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UPCOMING PERFORMANCE
SEP
09
Wed. September 9, 2026, 7:30 PM
Chilliwack Cultural Centre
PROGRAM
In te Domine speravi
Josquin des Prez (c1450-1521) arr. by C. Jacot
Adagio from Piano Sonata, no. 18
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827), transcribed by L. Duckles
Allegro assai from String Quartet no. 22
W.A. Mozart (1756-1792), transcribed by Y. Leonovich
Pavane, Opus 50
Gabriel Faure (1845-1924), transcribed by L. Duckles
Polonaise de Concert
David Popper (1843-1913), arr. by V. Despalj
Hungarian Rhapsody
David Popper (1843-1913), arr. by D. Johnstone
Danish Folk Tunes
Danish String Quartet, transcribed by L. Duckles
Peat Dance
Sønderho Briday Trilogy Part III
Sønderho Briday Trilogy Part II
Halling
Viva La Vida
Coldplay, arr. Rohan de Korte
Bohemian Rhapsody
Queen, arr. Rohan de Korte
VANCOUVER CELLO QUARTET
Formed in 2012, The Vancouver Cello Quartet is comprised of four dedicated professionals who perform original works and arrangements for cellos. This ensemble of classically trained players celebrates the unequalled sound of four cellos. Since their acclaimed debut, the Quartet has quickly won the hearts of music lovers through their performances of staples of the classical music repertoire as well as contemporary and popular works, all of which showcase the limitless possibilities of the instrument they love. The mission of the Vancouver Cello Quartet is to create an eclectic mix of repertoire for every concert, shaping the program according to each venue’s interests while maintaining our commitment to musical diversity.
THE ARTISTS
Lee Duckles
CELLO
Formerly the Principal Cellist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Lee is a founding member of the Vancouver Cello Quartet. He received his early training in the San Francisco Bay Area and a degree in performance from the University of Illinois. An active soloist and chamber musician, he has performed in festivals in BC, Ontario, Alaska, Washington, California, Colorado, and South Korea. For 35 summers, he was the Principal Cellist of the Cabrillo Music Festival of Contemporary Music in California. In Vancouver, Mr. Duckles has enjoyed an association with the Vancouver Academy of Music, the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver New Music Society - (a founding director and performer), the Masterpiece Music Series, and the Vancouver Chamber Players. He has recorded for the CBC, both as a performer and arranger, the Musical Heritage Society of America, Heliodor, Polydor, and Skylark Records. He is currently a Co-Director of the Vancouver Chamber Players.
Luke Kim
CELLO
A member of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Luke Kim earned his graduate degree from UCLA as a full tuition scholarship student and undergraduate degree from UBC where he received the Catherine-Cooke Topping Memorial Medal for musical excellence. During his graduate studies in Los Angeles (2013-2015), he served as the inaugural cellist of the UCLA Graduate String Quartet (VEM), performing Armenian music in community outreach concerts across Los Angeles. He has also appeared in various concert series and recitals throughout Greater Vancouver. As an experienced soloist, he has performed with various orchestras such as the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the West Coast Symphony, and the Polish Czestochowa Philharmonic Orchestra. His highlights include Friedrich Gulda's Concerto for Cello and Wind Orchestra with the UCLA Wind Ensemble (2015) and Prokofiev's Sinfonia Concertante with the West Coast Symphony (2019). Besides classical cello, Luke plays the baroque cello and enjoys exploring a wide range of musical genres.
Kevin Park
CELLO
Kevin Park, cellist, is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Vancouver Chamber Music Society (VCMS), where he presents over 30 concerts annually across Metro Vancouver, collaborating with internationally recognized soloists and ensembles in thoughtfully curated chamber music programs. His work as an artistic director reflects a sustained focus on collaboration and clarity of musical direction, often realized through project-based programs that bring together individual artists in focused and purpose-driven performances.
As a performer, Park has been recognized in major competitions, including appearances in the final rounds of several prestigious North American competitions, and is a First Prize winner of the WRR Chamber Music International Competition. His work as a chamber musician has taken him across Canada and abroad, including recital engagements at the Prague Conservatory and the Janáček Academy in the Czech Republic, as well as
appearances in various concert series throughout British Columbia, including the West Vancouver Community Arts Council, the Vancouver Chamber Players, the Whistler Chamber Music Society, and the Maple Ridge Music Society. He has been a member of the Vancouver Cello Quartet since 2016.
An experienced teacher and adjudicator, Park maintains an active studio in Vancouver and works with dedicated musicians, many of whom have gone on to pursue further study at leading institutions across North America and establish professional careers. His approach to adjudication emphasizes a nuanced understanding of musical intent, stylistic awareness, and artistic individuality.
In parallel with his artistic work, Park is the co-founder of Fine Strings Vancouver. The project reflects a longstanding interest in fine craftsmanship and instrument making. His ongoing work with fine stringed instruments—spanning both contemporary makers and historical examples—has led to a refined understanding of tone, response, and projection, informing his work across performance, teaching, restoration, and evaluation.
Ashton Lim
CELLO
Ashton Lim is a Canadian cellist with extensive experience as an orchestral player, chamber musician, soloist, teacher, and administrator. He has performed regularly with the Canadian Opera Company (COC), National Ballet of Canada, Santa Fe Opera, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Previous positions include the Sarasota Opera Orchestra and New World Symphony in Miami Beach, under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Performances have taken Ashton to venues around the world, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (USA), Lishui Grand Theatre (China), and Prince Mahidol Hall (Thailand); closer to home, he has performed in the Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall and COC’s Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre in Toronto, and the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver.
A passionate advocate for arts education and community engagement, Ashton was actively involved in New World Symphony’s community, education, and audience outreach programs in Miami. He coached students at the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and mentored students at the Academia Filarmónica de Medellín in Colombia, where he taught private lessons, masterclasses, and coached chamber ensembles. As an administrator, Ashton oversaw the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival of the Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festivals for three years, helping to guide it out of the pandemic to celebrate its centenary anniversary, with registration numbers at an all-time high. In the 2024/25 season, Ashton stepped into the role of Executive Director of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra. As a teacher, Ashton is on faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Ashton studied with Audrey Nodwell at the Vancouver Academy of Music and completed his ARCT in Cello Performance. He holds degrees from Mount Royal Conservatory, University of Calgary, Northwestern University, and the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music. His principal teachers were John Kadz, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Andrés Diaz, and Desmond Hoebig. Ashton has been generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts. Ashton is an alumnus of the Morningside Music Bridge program.