Jason Fung, piano

Prelude, Fugue et Variation Op. 18 (Cesar Franck, 1822-1890)

Naoko Sakata, piano

Suite Bergamasque (Claude Debussy, 1862-1918)

I. Prélude

II. Menuet

III. Clair de lune

Dane Ko, piano

Intermezzo in E-flat major Op. 117 No. 1 (Johannes Brahms, 1833-1897)

Toccata from Suite Op. 10 No. 2 (Georges Enescu, 1881-1955)

Stanford Cheung, piano

Andata (Ryuichi Sakamoto, 1952- )

Ballade Op. 38 No.2 (Frédéric Chopin, 1810-1849)

Jason Fung is a Canadian-Hong Kong pianist who has lived in Canada for eight years. He holds a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Ottawa, a Diplôme d’études professionnelles approfondies in Piano Performance from l’Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor's of Music from Queen's University where he was winner of the Queen's University Concerto Competition in 2016. Jason is now embarking on a career in Physiotherapy or Occupational Therapy, hoping to specialize in the treatment and prevention of musicians’ injuries, a frequent result of repetitive practice.

Naoko Sakata is pursuing her graduate studies in piano performance at McGill University with Professor Ilya Poletaev. A recipient of Les Violons du Roy Foundation Prize, she has performed as a soloist with Les Violons du Roy Chamber Orchestra. Naoko has also performed solo recitals in Toronto and in Quebec City. In the realm of chamber music, her duo was invited to participate in the Rolston/Szekely Program for Young Musicians at the Banff Centre on full scholarship in 2016. Naoko is the founder of Musicians’ Dream Aid, an organization which gives financial aid to young musicians. This summer, she attended the Eastman Leadership Academy to hone her music entrepreneurship skills.

Dane Ko is a Canadian pianist, born in Hong Kong. Dane is lauded for his diverse musical work as recitalist, chamber musician and educator at home and abroad. As a finalist in the 2019 Canadian Music Competition “Stepping Stone”, Dane has performed as soloist in Koerner Hall of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. Internationally, Dane has performed at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall as well as in Austria, France and the United States. Dane completed his undergraduate studies on full scholarship followed by a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy as a Fellowship recipient at the University of Toronto. An avid festival participant, Dane is inspired by his esteemed pedagogues, including Klaus Hellwig, Avedis Kouyoumdian, Ronan O’Hora and Rebecca Penneys. A student of the late Marietta Orlov and David Louie, Dane is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory in Toronto.

Stanford Cheung, born in Toronto, is a Doctoral student at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music. He holds degrees in music from the Glen Gould Pre-College Program, the University of Toronto and McGill University where his mentors have included Marietta Orlov, Kyoko Hashimoto, and Kum Sing Lee. Recognized for his “charming sensitivity and whole-hearted intellect” by the Toronto Weekly, Stanford maintains a busy international career. He has performed as a recitalist and soloist at many international venues including Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall and Weill Hall in New York, the Royal Ontario Museum and Living Arts Center in Toronto and the Kusatsu Performance Center in Tokyo. Stanford is a top prize winner at the San Jose International Piano Competition, the Steinway Piano Competition and Canadian Music Competition. Stanford is also a published poet.