I was privileged to sit with two famous and very interesting Canadian musicians at separate, but wonderful, events in late November.
The first was violinist Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, winner of prestigious international awards and a busy performer. Susanne’s talent has been acclaimed by musician Yehudi Menuhin as “absolutely phenomenal”.
In November, Susanne was one of three outstanding individuals who received the Professional Achievement Award at a gala in Markham, Ontario. (More on this event and awardees later.)
The other performer was Liona Boyd, a critically acclaimed classical guitarist whom you met on my blog earlier.
Liona has released more than 20 CDs of her music over the years and has been performing across Canada in 2017.
She was back in Toronto for an author reading and an afternoon tea celebrating her new memoir and CD ( both titled “No Remedy for Love”).
The reading was held by the Verity Book Club. The afternoon tea was hosted by two remarkable women, Isabel Bassett (consultant, former government minister and network TV boss) and Nancy Coldham (women’s advocate and founding member of Toronto’s Verity Club) and organized by Marilyn Mirabelli.
Despite a hectic schedule, Liona was fresh, funny and inspiring.
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Back to the gala, now, where my husband and I were pleased to be guests of CPAC (formerly known as the Chinese Professionals Association of Canada).
Executive director Andi Shi has invited us to this important event every year, but I was in no shape to attend. This year, I was determined!
At our dinner-table was award-winner Dr. Ming Li, a researcher, university professor and co-author of a book on “Kolmogorov Complexity”. He explained his work to us – simply, thank goodness – and told us about the randomness of things like lottery-winning numbers.
Across the table from us were awardee Alissa Wang and her proud parents.
Alissa is a law student and Ph.D candidate with many achievements in her relatively young life. One of them is a research and educational project on Asia’s WW2 history.
To our right were violinist Susanne Hou and her friend Frank — delightful dinner-companions. Susanne explained that her international performance schedule is demanding and trips back home have become more and more rare.
CPAC is a vibrant non-profit organization based in Toronto, with 30-thousand members across Canada. It helps internationally trained professionals in several areas: recognition of their credentials; cultural integration; career and business advancement in Canada and globally.
Bravo, awardees. Bravo CPAC!
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Photos 6, 8, 10, 11 from CPAC
Cynthia Reyes 
Cynthia , a very lovely commentary about your wonderful peregrinations and the very wonderful people you meet along the way. I will share your blogpost with Isabel and Liona soon. You are a wonderful friend indeed! And my teachers would NOT be pleased. I have used ‘wonderful’ four times in one para. Oh well ……
OK, here goes: What a wonderful reply from a wonderful friend, stated in such a wonderful way! (Darn, that’s only 3 wonderfuls…)
Wonderful!
Thank you.
Hobnobbing with the great and good! Well done to all these hard-working people!
I love that word — hobnobbing. Haven’t heard it in ages. And my friend Marilyn used the word peregrinations which I also love. Two great words.
I love words too, but I find them very elusive – the word I want disappears from my mind just as I need it!
I’m so glad I’m not the only one! (Ooops – sorry, but misery loves company!)
Hehe!
Thank you, Cynthia, for reminding us of, and introducing us to some beautifully gifted Canadians–including you and your husband. 🙂
Blessings ~ Wendy
Aww, you are so kind, Wendy. Bless you. I’m thrilled to shine a light on others.
Lovely to meet some more wonderful Canadians. Lovely to see that Liona chose purple tones for her books, too. 😉
It’s a purple world! Thanks, Gallivanta. They really are wonderful achievers and I’m glad to tell my blogging community about them. (Especially musicians – since the only instrument I play is the radio!)
LOL, it’s seems we both have same instrumental skill.
haha!
A great event
Yes it was, Derrick. Thanks for commenting.
Oh, my! This country mouse is in awe of you and this event.
I’m in awe of myself for going to both these events. But there comes a point when a person has to get up and out in support of others.
Yes, yes!
Such a fabulous post, Cynthia! Thanks for sharing the cheer with us! 🙂
You are welcome, Natalie. And thank you!
It is great that peoples talents are recognised.
It sure is. I’m happy for them all.
Cynthia , This is very stunning, accomplishment with such wonderful presentation…BRAVO!!
Thank you, Mihran, for your generous comment. I appreciate it.
That is awesome. You must have connections my friend. Your published materials inspire me. Would mean the world to me if you came to my blog and shared your thoughts on my new short called The Writers Block. Hope to see you there
Thank you!
Sounds like a great evening amongst some talented, fascinating people. 🙂
It really was, and I was grateful to be there. In my pre-accident years, such events were quite normal and frequent, and I was often the one being honoured. I attend so few these days that each one and each person I spend time with make an impression. I’m happy for their achievements and glad that the spotlight is being shone on them.
You’ve been rubbing shoulders with some very interesting and accomplished people Cynthia, but then you’ll fit right in!
It used to be very much a way of life for me pre-accident, Andrea. I won so many awards for my work and got invited to so many big galas that I can hardly believe it now, in these post-accident years. Now, even going out for the evening and sitting with people at dinner is a very rare thing and a big deal for me. And I find it an absolute relief to be there to celebrate and support others when I can. It means I can focus all my attention on others, and that’s a gratifying thing.
What a wonderful event full of talented people, including you! So glad you were a part of it again this year!
Me too, Lavinia! I so rarely attend evening events — the thought of sitting that long is already painful — but I’m very glad I was able to attend these two.
Wow….I’m intimidated just reading about these people. What talent and so glad you were able to make it to the events! What an honor.
And they’d be intimidated by your own talents and achievements, Tina.
Sounds like a super event .. how wonderful to be there, seated and in the company of such talent .. you included!
Thanks, Julie. I’m so glad to cheer them on.
You were in good company, Cynthia. How much fun – and inspiring – that evening must have been!