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Thursday, July 1
Happy Canada Day! Joceylyn Petit... Scottish-Chinese-Canadian fiddle player!
by
Todd
on Thu 01 Jul 2010 02:15 PM PDT
Happy Canada Day!
I
am listening to the cd music of 15 year old
half-Chinese/half-Scottish 100% Canadian fiddle player Jocelyn
Pettit. Perfect for the recognition of Pioneer Chinese
and Scots who helped to build British Columbia.
I had the pleasure of meeting Jocelyn and her mother Siew, at the BC Highland Games last Saturday. I had written: Hello Jocelyn
and Siew. I am really enjoying listening to Jocelyn's cd. I can
remembering
hearing some good fiddle music at the games, looked over at the stage,
but
didn't see my Blackthorn friends... but a small trio or so. I love
the
sound on the cd. I cranked it up in the car.
Great that you have been on CBC Early Edition with Rick Cluff.
But I
think Sheryl McKay's North By Northwest - would be perfect for you.
I have
played my accordion with Blackthorn, and the Chinese-fusion group Silk
Road
Music Ensemble. Hopefully one day, we can have you perform at my Gung
Haggis
Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
We have spun off a CBC
Television performance special back in 2004, and I hope that it can be
expanded for the future. I can be seen playing my accordion in the CBC
TV
documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy - about my
great-great-grandfather
and the contributions that his subsequent descendants have made to
society. I
would like to purchase additional cd's to give out as gifts. I
will write
up a review of the cd within the week. Please let me know when you are
playing
in the Vancouver area, and I will blog the events.
Cheers, Todd Wong
Her father replied: Hello Todd,
Thank you very much for your very nice
message. We really appreciate your kind words! I wish I had the
chance to meet you at the recent BC Highland Games and Scottish
Festival, as my
daughter, Jocelyn, and wife, Siew, were delighted to talk with you. You
have accomplished great achievements with your music performances, work
with
CBC, and special events production! Bravo for such fascinating and
remarkable work! We are keen to know more and participate!
Thank you for enjoying our music at the
BC Highland
Games & Scottish Festival, as well as on our recent debut CD. At
the
Games, we performed a short set and came ready for much more, in case
time
allowed. We were excited to perform with our newly-joined pipes player
(small/bellow pipes), and we had our guitar player as well (but no cello
player
for this show). The CD shows the diversity and versatility of Jocelyn's
music. Her original compositions are complex and beautifully layered in
sound texture, her arrangements of contemporary and traditional tunes
are fresh
and delightful, and her choice of tunes and melodies is interesting and
engaging. Of course, I am a very proud dad, but far beyond my word, she
is
widely receiving praise for her ideas, innovation, and skills
(especially for
her young age).
Thank you for the ideas you have
mentioned -
preceding our (sold-out) North Vancouver CD Release Concert (Shaw
Theatre),
Sheryl McKay was kind enough to play Jocelyn's "Morning Glory" on her
show. It was very much appreciated - Jocelyn is committed to making
music
her career, and along the way we learn of the many career-path
challenges (such as gaining recognition and opportunities, with
predominantly instrumental world/folk music). Definitely, thank you for
your ideas!
Thank you for writing up a review of
our
CD! That is really excellent! We are very appreciative of the word
getting out there, of Jocelyn's music and her music gift of exceptional
talent.
We hope to see you soon!
Cheers,
Friday, January 29
Program revealed for this Sunday's 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
by
Todd
on Fri 29 Jan 2010 11:41 PM PST
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinners always emphasize BC's cultural and historical past and present. While we acknowledge the Scottish and Chinese pioneers that helped to shape this province of British Columbia, we also look to see where we are going and what kind of cultural fusion is happening. This year's program is amazing..... pictures + descriptions more »
Thursday, January 28
Lan Tung erhu virtuoso is bringing her trio Birds of Paradox to Gung Haggis Fat Choy
by
Todd
on Thu 28 Jan 2010 12:08 PM PST
Ron Samworth, Lan Tung and Nealamjit Dhillon make up the cultural fusion trio of Birds of Paradox . Lan Tung is a fantastic virtuoso erhu player who has recently toured across Europe and was just in Halifax with Symphony Nova Scotia for a January 7th concert of new music. + PICTURES + MORE more »
Wednesday, January 27
Google News Alert for "Gung Haggis Fat Choy"
by
Todd
on Wed 27 Jan 2010 12:44 PM PST
Every year I do media interviews. On Robbie Burns Day, I was woken up at 7am by a request from BBC Radio Scotland. Yesterday, I did an interview for French CBC television. Monday was Epoch Times. Last week the Georgia Straight did a food feature article. Somewhere in Scotland there is an interview in the Sunday Post. Even SFU, Seattle and North Shore News have stories about Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner this year. Check out the links: more »
Saturday, January 9
Todd Wong goes electric guitar
by
Todd
on Sat 09 Jan 2010 12:16 PM PST
But I had left my music stand behind. So on January 2nd, Deb and I returned to the house and found ourselves at another music night - but without my accordion. Carol offered me her red electric guitar without even asking if I could play guitar - even before offering me the keyboard in the corner + pictures more »
Thursday, December 31
2009 Year of Gung Haggis Fat Choy from Royal BC Museum in Victoria to Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh
by
Todd
on Thu 31 Dec 2009 01:42 PM PST
2009 featured photos in exhibits at Royal BC Museum and Scottish Parliament. Other highlights included the inaugural writer in residence program at Historic Joy Kogawa House, and Todd Wong's first visit to Scotland for the finale weekend of Homecoming Year. And there was the 250th anniversary of poet Robert Burns.
