On June 15, 2025, a sun-drenched and pleasantly warm Father’s Day in Calgary, our Jasmine Folk Orchestra of the Calgary Jiangzhe Shanghai Association, led by conductor Zhang Bang, gathered at the Mount Royal University Concert Hall. On this day filled with familial love and respect, we joined the Calgary Chinese Orchestra for a splendid and moving Father’s Day showcase performance.
This was a festive gala for folk music lovers and a harmonious performance across generations. The Calgary Chinese Orchestra is composed of vibrant and skilled young to middle-aged enthusiasts, while our Jasmine Folk Orchestra is a true “silver-haired ensemble,” with members predominantly over the age of seventy, the eldest being eighty-three.
Though their years advance, their spirits are more vibrant than ever. Under the professional guidance of Maestro Zhang Bang, and after more than two months of relentless rehearsal, we finally took the stage today. A graduate of the conducting department at the Central Conservatory of Music, Maestro Zhang is an exceptionally talented and dedicated young conductor. His patient and meticulous instruction guided us senior performers to new artistic heights.
It is particularly noteworthy that most of our senior members no longer drive. To make it to this morning’s rehearsal and the afternoon’s concert, they traveled from all corners of Calgary, taking buses, trains, or getting rides from family. Despite the arduous journey, every single member arrived early, with none absent. Such passion and perseverance are truly admirable.
Today, sharing the stage with the Calgary Chinese Orchestra, the young and the old performed traditional folk music together. This was not merely a musical exchange and fusion, but a continuation of cultural heritage and spirit. Notes flowed between the generations as we all used music to express our respect and interpret our passion. Our heartfelt thanks go to Maestro Zhang Bang for his devoted guidance, to all the musicians for their selfless dedication, and to this special day that has given us a beautiful and profound memory at the Mount Royal University Concert Hall. Happy Father’s Day!
The Father’s Day Overture: An Intergenerational Symphony in Calgary
2025/07/23 by miaoxi • News
步步高
紫竹调
花好月圆
On June 15, 2025, a sun-drenched and pleasantly warm Father’s Day in Calgary, our Jasmine Folk Orchestra of the Calgary Jiangzhe Shanghai Association, led by conductor Zhang Bang, gathered at the Mount Royal University Concert Hall. On this day filled with familial love and respect, we joined the Calgary Chinese Orchestra for a splendid and moving Father’s Day showcase performance.
This was a festive gala for folk music lovers and a harmonious performance across generations. The Calgary Chinese Orchestra is composed of vibrant and skilled young to middle-aged enthusiasts, while our Jasmine Folk Orchestra is a true “silver-haired ensemble,” with members predominantly over the age of seventy, the eldest being eighty-three.
Though their years advance, their spirits are more vibrant than ever. Under the professional guidance of Maestro Zhang Bang, and after more than two months of relentless rehearsal, we finally took the stage today. A graduate of the conducting department at the Central Conservatory of Music, Maestro Zhang is an exceptionally talented and dedicated young conductor. His patient and meticulous instruction guided us senior performers to new artistic heights.
It is particularly noteworthy that most of our senior members no longer drive. To make it to this morning’s rehearsal and the afternoon’s concert, they traveled from all corners of Calgary, taking buses, trains, or getting rides from family. Despite the arduous journey, every single member arrived early, with none absent. Such passion and perseverance are truly admirable.
Today, sharing the stage with the Calgary Chinese Orchestra, the young and the old performed traditional folk music together. This was not merely a musical exchange and fusion, but a continuation of cultural heritage and spirit. Notes flowed between the generations as we all used music to express our respect and interpret our passion. Our heartfelt thanks go to Maestro Zhang Bang for his devoted guidance, to all the musicians for their selfless dedication, and to this special day that has given us a beautiful and profound memory at the Mount Royal University Concert Hall. Happy Father’s Day!
2025年6月15日，父亲节。卡尔加里阳光明媚，天气格外温暖宜人。在这充满亲情与敬意的节日里，我们卡尔加里江浙上海联谊会茉莉花乐团的民乐队，在张榜指挥的带领下，齐聚卡城皇家山大学音乐厅（Mount Royal University Concert Hall），与卡城中乐团联合举行了一场精彩感人的父亲节汇报演出。
这是一场属于民乐人的节日盛会，也是一场代际之间的合奏。卡城中乐团由一群热爱民乐的青中年朋友组成，充满活力与专业水准；而我们茉莉花乐团的演奏者，则以七十岁以上的长者为主，最年长的已八十三岁，是一支实实在在的“银发民乐队”。
虽然年纪在长，但精神却更加饱满。在张榜老师的专业指导下，经过两个多月坚持不懈的排练，今日终于迎来登台演出。张榜老师毕业于中央音乐学院指挥系，是一位才华出众、认真负责的青年指挥。他耐心指导、细致入微，把我们这些年长的演奏员带入一个全新的艺术高度。
尤其值得一提的是，我们这些长者朋友，大多数早已不再开车。为了赶上今天上午的彩排与下午的演出，大家或搭公交、地铁或由家人接送，从卡城四面八方奔赴音乐厅。虽然过程辛苦，但每一位队员都提前抵达，无一缺席。这份热爱与坚持，令人敬佩。
今天，我们与卡城中乐团同台演出，年轻人与长者共同演奏民乐，这不仅是一次音乐上的交流与融合，更是一种文化的传承与精神的延续。音符在不同年龄段之间流动，大家用音符表达敬意，用坚持诠释热爱。感谢张榜老师的倾心指导，感谢所有队员的无私付出，也感谢这个特别的节日，让我们在卡城皇家山大学音乐厅留下一段美好而庄严的回忆。祝父亲节快乐！