On November 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM, the George Weston Recital Hall will be ringing music of defiance and resilience, at a concert titled The People United.

This event will bring together voices of the oppressed from across the globe. From the streets of Hong Kong to the plains of Ukraine, from the turmoil of Iran to the struggles in China, this concert transcends borders to unite diasporic communities under the banner of human rights and freedom.

Pianist Ricker Choi (www.rickerchoi.com) will perform his piano solo composition "Hong Kong Rhapsody" "香港狂想曲", accompanied by haunting images of Hong Kong’s 2019 protest, projected on a colossal 36-foot screen. Ricker’s performance is a visceral journey through the tumultuous streets of Hong Kong.

Ricker Choi and performance artist Loretta Lau (www.waitinglorettalau.com) will also jointly commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. Choi's emotive music, accompanied by his own artwork projected onto the screen, along with Lau's expressive dance movements, will also pay tribute to Hong Kongers who had sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of freedom.

Amidst the melodies of defiance, Ricker will also be performing protest music from Iran, arranged for solo piano by himself.

Ukrainian soprano Antonina Ermolenko (www.antoninaermolenko.com), accompanied by Ukrainian pianist Oksana Hahn (www.elitepianostudio.ca/biography), will lend her powerfully emotional voice to melodies that express longing and hope amidst the chaos of conflict.

Adding to the sound of resistance is Frederic Chopin’s piano music, performed by Ricker Choi and pianist Chloe Sun. Chopin's compositions, rooted in Polish nationalism, stand as a testament to the enduring power of music to defy tyranny and inspire hope.

Join us on November 2, 2024, as we stand in solidarity!

70% of net proceeds will be donated to Bonham Tree Aid, an organization assisting political prisoners and their families in Hong Kong. The remaining 30% will be donated to Amnesty International, a defender of human rights around the world.

Tickets:

- Tickets can be purchased from: tolive.com/Event-Details-Page/reference/The-People-United-2024

- In-person orders at TO Live Box Office (www.tolive.com/Contact-Us-Page) are exempt from service fees. Box office Hours: Monday - Friday, 1 pm to 6 pm

- 10% off for group purchases of 10 or more tickets; phone purchases of 10 to 20 tickets will have a total fee of only $15 CAD: Meridian Arts Centre 416-366-7723 | 1-800-708-6754