Young Artists' Showcase
In 2000, VPAN introduced an annual concert, our "Young Artists' Showcase" featuring a selection of promising young local performers. Each year we are proud to present an amazing show.Our popular Young Artists' Showcase takes place every year to highlight our youth, giving talented students a chance to perform.
2026 Young Artists' Showcase
The 2026 Young Artists' Showcase will take place on February 22, 2026.
We are excited to present these talented young musicians.
Newmarket Old Town Hall February 22, 2026 2:00 PM
Tickets:
Adults - $25 - Seniors - $25 - Students - $10 - Group of 4 $50 Group of 4 purchases must contact
Box Office 905 953 5313
Angel Heung
Angel Heung, an 11-year-old pianist, comes from a musical family—both of her parents are pianists who graduated in Moscow. Introduced to music by her father, she began formal piano lessons at the age of six with her mother, Dr. Joanna Li, while living in the UK.
Since then, Angel has shown exceptional dedication and growth as a young musician. Under the guidance of her current teacher, Dr. Michael Berkovsky of the Royal Conservatory of Music, she continues to refine her artistry and technique. In the 2023–2024 season, she earned nine First Prizes at Level 8–10 in national piano competitions held in Toronto. Most notably, she was awarded 99/100 by five jurors and won the Absolute First Prize at the Amadeus International Piano Competition in Italy (2024). She also received Second Prize at the prestigious Takács International Piano Competition in Austria, where she was the youngest competitor.
Angel has participated in masterclasses with several renowned pianists in her young age, including Cornelia Herrmann (Winner of International Bach Competition, Leipzig), Maestro Piotr Paleczny (Jury of International Chopin Competition, Warsaw), and Sofya Gulyak (Winner of Leeds International Piano Competition). She is currently a piano student in the Young Artist Program at the Taylor Academy of the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also a recipient of the Barwell Piano Student Scholarship, which marked the beginning of her journey in organ studies.
Her first public solo recital, a fundraising concert at Trinity United Church in Newmarket, marked an important milestone in her musical journey. In the 2026–2027 concert season, Angel is scheduled to perform a piano concerto with the York Chamber Ensemble.
Outside of music, Angel enjoys playing the violin, painting, cross-country running, and reading—especially the works of J.K. Rowling, Enid Blyton, and C.S. Lewis. A fan of K-pop, she also lists Blackpink among her favorite artists. Angel was born in Hong Kong and lived in the UK and now resides in Toronto.
Emiliano Contreras
Emiliano is a 16-year-old baritone who loves to sing. He attends Unionville High School in the Arts Vocal program, where he’s explored a wide range of musical genres. His favourites include jazz, pop, R&B, and rock.
Emiliano has been featured throughout the community and in his school. This past year, he was chosen specifically to solo in several school concerts, performing jazz standards with small ensembles and a solo feature with the Arts Unionville Orchestra. He’s also an avid pianist and often accompanies himself while singing his favourite jazz standards. This summer, he picked up the guitar and has been exploring self-accompaniment in this way as well.
Under the guidance of Canadian soprano Sarah Amelard, Emiliano has celebrated many accomplishments. At the 2024/2025 NATS Auditions, he placed first in classical voice, popular voice with track, and self-accompanied popular voice. In February 2025, he won multiple awards at the Pickering GTA Festival and the Newmarket Voice Festival, including two firsts, a third, and a gold. With the highest average at these competitions, he was chosen to advance to the OMFA provincial competition in June 2025. At Provincials, he earned an Honourable Mention in classical voice and placed second in both popular voice with track and self-accompanied pop, a tremendous feat. He also achieved First Class Honours on his Royal Conservatory of Music Level 7 voice exam and is currently working toward his Level 8 voice exam.
In the summers, Emiliano lends his voice to the community, participating in Sarah’s Singing Studio’s Summer Vocal Outreach Initiative. This intergenerational outreach connects highly skilled adolescent musicians with seniors in the community. A volunteer initiative, Emiliano holds the position of music team lead as well as performer. Singing isn’t just a passion, it's something he truly loves, and something he wants to pursue in the future.
Erika Merkley
Erika Merkley is a 17-year-old flautist who studies with Stephen Tam and attends the Arts Unionville music program. Erika won First in Class and Gold Award from the Toronto Kiwanis Festival for Grade 5 Flute in 2023. She is part of many of her school’s ensembles, playing flute and piccolo for the UHS Wind Ensemble, UHS Chamber Winds, and the UHS Showtime Pit Orchestra. Erika was also part of the Ontario Provincial Honour Band in 2024.
Sacred Heart Jazz Combo, Sacred Heart Ensemble
The Sacred Heart Jazz Combo (affectionately known as the Sacred Olympic Pickleball Team) is a student-led ensemble defined by musical excellence and community spirit. Each year, teachers and graduating seniors collaborate to select new members who best represent the program’s values.
2025-2026 Musicians: Abel Alvarez (Gr. 12, Guitar), Taylor Franco (Gr. 12, Vocals), Cassandra Macatangay (Gr. 12, Drums), Julian Fontana (Gr. 11, Bass), and Matthew Fu (Gr. 9, Keys).
The Combo has performed at the Newmarket Farmers' Market and the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association AGM, as well as various events at Sacred Heart and our associate schools. While they specialize in jazz and pop, their versatility allows them to tackle any genre or musical challenge.
2025 Young Artists' Showcase
Under the direction of Sheila Vandikas, The Young Artists' Showcase took place in February 2025 and featured these gifted young musicians from the region.
The Clarke Duo - Violin, Cello and Piano
Clarke Duo - Zoe Laiyi Clarke, violin, Noah Clarke, cello and piano Noah Clarke, 17, plays the cello under Andras Weber and the piano under his grandmother, Aster Lai. He has achieved First Class Honours ARCT diplomas and won top honors at the Toronto Kiwanis Festival and Ontario Provincials in 2024. Zoe Laiyi Clarke, 15, studies violin with both her grandfather, Tak Ng Lai and her mother, Joyce Lai. She has earned first place in various competitions, including the Unionville Music Competition. Both are members and featured soloists of the York Chamber Ensemble, along with their father, Ian Clarke in the 2024-2025 season.
Lily Jones
16-year-old soprano, Lily Jones, studies under Sarah Amelard and attends the Arts Unionville vocal music program. She has a passion for singing across multiple genres and has won several prestigious awards, including the National Gold Medal for her Royal Conservatory Level 5 Voice exam in 2023. Lily actively participates in community performances, including summer sessions and fundraisers. She will be a featured lead in the upcoming Unionville High School musical Curtains in early 2025 and has credits from productions like Annie and Joseph.
Aidan Cheng, Piano
Aidan Cheng, a dedicated pianist since age 6, studies with Dr. Younggun Kim and has won numerous international competitions. He has participated in prestigious summer festivals and masterclasses with renowned musicians. Aidan plays in the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and attends the Arts Unionville piano program, while also being an accomplished double bassist in the school's orchestras and jazz ensembles. Recently, he’s explored composing, earning prizes under Dr. Roydon Tse’s guidance, showcasing over a decade of musical experience
Huron Heights Chamber Choir: Arlene Charters, Director
The Huron Heights Chamber Choir, a mixed ensemble of vocal majors from the Arts Huron program at Huron Heights Secondary School, is directed by Ms. Arlene Charters, a University of Toronto Voice graduate. They perform a diverse repertoire from Classical to Contemporary and have been featured as guest artists in various community events. Recently, they excelled at the Ontario Vocal Festival and Music Fest Canada, earning gold medals in both. The choir eagerly anticipates participating in the Young Artist Showcase and future performance opportunities.
