Chan Ka Nin
Encyclopedia
Chan Ka Nin is a Canadian composer
and music educator of Chinese descent. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1971. He has been commissioned write works for such ensembles as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
, the CBC Radio Orchestra
, the Esprit Orchestra
, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
, the National Arts Centre Orchestra
, New Music Concerts, the Quebec Contemporary Music Society
, and Symphony Nova Scotia
among many others. He also been awarded funds to compose works by such organizations as the Canada Council
, Ontario Arts Council
, Ontario's Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
, and the Toronto Arts Council.
Born and raised in Hong Kong
, Chan immigrated with his family to Canada in 1965 at the age of 15. The family settled in Vancouver
and after completing highschool there, Chan entered the University of British Columbia
where he studied music composition with Jean Coulthard
while pursuing a degrees in both music and electrical engineering
. He graduated from the UBC in 1976 and then enter the graduate composition program at the Jacobs School of Music
at Indiana University
where he was a pupil of Bernhard Heiden
. He earned both a Master of Music
(1978) and Doctor of Music
(1983) from the school. In 1982 he pursued further studies in music composition at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse in Darmstadt, Germany.
In 1982 Chan became a member of the faculty at the University of Toronto
where he continues to teach couses in music theory and composition to this day. He is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music educator of Chinese descent. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1971. He has been commissioned write works for such ensembles as the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra, based in Calgary, Alberta. The orchestra gives the majority of its performances in the Jack Singer Concert Hall of the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts...
, the CBC Radio Orchestra
CBC Radio Orchestra
The CBC Radio Orchestra was a Canadian orchestra based in Vancouver, British Columbia that was operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Until the early 1980s CBC had a number of orchestras located in Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Halifax but due to federal government budget cuts they...
, the Esprit Orchestra
Esprit Orchestra
The Esprit Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto dedicated to the performance of new classical works. It was established in 1983 by director Alex Pauk and is Canada's only full-sized orchestra devoted exclusively to new music. Currently, there are 45 full time members...
, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
The Manitoba Chamber Orchestra is a chamber orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Founded in 1972 by Ruben Gurevich, the ensemble's first music director, the MCO presents nine concerts annually at Westminster United Church and tours in rural Manitoba, Canada and elsewhere.The MCO...
, the National Arts Centre Orchestra
National Arts Centre Orchestra
The National Arts Centre Orchestra is an orchestra in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital. It is a classically-sized ensemble currently conducted by Pinchas Zukerman.-Description:Since 1998, Pinchas Zukerman has been the Music Director. Mario Bernardi C.C...
, New Music Concerts, the Quebec Contemporary Music Society
Quebec Contemporary Music Society
The Quebec Contemporary Music Society, or La Société de musique contemporaine du Québec in French , is a contemporary classical-music organization based in Montreal, Quebec...
, and Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia
Symphony Nova Scotia is a professional orchestra based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.Symphony Nova Scotia traces its origins back to several different orchestras, including the Halifax Symphony , the Halifax Sinfoniette , and the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra . Its current structure began in 1983...
among many others. He also been awarded funds to compose works by such organizations as the Canada Council
Canada Council
The Canada Council for the Arts, commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown Corporation established in 1957 to act as an arts council of the government of Canada, created to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts. It funds Canadian artists and...
, Ontario Arts Council
Ontario Arts Council
The Ontario Arts Council is a publicly-funded Canadian organization in the province of Ontario whose purpose is to promote and assist the development of the arts for the enjoyment and benefit of all Ontarians...
, Ontario's Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (Ontario)
The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration is responsible for citizenship and immigration issues in the Canadian province of Ontario. Overall immigration and citizenship policy is still held by the federal government....
, and the Toronto Arts Council.
Born and raised in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Chan immigrated with his family to Canada in 1965 at the age of 15. The family settled in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and after completing highschool there, Chan entered the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
where he studied music composition with Jean Coulthard
Jean Coulthard
Jean Coulthard, was a Canadian composer and music educator. She was part of a trio of women composers who dominated Western Canadian music in the twentieth century: Coulthard, Barbara Pentland, and Violet Archer. All three died within weeks of each other in 2000...
while pursuing a degrees in both music and electrical engineering
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
. He graduated from the UBC in 1976 and then enter the graduate composition program at the Jacobs School of Music
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
where he was a pupil of Bernhard Heiden
Bernhard Heiden
Bernhard Heiden was a German and American composer and music teacher, who studied under and was heavily influenced by Paul Hindemith...
. He earned both a Master of Music
Master of Music
The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...
(1978) and Doctor of Music
Doctor of Music
The Doctor of Music degree , like other doctorates, is an academic degree of the highest level. The D.Mus. is intended for musicians and composers who wish to combine the highest attainments in their area of specialization with doctoral-level academic study in music...
(1983) from the school. In 1982 he pursued further studies in music composition at the Darmstädter Ferienkurse in Darmstadt, Germany.
In 1982 Chan became a member of the faculty at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
where he continues to teach couses in music theory and composition to this day. He is an associate of the Canadian Music Centre
Canadian Music Centre
The Canadian Music Centre holds Canada's largest collection of Canadian concert music. The CMC exists to promote the works of its Associate Composers in Canada and around the world....
and a member of the Canadian League of Composers
Canadian League of Composers
The Canadian League of Composers is an organization formed in 1951 of Canadian composers primarily interested in raising awareness and acceptance of Canadian music. The activities of the League are overseen and directed by an executive and a National Council...
.