Buddha's Birthday Multicultural Children's Concert

ASCensis Trio—The Kim Sisters

Alicia Kim (cello), Sienna Kim (violin) and Cielle Kim (violin) have been playing cello and violins since they were 6, 5 and 5 years old respectively and are part of Rising Stars program at the Sydney Conservatorium, where Alicia is on a scholarship. While the sisters continue to perform and win numerous solo competitions in Sydney, they also love to play in many orchestras and chamber groups at Rising Stars, their schools and at home. Music has become a way of life for them and they document and share their musical journey with the world through YouTube and Instagram as the "ASCensis Trio".

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Australian Pipa Association (APA) Youth Ensemble

APA Youth Ensemble is a special subgroup of the Australian Pipa Association (APA) designed for children and adolescents. The ensemble aims to introduce Chinese music in a fun and social manner. It helps youth members to develop their intercultural music skills as well as promote social interaction and self-esteem. Currently, APA Youth Pipa Ensemble has six members ranging in age from 8 to 16: Lucia Lavier Liu Ruxin, Clancy McVay, Linsey Li Yishu, Cherry Xia Ying Tim, Margaret Xiong Yuanyuan, Belinda Yee Qingyang. It is led by Dr Lulu Liu, APA founding director and co-ordinator of the Chinese Music Ensemble at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

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Buddharangsee Thai Community Language School

We are pleased to present Buddharangsee Thai Community Language School from Sydney. This Thai community school operates on Sundays at NSW School of Languages, Petersham where it offers Thai language, Thai classical music and traditional dance lessons for children as well as on-line Thai language lessons for adults. Buddharangsee is a member of the NSW Federation of Community Language Schools. We are pleased to feature Khumpee Khiammwikit, Weeraya Leung, Pakornkarn Nopparattanasakul and Risa Tsuyuki in some musical and dance items from the Thai classical tradition.

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Guyun Guzheng Arts Academy

The Guyun Guzheng Arts Academy was established in 2015 by Julia Luo, guzheng teacher at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. The academy serves the local community in the training of professional artists on traditional Chinese instruments. Guyun Guzheng Arts Academy aims to share and promote Chinese culture and traditional music to successive generations resident in Sydney. Julia is proud to present her most promising students in this concert: Tiffany Zhao, Cecilia Zhou, Hannah Zhang, Dora Qu with Chanel Zhao (percussion).

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Harmony Symphony Youth Orchestra 

The Harmony Symphony Youth Orchestra (HSYO) is a unique musical group that combines the beauty of Buddhist music with classical Western music. HSYO is the first youth symphony chamber orchestra established by a Buddhist Organisation in the southern hemisphere. The orchestra was co-founded in 2020 by Fo Guang Shan North Sydney Fo Guang Yuan and internationally recognised artist Sherry Hsiao (piano and violin). HSYO an excellent youth orchestra full of enthusiasm, dynamic, and constantly strives for artistic excellence in its mission to spread the joy of the dharma sound through the medium of orchestral music. The performers featured in this concert are Tiffany Liu, Shanelle Lam, Jacob Li, Emma Kang, Audrey Liu and Helen Liu (violin); Brian Man Hei Jim (alto saxophone), Royi Luo and Kate Geng (cello).

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Kai Lavier

Kai Lavier is a left-handed young guitarist, started learning guitar at age of 5. He is now 9 and has received A+ with AMEB Level 4 and received H/C of the Classical Guitar (12 & Under) Sydney Eisteddfod competition. He plays the piano, studies taekwondo and enjoys bike riding in his spare time.

Elsa Xingyao Lin

Xingyao was born in 2011, and started to learn piano at the age of 5. In 2021, Xingyao joined the Rising Stars program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studies with Natalia Ricci. She was the first recipient of the Highest Achievement Award for Rising Stars auditionees. Currently, she is a year 5 student at St Ives North Public School. As a Rising Stars student, Xingyao was awarded the Kathleen Holmes McCrea Pianoforte scholarship in 2022. She received the 1st prize in the 2019 Sydney Eisteddfod (8 Years & Under Category), 2nd place in the Young Euregio Piano Award 2021, 2nd place in the 2019 Inner West Eisteddfod and also a 3rd place in the 2018 Inner West Eisteddfod (8 Years & Under Category).

Josephine Doan

Josephine Doan is 12 years of age. She began playing the violin from the age of six and half and has been on a scholarship to study with Professor Ole Bohn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the Rising Stars program for the past two years. Josephine has competed at multiple violin competitions and came 3rd in the 2020 Grumiaux Violin, 1st in the Hong Kong 2020 Violin Competition and 1st in the 2019 Brussels “Grand Prize Virtuoso” International Music competitions. In Australia, she has also won multiple 1st prizes at the Sydney and St George Music Eisteddfods. Josephine lives in Burwood and attends PLC School. She also plays the piano. During the recent lockdown, Josephine was the youngest contestant (Open Age) in the St George Eisteddfod and came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her selected categories. Josephine hopes to be an author when she grows up and would like to perform around the world in the appreciation of culture, music, history and the arts.

Devasya Raval 

Devasya Raval started learning tabla at age of 5 under the tutelage of his father, internationally renowned tabla virtuoso Maharshi Raval. He is soon to perform at the Parramasla music festival and the annual concert of Gajanan Cultural Mission. Devasya wishes to become a professional musician and pursue music as a lifelong study.