Artists

Aileen Lee, Soprano

Aileen Lee started singing at a very young age. In fact, she loved singing so much that she started competing in many local singing competitions, winning first place in most of them! Even in her tender age, Aileen knew that her talent of music is a gift from God who is the Giver of good gifts, the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Her desire to serve God with her beautiful singing voice has taken her to Europe, Asia and most major North American cities, performing as soprano soloist.

Her musical journey has so far included graduating with a Bachelor of Religious Education in Sacred Music, a Master’s Degree in Liturgical Studies and she has also pursued a Doctorate Degree in Worship and Liturgy.

She currently serves as Worship Coordinator at Scarborough Community Alliance Church and Hakka Alliance Church. She is also the President of The Toronto Cantata Chorus. A sought after soloist in Christian circles, Aileen often performs for various churches and charity events in the Greater Toronto Area.

Aileen is married to Derrick Li and they have two wonderful children, Anika and Joshua. She is very proud and feels extremely blessed to be a part of this event, raising funds to further God's work in the lives of families living in extreme poverty in the island of Masbate, Philippines where her family has a Compassion sponsor child.

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Joyce Lai, Violinist

Canadian violinist Joyce Lai enjoys a career as a soloist and chamber musician. She has been featured as a guest artist with numerous orchestras around the world, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Szeged Symphony Orchestra of Hungary, the Canadian Chamber Academy, and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. 

As an avid chamber musician, Joyce performs regularly in chamber festivals such as the Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival in Manitoba, the Canadian Opera Company Noontime Series, and the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Festival. She is first violinist of the Riverdale Ensemble, a chamber group that specializes in performing rare and unique works, as well as premiering new Canadian works. The Riverdale Ensemble's highly praised CD, Twelve by the Moon-dial, was released in 2008. Joyce is currently Concertmaster and Executive Director of the Canadian Sinfonietta, a Toronto based chamber orchestra.

In addition to her performing career, Joyce is also an enthusiastic educator and has a private studio of students ranging from ages 3 to 73. She has taught at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Baptist University in addition to giving violin clinics in the Ontario area. Joyce holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Master of Music Degree and Performer Diploma in violin performance from Indiana University. When not performing or teaching, Joyce enjoys gardening and spending time with her husband Ian, and two young children Noah and Zoe.

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Michelle Man, Alto

Michelle Man was born and raised in Hong Kong. She has great passion for singing. She started singing in church choirs with her parents and sister at the age of 6. She learned piano and ballet around that age as well. She joined the Hong Kong Yip’s Children’s Choir and was selected to perform solo as the 5th daughter in The Sound of Music at the age of 11.

Upon immigrating to Canada, she completed her Grade 10 Certification in Piano while continuing to sing in church choirs. Michelle conducted the choir at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church for 4 years starting at the young age of 18. She has conducted fundraising concerts at the Hummingbird Centre (now known as Sony Centre for the Performing Arts). She is currently a senior choir member at The Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish. She graduated from The University of Toronto majoring in Computer Science and Geography. She has also studied Computer Animation and Jewellery Design.

Michelle joined The Toronto Cantata Chorus when the choir was first established and traveled to the Philippines and Newfoundland with the choir. She is the soloist for the choir piece Habenera, sang a duet performing Lakme The Flower Song, and performed an Alto solo for Jason Locke’s Requiem.

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Jane Cheung, Pianist

Jane Cheung started taking piano lessons when she was just six years old. She received her Associate Diploma for Pianoforte-Performer from Western Ontario Conservatory of Music (in academic cooperation with The University of Western Ontario) in 1994 at London, Ontario.

Many years have passed since she has been 'seriously' playing the piano. Recently, her friend Aileen provided the motivation for her to return back into music by suggesting that she perform for a good cause. What an excellent idea! Thanks to  Aileen's motivation, Jane is one of the guest artists for this Benefit Concert!

Jane is a Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Practitioner working independently at Canada's largest private clinic in Oshawa, Ontario. She is married to Wei-Hsi Pang and they have two beautiful daughters, Sarah and Emma. Both girls love playing the piano too!