A dark blue poster advertises "Midsummer Mix Tape" by VICO, featuring four women in the foreground and event details in the background.

The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Society

**Context Profile for The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Society**

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Society (VICO) is dedicated to creating and performing music that bridges cultural boundaries. Their mission is to foster understanding and appreciation of diverse musical traditions by bringing together musicians and composers from various cultural backgrounds. VICO aims to promote intercultural dialogue and collaboration through music, contributing to a more inclusive and harmonious society.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - **Concerts and Performances:** VICO organizes concerts that showcase a fusion of different musical traditions, often featuring collaborations between local and international artists.
   - **Workshops and Educational Programs:** The organization conducts workshops and educational initiatives to engage the community and educate audiences about intercultural music.
   - **Community Engagement:** VICO actively participates in community events to promote cultural diversity and inclusion through music.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of VICO's communications is **inspiring** and **inclusive**, aiming to foster a sense of community and shared cultural appreciation. The language is often **professional** yet **welcoming**, reflecting their commitment to cultural dialogue and collaboration.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization does not prominently use emojis in their official communications. Their focus is on maintaining a professional and respectful tone that aligns with their mission of cultural inclusivity and education.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Info:** VICO is a relatively new organization, emphasizing its innovative approach to intercultural music.
   - **Scale and Impact:** While specific impact metrics are not detailed, the organization highlights its role in bridging cultural gaps through music and its efforts in community engagement.
   - **Volunteer Info:** Opportunities for volunteers may exist, particularly in supporting events and educational programs, though specific details are not extensively covered on the website.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Style:** Use clear and articulate language that conveys respect and appreciation for cultural diversity. Avoid overly casual expressions to maintain a professional tone.
   - **Content Focus:** Emphasize the themes of cultural collaboration, inclusivity, and the transformative power of music. Highlight the unique aspects of their intercultural performances and educational initiatives.
   - **Audience Engagement:** Encourage community participation and support by highlighting the benefits of cultural exchange and the enriching experience of VICO's events.

This context profile is designed to guide AI assistants in generating content that aligns with the values and mission of The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Society, ensuring that communications are consistent with the organization's goals and tone.

