Featured Performance
Program Catagories
From the Curating Team
How do the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and Taiwan bring back their traditional culture and mother tongues, how do they gradually break free from the shackles of colonial history, after so long of their culture and lifestyles being stolen and repressed? Their resilience and creativity revived their repressed culture as they sought to escape the shackles of colonialism. In a multicultural society, different generations of immigrants face complex cultural intersections, leading them to explore the concept of identity. They need to deal with the values, traditions, and customs of different cultures, and find their own place within this diverse environment. This is a journey full of challenges and opportunities. Cultural convergence brings cross-cultural exchanges while also breeding unique local characteristics.
Through various forms of artistic performances, today’s Indigenous communities are trying to preserve their unique cultures while also communicating and innovating with other cultures. Second-generation and onward immigrant Canadian musicians use sound as a medium to take on the important question of self-identity and create masterpieces. This music shows love for cultural roots and highlights the beauty of diversity. This art conveys the wisdom of the Indigenous peoples, and promotes cultural understanding and mutual respect.
From magnificently intricate Chinese orchestral music, with its timeless traditional instruments and folk songs, this series of unique music performances combines elements of traditional Chinese music, orchestral symphony, Indigenous song, and electronic music. A fascinating journey that will inspire the audience to reflect on the sharing of cultures. Witness a special soundscape that highlights the fusion and symbiosis between different musical styles and cultures. This is the charm of cultural diversity!
Programs
DJ Dungi & GDubzMusic
No one is an outsider
Presented by DowntownVAN
“Nobody is an outsider” comes from a song by Amis musician Panai Kusui, and it conveys the message that everyone is a part of this land and that no one is excluded. This lyric has been widely quoted in various public advocacy initiatives, encouraging people to unite and focus on one another.
DJ Dungi Sapor and Gary Bannon, as Indigenous musicians, show pride and perseverance in their respective musical paths. Dungi Sapor combines electronic music with traditional melodies, boldly exploring and expressing the confidence and uniqueness of her culture. Gary Bannon blends Indigenous music with electronic bass, creating strong energy and impact, bringing a modern imagination to his tribal culture.
As these two Indigenous musicians bridge the two sides of the ocean, new sparks are created, inspiring more creativity and acceptance. Through music, they not only highlight the strength, diversity, and value of their traditional cultures, but also inspire active appreciation for Indigenous cultures. Their music conveys a positive message, calling us to come together to create a more inclusive and harmonious world. Come listen and dance as these two Indigenous DJs cross the Pacific Ocean with their passion and talent, igniting hope across the world!
DJ Dungi Sapor grew up in the glorious Cikasuan village of the Amis tribe in Hualien. She was discriminated against and excluded by her peers because of her Indigenous identity when she was a child, but this did not destroy her confidence in her identity. She even studied finance law in hopes of helping her tribe and her people, and was also briefly an assistant at the National Congress of Taiwan. By reinterpreting and innovating with new music, she integrates Indigenous culture into contemporary sound, breaking the stereotype of Indigenous music. At the same time, she appreciates the traditional sounds of the world’s Indigenous population. She is currently experimenting with integrating the hand drum of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, and will be sharing her new creation for the first time at this event.
Hailing from the Great North West (Thunder Bay) Anemki Waziw (Thunder Mountain), Gary Bannon is an Indigenous artist from the Mukwa DodemClan (Bear Clan). Bridging Indigenous instruments and singers with underground electronic bass music, GDUBZ is a force stronger than gravity itself. Harder than nails, tougher than tough, his heavy bass and grimy synths penetrate deep and hit you like a boot to the chest.
Diving into the electronic music scene head first a decade ago has paid off in dividends for this West Coast Indigenous producer. The ride has only just begun for this multi-talented musician. Currently holding it down on Bear Clan Records, Wakaan, MalLabel, Artist Intelligence Agency and others. One can’t help but be drawn in by the powerful beats and thunderous bass that are quickly becoming synonymous with the one and only GDUBZ.
Sept 2nd
Pancouver Stage -
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
8:00PM - 10:00PM
Harmonia String Ensemble
Voyage across the Pacific
In recent years, the Harmonia String Ensemble has collaborated with TAIWANfest to showcase the diverse cultures and stories carried by classical music. Harmonia is committed to integrating music into the lives of the public. The Voyage Across the Pacific concert will feature music from local and international composers, allowing the audience to relive the fantastic journeys across the oceans, while rethinking the impact and footprints from the Era of Exploration that still exists today in the modern world.
In 2004, Tony Lee brought together a group of enthusiastic string players to read orchestral music in his home. This became a frequent event at the Lee residence and soon, the group decided to perform concerts publicly.
The objective of the group is to play chamber works that are rarely performed by large symphonic orchestras. The music they play is usually composed for strings only, or for a classical orchestra which may include a limited number of wind instruments (typically 2 oboes and 2 horns).
Initially, a whimsical name was chosen for the ensemble – I Musici Sushi – to give the group a “West Coast flavour”. Under the I Musici Sushi banner, the ensemble held three or more concerts a year. Admission was by donation and the proceeds were donated to charities.
