MEET THE MUSICIANS

PIANO/CELESTA IRENE FLORENCE WONG

Two-time national Canadian champion, pianist Irene Florence Wong has won the Canadian Chopin Competition, Yamaha Grand Prize, and the Mississauga Arts Council's “Emerging Music Talent” Award. Recent tours span Japan (New Juilliard Ensemble), Taiwan, Korea and China (Sejong Soloists with special guest Gil Shaham), and various provinces of Sweden (Musical Seasons Quartet).  NYC performances included Carnegie Stern Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Columbia Miller Theater, Hungarian and Polish Consulates, Steinway Hall, and Yamaha Salon.  Live broadcasts for Hungarian Television, WQXR 96.3 FM, CBC radios 1 and 2, CJRT-FM, Bravo!TV, and Rogers Cable10.

Ms. Wong has performed as soloist with members of l'Orchestre Metropolitan de Montreal, as well as the Abbotsford, Mississauga, Barrie, UWO and UBC symphonies.  As the former executive director of the NYC-based ART Symphony and artistic director of the Nyack-based Soiree Virtuosi, she participated in both their world debuts as both soloist and member of the chamber ensembles.  Return participant in Juilliard’s Early Music Residency hosted by William Christie and his acclaimed European baroque ensemble, Les Arts Florissants, as well as Juilliard's Chamberfest and contemporary Axiom Ensemble.  Founding member of baroque ensemble Musica Sequenza, directed by Turkish bassoonist, Burak Ozdemir; performs regularly in Westchester county as Riley-Wong duo with St. Louis violinist, Sean Riley.

Ms. Wong awaits completion of a double Masters from Juilliard in Piano and Harpsichord, a student of Seymour Lipkin and Lionel Party.