The Calgary Civic Symphony was founded in 1976 and has been serving the Calgary community for nearly 50 years!
Conducted by our acclaimed music director, Rolf Bertsch, The Civic is fortunate to engage superb musicians from all career paths and walks of life. Our concert season includes five performances that are held on Sunday afternoons at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, including the annual Rising Stars performance, which provides opportunities for winners of the annual Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition (RC3) to perform with the orchestra.
The Civic’s blend of community and high-calibre performances creates a unique and accessible destination for Calgarian art and culture at an affordable price.
About The Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition:
Since 1981, this competition has provided a platform for the best young classical musicians in Calgary, aged 18 and under, to demonstrate their skills, celebrating and supporting the next generation of classical music talent in the community. The winners of the competition are given the unique chance to collaborate with the Calgary Civic Symphony in its annual Rising Stars concert at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Rehearsing and performing with a symphony orchestra is an invaluable experience for young musicians, as it allows them to refine their skills and learn from seasoned professionals, and gain exposure to the world of professional classical music.
COCO ZHANG
Born in 2007, Coco Zhang is a 17-year-old Chinese Canadian pianist. She moved to Calgary in 2020 and has been studying with Dr. Akiko Tominaga at the Mount Royal Conservatory since November 2021. She has received scholarships to study at the Mount Royal University’s Academy Program for the last 3 years. Coco will be pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Toronto to further her career in music. Along with piano, Coco finds joy in a variety of activities, including art, playing the ukulele, snowboarding, and singing.
OSCAR HANQI ZHANG
Oscar Hanqi Zhang was born in 2010 in Nanjing China and moved to Canada when he was 11 years old. When he was 9 years old, he pursued his love for piano and began his formal training with Dr. Zhengbo Shi and pianist Lin Ye. Currently, he is a full scholarship student at Mount Royal University Conservatory for Advanced Performance Program and studies with Akiko Tominaga. Oscar was granted a scholarship to participate in the Art of the Piano Festival in San Francisco in 2024, the Vivace Music Festival in 2024, Berkshire piano festival in 2024, and the Cleveland International Piano Institute in 2023. Apart from his dedication to studying piano, Oscar enjoys chess, reading, and mathematics, and has a strong passion for playing soccer.
SECOND RUNNER UP: AIDAN LU
Aidan Lu, age 12, began studying piano at age 5 and currently studies under Professor Marilyn Engle. Over the years, he has received multiple awards from various competitions, including local and national live competitions and several international online competitions. Aidan was awarded 2nd place at the Canadian Music Competition in 2021. In 2023, he was honoured to be invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, New York. Apart from the piano, he also enjoys travelling, hiking, reading, watching movies, and spending time with his family.
FOURTH RUNNER UP: IAN QUON
11-year-old Canadian pianist Ian Quon was born and raised in Calgary. Ian studies with Dr. Jani Parsons and is currently a student in the Mount Royal Conservatory Academy Program for gifted young artists. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City as the winner of the 2023 Steinway Piano Competition Canada. In 2023, Ian was awarded the gold medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music for his Level 8 piano exam and Level 4 Speech and Drama exam. Outside of music, Ian is a curious and active young student who enjoys reading, playing hockey, badminton, skiing, and swimming.
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This concert is a proud community Co-presentation with the Calgary Civic Symphony