General Admission - Adult

General Admission - Student / Senior

Midsummer Mix Tape weaves together songs from Chinese, Persian, Balkan, Celtic, and M&eacute;tis cultures into a fresh, uniquely Canadian tapestry of sound.&nbsp; The programme explores the concept of freedom&nbsp;and the many ways in which this can be felt, represented, and sung across musical cultures. Vocalists D&#39;arcy Han (ZiZi),&nbsp;Shireen Nabatian, Kathleen Nisbet and Amy Stephen will each perform a colourful selection of folk/pop/contemporary songs arranged specially for this concert, accompanied by a unique instrumental ensemble featuring Molly MacKinnon (violin), Laine Longton (cello), Dai Lin Hsieh (zheng), Mike Brown (bass clarinet), Saina Khaledi&nbsp;(santour), Amy Stephen (accordion/harp), and Jonathan Bernard (percussion).&nbsp; This concert - a collaboration between The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra&nbsp;(VICO) and Little Chamber Music - promises a beautiful evening of intercultural music: the perfect playlist for a summer evening in Surrey. Join us on this beautiful musical adventure! *******The VICO respectfully acknowledges that this concert takes place on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish people, in particular ncluding the Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nations. We also extend grateful thanks to the following funders and community partners, whose support is crucial to this project: The Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of BC (Community Gaming), and the City of Surrey. ******BACKGROUND - About the Presenters &amp; Featured Artists D&rsquo;arcy Han (ZiZi)Beijing born, Vancouver raised D&rsquo;arcy Han has been singing and performing since she made her vocal debut on Chinese national TV at the age of 7. As a vocalist and artist, she performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and toured the USA, Europe, and Asia with her many music projects. In 2017, D&rsquo;arcy appeared on Sing! China (&ldquo;The Voice&rdquo;) with an international audience of over 400 million. The program vaulted this Canadian singer/songwriter to celebrity status. This was followed up by special performances and appearances at national television events including the Chinese Spring Gala show, the Miss World 2017 Final, the Silk Road International Film Festival, the Strawberry Music Festival and China International Fashion Week, and more. In 2018, her debut EP This is Me, reached #4 on the BBC Soul Charts, and is still peaking on Spotify and other online mediums. From stadiums to intimate stages, D&rsquo;arcy captivates with what critics describe as a uniquely charming voice paired with an unmatched classiness in personal style and stage presence. An honorary member of the Canadian Association of Songwriters, D&rsquo;arcy co-writes, produces and collaborates with songwriters/producers, artists, and performers from both North America and Asia. She is a cultural ambassador, committed to bridging people through music, acting and performances. &nbsp; Shireen Nabatian&nbsp;Shireen Nabatian is a Canadian-Iranian vocalist, violinist, and PhD candidate in cross-cultural musicology at University of California, Santa Cruz. Her dissertation research is about traditional music education, the legacies of nationalism, community, and belonging at summer music camps in California, T&uuml;rkiye, and Crete. Her MA thesis was on contemporary practices in Persian dance and is now published in Anthony Shay&#39;s edited volume, Dance in the Persianate World. Shireen has spoken at several international conferences and has taught courses such as Music of the Silk Road and Pedagogy of Music. She has performed with groups in British Columbia, Washington, and California, as well as Albania and T&uuml;rkiye. In Santa Cruz, she leads the Balkan folk dance band EZGIJA, and she is advising the new UCSC Balkan Student Ensemble. Kathleen NisbetKathleen Nisbet is a fiddle player and singer from Vancouver, BC Canada. Classically trained at the Vancouver Academy of Music, she returned to her M&eacute;tis roots, pursuing more traditional fiddle music. Since then she has worked with artists in a variety of genres. A collaborator and regular accompanist with Compaigni v&#39;ni dansi M&eacute;tis traditional dance, she also has composed music for independent modern dance. Recent theatre credits include A Christmas Carol with Pacific Theatre and Salmon Row with Mortal Coil. Kathleen is an active member of Vancouver&#39;s thriving bluegrass and folk scene, &nbsp;performing and touring regularly with her band Viper Central with whom she has recorded three albums. She has toured with Vancouver bands, The Fugitives and CR Avery and has made guest appearances with Hedley, Fred Eaglesmith, The Belle Game, and The Vicious Cycles to name a few. She works regularly as a studio musician and has numerous studio recording credits. She is a teacher at Saint James Music Academy where Downtown Eastside kids are provided free music lessons. Amy StephenBorn in 1967 in Edmonton, Alberta, Amy Stephen grew up in Vancouver, BC and now resides in Coquitlam. Amy was a founding member of internationally-acclaimed celtic funk ensemble &lsquo;Mad Pudding&rsquo; and is currently a member of Vancouver&rsquo;s World Music Collective. She writes and performs cultural fusion music with her husband, Persian vocalist Amir Haghighi, and is a popular studio musician and performer around Vancouver, playing piano, accordion, celtic harp and penny whistle.&nbsp;The founder and director of Vancouver&rsquo;s Aurora Celebration Choir and the Coquitlam Celebration Choir, Amy obtained a B.Mus. and a B.Ed. from UBC, studying conducting with James Fankhauser, and sang with the University Singers and the University Chamber Singers. Since then, she has sung with various groups around Vancouver, including the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the Vancouver Cantata Singers and Musica Intima.&nbsp; The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO),&nbsp;founded in 2001, is a contemporary classical music ensemble - one of the world&#39;s first concert orchestras devoted specifically to performing new intercultural music on a grand scale. It is currently the only professional ensemble of its kind in Canada. The ensemble includes Western strings and winds (violin, viola, cello, contrabass, oboe, flute, clarinet) alongside Chinese erhu, pipa, sanxian, zheng, and sheng/suona; Persian kamanche, tar/setar, oud, and tombak; percussion from many world music traditions; and a variety of other instruments as required. Through composition, performance and educational outreach to both music professionals and the general public, the VICO supports the development of BC composers and musicians of diverse backgrounds (including Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Indian, Persian (Iranian), Latin and South American, Vietnamese, North American and European). Since repertoire for the VICO&rsquo;s novel instrumentation does not already exist, creating new works (150+ new Canadian compositions since 2001, and counting!) is an integral component of all our programming - providing a framework for bringing musicians and composers together to learn from each other, in a uniquely collaborative process. The VICO&rsquo;s programming includes standalone concerts and our biannual Global Soundscapes Festival; public educational events; a biannual Summer Academy, professional development workshops for established and emerging musicians and composers; the creation and distribution of educational materials (video, audio, text) via the web; outreach and collaboration with other artists and organisations in the contemporary and world music scenes of Vancouver, Canada, Europe and Asia; and more. <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.vi-co.org" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.vi-co.org</a>&nbsp; ******

