BEYOND THE NOTES
Muzewest Concerts, in partnership with the Vancouver Westcoast Music Society, is launching Beyond the Notes this season. It’s a series of informal talks designed to spark open, engaging conversations about music— whether it's through informal talks, lectures or masterclasses.
At the heart of this series is our focus on youth and the next generation of music lovers and creators. We want to create a space where artists, audiences, and community members can come together for thoughtful dialogue about the future of live performance.
We are working hard to confirm events as we are able to. New events will be posted here as soon as we can confirm it. The best way to stay up-to-date with all our events is to get on our mailing list!
All events in this series are free and open to the public! In order for us to control capacity, please sign up for the events on Showpass.
April 24, 2026, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
Are you curious about classical music but don’t know where to start? Or are you already a classical music fan looking for a deeper experience of the music you love? Join us for a fascinating lecture for beginners and experts alike, presented in partnership with the Vancouver Recital Society and Muzewest Concerts!
In this presentation, historical recordings expert Mark Ainley (The Piano Files) will share the sublime music-making of some master pianists of the past. Historical recordings can offer more than inspiring performances: they are a form of sonic time travel that provide a direct transmission from artists who were present when the music we love was new.
As he unpacks what makes these legendary musicians and their performances so extraordinary, Mark will help you open your ears and mind to hear classical music in a new way - both in recordings and in live concert settings.
March 27, 2026, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Mary Olson Hall, Vancouver Academy of Music
Nathan Meltzer, winner of the 2023 Concert Artist Guild Competition, major prizewinner at the 2022 Sibelius and Singapore International Violin Competitions, and youngest ever to win the Windsor Festival Competition, will lead a violin masterclass on March 27, 2026, offering selected local young violinists the opportunity to receive personalized coaching from one of today's most exciting rising soloists. As co-founder and Artistic Director of The Green Room Ensemble, a non-profit chamber music organization dedicated to new music and historically underexplored works by composers from a variety of backgrounds and heritages, Meltzer brings not only exceptional artistic credentials but also a deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of musicians and expanding the boundaries of the classical repertoire. A Juilliard graduate and student of Li Lin and Itzhak Perlman, he offers students a rare window into the artistry and musical values of a performer whom Gramophone has praised for technique that enables full expressive command of whatever he plays.
January 11, 2026, 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Tom Lee Music Recital Hall (Downtown)
728 Granville Street, Vancouver
Canadian pianist Élisabeth Pion will be teaching four of Greater Vancouver's talented piano students in a masterclass at the Tom Lee Music Recital Hall in Downtown Vancouver on January 11th, 2026. Learn about the work that pianists have to go through to take a piece of music to performance-ready level.
The event is open to the public.
November 6, 2025, 10:00 AM (refreshments), 10:30 AM (talk)
Mary Olson Hall, Vancouver Academy of Music
Leila Getz, founder and artistic director of the Vancouver Recital Society, will lead a talk titled “Is Talent Enough? What Defines Success in Music Today.” For over 45 years, Leila has shaped Canada’s classical music landscape, discovering and presenting emerging artists who have gone on to become some of the world’s most celebrated musicians. Her deep experience in identifying, mentoring, and championing artistic talent offers rare insight into how careers are built and sustained in today’s rapidly changing musical world. Currently serving on the jury of the 2025 Honens International Piano Competition, Leila brings a lifetime of perspective to the question of what truly defines success in music today—a conversation that resonates deeply as Muzewest prepares to present the 2025 Honens Laureate later this season.
