Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Since 2005 the EGRC Society has been providing funds for impoverished young women from the Gansu province of China to attend university, and this year marks a milestone because the first class of EGRC-sponsored young women is graduating. Youth for Youth celebrates this occasion with a concert featuring several works from the Chinese classical repertoire, performed by young people for young people. Among its many highlights, Youth for Youth will feature a performance by one of the graduating class, soprano Zhang Fang Fang, who will travel to Vancouver with two other EGRC graduates to attend the event.

Zhang Fang Fang graduated from the Lanshou University with a degree in voice. She is from a remote village of Longxi county of Gansu province, where both of her parents are peasants, chronically ill, and have a limited ability to work in the fields. The whole family has struggled to make a basic living and to pay the debts incurred by sending Zhang Fang Fang to high school. EGRC stepped in ensure she attended university.

As part of Youth for Youth, Zhang Fang Fang will perform as soloist with the Vancouver Children’s Choir, which was founded by Artistic Director, Rupert Lang, in 1983. Throughout their history, VCC has offered excellent vocal training, as well as a wide variety of performance experiences, including a variety of benefit concerts for organisations such as UNICEF and EGRC.

Ali Milner will close the first half of the concert with a selection of jazz pieces. This 18 year old flaming red head, described by CBC radio as “the next Joni Mitchell,” has been in residence at the Four Seasons Hotel in Whistler B.C. singing and playing their grand piano. At age 15 she released her debut album and her second CD will be out in early 2009 with the help of an “Emerging Artist Award” from FACTOR, the industry voice.


The second half of Youth for Youth features two amazing young soloists, both of them emerging artists in their fields. Western Summerton is a student of well-known pianist and teacher, Ken Broadway. Western will perform selections from the Yellow River Piano Concerto, with Ken Broadway playing the orchestral part on a second piano.

Winnie Liao is 11 years old and studies violin with one of Canada’s most respected teachers, Andrew Dawes. Winnie will play selections from the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto.

The language of music speaks across differences, continents, and oceans. Please join EGRC at Youth For Youth for this celebration of their first graduating class, which underscores their motto: Educated Women Have Educated Children.