Inspired at the Chan spotlights the talents of UBC’s campus community

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts is centering the creative skills of its local community for its Inspired at the Chan series, supported by UTown@UBC, part of Campus + Community Planning. Three family-friendly events round out its inaugural year, following UBC School of Music faculty member David Fung’s resplendent piano recital in October.

On February 19, as part of the annual Kids Take Over UBC, UBC’s Got Talent will determine which campus resident aged 10 – 18 will be crowned UBC’s most talented youth. Up to 15 contestants will showcase their talents in front of a live audience and a panel of three expert judges. The winning contestant will be awarded $300, and the People’s Choice winner will be awarded $200.

Submissions are open until January 10. Contestants must reside on the University Endowment Lands. Groups may enter to a maximum of six members with at least 50% of the group members residing on the University Endowment Lands. Full details for submission can be found on the webpage.

On March 5, the Somerset String Quartet perform music that left indelible impressions on the evolution of the string quartet. The program traces the musical history of the chamber ensemble beginning with music from the “father of the string quartet”, Joseph Haydn, and ending with music from one of the most influential cultural powerhouses of our time, Disney. The program will also include music by Dvořák, Shostakovich, and more. UBC’s resident string quartet, Somerset is comprised of four award-winning students dedicated to deepening appreciation for chamber music as ambassadors of the UBC School of Music. The members will be on hand to demonstrate their respective instruments for the pre-show instrument petting zoo.

The series concludes with Gamelan Gita Asmara on April 23. The 25-person ensemble, who perform entirely from memory, will showcase classical and contemporary Balinese music in a mesmerizing concert at the Telus Studio Theatre. The gamelan consists of gongs, drums, and other percussive instruments, producing music full of rich textures and melodies. Co-directed by UBC School of Music professor Michael Tenzer and artist-in-residence Putu Swaryandana from the village of Sayan in Bali, this is a rare opportunity to enjoy Balinese music of this caliber. A pre-show workshop will be available to ticketholders.

To view all Inspired at the Chan programming, click here.