Hi <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip" fr-original-style="" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 196); overflow-wrap: anywhere; user-select: none; background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; margin: 0px; padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; box-sizing: inherit;">First name, Thank you so much for buying tickets to see our concert MIDSUMMER MIX TAPE on August 21st - we can&#39;t wait to see you there! Kind regards,~ The VICO team &amp; musicians

Midsummer Mix Tape weaves together songs from Chinese, Persian, Balkan, Celtic, and Métis cultures into a fresh, uniquely Canadian tapestry of sound.  The programme explores the concept of freedom and the many ways in which this can be felt, represented, and sung across musical cultures. Vocalists D'arcy Han (ZiZi), Shireen Nabatian, Kathleen Nisbet and Amy Stephen will each perform a colourful selection of folk/pop/contemporary songs arranged specially for this concert, accompanied by a unique instrumental ensemble featuring Molly MacKinnon (violin), Laine Longton (cello), Dai Lin Hsieh (zheng), Mike Brown (bass clarinet), Saina Khaledi (santour), Amy Stephen (accordion/harp), and Jonathan Bernard (percussion).  This concert - a collaboration between The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO) and Little Chamber Music - promises a beautiful evening of intercultural music: the perfect playlist for a summer evening in Surrey. Join us on this beautiful musical adventure! *******The VICO respectfully acknowledges that this concert takes place on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish people, in particular ncluding the Katzie, Kwantlen and Semiahmoo First Nations. We also extend grateful thanks to the following funders and community partners, whose support is crucial to this project: The Canada Council for the Arts, the Province of BC (Community Gaming), and the City of Surrey. ******BACKGROUND - About the Presenters &amp; Featured Artists D’arcy Han (ZiZi)Beijing born, Vancouver raised D’arcy Han has been singing and performing since she made her vocal debut on Chinese national TV at the age of 7. As a vocalist and artist, she performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and toured the USA, Europe, and Asia with her many music projects. In 2017, D’arcy appeared on Sing! China (“The Voice”) with an international audience of over 400 million. The program vaulted this Canadian singer/songwriter to celebrity status. This was followed up by special performances and appearances at national television events including the Chinese Spring Gala show, the Miss World 2017 Final, the Silk Road International Film Festival, the Strawberry Music Festival and China International Fashion Week, and more. In 2018, her debut EP This is Me, reached #4 on the BBC Soul Charts, and is still peaking on Spotify and other online mediums. From stadiums to intimate stages, D’arcy captivates with what critics describe as a uniquely charming voice paired with an unmatched classiness in personal style and stage presence. An honorary member of the Canadian Association of Songwriters, D’arcy co-writes, produces and collaborates with songwriters/producers, artists, and performers from both North America and Asia. She is a cultural ambassador, committed to bridging people through music, acting and performances.   Shireen Nabatian Shireen Nabatian is a Canadian-Iranian vocalist, violinist, and PhD candidate in cross-cultural musicology at University of California, Santa Cruz. Her dissertation research is about traditional music education, the legacies of nationalism, community, and belonging at summer music camps in California, Türkiye, and Crete. Her MA thesis was on contemporary practices in Persian dance and is now published in Anthony Shay's edited volume, Dance in the Persianate World. Shireen has spoken at several international conferences and has taught courses such as Music of the Silk Road and Pedagogy of Music. She has performed with groups in British Columbia, Washington, and California, as well as Albania and Türkiye. In Santa Cruz, she leads