Open Frequencies

The annual VNM Festival returns with Open Frequencies, a three-day program spotlighting bold, globally engaged approaches to new music by artists working at the forefront of experimental, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural sound practices. Featuring renowned percussionist Kuniko Kato with Haruka Aoyagi, Karin Tozaki, Koichi Hosono and Misaki Matsuno (Japan) in a virtuosic quartet performance dedicated to the music of Steve Reich, cellist and composer Okkyung Lee (Korea), harpist Sarah Pagé (Montreal), and BC artists Gordon Grdina (Vancouver), Meredith Bates (Salt Spring Island), and Piu (Nanaimo). This is for a Festival Pass to all three dates. For single-day tickets (Day 1, Day 2, Day 3), please see the links below. Festival Schedule THU OCT 22Kuniko Kato Quartet (Japan) Kuniko Kato Quartet presents a program celebrating the 90th birthday of legendary minimalist composer Steve Reich, featuring some of his most complex, hypnotic, and beautiful percussion works. Internationally acclaimed as one of the world’s leading percussion virtuosos, Kuniko Kato will be joined by outstanding percussionists Haruka Aoyagi, Karin Tozaki, Koichi Hosono, and Misaki Matsuno who have been involved in the Steve Reich Project, Kato’s international concert series devoted to meticulously arranged performances of Reich’s masterpieces. This special performance is part of the REICH90 North American Tour, a major celebration of Steve Reich’s 90th birthday across the United States and Canada. Purchase Day 1 tickets FRI OCT 23Okkyung Lee (Korea)Meredith Bates (Salt Spring Island) Okkyung Lee is an internationally recognized cellist, composer, and improviser known for her innovative practice and improvisational work utilising visceral extended techniques on her instrument. Lee has taken a broad array of inspirations—including noise, improvisation, jazz, western classical, and Korean traditional and popular music—and used them to forge a highly unique approach. JUNO and WCMA award-winning violinist, violist, and composer Meredith Bates performs selections from her recently released album, The Observer Effect. Purchase Day 2 tickets SAT OCT 24Sarah Pagé (Montreal)Gordon Grdina (Vancouver)Piu (Nanaimo) Harp and koto player Sarah Pagé delivers a solo harp performance that showcases her virtuosity and experimentation. JUNO award-winning Gordon Grdina masterfully utilizes the oud to chart a distinct language that reflects deep modernity existing fluidly within traditional Persian and Arabic roots.A dynamic live performance by musician, composer, and producer Priyanka Chakrabarti (Piu), blends live electronics, raga-inspired vocals, and field recordings. Purchase Day 3 tickets Banner credits:Kuniko Kato, Sarah Pagé, Gordon Grdina, Piu, Okkyung Lee, Meredith Bates (from top left, clockwise)