Royal Conservatory Presents SAMANTHA CHANG 4/16

Toronto flutist Samantha Chang is putting on a flute extravaganza for her debut at Koerner Hall on April 16, 2011, at 8 PM. Audience members are encouraged to bring their flutes to play along in her arrangement of "Samantha Fantasy". Two free rehearsals for this piece are open to public: Sunday, April 3 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Pleasant View Library Auditorium (575 Van Horne Avenue) and Sunday, April 10 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM at the Women's Art Association Gallery (23 Prince Arthur Avenue).

Why the audience participation? "I enjoy having more performer and audience interactions," explains Ms. Chang. "Participating in James Galway's attempt for a Guiness World Record in 2009 was so much fun that I hoped to achieve a similar, if smaller effect here in Toronto." This musical celebration also marks the release of her second album "Sentimentale", which will be avilable at the concert.

Ms. Chang has invited several musicians to share the stage, including pianists Mark Camilleri, Dona Jean Clary and Ka Kit Tam; flutists Christopher Lee, Alheli Pimienta, Dmitriy Varelas and Sophia Wang; oboist Adam Weinmann; violinist Conrad Chow; cellists Kevin He and Angel Ji; bassists Tim Fitzgerald and Jon Maharaj; harpist Andrew Chan; drummer Mark Inneo; and vocalist Yiping Chao. Program highlights include selections from Bolling's Suite; Borne's Fantaise Brillante on Themes from Bizet's Carmen; Hugues' Grand Concert Fantasy Op. 5; Tan's Two Lyrics of Yi People; and more.

Hailed by The Wholenote Magazine for her "lyricism, resourcefulness, and strong personal commitment to the flute", Canadian flutist Samantha Chang is a musical tour de force and rising young artist. Her mandates to perform, teach, and create opportunities for aspiring flutists is nothing short of astonishing for someone still in her twenties.

Samantha is committed to several arts organisations devoted to furthering young talent and fundraisers for charities in the community. In 2009, she created Samantha Chang Productions Inc., a company devoted to promoting music development and education in Canada. Samantha frequently visits schools as workshop instructor for young flute students, and she is coordinating the details of the Canadian Flute Convention in 2013, which will be held in Toronto for the first time. Devoted to the repertoire, Ms. Chang founded Yikewen International, a new publishing company focusing on rare flute sheet music.

Samantha released her debut album, "Flute Sketches" in March 2009, and subsequently toured Canada, the UK, China, and Taiwan, wrapping up with a concert in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York.

Samantha Chang received her Postgraduate Diploma and Licentiate at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England, and holds her Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto diplomas. She enjoys reading, following the World Cup, and speaks English, Mandarin, understands Taiwanese, and "mumbles through French, Cantonese, and Japanese". Samantha Chang plays on a Muramatsu DN Model Flute.

Please visit www.samanthaflute.com for more information.

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