A Dorothy Chang premiere unites the seasoned and emerging players of Vetta’s Mentorship Orchestra, March 6 to 9
At a concert called A Look to the Future, the piece shares a program with works by John Rutter, Jocelyn Morlock, and Tchaikovsky
Dorothy Chang
Vetta Chamber Music presents A Look to the Future on March 6 at West Point Grey United Church, March 7 at West Vancouver United Church, March 8 at Pyatt Hall, and March 9 at ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island
THIS SEASON IS Vetta Chamber Music’s 40th, and as part of the celebrations, the organization has a world premiere up its sleeve.
Vetta has commissioned a new piece by Dorothy Chang called in this brief moment together, which its Mentorship Orchestra will play during a concert called A Look to the Future, from March 6 to 9. Born in Illinois in 1970 to parents of Chinese heritage, Chang grew up immersed in Western music as a pianist and later studied composition at the University of Michigan and the Indiana University School of Music. It wasn’t until 2003 that she published her first piece revolving around traditional Chinese instruments, Embers, for dizi (bamboo flute), erhu (two-string violin), zheng (plucked zither), and percussion.
Nowadays, Chang is based in Vancouver, and her compositions seamlessly blend Western music and Chinese influences. Though in this brief moment together is written for a standard string orchestra, we’re certain that the long-time UBC music professor has crafted a work that will draw on influences from her cultural background, while spotlighting both a new generation of musicians and seasoned professionals.
John Rutter’s Suite for String Orchestra, a piece rooted in traditional folk songs, will accompany Chang’s commission at A Look to the Future. The program also includes the contemplative, ethereal work Solace for String Orchestra by the late Juno Award–winning Vancouver composer Jocelyn Morlock; and Tchaikovsky’s famed Serenade for Strings in C major, which makes for an emotional culmination.
The Vetta Chamber Players Mentorship Orchestra will perform A Look to the Future at four venues: West Point Grey United Church, West Vancouver United Church, and Pyatt Hall here on the mainland, plus ArtSpring on Salt Spring Island. 
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