Program Information

 

Viano Quartet, winner of the 13th Banff International String Quartet Competition, has emerged as one of the most exciting quartets on the international stage, with appearances at Lincoln Center, Wigmore Hall, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, and other major venues. Pianist Illia Ovcharenko has earned major international recognition through top prizes at leading competitions and recent acclaim for his recordings, including "Whispers & Thunder," named one of the best classical albums of 2025 by Gramophone. Together, they offer Halifax a chamber music performance that closes Ovcharenko's 2026/27 season as Cecilia Concerts’ Musician-in-Residence.

Full program information for this concert will follow at a later date.

Artist Biographies

 

Lucy Wang, violin

Canadian violinist Lucy Wang is a recipient of the prestigious 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a founding member of the Viano Quartet. Praised for their “virtuosity, visceral expression, and rare unity of intention” (Boston Globe), the quartet rose to international acclaim as First Prize winners of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition and are Bowers Artists at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 2024–2027.

Lucy performs widely across North America, Europe, and Asia, and collaborates with leading artists such as pianists Marc-André Hamelin, Sir Stephen Hough, and Jon Kimura Parker, violinists James Ehnes and Pinchas Zukerman, guitarist Milos Karadaglic, soprano Fleur Barron, mandolinist Avi Avital, and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng. She has performed at renowned venues including London’s Southbank Centre, the Berlin Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall, Dublin's National Concert Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Toronto's Koerner Hall, and Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.

Committed to both core and contemporary repertoire, Lucy regularly collaborates with leading composers including Sir Stephen Hough, Kevin Lau, and Caroline Shaw, and will premiere a new work by Reena Esmail in 2026. She has mentored young artists at institutions such as Music@Menlo, the Colburn Academy, Stanford University, the University of Victoria, Northwestern University, and Duke University.

Her discography includes Voyager (Platoon Records, 2025) and the Portraits (Curtis Studio, 2023), featured on CBC, BBC, and Performance Today. She maintains a vibrant social media presence with 50 million views and 600,000 followers worldwide.

Lucy graduated from the Curtis Institute and the Colburn Conservatory, where she studied with Martin Beaver. She plays on the ca. 1700 Bell Giovanni Tononi violin, generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

 

Hao Zhou, violin

"Personal, impassioned, courageous, and unostentatiously brilliant” (Musical America), American violinist Hao Zhou rose to international acclaim as both the Grand Laureate and Audience Favorite of the 2019 Concours Musical International de Montréal and a First Prize winner of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition. In 2025, he was a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant.

An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Hao made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 12. He made solo appearances with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Downey Symphony Orchestra, and Peninsula Symphony Orchestra alongside conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Alexander Shelley, and Thierry Fischer. Hao is a founding member of the award-winning Viano Quartet, in residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Bowers Program from 2024-2027, and has performed worldwide alongside such internationally distinguished artists as Emanuel Ax, Roberto Diaz, James Ehnes, Noah Bendix-Balgley, and Marc André-Hamelin.

Hao is a recent graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and has been invited to perform at the Kronberg Academy Festival. He was the first recipient of the Frances Rosen Violin Prize at the Colburn Conservatory, where he studied with Martin Beaver and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Hao plays on a 1910 Vincenzo Postiglione violin, on generous loan from Nathan Cole.

 

Aiden Kane, viola

American violist Aiden Kane has performed in North America, Europe, and Asia as a current member of the Viano Quartet, First Prize Laureates of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition and recipients of the 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant.

After leaving violin for the dark side, Aiden first studied viola with Daniel Foster through the National Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Fellowship Program. She subsequently earned a Bachelor’s and two Master’s degrees (in viola performance and chamber music studies, respectively) at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Paul Coletti. During her undergraduate years at Colburn, Aiden discovered her love for quartet life as the violist of the Calla Quartet, which received the Silver medal at the 2015 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition, and presented Colburn’s inaugural Musical Encounters outreach program. Since she joined the Viano Quartet, Viano has won international competitions, weathered a pandemic, moved from one coast to another, studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in the Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet-in-Residence program, and joined the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Bowers Program— and Aiden loves quartet life even more for it all.

When she isn't playing the viola, Aiden enjoys hiking, composing, and keeping an assortment of remarkably self-reliant houseplants.

 

Tate Zawadiuk, cello

Canadian cellist Tate Zawadiuk is known for connecting with audiences through his dynamic and zestful musicianship. He’s a founding member of the Viano Quartet, recipients of the 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant and currently in residence at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Bowers Program (2024-2027). The quartet won first prize at the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition and has performed on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Wigmore Hall, the Berlin Konzerthaus, and Flagey.

As a soloist, Tate has performed with orchestras like the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra. He’s also had the chance to collaborate with incredible musicians like Emanuel Ax, James Ehnes, Marc-André Hamelin, and Johannes Moser.