In late December 2018, the group’s name was officially changed to Harmonia and we continue to perform and raise money for charitable causes.
Sept 4th
Pancouver Stage -
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
5:00PM - 6:00PM
National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan
Splendid Formosa
How does Eastern orchestral music, with its long history, cultivate a unique identity in Taiwan? How does traditional Chinese music break stereotypes by re-interpreting Western-style compositions?
Putting their faith in using Chinese orchestral music to tell Taiwan’s most beautiful stories, the National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO) prides itself on its roots in Taiwan’s local culture. Their main repertoire incorporates Taiwanese elements and local cultural influences. In addition to Indigenous folk songs and Taiwanese classic ballads, there are also many new pieces by Taiwanese composers that blend old and new melodies. These compositions utilize popular music harmonies and techniques, reinterpreted through the plucked string ensemble of Chinese music, giving each piece a distinctive flavour. In line with this year’s theme of the Era of Exploration, the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan will also present Taiwanese music that combines classical symphonic or Western folk styles, echoing the convergence of Eastern and Western cultures.
This year, the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan will perform live at TAIWANfest, showcasing Chinese orchestral music that embodies both innovation and tradition, and sharing the uniqueness of Taiwan’s music and culture. Let us immerse ourselves in their splendid sound, connecting Taiwan with the world through captivating music!
The National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan is affiliated with the National Center for Traditional Arts, and is a national-level Chinese Orchestra under the Ministry of Culture. Composed of elites from Taiwan’s traditional music circles, they are determined to explore traditions, acknowledge their homeland, and embrace the contemporary era. Their works take root in Taiwan’s traditional music, conveying Taiwan’s aesthetic through breathtaking performances, aiming to enhance the realm of Taiwanese music. The world is their stage, and music is the brush they wield to paint Taiwan’s self-portrait.
Sept 2nd
Orpheum
7:30PM - 9:30PM
DJ Dungi & Which Nancy
No one is an outsider
Presented by DowntownVAN
“Nobody is an outsider” comes from a song by Amis musician Panai Kusui, and it conveys the message that everyone is a part of this land and that no one is excluded. This lyric has been widely quoted in various public advocacy initiatives, encouraging people to unite and focus on one another.
Here are two artists that use music to carve out spaces for themselves in this world. One is an Indigenous of Taiwan. One is a Taiwanese-Canadian. Dungi Sapor infuses her traditional culture within the contemporary sounds of electronic music, blasting confidence in her identity and artistic vision. Which Nancy plays freely in the world of music, blurring the lines of genre and media, creating platforms and possibilities for emerging and underrepresented artists.
All the way across the Pacific Ocean, these two musicians cross paths. As culture intermingles and heavy bass echoes, this is a DJ show that will resonate in your heartbeat, no matter who you are! This DJ Party invites you to dance without hesitation and to be yourself!
DJ Dungi Sapor grew up in the glorious Cikasuan village of the Amis tribe in Hualien. She was discriminated against and excluded by her peers because of her Indigenous identity when she was a child, but this did not destroy her confidence in her identity. She even studied finance law in hopes of helping her tribe and her people, and was also briefly an assistant at the National Congress of Taiwan. By reinterpreting and innovating with new music, she integrates Indigenous culture into contemporary sound, breaking the stereotype of Indigenous music. At the same time, she appreciates the traditional sounds of the world’s Indigenous population. She is currently experimenting with integrating the hand drum of the Indigenous Peoples of Canada, and will be sharing her new creation for the first time at this event.
李南屏 (aka Which Nancy) is a Taiwanese-Canadian interdisciplinary media artist, curator, DJ, and cultural producer. Which Nancy is a co-founder of Chapel Sound, an electronic music and art collective supporting emerging artists, and CURRENT, an intersectional and multidisciplinary initiative featuring artistic and educational programming for women, gender diverse artists, and BIPOC artists. They also run an event and production studio in Vancouver Chinatown, hosting cross-genre shows, workshops and residencies.
As a community music consultant, Which Nancy has worked with CreativeBC and Music BC. Nancy is an advocate for the music community, and has since developed two pilot programs with the City of Vancouver. Which Nancy directed the first contemporary VR dance film “Tidal Traces” in collaboration with Emmalena Fredriksson with the National Film Board of Canada. Which Nancy’s interdisciplinary works have been presented at Cannes Film Festival, SXSW, MUTEK, Berlin International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and more. They are an XR instructor at IM4 Media Lab at Emily Carr University, board director of Love Intersections Society, and artistic mentor at Festival of Recorded Movement.
Sept 3rd
Pancouver Stage -
šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square
North of the Vancouver Art Gallery
8:00PM - 10:00PM
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TAIWANfest Vancouver is grateful to be held on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation). We acknowledge our privilege to be gathered here, and commit to work with and be respectful to the Indigenous peoples of this land while we engage in meaningful conversations of culture and reconciliation.
