On the evening of June 13, 2026, The Night is Luminous with Stars: A Special Concert of Chinese Instrumental Music was held at Gateway Theatre in Richmond. The concert served as the closing gala of the 8th Canada International Multicultural Arts Festival, the 2025 Dunhuang Cup Chinese Instrumental Music Competition — North American Division, and the Y.C. Elite Cup International Chinese Instrumental Music Competition.
The event was hosted by the Canada Y.C. Chinese Orchestra Association and co-organized by Canada Y.C. Music Academy and the Canada Y.C. National Orchestra Association.
Chinese instrumental musicians, competition award recipients, arts educators, and distinguished guests from across Canada gathered for the occasion. A large number of students from the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy also took part in the concert. Through their strong technical foundations, artistic sensitivity, and confident stage presence, they presented the audience with an outstanding performance of Chinese instrumental music.
Bringing together artistic exchange, cultural heritage, and the presentation of emerging young talent, the event showcased the distinctive beauty and dynamic vitality of Chinese instrumental music.
Guests from across the community attended the concert and praised its high artistic standard. Many noted that, within Canada’s multicultural society, music serves as an important bridge for cross-cultural exchange. It enables younger generations to develop a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese arts while fostering mutual understanding and friendship among people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
The students of the Canada Y.C. Music Academy Diploma Program received particularly strong praise for their performances. Guests commended their accomplished technique, refined artistic qualities, and confident stage presence, describing them as a vibrant new generation of young musicians committed to learning, preserving, and promoting Chinese instrumental music in North America.
Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for Richmond East—Steveston
Chak Au, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre—Marpole
Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond
Alexa Loo, Richmond City Councillor
Performance Highlights from Students of the Diploma Program
Jiadi Liu — Erhu
Current student in the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Performed:
Capriccio on a Qinqiang Theme — Erhu Solo
Awards:
First Place Overall in the Erhu Category at the 2025 Dunhuang Cup, North American Division
Gold Award in the Erhu Category at the 2025 Y.C. Elite Cup
Jeffrey Ching-Shuen Pai — Erhu
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Performed:
Original Aspiration
Awards:
Silver Award in the Professional Division at the 2025 Dunhuang Cup
Gold Award in the Professional Division at the 2025 Y.C. Elite Cup
Alice Wu — Guzheng
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Rachel Chen — Guzheng
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Lucy Sitong Ling — Guzheng
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Tina Peng — Guzheng
Current student in the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Performed:
Willow Scenery — Guzheng Ensemble
Awards:
Highest Overall Score in the Ensemble Division at the 2025 Dunhuang Cup, North American Division
Gold Award in the Ensemble Division at the 2025 Y.C. Elite Cup
Lucy Sitong Ling — Guzheng
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Alice Wu — Guzheng
Graduate of the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy
Performed:
Blooming Rain Lotus
Awards:
First Place in the Professional Guzheng Category at the 2025 Dunhuang Cup, North American Division
Gold Award in the Professional Guzheng Category at the 2025 Y.C. Elite Cup
Award-Winning Diploma Program Students
The following students from the Diploma Program at Canada Y.C. Music Academy received awards at the 2025 Dunhuang Cup and the 2025 Y.C. Elite Cup:
Gold Award
| Student | Competition Category | Award |
| Jinyuan Ping | Professional Erhu Group A | Gold Award |
| Lucy Sitong Ling | Professional Guzheng Group B | Gold Award |
| Hing Tung Kong | Children’s Erhu Group C | Gold Award |
| Jiadi Liu | Children’s Erhu Group C | Gold Award |
| Zhe Su | Professional Erhu Group B | Gold Award |
| Yuqi Peng | Children’s Guzheng Group B | Gold Award |
| Alice Wu | Ensemble Division | Gold Award |
| Rachel Chen | Adult Guzheng Group A | Gold Award |
Silver Award
| Student | Competition Category | Award |
| Jeffrey Pai | Professional Erhu Group B | Silver Award |
| Anthony Tam | Professional Erhu Group A | Silver Award |
| Claire Zhang | Children’s Guzheng Group C | Silver Award |
| Lihan Jin | Children’s Guzheng Group B | Silver Award |
| Lien Jin | Children’s Erhu Group B | Silver Award |
Bronze Award
| Student | Competition Category | Award |
| Yufei Chu | Children’s Guzheng Group C | Bronze Award |
| Zhiyuan Chen | Professional Erhu Group B | Bronze Award |
| Zhujun Ma | Professional Erhu Group B | Bronze Award |
| Yihan Zhang | Children’s Guzheng Group C | Bronze Award |
Creative Award
| Student | Competition Category | Award |
| Zoey Wanamaker | Children’s Erhu Group B | Creative Award |
The highest overall score in the Ensemble Division of the 2025 Dunhuang Cup, North American Division, was awarded to Tina Peng, Rachel Chen, Lucy Sitong Ling, and Alice Wu.
The award was presented by Professor Zhongcai Yang, Chair of the Organizing Committee and President of the Dunhuang Cup North American Division; Zhimin Yu, an adjudicator for the 2025 Dunhuang Cup North American Division; and Chak Au, Member of Parliament for Richmond Centre—Marpole.
Jiadi Liu received the highest overall score in the Erhu Category of the 2025 Dunhuang Cup, North American Division.
The award was presented by Professor Zhongcai Yang, Chair of the Organizing Committee and President of the Dunhuang Cup North American Division, and Jeff Guo, Special Assistant to Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for Richmond East—Steveston.
This concert not only provided students of the Canada Y.C. Music Academy Diploma Program with an opportunity to shine on an international stage, but also demonstrated the Academy’s significant achievements in cultivating high-calibre performers of Chinese instrumental music.
For many years, Canada Y.C. Music Academy has remained committed to an educational philosophy centred on internationalization, professional excellence, and cultural diversity. The Academy continues to develop and introduce to the world outstanding Chinese instrumental musicians with strong professional foundations, broad international perspectives, and the ability to communicate across cultures.
Through music education, professional stage experience, and international cultural exchange, the Academy has advanced the preservation and global promotion of Chinese instrumental music. It has also made a meaningful contribution to mutual understanding, dialogue, and inclusion among different cultures and communities.
Looking ahead, Canada Y.C. Music Academy will continue to connect the world through music, create opportunities for more young artists to enter the international stage, and support Chinese instrumental music as it shines with increasing brilliance before global audiences.