Whether playing for a crowd of thousands or a small group of chamber music fans, Tate’s focus is always on sharing a story through his music that hopefully resonates with each listener. Tate studied at the Curtis Institute of Music as part of the Nina von Maltzahn String Quartet-in-Residence and earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Colburn Conservatory of Music, where he trained with Clive Greensmith and Ronald Leonard. In his spare time, Tate enjoys running, brewing specialty coffee, and is most likely somewhere trying on a new suit.

 

About Viano Quartet

Praised for their “virtuosity, visceral expression, and rare unity of intention” (Boston Globe), the Viano Quartet has quickly soared to international acclaim as one of the most dynamic and in-demand string quartets of their generation. Winners of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2025, the ensemble has captivated audiences worldwide ever since they were awarded First Prize at the 13th Banff International String Quartet Competition, with appearances at renowned venues such as Lincoln Center in New York, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, Toronto’s Koerner Hall, Hong Kong’s City Hall, and London’s Wigmore Hall. The Viano Quartet are Bowers Program Artists at The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 2024–2027.

Highlights of the Viano Quartet’s 2025–26 season include debut performances at London’s Southbank Centre, the Frick Collection in New York, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, Coast Live Music, Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City, Apex Concerts, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, the Fortas Series at the Kennedy Center, Premiere Performances HK, and a mainstage full recital debut at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The quartet also makes return appearances at Stanford Live, Forte Chamber Music, the Beaches Fine Arts Series, the Buffalo Chamber Music Society’s Slee Series for the second half of their Beethoven cycle, Chamber Music Albuquerque, and the Sanibel Music Festival. The quartet looks forward to visiting residencies this season at Stanford University through the St. Lawrence Legacy Series, the University of Victoria, Music in the Morning in Vancouver, and the Auditorium Chamber Music Series at the University of Idaho. This season also features collaborations with artists including mandolinist Avi Avital, pianist Sir Stephen Hough, pianist Gilbert Kalish, clarinetist Anthony McGill, cellist Zuill Bailey, and singer-songwriter Vienna Teng.

Equally committed to both beloved masterworks and contemporary repertoire, the Viano Quartet actively collaborates with today’s leading composers, including Sir Stephen Hough, Kevin Lau, Chris Rogerson, and Caroline Shaw. They are set to premiere a newly written string quartet by Indian-American composer Reena Esmail in the summer of 2026.

The quartet’s recent discography highlights the ensemble’s range across both traditional and modern repertoire. Their first full-length album Voyager was newly released in summer 2025 with Apple Music/Platoon Records. Inspired by humankind’s enduring spirit of exploration that connects music and people across vast boundaries, the album features Beethoven’s Op. 130 alongside Alistair Coleman’s Moonshot. Their debut EP Portraits was released in 2023 as one of the first albums to be launched on the Curtis Studio label, featuring works by Schubert, Florence Price, Tchaikovsky, and Ginastera.

Passionate about sharing their love for chamber music with the next generation of musicians, the quartet has worked with some of the most talented young artists at the world’s leading universities and music institutions, including Northwestern University, Music@Menlo Chamber Music Institute, Stanford University, the Colburn Academy, and Duke University. They have also collaborated with many of the world’s finest artists, including Emanuel Ax, Inon Barnatan, Fleur Barron, Mahan Esfahani, Marc-André Hamelin, James Ehnes, Bridget Kibbey, Paul Neubauer, David Shifrin, and Pinchas Zukerman.

The Viano Quartet was formed in Los Angeles at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in 2015. Each member of the quartet is grateful for the unwavering support from their mentors at the Curtis Institute and Colburn Conservatory, including members of the Dover, Guarneri, and Tokyo string quartets. The quartet performs on a matched set of instruments by Matteo Goffriller, generously provided by Canimex Inc. of Drummondville, Québec, Canada.

“Viano” is a portmanteau that symbolizes how the four individual instruments of a string quartet, each beginning with the letter “v,” work harmoniously as one, like a piano, creating a unified instrument called the “Viano.”

 

Illia Ovcharenko, piano

When he was 6-years-old and living in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Illia Ovcharenko’s mother took him to hear a performance of Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto. After the concert, Illia told his mother he wanted to be a pianist when he grew up.

Today, Illia Ovcharenko is one of the world’s most celebrated young pianists. Most recently, he won the Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Canada—a competition that seeks to identify the “Complete Artist”—someone who demonstrates technical mastery, perseverance against adversity, and an understanding of musical text that is both intellectual and emotional. Besides winning at the Honens International Piano Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind, Ovcharenko has received prizes at more than 20 competitions throughout the world. These include, in the last four years, top prizes at the Kissinger Sommer “Klavierolymp” in Bad Kissingen, Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, New York International Piano Competition, Hilton Head International Piano Competition, “Prix du Piano” Bern, as well as obtaining the “Michelangeli Prize” of the Eppan Piano Academy.