the Balkan folk dance band EZGIJA, and she is advising the new UCSC Balkan Student Ensemble. Kathleen NisbetKathleen Nisbet is a fiddle player and singer from Vancouver, BC Canada. Classically trained at the Vancouver Academy of Music, she returned to her Métis roots, pursuing more traditional fiddle music. Since then she has worked with artists in a variety of genres. A collaborator and regular accompanist with Compaigni v'ni dansi Métis traditional dance, she also has composed music for independent modern dance. Recent theatre credits include A Christmas Carol with Pacific Theatre and Salmon Row with Mortal Coil. Kathleen is an active member of Vancouver's thriving bluegrass and folk scene,  performing and touring regularly with her band Viper Central with whom she has recorded three albums. She has toured with Vancouver bands, The Fugitives and CR Avery and has made guest appearances with Hedley, Fred Eaglesmith, The Belle Game, and The Vicious Cycles to name a few. She works regularly as a studio musician and has numerous studio recording credits. She is a teacher at Saint James Music Academy where Downtown Eastside kids are provided free music lessons. Amy StephenBorn in 1967 in Edmonton, Alberta, Amy Stephen grew up in Vancouver, BC and now resides in Coquitlam. Amy was a founding member of internationally-acclaimed celtic funk ensemble ‘Mad Pudding’ and is currently a member of Vancouver’s World Music Collective. She writes and performs cultural fusion music with her husband, Persian vocalist Amir Haghighi, and is a popular studio musician and performer around Vancouver, playing piano, accordion, celtic harp and penny whistle. The founder and director of Vancouver’s Aurora Celebration Choir and the Coquitlam Celebration Choir, Amy obtained a B.Mus. and a B.Ed. from UBC, studying conducting with James Fankhauser, and sang with the University Singers and the University Chamber Singers. Since then, she has sung with various groups around Vancouver, including the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the Vancouver Cantata Singers and Musica Intima.  The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO), founded in 2001, is a contemporary classical music ensemble - one of the world's first concert orchestras devoted specifically to performing new intercultural music on a grand scale. It is currently the only professional ensemble of its kind in Canada. The ensemble includes Western strings and winds (violin, viola, cello, contrabass, oboe, flute, clarinet) alongside Chinese erhu, pipa, sanxian, zheng, and sheng/suona; Persian kamanche, tar/setar, oud, and tombak; percussion from many world music traditions; and a variety of other instruments as required. Through composition, performance and educational outreach to both music professionals and the general public, the VICO supports the development of BC composers and musicians of diverse backgrounds (including Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Indian, Persian (Iranian), Latin and South American, Vietnamese, North American and European). Since repertoire for the VICO’s novel instrumentation does not already exist, creating new works (150+ new Canadian compositions since 2001, and counting!) is an integral component of all our programming - providing a framework for bringing musicians and composers together to learn from each other, in a uniquely collaborative process. The VICO’s programming includes standalone concerts and our biannual Global Soundscapes Festival; public educational events; a biannual Summer Academy, professional development workshops for established and emerging musicians and composers; the creation and distribution of educational materials (video, audio, text) via the web; outreach and collaboration with other artists and organisations in the contemporary and world music scenes of Vancouver, Canada, Europe and Asia; and more. <a href="https://www.vi-co.org" target="_blank">https://www.vi-co.org</a>  ******

The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra Society

Midsummer Mix Tape

14219 88 Ave

General Admission - Adult

$25

General Admission - Student / Senior

$20