Year end wrap...! New Orleans, Houston, Montreal, Toronto
Hope everyone is enjoying a warm and joyful peaceful holiday season! November and December have been such fulfilling months of chamber music. After the intensely demanding, solitary journey of October’s solo recital tour, it was such a treat to dive back into collaborative work.
Some brief recaps:
10/29 Concert Lyrica Baroque New Orleans, “Multicultural Sounds of Louisiana” - Yilian Cañizares, Raudol Palacios, Jaren Atherholt, Duo Perdendosi
Such a heartwarming (and delicious!) first time visit to New Orleans. We were deeply touched by the enthusiasm and earnestness of the community - the dedicated organizers, the passionate fellow musicians, the aspiring young artists, and the receptive audience - everyone played a pivotal part in creating the musical ecosystem that represents what this work is all about: building connections, bringing people together.
Next, back to my second home, Houston.
11/16 Quartet House Concert featuring Mozart, Schumann, and a new commission by Emma Wine “I lose Myself.”
11/19 Dietz-Wang Duo, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA)
11/24 Dietz-Wang Duo, Cello Sonatas at St Luke's Presbyterian Church
It’s always been a privilege to play music with people you love. But it doesn’t get any more special than to share the stage with the person who is also your partner in life. This program of Beethoven, Brahms, and Mendelssohn is truly a precious one for us - full of memories, messages, and moments of profoundly sweet and intimate tenderness.
Next - Finally, back home home in Skye’s Castle in the Sky, Montreal. I missed this family dearly.
12/1 Skye’s Salon #8 “DP’s Delivery Service”
Reel.
12/7 Xenia Concerts - Adaptive Conccrts by Duo Perdendosi
Duo Perdendosi back in Toronto, this time with Xenia Concerts! What an incredible team and community we were privileged to connect with. These two concerts brought together so many elements that are core to our beliefs and mission as artists. Not only were we able to learn so much from Xenia’s Artist Training, we were deeply touched, inspired, and humbled by the amount of dedication and hard work that goes into realizing these productions. Thank you to Rory, Paolo, Evan, and all the wonderful partners and sponsors of Xenia (ToLive, One Health Partners Therapy Dogs, and Alzheimer Society of Toronto).
12/15 Cedar House Concert - In Concert for Cambodia
Last but not least, another deeply personal, intimate, grateful homecoming to the Cedar house - a place that’s not only a warm, safe refuge that has always held a special place in my heart, but also a space that brings alive the most exquisite palette of colours from its beloved 19th-century Steinway, resonating sensibly together with the cello and antique wood of that charming, cozy living room. As always, huge thanks to our host Flora Liebich and the family of residents of the Cedar house for making this fundraising concert such a memorable experience.
And with that, 2024 comes to a wrap…
It’s been a most fulfilling year, in so many ways, with its fair range of challenges, trials, and blessings. Another year honest to the work I believe in doing, in the living I vow to live. Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey.
More reflections and updates coming soon for the New Year.
Until then, stay warm,
and enjoy the magic.
“Let yourself
be.
Moved.”
xoxo,
All my relations,
Tong
Photo credits: Stephanie Sedlbauer
make space.
cherish.
honour your solitude.
notice what you notice.