more »
Monday, December 21
Winter Solstice in Vancouver - Devon is fire-tossing at the Roundhouse
by
Todd
on Mon 21 Dec 2009 03:21 PM PST
I usually help organize a team social for attending the Winter Solstice events at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens - but this year I must attend AGM and Christmas Party at Joy Kogawa House.
Check out my past stories about attending Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog?cmd=search&keywords=winter+solstice
Check out the official Winter Solstice events here:
http://www.secretlantern.org/
My friend Devon Cooke is performing "Fire tossing" at the Round House Community Centre. Devon loves being involved in many cultural activities and also paddles on the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team. more »
Wednesday, December 9
TIX ON SALE: 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner - January 31st.
by
Todd
on Wed 09 Dec 2009 06:36 PM PST
Now Available: Tickets for Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner
- It's the 12 Anniversary of the "little dinner that could."
January 31st, Sunday 2010
Floata Seafood Restaurant
Vancouver Chinatown
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:phone 604.689.0926
The Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner has created an awareness of cultural fusion that has spanned international media, and been featured at the 2008 BC Canada Pavillion in Bejing during the 2008 Summer Olympics, the Royal BC Museum celebration exhibit of the 150th Anniversary of the province of BC, and a 2009 touring exhibition in Scotland titled This Is Who We Are: Scots in Canada.
 Gung Haggis Fat Choy creator Todd Wong at the Scottish Parliament exhibition of THIS IS WHO WE ARE: Scots in Canada. The exhibition featured a life sized photo of Wong and a video interview about the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner, which features the acknowledgement of Chinese and Scottish pioneer history in Canada and contemporary culinary and cultural fusions.Tickets are now on sale for the 12th Anniversary Dinner.January 31st, Sunday, 2010 Floata Seafood Restaurant Vancouver Chinatown Doors open 5pm Dinner starts 6pm $60 + $5 service charge or $600 per table + $20 service charge prices for students and children available. Raffle Prizes are featured, as this dinner has traditionally been a fundraiser for: Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team, Asian Canadian Writers' Workshop/Ricepaper Magazine and Historic Joy Kogawa House. Contact Firehall Arts Centre:phone 604.689.0926
Visit the Firehall Box Office, 280 E. Cordova Street.
Box Office hours are: 9:30am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. For media information - contact: Todd Wong 778-846-7090 - email: gunghaggis@yahoo.ca The origins of the dinner started with 16 people in a living room in 1998. The next year it expanded to 40 people in a restaurant. Soon it outgrew the first restaurant and expanded to 220 people in 2002. Moving to a larger restaurant for 2003, and expanding to a 2-night event in 2004, serving over 500 people. 2005 saw the move to North America's largest Chinese restaurant and present home of the dinner where 570 people were accomodated. A 2004 CBC telelevision performance special, Gung Haggis Fat Choy, was inspired by the dinner, and received two Leo nominations for best music performance, and best director of music performance. In 2007, a CBC television documentary Generations: The Chan Legacy featured interviews with dinner creator Todd Wong, and film clips of the dinner. A wide range of musical performers have been featured over the years including: fusion musicians Silk Road Music Ensemble, Dragon River Chinese Music Ensemble, Blackthorn celtic band, The Mad Celts, Chinese erhu master Ji-Rong Huang; opera singers Heather Pawsey, Veera Devi Khare; Jazz singer Leora Cashe. Featured poets have included: Joy Kogawa, Rita Wong, Fred Wah, George McWhirter, Fiona Tin Wei Lam, Jim Wong-Chu, Sean Gunn and Tommy Tao. The past 3 years have also featured sneak previews of Asian Canadian plays including: Mixie and the Half-Breeds, The Quickie, and Twisting Fortunes.
