Local Mini-Celebrities Ryan Wang & Ray Zhang to Perform at Kay Meek Centre

WEST VANCOUVER, BC - At 5 years old, pianist Ryan Wang has received more publicity than many pianists receive in their whole life.  In the last two months, not only has Wang been interviewed by CBC's "The National", Global TV, the Vancouver Sun, and SingTao Daily - but he has also had the great privilege of performing at the illustrious Carnegie Hall together with 6-year-old Ray Zhang, after winning the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition.

On Sunday the 9th of June, Ryan and Ray are teaming up again to hold a benefit concert at the Kay Meek Theatre in West Vancouver.

All proceeds from this performance will go to the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, a non-profit school that provides free music education to underserved and at-risk youth. This concert is only part of their short world tour, which also includes a performance at the Fazioli Hall in Italy and another concert together with a symphony orchestra in Shanghai, China.

Click HERE to buy tickets through KayMeekCentre.com

Learn more about Ryan Wang by clicking HERE

.

FAMED ITALIAN PIANO MAKER DEDICATES UNIQUE $300k FAZIOLI PIANO IN TORONTO

TORONTO, ON – On Friday the 5th of April, world renowned Italian piano maker Paolo Fazioli made a pit-stop in Toronto to dedicate a one-of-a-kind Fazioli piano custom made for the Shangri-La Hotel.   Professional pianists consider this brand to be the “crème-de-la-crème” of the piano world, and only a handful of Faziolis have made it to the greater Toronto area.

If you've never seen or heard one, you can see this special piano at the newly opened Shangri-La Hotel on University Ave in Toronto where it sits as the centerpiece of their lobby.  The hotel has arranged for talented pianists from across the country to come and perform in the Lobby Lounge, and the hotel staff welcomes all to sit and order a drink while listening to the beautiful singing tone of the $300,000 piano.   

This Fazioli is completely finished in light Oak and highlights the culture of great Canadian artists, which could not be represented more purely than Joni Mitchell.   Her album Blue released in 1971 is regarded as one of the most iconic albums of that era and the song “My Old Man” in particular, showcases her compositional talents on the piano.  Joni Mitchell was gracious enough to allow the hotel’s developer to engrave the opening stanza of “My Old Man” on the piano lid, with the sheet music embroidered on the piano cover.

At a media event on Friday the 5th of April, Vancouver based 5-year-old Isabelle XinYi Wang performed on the piano.  Wang is a piano prodigy that will also perform at Carnegie Hall later in the same month.   

About FAZIOLI pianos:

Fazioli pianos are made by hand in Italy and are considered to be the finest piano available in the world.  The company was founded by Paolo Fazioli in 1979, a pianist and engineer that wanted to combine those two worlds of knowledge to make the best pianos known to man.  Today some of the world’s top pianists play on Fazioli, from Angela Hewitt – the world’s leading interpreter of Bach – to jazz legend Herbie Hancock.  In 2011 one of the world’s leading schools of music – Juilliard – that famously only bought one brand of pianos for the previous 80 years, broke from tradition to purchase a Fazioli piano.   In an interview with the NY Times, Steinway VP Peter Goodrich admitted: “[Fazioli] keep us on our toes.”

Each Fazioli takes approximately 3,000 man-hours to make.  At the heart of each Fazioli piano lies the soundboard, which is carved from the Val-Di-Fiemme forest in Northern Italy – the same trees harvested by Antonio Stradivari for his famous violins.  Many of the hinges are plated in 18k gold to prevent corrosion.  

Fazioli Article in Vancouver Magazine

VANCOUVER, BC - Be sure to pick up the April 2013 issue of Vancouver Magazine where legendary writer Malcolm Parry was invited to pick up his pen once again for the iconic publication.  It has been 2 years since Mac has written a word for the magazine, so his return was made more special when he was asked to interview Italian pianomaker Paolo Fazioli.

Part of the article focuses on the 50th Fazioli to sell at Showcase Pianos - a special half-million dollar concert grand with a case designed by Vancouver architect Ernest Collins.

Showcase Pianos Expands Again!

VANCOUVER, BC - After 9 months of cooking, a baby girl was born to Showcase Pianos owners Judy and Manuel Bernaschek.  The baby, named 'Aria', weighed 8.73 pounds.

The Bernascheks opted to have the birth at home, employing the services of Pacific Midwifery.  Labour started at around 11pm, and two midwives were present along with a student and an 'Acumama' that provided relief from pain through massages throughout the process.  Baby Aria was born at 3:37am on Friday in the middle of March.

More baby pictures can be seen by adding Manuel Bernaschek on Facebook!

    

Local talent featured in new Fazioli ad campaign

VANCOUVER, BC – Almost everyone has heard of a Fazioli.   For those that haven’t, it’s the handmade Italian piano that is shaking up the age old piano-making industry.   In Vancouver, more than a few people have traded in their old Steinways to get a new Fazioli.

