Artistic Directors
Mark Armanini (b. 1952), a Vancouver-born composer and pianist, has built a distinguished career spanning over four decades. He earned his Master of Music in Composition from the University of British Columbia, studying under Elliot Weisgarber and Robert Rodgers. Mark’s innovative vision led him to explore the fusion of Asian and Western musical traditions, beginning in 1990 with compositions for diverse instrumentations. Major works under Maestro John Zoltek include five concerti recorded with the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic (1995), "The Spirit Emerges" featuring Qiu Xia He (pipa), and the acclaimed album "Rain in the Forest" (Centredisc, 2003), recorded with the Latvian National Symphony, Vivian Xia (yangqin), Heidi Krutzen (harp), and the Khac Chi Bamboo Ensemble.
Mark has represented Canada in international composer exchanges in Taipei (2000) and Beijing/Shanghai (2003), performed at the Nanjing Jazz Festival (2006), and travelled to Wuhan (2007) to study the ancient Marquis Yi Bell Set. From 2009 to 2016, he participated in the Atlas Academy in Amsterdam, a renowned intercultural orchestra intensive, where his works "Chroma" and "Decor" premiered at the Concertgebouw and Amsterdam Conservatory.
From 2009 to 2024, Mark served as Artistic Director of the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra (VICO). During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in expanding VICO’s mission of fostering intercultural collaboration and innovation in music. Notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mark spearheaded a series of virtual projects and digital concerts, ensuring the orchestra continued to engage audiences and support artists. He also led VICO on its first joint international tour with the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra of Taiwan. Together, they introduced audiences at the Tongyeong International Music Festival (South Korea) and Taiwan Traditional Arts Festival to the unique blend of intercultural sonorities.
From 2009 to 2021, Mark was Producer of the BC Chinese Music Ensemble, the largest professional Chinese traditional instrument ensemble in Canada. Currently, he is Co-Artistic Director of the AU Ensemble, an intercultural chamber group dedicated to bridging musical traditions. The AU Ensemble made its US debut at Festival Amadeus in Whitefish, Montana, with Maestro Zoltek, and continues to develop new repertoire and collaborations with international artists, spotlighting the intersection of Eastern and Western musical traditions. Mark’s leadership and creative vision remain central to the mission of fostering dialogue and innovation across cultures through music.
Rita Ueda is a distinguished Canadian composer based in Vancouver, celebrated for her delicately poetic and introspective works that invite contemplation and dialogue between cultures in motion. Her music is recognized for its ability to bridge diverse influences and foster intercultural conversations, resonating with the AU Ensemble’s commitment to creative collaboration across traditions.
Among her recent compositions are as the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow (2021), let us not be the reason someone out there is praying for peace (2020), and Bloom (2023). Described by Musical America Worldwide as “fresh, thoroughly Canadian, and breathtakingly original,” her expansive 27-minute concerto for shō, sheng/suona, and orchestra, Birds Calling… From the Canada in You (2022) has been acclaimed for its evocative soundscapes and its powerful sense of multicultural identity.
Rita continues to shape both local and global music communities, receiving honours including the 2022 Jules Léger Prize for New Canadian Chamber Music, the 2022 Azrieli Prize in Canadian Music, and the coveted 1st Prize at the 2014 Penderecki 'Arboretum' International Composers’ Competition.
Rita's works have been performed by a wide range of ensembles, including the Vienna RSO, Budapest MAV Symphony, Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra in London, l’Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, and the BC Chinese Music Ensemble, reflecting her dedication to cross-cultural expression and collaboration.
As an operatic composer-producer, Rita's premiere of I Have My Mother’s Eyes: a Holocaust Memoir Across Generations was one of the top box office shows at the Vancouver Chutzpah! Festival 2023. This success was followed up the following year with a re-staging in Tokyo along with the sequel, Byakuya: Midnight Sun Songs.
Looking forward to 2025 and beyond, Rita remains actively engaged in new projects and collaborations, committed to musical innovation and celebrating the meeting of cultures. She is a vital force in the AU Ensemble’s creative vision, advancing its mission to foster genuine connections through music.