Todd Wong visits Scotland for Homecoming Year, the 250th Anniversary of the birth of Scottish poet Robert Burns.
For the 2010 dinner, creator Todd Wong has just returned from Scotland after visiting the birthplace of Scotland poet Robert Burns, and researching the displays of Burns for Homecoming Scotland, and museum exhibits on Scottish history and emmigration to Canada. Wong is active in Chinese Canadian activities and visited Bejing and Xian in 1993. He hopes to combine a merger of Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian history and culture in the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner. Another extravaganza of culinary and cultural fusion are expected for the 2010 dinner. Details will be released each week leading up to the event. Special guest speakers, media hosts, poets and musicians are confirmed or being confirmed. The 2010 dinner will feature old traditions and new surprises, something borrowed and something brewed - especially created for the 2010 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Dinner. Tell your friends, and put a table of 10 together to enjoy the singalongs! or come as a single or a double, and meet 8 brand new best friends for the evening at your table! It's the most fun and intimate dinner for 500 you will ever attend!
Wednesday, December 2
Kilts culture in Vancouver: Kilts Night on Thursday + December ceildh on Sat night
by
Todd
on Wed 02 Dec 2009 01:17 PM PST
Every 1st Thursday of each month, I usually meet with my kilted friends at Doolin's Irish Pub at Granville and Nelson St in Vancouver. Free Music starts at 9pm with Halifax Wharf Rats - if there isn't a hockey game on. It's always lots of fun, and a great way to meet people. After attending the Homecoming Scotland ceilidh here in Edinburgh at The Hub. I am ready to go for another one. It's really easy to do, as the callers give a demonstration and tell people what to do. eg. turn left, grab the right hand, etc etc.
Big Secret: Wear a Kilt and ask for a free pint of Guiness Beer. more »
Todd's first day in Scotland
by
Todd
on Wed 02 Dec 2009 01:00 PM PST
It's been a busy few days in Scotland. I first arrived late on Saturday night, after a 9 hour layover in Amsterdam's Schipol airport. I took the train to central station and went for a walk through the touristy bits - where I also discovered both Chinatown and the Red Light District. + pictures of Scotland and Amsterdam more »
Wednesday, October 28
Johnny Cash is Scottish... "Because it's Burns, Burns Burns... It's Robbie Burns"
by
Todd
on Wed 28 Oct 2009 01:57 PM PDT
From Rosanne Cash website:
There are still a few things with the name of Cash scattered around this part of Fife: Cash Mill, Cash Farm, Cash Easter and Cash Wester, and this street, Cash Feus. It’s odd— and comforting— to know that my ancestors lived here for hundreds of years, until one of them decided to move to America in the 17th century. I don’t even know what they passed on to me— perhaps a love of melancholy, Celtic- rooted music? A love of rolling hills and crumbling stone walls? more »
Saturday, October 3
Orchid Ensemble creates East meets Middle East featuring Jewish and Chinese music!
by
Todd
on Sat 03 Oct 2009 09:41 AM PDT
Here is the latest from my friend Lan Tung and Orchid Ensemble:
2009 Orchid Ensemble Concert
East meets Middle East in the Orchid Ensemble’s New Show
The Orchid Ensemble & Vancouver Community College present
Ten Thousand Miles to Kai-Feng more »
Sunday, September 13
3 Days of Accordion Noir Festival - playing circles, films, concerts + more
by
Todd
on Sun 13 Sep 2009 11:51 PM PDT
Accordions, Accordions & more accordions at Accordion Noir Festival - Sept 10,11 & 12. Accordions "Squeeze Box Circle" is led by Rowan Lipkovits (front right with big red accordion) at Spartacus Books. Usually the 1st Thursday of the month - this session was Sept 10th as a special part of the Accordion Noir Festival. Out-of-towners came from Lasqueti Island BC, and Bellingham WA. I didn't bring my big Titano accordion - but I did play somebody else's Faoro accordion.
Thursday, August 27
2 more concerts of Enchanted evenings at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens - featuring Silk Road and Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble
by
Todd
on Thu 27 Aug 2009 12:35 PM PDT
The final 3 Enchanted Evenings concerts at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Gardens all feature musicians that have performed at past Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners.
