2026-02-21 Our First Rising Stars Concert Celebrates Vancouver's Young Talent

VCGS has always nurtured and celebrated young talent. Our twice-yearling student Open Stage has seen young performers develop over the years into accomplished performers. winning awards at competitions and going on to study at post-secondary institutions. But in early 2026, with several exceptional young performers here in Vancouver, we decided to host our first ever Rising Stars concert to celebrate these teen guitarists. The event received lots of attention in the local media and was attended by a huge appreciative audience. Vancouver teen wins global recognition for her classical guitar skills | Vancouver Sun

Here’s the media release we sent out:

The Vancouver Classic Guitar Society presents
RISING STARS: A CELEBRATION OF OUR OWN MULTI-AWARD-WINNING CLASSICAL GUITARISTS

The Vancouver Classic Guitar Society (VCGS) proudly presents Rising Stars: A Celebration, a very special concert that captures an extraordinary moment in British Columbia’s musical life. This landmark event on Saturday, February 21st at 3 pm at Pacific Spirit United Church brings together four teenage guitarists who, despite their young ages, have already amassed an astonishing list of provincial, national, and international awards especially in 2025. Our rising stars are Catherine Huo (14), Tiger Chen (16), Eileen (Haoyue) Tang (16), and Justin Zhou (17).  For the first time in the Society’s history, we’re devoting an entire concert exclusively to emerging youth artists who have grown up, musically speaking, in our own community.  Tickets are just $10 and available at www.vancouverguitar.org

All four performers are longtime participants in VCGS Student Open Stages and have studied with respected Vancouver-area teachers including Galina Jitlina, Alec Pearson, Alan Liu and Luis Medina, whose mentorship has helped shape a new generation of outstanding musicians.

Their program will feature music by J.S. Bach, Agustín Barrios, Roland Dyens, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and more - guitar repertoire that demands discipline, maturity and imagination.  

Catherine Huo (14)
West Vancouver’s Catherine Huo has emerged as one of the most decorated young classical guitarists in North America. In 2025 alone, at just 13 years old, she achieved an unprecedented series of victories, including First Place at the Denver International Guitar Festival and Competition,  Second Prize in the Junior Division of the Guitar Foundation of America Competition, the most prestigious guitar competition in the world, and made history by winning First Place in the Adult Division at both GuitarFest West (Canada) and the Northwest Guitar Festival (USA)—becoming the youngest adult-division winner in the history of both competitions. Catherine has also been featured by Guitar Salon International, the world’s leading classical guitar media platform. And it’s not just guitar she excels in – Catherine is also an award winning modern and ballet dancer.   She hopes to make her career as a professional classical guitarist and she’s well on her way. 

Watch Catherine perform on YouTube:

Catherine Huo performs J.S. Bach's "BWV 995: Prelude – Très Vite" on 2025 Marc Dickinson guitar

Roland Dyens' "Clown Down" performed by Catherine Huo on a 1996 Manuel Reyes classical guitar

Tiger Chen (16)
Richmond-based guitarist Mingtai (Tiger) Chen began playing guitar at age nine and has rapidly become one of British Columbia’s most promising young musicians. His recent achievements include Runner-Up at the 2025 Northwest Guitar Festival (Youth Division), First Place at the 2025 Provincial Performing Arts Festival (Intermediate Division), Gold at the 2025 Autumn VAYA International Music Festival, Virtuoso Performer at the World Open 2024 Online Music Competition, and Overall Class Winner in Classical & Romantic and National Styles at the 2025 Vancouver Kiwanis Music Festival. A Grade 11 student at Steveston London Secondary School, Tiger is admired for his refined tone, thoughtful interpretations, and genuine joy in music-making.

Eileen (Haoyue) Tang (16)
A Grade 11 student at J.N. Burnett Secondary School in Richmond, Eileen (Haoyue) Tang is a guitarist of exceptional musical insight and discipline. She first encountered the guitar in Grade 2 while living in China and began formal study in Grade 4. Her accomplishments include being named Royal Conservatory of Music National Gold Medalist (2025), Second Place at the 2025 Provincial Performing Arts Festival, and First Place at the 2021 Provincial Performing Arts BC Festival, along with additional awards at VAYA, Kiwanis, and other regional festivals. Eileen approaches the guitar as a deeply personal, long-term pursuit—one that rewards patience, perseverance, and thoughtful engagement with the music.

Justin Zhou (17)
Seventeen-year-old Justin Zhou is a Grade 12 student at Moscrop Secondary School in Burnaby and an accomplished guitarist with a strong record of achievement. He began playing guitar in July 2016 and has earned numerous distinctions, including the UFCA Annual Award for Distinction, a Regional Gold Medal from the Royal Conservatory of Music, multiple First Place awards at the Kiwanis Music Festival, First Place at the Richmond Music Festival, and participation in the 2024 Canadian Music Festival. Justin has studied in masterclasses with internationally renowned artists such as Jorge Caballero, Marc Teicholz, Ben Verdery, and Daniel Bolshoy at the Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival.