Talks
Wide-ranging conversations with artists and experts, programmed to accompany Chan Centre presentations.
Paco de Lucía and the Origins of Flamenco Pre-show Talk with Rosario Ancer and Victor Kolstee
Paco de Lucía and the Origins of Flamenco
Flamenco Rosario artistic and executive director Rosario Ancer and music director Victor Kolstee discuss the history of flamenco, the life and musical career of Paco de Lucía, and the musicians and origin of The Paco de Lucía Project. This pre-show talk took place on November 2, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Flamenco Legends: The Paco de Lucía Project.
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From Rumba to Son: The Vast Influence of Cuban Music Pre-show Talk with Dr. Victoriano Martinez
From Rumba to Son: The Vast Influence of Cuban Music
The influence of Cuban music can be found in a variety of genres—from jazz to flamenco, from salsa to soul. In this talk, Dr. Victoriano will help put some of these influences into context, shining light on the music of Orquesta Akokán. This pre-show talk took place on November 16, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Orquesta Akokán.
View EventThe Use of Folklore in DakhaBrakha's Contemporary Music Pre-show Talk with Aliya Griffin
The Use of Folklore in DakhaBrakha’s Contemporary Music
Vancouver-based theatre artist Aliya Griffin investigates Ukrainian folklore and the role it plays in contemporary concepts of identity and belonging as well as DakhaBrakha’s music. This pre-show talk took place on October 19, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of DakhaBrakha.
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Indigenous Connection and Community Pre-Show Talk with Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot
Indigenous Connection and Community
UBC’s Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot discusses the connections between Sámi communities and local Indigenous communities in respect to language revival and political resilience. This pre-show talk took place on October 5, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Mari Boine.
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The Shankars and the Principles of Heritage Arts Pre-show Talk with Nina Buddhdev
The Shankars and the Principles of Heritage Arts
Consultant and artist mentor Nina Buddhdev shares some of her own precious memories of working with Anoushka Shankar’s father, Shri Pt. Ravi Shankar and the legendary masters of Indian classical music who all impacted her deep association with heritage arts. This pre-show talk took place on April 27, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Anoushka Shankar.
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Fado: A Family Tradition Pre-show Talk with Vicente Biancardi da Camara
Fado: A Family Tradition
For UBC graduate student Vicente Biancardi da Camara, the soundtrack of family gatherings was fado—both his uncle and grandfather were celebrated musicians in the beloved Portuguese musical tradition. In this talk, he discusses these personal relationships as well at the rich history of fado. This pre-show talk took place on April 17, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Mariza.
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An Education in Bagpipes Pre-show Artist Talk with Cristina Pato
An Education in Bagpipes
Cristina Pato is a passionate educator, advocate for cross-cultural artistic practices, and master of her instrument, the gaita (Galician bagpipes). In conversation with music journalist Paolo Pietropaolo, she discusses the history of music and culture in Galicia, her home region in Spain, as well as her educational initiatives and partnerships. This pre-show artist talk took place on stage in the Chan Shun Concert Hall on April 11, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of the Cristina Pato Quartet.
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Circlesong, A Cappella, and Improvising with Voice Pre-show Talk with Steve Maddock
Circlesongs, A Cappella, and Improvising with Voice
Steve Maddock, one of Western Canada’s most versatile vocal talents and faculty member in the Jazz Studies program and Capilano University, takes audience members through an exploration of solo a cappella and circlesongs—two forms of vocal performance Bobby McFerrin has pioneered. This pre-show talk took place on February 17, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Bobby McFerrin: Circlesongs.
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Dreams of Jazz Past and Present Pre-show Talk with Nou Dadoun
Dreams of Jazz Past and Present
Nou Dadoun, radio host and music journalist, discusses the historic and stylistic parallels between Joshua Redman’s Still Dreaming project and his father’s group, Old and New Dreams. This pre-show talk took place on November 13, 2018 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Joshua Redman: Still Dreaming.
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Sounds of the Balkans Pre-show Talk with Marija Rakovic
Sounds of the Balkans
Marija Rakovic, a master student in ethnomusicology at the UBC School of Music whose research explores polyphonic singing from the western Balkan region, discusses the historical context of Goran Bregovic’s album Three Letters From Sarajevo. This pre-show talk took place on October 21, 2018 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Goran Bregovic and His Wedding and Funeral Band.
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Made by Mariachi Pre-show Talk with Ricardo García
Made by Mariachi
Ricardo García, a UBC graduate from the Department of French, Hispanic, and Italian Studies, discusses the role, relationship, and legacy of Mexican mariachi stars Aida Cuevas and Juan Gabriel. This pre-show talk took place on October 22, 2019 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Aida Cuevas: Totalmente Juan Gabriel.
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The Power of Song Pre-show Talk with Shari Ulrich
The Power of Song
Shari Ulrich, an award winning Canadian songwriter and former associate professor of Lyric and Libretto in UBC’s Creative Writing department, discusses all of the various elements that work together to make a truly powerful song. This pre-show talk took place on November 8, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Texas Troubadours featuring singer songwriters Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Ruthie Foster, and Carrie Rodriguez.
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A Cross-Continental Musical Kinship Pre-show Talk with Dr. Fred Stride
A Cross-Continental Musical Kinship
Fred Stride, UBC School of Music faculty member and Director of the UBC Jazz Ensemble, talks about the rich history of cross-cultural connections between jazz and the music of India. This pre-show talk took place on October 28, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Zakir Hussain and Dave Holland: Crosscurrents.
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An Opera Superstar Looks Back Pre-show Artist Talk with Ben Heppner
An Opera Superstar Looks Back
Ben Heppner, a world-renowned opera singer who got his start at UBC, chats with CBC’s Michael Juk about his early days singing gospel, his education at the University of British Columbia, and what has been an incredibly varied and illustrious career in music that has taken him around the world. This pre-show talk took place on September 23, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of The Blind Boys of Alabama with Ben Heppner.
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Exploring the Weimar Republic Pre-show Talk with Dr. Kyle Frackman and Dr. Ilinca Iurascu
Exploring the Weimar Republic
Dr. Kyle Frackman and Dr. Ilinca Iurascu, assistant professors of Germanic studies at the University of British Columbia, dive deep into the culture and historical significance of the Weimar Republic. This pre-show talk took place on April 9, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester.
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From the Steppes of Mongolia to the World Stage Pre-show Talk with Tim Pearce
From the Steppes of Mongolia to the World Stage
Anda Union’s manager Tim Pearce discusses the past, present and future of the acclaimed Mongolian ensemble, as well as his own international career in film, music and theatre that spans over 40 years. This pre-show talk took place on March 26, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Anda Union.
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Death in Thebes: From Oedipus to Antigone Pre-show Talk with Dr. Hallie Marshall
Death in Thebes: From Oedipus to Antigone
Dr. Hallie Marshall, an assistant professor at UBC’s Department of Theatre and Film and a Wall Scholar with the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies, provides a contextual back story for Noche Flamenca’s Antigona, exploring the story of the house of Oedipus, the flexibility of Greek myth and the ancient performance tradition. This pre-show talk took place on March 12, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Noche Flamenca’s Antigona.
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The Path to Jazz Royalty Pre-show Talk with Nou Dadoun
The Path to Jazz Royalty
Nou Dadoun, host of Vancouver Co-op Radio’s A-Trane program, discusses the legacy of jazz queen Dianne Reeves and the artists she worked with along her journey to becoming the award-winning performer she is today. This pre-show talk took place on February 22, 2017 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Dianne Reeves.
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A Little OCD: Understanding Compulsions and Intrusive Thoughts A Panel Discussion with Brendan McLeod and Community Partners
A Little OCD: Understanding Compulsions and Intrusive Thoughts
The Chan Centre partners with UBC’s Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies and AnxietyBC for a candid, informative panel discussion about obsessive compulsive disorder featuring writer and slam poet Brendan McLeod; co-founder of OCDbc Lynn Furlotte and her daughter Leah John; and registered psychologists Dr. Melisa Robichaud and Dr. Juliana Negreiros. This panel discussion took place in conjunction with the Chan Centre presentation of Brendan McLeod’s Brain on November 17, 2016.
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Hip Hop, Storytelling, and Empowering Youth Pre-show Talk with Kia Kadiri
Hip Hop, Storytelling, and Empowering Youth
Kia Kadiri, hip hop artist, educator and mentor, talks about her role with Vancouver’s Streetrich Hip Hop Society where she works with marginalized youth to help them find their voices through poetry, music, dance, and performing arts. This pre-show talk took place prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue on September 25, 2016.
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Woody Guthrie, People's Songs, and Canadian Folk Music Pre-show Talk with Gary Cristall
Woody Guthrie, People’s Songs, and Canadian Folk Music
Gary Cristall, co-founder of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, and long time folk music listener, producer and historian, discusses the impact of Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Malvina Reynolds, and a dozen other members of People’s Songs and how their work was fundamental to the development of the folk music scene in Canada. This pre-show talk took place prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Arlo Guthrie with special guest Sarah Lee Guthrie on April 21, 2016, a special 50th anniversary celebration of Alice’s Restaurant.
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Komagata Maru and the New Refugee Crisis Pre-show Talk with Renisa Mawani
Komagata Maru and the New Refugee Crisis
Dr. Renisa Mawani, associate professor of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, discusses the impact of the SS Komagata Maru event in light of Anoushka Shankar’s latest album, Land of Gold, and its focus on the current refugee crisis. This pre-show talk took place prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Anoushka Shankar on April 8, 2016.
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A Life, Choreographed Pre-show Talk with Pierre-Paul Savoie
A Life, Choreographed
Pierre-Paul Savoie, acclaimed choreographer and Founder/Artistic Director of PPS Danse, in conversation with CBC Radio-Canada’s Yolaine Mottet about his poignant tribute piece Danse Lhasa Danse, based on the life and legacy of Montreal folk musician Lhasa de Sela. This pre-show talk took place prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Danse Lhasa Danse on January 18, 2014.
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Portugal's Double Gaze Pre-show Talk with Dr. Anthony Shelton
Portugal’s Double Gaze
Dr. Anthony Shelton, director of the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, discusses how Portugal’s identity as a nation that borders both the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas has created a unique lansdcape of arts and culture there. This pre-show talk took place prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Mariza on October 27, 2013.
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How Flamenco Was Formed Pre-show Talk with Martin Santangelo
How Flamenco Was Formed
Martín Santangelo, Artistic Director of Noche Flamenca, speaks on the roots of flamenco and the historical and political aspects of the society which created the art form, including how flamenco evolved under conditions of oppression. This pre-show talk took place on January 21, 2012 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca.
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The Past and Present of Cuban Music Pre-show Talk with Sal Ferreras
The Past and Present of Cuban Music
Sal Ferreras, renowned percussionist and educator, discusses the diverse influences behind Chucho Valdes’ music – from afro jazz traditions to be bop to Cuban son – and traces them back to their origins in the island nation. This pre-show talk took place on November 2, 2012 prior to the Chan Centre presentation of the Chucho Valdes Quartet.
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