Vancouver New Music unveils 2026–27 season, featuring artists from around the world
Japan’s Kuniko Kato Quartet opens the lineup as part of the VNM Festival: Open Frequencies, performing the music of Steve Reich
SPONSORED POST BY Vancouver New Music
Kuniko Kato. Photo by Michiyuki Ohba
Vancouver New Music’s 2026–27 season is here, and tickets are now on sale for a remarkable lineup of internationally celebrated artists from Japan, Korea, Egypt, Australia, the United States, and Canada. Bringing together distinct cultural perspectives and singular artistic voices, this season explores experimental performance practices at the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound.
The highly anticipated opening night of the VNM Festival: Open Frequencies at Pacific Spirit United Church on October 22 features Japan’s Kuniko Kato Quartet. As part of its REICH90 North American Tour, the group is performing a special program focused on Steve Reich’s work in celebration of his 90th birthday. Quartet members include Haruka Aoyagi, Karin Tozaki, Koichi Hosono, and Misaki Matsuno.
The VNM Festival continues on October 23 and 24 with internationally acclaimed and emerging artists working at the forefront of experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural sound practices. These include Korean cellist and composer Okkyung Lee; Egyptian-born, Montreal-based vocalist Nadah El Shazly with fellow Montreal-based harpist Sarah Pagé; Salt Spring Island–based violinist Meredith Bates; and Nanaimo-based musician Piu.
On January 23 at Christ Church Cathedral, the season welcomes the return of the One-Page Score Project, Vancouver New Music’s popular community initiative that invites participants to create scores using graphic notation, which will then be performed by Plastic Acid Orchestra. Among other highlights is Australian-American vocalist Charmaine Lee, bringing her distinctive approach to voice and live electronics by crafting intricate, spontaneous sonic environments at The Beaumont Studios on February 20. The evening features an opening performance by Vancouver’s own x/o (Veron Xio), a music producer and multidisciplinary artist.
The eighth edition of the PARALLELS series, featuring Australian-Japanese koto player Miyama McQueen-Tokita and an ensemble of local vocalists from the Nikkei community, takes place at the Annex on March 20. And American sound artist Olivia Block is performing on the city’s largest pipe organ at Pacific Spirit United Church on April 24, with organist, pianist, and continuo player Angelique Po offering a complementary set featuring Iannis Xenakis’s only work for organ.
Tickets for the full 2026–27 season are now on sale. To purchase and learn more, visit Vancouver New Music.
Post sponsored by Vancouver New Music.
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