Many pianists were at first reluctant to try the Fazioli, which is considered by some to be ‘the new kid on the block’ in the piano world.  A history of 35 years might be a long time in some businesses, but not in this industry: Fazioli’s main competitors have been making pianos for more than 150 years.   Today a growing number of professionals are getting behind Fazioli, and believe that the factory’s founder Paolo Fazioli has been successful in creating the finest piano in the world.

Local retailer Showcase Pianos has sold more than 50 in Vancouver since opening their doors in 2007, and is now ‘showcasing’ local talent in its new ‘Fazioli’ ad campaign.  Keep your eye out for ads featuring Austin Nash Park, a Vancouver based pianist whose new CD is being looked at by major labels.  Clare Yuan is finishing her doctoral academic degree in piano performance at UBC.  Jazz pianist Max Zipursky is often seen playing on the amazing custom made Fazioli in the lobby lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim.   Daniel Chow is a local accountant that has received great attention for his success at amateur piano competitions around the world.  Maggie Chang is only 14 years old, and has already performed at Carnegie Hall.

Work behind the camera was done by very talented local photographers Florence Leung and Scott Adolph.

Linda Lee Thomas releases new CD: "Tango Con Fazioli"

VANCOUVER, BC - Linda Lee Thomas is a name that every Vancouverite knows - she has been the principal pianist of the VSO since 1972. She has something common with Showcase Pianos owner Manuel Bernaschek: They both love Fazioli pianos. In February of 2013 she released her new CD: "Tango Con Fazioli".

"The first time I played this amazing instrument, I had the same feeling I had when hearing Tango for the first time. It fulfulled my every wish and dream. It responded to my touch as a tango dancer or another musician would." says Thomas in her CD jacket.

As “Chamber Musician Supreme”, she was Artistic Director of Masterpiece Music, the Vancouver East Cultural Centre¹s hugely successful chamber music series for 17 years. In 2000, she was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame for her outstanding contributions to the industry.

“On May 1st, 1988, my addiction to Argentine Tango began. Astor Piazzolla and his Quintet were playing in Vancouver and I had been encouraged by many to go. Skeptically I went – reluctantly I left. That night, the music of tango lured me under its spell.”

Her passion is the music and dance of Argentina – the Tango. Since her bold emergence onto the international tango scene, she has become one of Canada¹s foremost tango musician, performing and recording with Argentine bandoneonists Daniel Binelli and Nestor Marconi. She is affectionately known as “The Reina de Tango”.

For the past decade she has been busy playing with her Tango Trio – TANGISSIMO – fast becoming known all over the world. Featuring Ed Henderson on guitar and Miles Foxx Hill on bass, they have played to thousands of people in live concerts, broadcasts and recordings. Their CD TANGISSIMO LIVE was chosen as one of the best releases of 2002 by Radio-Canada¹s ESPACE MUSIQUE. They were taken to Buenos Aires in 2006 by INFINITY FILMS to shoot the documentary – CHASING THE TANGO HIGH for BRAVO TV. Their CD of the same name was released in October of that year. It features live recordings from Buenos Aires with Tangissimo and the tango legends of our time.

Always chasing the next tango project, she released her first solo piano album – TANGO MAGIC – in the spring of 2008. Last year she was performing and recording in Buenos Aires to great success with the harmonica sensation Franco Luciani and the famous violinist Mauricio Marcelli. Each year she returns to her beloved Argentina where she has earned a reputation of being one of the best tangueras – both at the piano and on the dance floor.

This year she has embarked on another recording project – TANGO CON FAZIOLI. She is putting together two of her favourite things – Tango and Fazioli pianos. The first installment for this recording was a live concert on June 10th, 2012, at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Together with Joan Blackman, Violin – Jonathan Goldman, Bandoneon – Ed Henderson, Guitar and Dylan Palmer, Bass, they played many of the original quintet arrangements of Astor Piazzolla. One of the highlights of this show was Piazzolla’s Ave Maria. Jon Washburn did the exqusite arrangement for Roger Cole, Oboe and the Men of the Vancouver Chamber Choir. And in August she will be returning to Buenos Aires to record with tango musicians there. On a Fazioli – of course.

"Cinema Paradiso" featuring Roy & Rosemary

VANCOUVER, BC - Local music duo Roy & Rosemary features the keyboard talent of Roy Tan and the violin virtuosity of Rosemary Siemens.  Rosemary is a violinist that has performed all over the world, including three different performances at Carnegie Hall, as well as the Vatican, and at the home of Donald Trump.

After doing a photo shoot on a white Fazioli in a 7,000 sq ft penthouse downtown Vancouver, they perform on the $225,000 custom made Fazioli piano in the lobby of the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel together with the Stradivari Ensemble.  Local videographers Motion Tide prepared this excellent video featuring Roy & Rosemary performing "Cinema Paradiso" with the Stradivari Ensemble.