Kevin Chen

Pianist Kevin Chen has attracted much well-deserved attention in his 14 years. CBC listed him as one of the “Top 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30” in 2013. Kevin completed his ARCT (Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto) diploma with distinction at the age of eight. He placed third in the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal Competition in 2015 and first in the Canadian Music Competition in 2013. He has performed with the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Vancouver Island Symphony, Okanagan Symphony and Edmonton Symphony. Besides performing, he has composed more than 100 works, including four full symphonies. He studies with Marilyn Engle in Calgary.

The Dime Notes

The Dime Notes revisit the blues-drenched sounds of 1920s New Orleans Jazz with its distinctive propulsive grooves and sultry melodies. The band originated in London when American pianist Andrew Oliver met David Horniblow at a gig. They started playing Jelly Roll Morton tunes and then unearthed a treasure of 1920s gems. The duo expanded with the addition of rhythm guitarist Dave Kelbie and bassist Louis Thomas. With this added depth, the band has enjoyed great popularity at clubs and swing dances in London. They have toured extensively in the UK and Europe. With Scottish bean-to-bar chocolate company, IQ Choc, they launched a Dime Notes signature Espresso-Kick chocolate bar.

Andrew Sords Trio

This youthful international trio, American violinist Andrew Sords, Australian cellist Luke Severn and Canadian pianist Cheryl Duvall, first performed in Ontario and Quebec. This year, they focus on two of Beethoven’s most epic works for this instrumental combination: the foreboding C minor Trio, written by a 24-year-old Beethoven; and the profound “Archduke” Trio, the performance of which was Beethoven’s last public appearance as a pianist. Their program will also include a Hungarian Dance by Brahms, Ravel’s take on Hungarian themes, and a work by the trio’s cellist, ". . .when the world was young." Three solo artists, who collectively have appeared on five continents in hundreds of venues, will join forces to create musical magic in Kelowna

Janina Fialkowska

One of the "Grandes Dames of piano playing," Janina Fialkowska has enchanted audiences for more than 40 years with her unique sound and musical integrity. A Montreal native, she studied in Paris, New York at the Julliard School and was mentored by the legendary Arthur Rubinstein after her prize-winning performance at his inaugural Master Piano Competition. She has performed with orchestras worldwide under the baton of the world’s leading conductors. An Officer of the Order of Canada, she was awarded the Governor General’s 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award and holds three honorary doctorates. A tour in celebration of her 65th birthday in 2016 included appearances in England, Europe, Japan and Canada.

Axiom Brass

Chicago-based Axiom Brass has established itself as a major force in brass chamber music. Praised for their high level of musicality and technical ability, Axiom has won major chamber music competitions, including the Preis der Europe-Stadt Passau in Germany, the Jeju City International Brass Quintet Competition in South Korea and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in Indiana. In addition to performing, Axiom is committed to enhancing the musical life of communities and educating the next generation of musicians. Their ground-breaking programming, which includes jazz and Latin music, string quartet transcriptions and original compositions, has captured the imaginations of audiences in North America, Europe and Asia.