Tak Kwan
InterContinental Music Awards Winner
2024 – Best Vocalist
Tak Kwan, an award-winning musician, was born into a family with a rich musical background. His father was a violin maker in Hong Kong, and Tak began his musical journey by learning to play the violin at the age of seven. He pursued his passion for music by studying and graduating in England, Canada, and the United States.
Tak has held various positions as a soloist and chamber musician, such as the chair of Concertmaster for the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra from 1996 to 2016 and the Northumberland Orchestra and Choir from 2011 to 2022. He has also performed as a soloist with several orchestras, including an invitation to perform for the Queen of England in Toronto in 2010. His solo performances have been praised for their technical excellence and emotional depth, with one review lauding his performance as “technically superb but delivered with a depth of emotion.”
Tak has had the opportunity to perform in front of large audiences, including 15,000 people in Toronto and Tampa, Florida, in 2003 and 2007, respectively. His performances have captivated and impressed audiences, impacting those who have enjoyed hearing him play. In 2022, his students were invited to perform national anthems at the ceremony for the AHL, and he also performed the solo during the intermission for an audience of 5,000.
As a music educator, Tak has received recognition for his outstanding work. He was awarded the RCM Teacher Certificate of Recognition in 2020, 2021, and 2022 for his exceptional teaching skills. His students have achieved remarkable success, with many awarded Gold Medals in RCM exams from Level 1 to ARCT. Tak is also an appointed RCM Examination Officer and a member of the Examiner College. In addition to his teaching and performing work, Tak is the Music Director and Conductor of the Kawartha String Orchestra and the Founder and Music Director of the Lavender Chamber Ensemble. He is a certified Royal Conservatory of Music teacher and a Canadian Music Festival Adjudicators’ Association member.
Tak’s outstanding achievements in the field of music have not gone unnoticed. In 2020, he was awarded the Best Music Instructor in the Readers’ Choice Awards. He is also awarded Platinum in the Ajax Community Votes 2023 and the winner of the Canadian Choice Award 2024, a testament to his dedication and hard work in the music industry. With his passion for music and exceptional talent, Tak continues to inspire and leave a lasting impact on those privileged to work with him.