--Intermission--
Experience an evening of music inspired by folklore, storytelling, and vibrant national traditions.
Ravel's enchanting Mother Goose Suite opens the concert with a series of colourful musical fairy tales, followed by the dazzling virtuosity of Tzigane, performed by Oliver Xu, violin, prize-winner of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra's 2026 Youth Concerto Competition.
After intermission, Canadian composer (and OCO's Music Director) Charles Demuynck's Upbeat brings rhythmic energy and contemporary flair, leading into Bartók's evocative Hungarian Sketches, inspired by the folk music of his native Hungary.
The program concludes with Berio's celebrated Folk Songs, performed by mezzo-soprano Cassandra Warner, weaving together traditional melodies from around the world in imaginative and captivating settings. This varied program offers a rich blend of familiar favourites, exciting new voices, and outstanding solo performances.
Oliver (Zihuan) Xu, a 17-year-old violinist began playing at age six and currently studies under Marko Dreher. He was accepted into the RCM Phil and Eli Taylor Academy in 2021 and has participated in masterclasses with renowned violinists including Ida Kavafian, Gwen Hoebig, Mimi Zweig, Sibbi Bernhardsson, Martin Beaver, and William Van der Sloot.
In 2026, Oliver won the York Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and received second prize at the Oakville Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition.
In 2025, Oliver received third prize in the Canadian Music Competition age 15-18 Strings category, where he was invited to attend the Gathering with the Stars 2025 after winning first prize in the provincial category. In the same year, he won third prize and the Fondation Tonetti Award at the Geneva Junior Music Competition.
In 2023, he secured first prizes in the Canadian Music Competition and the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy Concerto Competition, alongside multiple awards at local music festivals.
Oliver recently received the Oakville Chamber Orchestra Youth Engagement Scholarship for the third year in a row, joining the orchestra for the 2026-27 season after previously playing in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 season. In addition to this, he was also a member of the Toronto Youth Symphony Orchestra, from 2024-26. Oliver spent the summer of 2024 at the Bowdoin International Music Festival, studying under Nelson Lee.
Oliver is also the violinist of the Inicio Trio. In 2025, they won first prize in the age 15-18 chamber category of the Canadian Music Competition. They also received third prize at the Geneva Junior Music Competition. Additionally, they placed first in the OMFA Provincial Finals as well as in local festivals. In 2023, they won first prize in the age 15 chamber music group in the Canadian Music Competition, various awards in the Peel and Kiwanis music festivals, and the OMFA Provincial Finals.
In addition to music, Oliver enjoys reading, photography, travelling, and math.
Italian Canadian mezzo soprano, Cassandra Warner has garnered international acclaim. With a diverse array of performance experience, Miss Warner has excelled at stage roles, concert performances, international competitions and is frequently engaged to perform for special events world-wide.
An alumni of the Glenn Gould School, Cassandra studied with Ukrainian Canadian soprano, Roxolana Roslak and coach Peter Tiefenbach. Miss Warner has toured across China, the United States, Europe and Canada. She has sung for the Prime Minister of Canada among other foreign dignitaries. Cassandra has appeared with such prominent opera companies as Vancouver Opera, Calgary Opera, Opera Atelier and Opera Toulon in France. She has also performed with such distinguished orchestras as Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Civic Symphony, Tafelmusik Orchestra, Oakville Chamber Orchestra, Masterworks of Oakville and with The Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra.
Miss Warner has been a featured soloist at major events such as Toronto’s Nuit Blanche, the Luminato Festival and made four appearances as soloist with Toronto Concert Orchestra for Casa Loma’s Symphony in the Gardens series with Maestro Kerry Stratton. Miss Warner has been featured by such media outlets as the Toronto Star, CBC Television, CBC Radio, CTV and Classical 96.3 FM Radio.
Cassandra is a certified teacher with the Royal Conservatory of Music and a member of the RCM’s Royal College of Examiners. Recently, Cassandra has been touring her exciting and engaging one-woman with pianist "Opera Cabaret" show to various venues across the country.
Visit her website: cassandrawarner.com and @operacassandra on Instagram for information about upcoming performances.