 Silk Road duo Qiu Xia and Andrew performed last year with African dancer Jackie Esombe and percussionist Pepe Danza - photo T. Wong Last week celtic ensemble Blackthorn performed August 21. This Friday Aug. 28, Erhu specialist Ji-Rong Huang artistic director of Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble takes stage. On Sept 4, Silk Road Music performs as a quartet, led by Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault. Qiu Xia and Andre have performed many times at Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners since 2004. Silk Road Music Ensemble was featured in the 2004 CBC television performance special "Gung Haggis Fat Choy".
Blackthorn and Ji-Rong both came to the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner. Blackthorn has an incredible repertoire of Celtic songs that they kept pulling out of their hats. Ji-Rong and I performed 2 songs on accordion and erhu - Galloping Horse and Hungarian Dance No. 5 - which he also plays solo.
Summer Concert Series Doors open at 7:00pm, and all shows begin at 7:30pm
Tickets $18 for non-members,
$15 for Garden Society Members
VANCOUVER CHINESE MUSIC ENSEMBLE- August 28
A rich showcase of traditional Chinese instruments
SILK ROAD- September 4
World Music with a Chinese flair
Tickets and info, contact 604.662.3207 ext. 208 or
email assistant@vancouverchinesegarden.com
reservations are recommended
Friday, August 7
August Kilts Night enhanced by World Police & Fire Games
by
Todd
on Fri 07 Aug 2009 01:50 PM PDT
Kilts Night is always fun... We meet new lovers of kilts - some wearing kilts, some are admirers.
 Raphael, Todd and Stuart + two members from Spanish team for World Police and Fire Games.
Every 1st Thursday of each month we meet at Doolin's Irish Pub. Why? If you wear a kilt, you receive a free pint of Guinness.
Kilts Night is more than just kilts or Scottish culture. It's about cultural diversity enjoying cultural diversity. We have Asians in kilts. We have surprised cottish tourists not wearing kilts. On Thursday August 7th, we met members from the Spanish team for the World Police and Fire Games. The tall blonde woman is competing in pentathalon. They loved that Vancouver has a beach named "Spanish Banks" and that many places in Vancouver were named by Spanish explorer Juan de Fuca.
It was Mark Cameron's 40th birthday pub crawl. His kilt met members of the Spanish team for the World Police & Fire Games
Mark and his buddies created a "Troller to the Raven Pub Crawl" immortalized in the Spirit of the West Song. We gave them a warm Kilts Night welcome from members of the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team.
 Louis' first Kilts Night... and we put a kilt on him. Only one year ago, Louis was living in Paris with no kilts night!
Sunday, August 2
Blackthorn celtic music band at Fort Langley for BC Day!
by
Todd
on Sun 02 Aug 2009 02:51 PM PDT
Blackthorn is playing at Historic Fort Langley.
Blackthorn is comprised of some of my favorite musicians: Michael on guitar/vocals, Michelle on flute/pennywhistle/vocals, Tim on bass/bodrana and Rosie on fiddle/vocals. Blackthorn was our featured band at the 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner.
Historic Fort Langley is the birthplace of BC, where Gov. James Douglas signed the proclamation almost 150 years and 9 months ago.
Monday,
Aug 03 | 6:30pm | Brigade Days
Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada, BCBrigade
Days is held every year over the BC Day long weekend in August.
Historically, Brigade was when the fur trappers came down from their
trap lines to the fort, to trade, some took their annual baths and
looked for a new spouse, and in general caught up with friends they
hadn't seen since the year before. Blackthorn will be bathed and on stage Monday evening. |
AND NOW WE HAVE OUR OWN CHANNEL ON YOUTUBE...
Friday, July 31
Powell St. Festival celebrates Japanese Canadian heritage - even if you are half-Japanese or non-Japanese
by
Todd
on Fri 31 Jul 2009 02:51 PM PDT
I like attending the Powell St. Festival. Somewhere in my clothes drawer I have a t-shirt from the 10th Anniversary festival back in 1986.
 This year's Powell Street Festival will take place at Woodland Park - moving Eastward between Clark Drive and Commercial Drive, North of Venables St. - but South of Hastings St. - photo of 2007 festival by Todd Wong Many of my friends have Japanese ancestry such as Jeff Chiba Stearns, John Endo Greenaway, Julie Tamiko Manning, or Joy Kogawa.... I grew up folding origami cranes, and relating to Japanese culture in a Pan-Asian-Canadian kind of way...I have even performed my accordion at the Powell St. Festival main stage. One year I played with my friend Sean Gunn as part of the "Number One Son" band... or maybe it was under the name of "Yellow Lackey Dogs."
