

Vancouver musicians 溫哥華音樂家:
Paolo Bortolussi – flutes 長笛
Itamar Erez – guitar 吉他
Zhimin Yu 于志敏 – ruan 阮
Dailin Hsieh 謝岱霖 – zheng 箏
Sungyong Lim – cello 大提琴
Jonathan Bernard – percussion 打擊
Lan Tung 董籃 – erhu 二胡 & vocal 歌唱

special guest
Wayne Lavallee – vocal 歌手