The Mississauga Philharmonic accompanied five talented guest artists from at home and abroad for a celebration of traditional and contemporary Chinese music with its Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in the Living Arts Centre's magnificent Hammerson Hall. The concert was co-organized by the Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals and Businesses (CPB).

"We believe this concert will play a very vital role to enrich the musical cultures between the East and West. With such a strong line up of guest artists and the selection of those well known pieces of traditional and contemporary music from China, this is a concert no one would want to miss out." remarked Andre Mak, Co-Chair, Mississauga Board of Chinese Professionals and Businesses.

The concert featured singer Sylvia Lai with George Gao, erhu, Praise Lam, violin, Alvin Tung, guitar and Elaine Hou, piano.

Sylvia Lai, otherwise known as Sum Sum to her Cantonese speaking fans, is one of Hong Kong's brightest television and singing exports. Miss Lai has recorded over 30 albums and is affectionately referred to as the "Hong Kong Pop Diva". A true international star, she has performed across four continents, from Beijing, to Sydney, to London and Toronto. An accomplished actor, she has performed in live theatre venues and on film.

Miss Lai performed a number of well known contemporary music related to China, including "The Brave Men of China", "The Folk Song of the Great Wall", "Legend of the Dragon", "Moon Reflects My Heart", "China Dream", and "Memorable Night".

Award winning erhu master and composer George Gao's musical career has taken him literally around the world, touring extensively across North America, Europe and Asia. He has been a featured soloist with the Toronto Symphony, among many other international orchestras, and has pioneered the development of new music for the erhu, fusing traditional Chinese music with jazz, Western Classical music, New Age, and other ethnic music from different world cultures. Mr. Gao performed "Four Ancient Scores from Dunhuang" and "Galloping Horses".

At 23, Mississauga native Praise Lam already has an extensive list of accolades and career successes. She has held such positions as Principal Second Violinist for the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra in 2000, and Concertmaster for the University of Toronto Chamber Orchestra as well as the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. While recently studying in Beijing, Ms. Lam was invited to play for the Canadian Ambassador to China and the Director of the Canada Arts Council.

Dr. Alvin Tung has performed across Canada, the United States and the Far East as a recitalist, a chamber musician as well as an orchestral soloist. He has also enjoyed equal praise and success as a recording artist. With three CD recordings to his credit, the two most recent discs have already sold out across Canada. At the age of 26, he became the youngest Doctoral (DMA) guitar recipient from the Eastman School of Music. "Alvin Tung is undoubtedly one of the world's most brilliant young guitarists." - (Classical Music, Taiwan).

Both Miss Lam and Dr. Tung performed "The Butterfly Lovers' Concerto", a program music depicting a 14th century story of two lovers set in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, approximately 1600 years ago. The tale of the Butterfly Lovers has been used in many operas throughout Chinese history and is widely known.