My friend Walter Quan is always there to sell his unique "sushi candles" and once when he was wearing a Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team cotton shirt, he was asked if he was "Todd Wong."
 Walter Quan and his sushi candles booth at the 2007 Powell Street Festival - photo Todd Wong  Check out the Powell Street Festival on Saturday and Sunday.Here's a great article in the Vancouver Sun by Kevin Griffin: Powell Street Festival: Metro Vancouver's Japanese Canadians celebrate a resilient cultureJulia Aoki, volunteer coordinator for the Powell Street Festival. Photograph by: Glenn Baglo, Vancouver Sun. VANCOUVER — Unlike other festivals that strive ...
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2010 GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY Dinner
January 31, 2010
Contact Firehall Arts Centre:
phone 604.689.0926
2010 prices
SINGLE TICKET
$60 + $5 service charge = $65
Student price is $50 + $4.50 = $54.50 (must show student high school or university ID)
Children's price is $40 + $4.00 = $44 (ages 13 and under).
Reservations for tables of 10
$600 + lower service charge
WHAT: GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner - 12th Annversary Dinner, celebrating 251st Anniversary of Robert Burns' birth + incoming Chinese New Year of the Tiger.
WHEN:
6PM January 31 2010, SUNDAY
doors open 5pm, Dinner 6pm
WHERE: Floata Chinese Restaurant,
#400-180 Keefer St.
Media Inquiries
Call Gung Haggis Productions / Todd Wong
direct: 778-846-7090
email: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
CULTURE:
Our Performers
create something special for us every year with traditional and contemporary performances featuring everything in-between and beyond!
FOOD: A quirky fusion/mix/buffet of
Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10 course Chinese banguet dinner
2004 - The debut of Gung Haggis Won-Ton
2005 - Haggis lettuce wrap!
2007 - Haggis dim sum appetizer buffet
2008 - Scotch tastings! + debut of Gung Haggis parade dragon!
2009 - debut of Gung Haggis Fat Choy Pipes & Drums band + auction of 37 year old special edition Famous Grouse whisky + scotch tastings of Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park.
Watch for more surprises in 2010!
Description of 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC News anchor Gloria Macarenko and Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: bagpiper Joe McDonald and Mad Celts, Silk Road Music's Qiu Xia He and Andre Thibault, Opera Soprano Heather Pawsey and DJ Timothy Wisdom, BC Book Prize winner Vancouver poet Rita Wong + poet traslator Tommy Tao, Playwright Adrienne Wong and a scene from "Mixie and The Half-Breeds"
Description of 2008 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with Media colunist Catherine Barr
featuring performers: , celtic band Blackthorn, bagpiper Joe McDonald and Brave Waves, Ji-Rong Huang on erhu, Film maker Ann-Marie Fleming, Vancouver poet laureate George McWhirter, Playwright Grace Chin and a scene from "The Quickie"
Description of 2007 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
co-hosted with CBC Radio's Priya Ramu,
featuring performers:
Silk Road Music,
Heather Pawsey,
Brave Waves,
Leora Cashe,
No Luck Club,
Dr. Ian Mason (Burns Club of Vancouver)
Lensey Namioka - Author "Half and Half"
Margaret Gallagher,
"Twisting Fortunes" (sneak preview of play)
Description of 2006 Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner
with co-host with CityTV's Prem Gill
featuring performers:
Rick Scott & Harry Wong, The Shirleys, Joe McDonald & Brave Waves, Sean Gunn, author Joy Kogawa,
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Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team
for lots of summer fun, fitness and friendship. We are a social team full of cultural vigor, that likes to eat.
We have been featured on television, local, national and international. We have a unique and internationally famous fundraiser dinner event.
We practice starting March
Sunday 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Tuesday 6pm-7:45pm
We meet at Dragon Zone clubhouse - just south of Science World in Creekside Park above the Aquabus and dragon boat docks.
Our coach Todd Wong has 15+ years of experience including novice, recreational and competitive levels, and both community and corporate teams.
Our 2008 season took us to races in Burnaby, Vancouver, Vernon, Vancouver Taiwanese race, UBC, Ft. Langley.
It was our strongest team ever and we are proud of our race performances.
For more information:
Click on
Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dragon Boat team information
phone: 778-846-7090
e-mail: gunghaggis at yahoo dot ca
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