There wasn’t a lot of music in Illia’s household when he was growing up. Mom is a computer engineer, and Dad is an athlete and coach. But, there was an old upright piano in the corner of the living room, and Illia started plunking away as soon as he could reach the keys. He took singing lessons at 6-years-old, began formal piano studies at 9, and gave his first concert at 12 on the stage of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.

His parents weren’t sure music was a terrific career path, but they encouraged his success. At 13, Illia went to study in Kyiv at a special high school for gifted musicians and later moved to Tel Aviv. He’s currently living in Hannover, Germany, where he’s finishing a master’s program with his longtime mentor, Arie Vardi. At the same time, Illia is a long time recipient at the International Musikakademie Liechtenstein.

For Illia, the piano is a real friend, sometimes filling him with joy, sometimes serving as a painkiller. The piano reveals who he is, to himself and to an audience. He thrives on live performance, feeling as if two souls—his and the composer’s—are united together on stage. He’s most at home playing romantic repertoire. Off the stage, Illia loves athletics (Roger Federer is an idol) and practices origami. In the future, Illia hopes to combine teaching with an international touring career.

He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Deutsche-Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Israel Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, San Antonio Philharmonic, Orchestre National d’Île de France, the Orchestra of La Monnaie, the Toronto Symphony, Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, I Pomerrigi Musicali, Calgary Philharmonic, in recital at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus Berlin, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Bourgie in Montreal, Koerner Hall in Toronto and Salle Cortot in Paris.

Highlights of Ovcharenko’s 2025-26 season include performances at Wigmore Hall in London; Philharmonie de Paris, Klavierfestival “Le Piano Symphonique,” in Lucerne, Switzerland; National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, Poland; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; Konzerthaus Berlin; Nova Scotia Symphony; and Bravo! Vail Music Festival. He will also perform on tour with the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. The season will also see the release of the debut concerto recording on Pentatone label. His latest recital album, Whispers & Thunder, was released on the Steinway label and was named as ‘’One of the Best Classical Albums of 2025’’ by Gramophone Magazine and acclaimed by International Piano as “splendidly executed and smartly programmed” with Ovcharenko’s playing being described as “iron hands cloaked in mink gloves”. His previous solo album Litany, was released on Discauvers; Classique c’est cool praised Ovcharenko’s “very intelligently constructed program,” and the pianist’s “perfectly mastered technique.” The album also received high praise in Diapason and Pianiste magazines.

“I’m so happy when people hear me play and say I brought something new to their life or let them forget about their current troubles,” he says. “Playing the piano is usually a much better way of communicating since there is something intimate involved in this process.”

Frequently Asked Questions

 

How will I receive my tickets?
Electronic tickets are emailed immediately after purchase to the email address used at checkout. Please keep your tickets handy on your smart phone or bring a printed copy with you to the concert so we can scan them at the door. If you do not receive your tickets, please check your spam or junk folder, as ticket emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your order confirmation. If you still cannot find your tickets, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the concert and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you purchased tickets, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert begins at 7:30pm. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to have your ticket scanned, find a seat, and get settled before the performance begins.

Can I arrive late?
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break in the performance, when possible. To avoid disruption to the artists and audience, we recommend arriving before the concert begins.

How long is the concert?
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

What is the seating like?
Tickets are general admission. The Stage at St. Andrew’s has unassigned seating, with chairs on the main floor and pews in the balcony. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bravo Premium subscription holders have reserved access to seating within the first five rows. Please note that the balcony is accessible by stairs only. Wheelchair-accessible seating and companion seating are available on the main floor. If you have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.

Are children welcome?
Yes, children are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is a full-length concert in a traditional concert setting. Families may wish to choose seats close to a door in case a quick exit is needed during the performance.

What should I know about concert etiquette?
If you are new to classical concerts, you are very welcome. We simply ask that audience members help create a quiet and respectful environment for the artists and those around them. Please silence your phone before the concert begins, avoid talking during the performance, and wait for pauses between pieces to move around when possible.

When should I clap?
It is always fine to clap when a full piece has ended. Some longer works have several movements, with short pauses in between, and audiences usually wait until the entire work is finished before applauding. If you are unsure, it is perfectly okay to wait and follow the rest of the audience.

Can I use my phone during the concert?
Please silence your phone before the concert begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, as they can be distracting to artists and audience members.

Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the concert. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the performance.

What accessibility features are available?
The Stage at St. Andrews is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible washrooms with ramp access. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the concert comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances.

Is there parking or public transit nearby?
The Stage at St. Andrews is located on the corner of Robie Street and Coburg Road. There is no parkade at the venue, but street parking is available in the surrounding area. The venue is also located near major South End Halifax Transit routes.

What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect a performance, ticket holders are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded concert update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.

What happens if a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Concert schedule changes are very rare, but storms or other unexpected circumstances may occasionally require us to make adjustments. If a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled, ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible with available options. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to attend the rescheduled concert, receive a credit toward a future Cecilia Concerts performance, request a refund, or convert the value of your ticket into a charitable donation tax receipt.