Vancouver mourns the death of dan bau virtuoso Bic Hoang, a "standout musician with a standout instrument and a big smile"
Local artist was the first woman to play the koni, a traditional Vietnamese instrument typically reserved for men
Bic Hoang.
VANCOUVER’S MUSIC COMMUNITY is mourning the death of Bic Hoang.
Also known as Hoang Ngoc Bich, the Vietnamese-Canadian artist was a virtuoso of the dan bau, a one-string zither from Vietnam.
She was a major force with the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra as well as the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s School of Music. Having studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, she also played very rare instruments from Vietnam’s rural and mountainous regions including the koni (a two-stringed violin that uses the mouth as a resonating chamber), t'rung (bamboo xylophone), and k'lông pút (percussion tubules). According to Hoang’s LinkedIn profile, she was the first woman to play the koni, an instrument typically reserved for men. Hoang was also a composer and arranger.
In a tribute posted on Facebook, artistic director of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Mark Armanini called Hoang a “standout musician with a standout instrument and a big smile.” He added, “The VICO has lost a true ally, a unique and talented star performer. Our light has dimmed with the passing of Bic Hoang. Thanks for the River of Memories; our gratitude goes out to you.”
The Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society, which has started a GoFundMe fundraiser for Hoang’s family, credits her guidance and support as factors in the organization’s growth and success, calling her an “exemplary artist” and an “irreplaceable mentor and supporter”.
Hoang collaborated widely and performed in 25 countries with groups such as the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Prague Modern ensemble, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, World Traditional Instrument Orchestra (in the Philippines), and Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra (Taiwan). In Vancouver, she performed with the Orchid Ensemble, Uzume Taiko, NOW Orchestra, Vancouver World Music Collective, Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble, and Silk Road Music. She also had her own ensemble, Khac Chi Bamboo Music.
Hoang was married to Khac Chi. A funeral service was held on July 3. 
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