Great Event, Great Performances
George Gao , Erhu / Shaoqin Master
Gemini-award nominated Canadian musician George Gao started learning erhu at the age of six and went on to study at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. Today, he is a world-renowned erhu performer and a renaissance man who has written and arranged music for films, television and Broadway musicals. At the same time, he is also a producer to many global musicians and artists. George Gao is also known for his superior musicianship and for being one of the most innovative and representative fiddlers of his generation.
Goh Ballet
At Goh Ballet Bayview we take great pride in the technical and artistic training of our dancers. The dancers in the Prima program attend the school 4 times weekly to train in ballet, pointe and contemporary. We are delighted to present a contemporary performance for the Imperial Ball, choreographed by Heidi Lorenz.
Abagayil Hatt, Harpist
Abagayil Hatt is an award-winning harpist based out of Toronto. She holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication. Abagayil Hatt was the harpist for the TSYO for the 2015/16 season.
Starlight Cantonese Opera
Starlight Cantonese Opera (SCO), established in 2000, is a cultural group organized by a group of Cantonese Opera amateurs from Hong Kong. Our objective is to preserve, maintain and introduce this cultural art to the general public and other ethnic communities in Canada. We also extend our aim to introduce this art to the younger generation in Canada so that Canadian-born Chinese/Hong Kong Cantonese origin descendants have a chance to touch and recognize their own culture. All through the years since its establishment, we had organized annual performances at Markham Theatre and the Leah Posluns Theatre. We were also invited by communities such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, Habour Front Centre, Mississauga Arts Festival, Mon Sheong Generetic Centre, Markham Civic Centre, First Markham Place, etc. to provide performances for their events. We had also provided performances for numerous community fundraising events.
On April 18, 2012, Starlight registered as a non-profit organization and rename as “Starlight Chinese Opera Performing Arts Centre” actively promoting Chinese Opera in the community through various seminars, workshops and performances.
Michelle Madeira
A gifted vocalist with an exceptional voice, tone and accessible personality. She has entertained audiences across America, Canada, Europe, and in the Caribbean.
While attending university, she entered Canadian Idol and was awarded a top spot. Next, she was nominated for ‘Best Female Artist’ at the “Ontario People’s Choice Award” and two nominations at the “Mississauga Arts Award”. Michelle is the winner of the following: “Mississauga Future Star”, “CIRV-FM 88.9 Song Festival” for ‘Best Performance’, CHIN Radio 91.9FM “Johnny Lombardi Singing Festival”. She has headlined at Winterfest destination resorts, and sung at three annual Canadian Forces Appreciation Events and anthems at ten Toronto Maple Leaf games with one performance making history with millions of views on YouTube. She is the voice in the Square One Mall commercial ‘Be The One’ and also the voice in Carassauga’s 25th Anniversary theme song. She received 3 nominations at the International Portuguese Music Award (IPMA) and has won Best ‘Musica Popular’ Performance Award at the 2019 IPMA show televised via satellite to the Portuguese language world of over 225 million people.
Michelle is a respected professional who has shared stages with international acts including the world famous Platters, Michael Burgess (star of Les Miserables), Bobby Curtola (Canada’s Rock & Roll legend), Regis Philbin (American TV star), Suzy McNeil (from Rock Star: INXS). Michelle has performed at the International Portuguese Music Awards 2015;
she was a judge on panels for the Canadian Chinese Idol, The Long & McQuade Singing Competition and on the judging board for the Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment search for their anthem singers.
Michelle Madeira is a versatile performer in contemporary music. She is a singer and songwriter who genuinely believes “music is the one international language we all share”.
Canadian Chinese Orchestra
The Canadian Chinese Chamber Music Ensemble
Wayland Li Martial Arts Centre
Wayland Li Martial Arts Centre is an elite Chinese martial arts school based in
Toronto, Canada offering contemporary-Wushu instruction for children and
adults. The school was established in 1998 by Master Li, a former national
gold- medalist in China and an internationally recognized coach. Master Li
and movie-star Jet Li were recognized as China’s outstanding martial arts
athletes. In 1994, Master Li moved to Toronto, Canada and has served as the
head coach of the Canadian National Wushu Team. His students have earned many medals and achievements in both national and international competitions, including the 2008 Beijing Olympics Wushu Tournament,
various World Wushu Championships, and Pan American Wushu Championships. Master Li is recognized as one of the leading martial arts instructors, and his teaching methods and achievements have been recognized by Wu Bin, the former director of the International Wushu Federation, and current director with the Chinese Wushu Association.