Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra

Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra The VICO, founded in 2001, was one of the first concert orchestras in the world devoted specifically to performing new intercultural music on a grand scale.

It is currently the only such professional orchestra in Canada. Described by The Georgia Straight as “music that sounds like Vancouver looks”, the orchestra involves musicians and composers from many cultural and artistic communities in the Lower Mainland including Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Indian, Persian (Iranian) and Middle Eastern, Latin and South American, Vietnamese, African, North American and European. The VICO’s programming sheds light on the musical traditions of Canada’s many cultures and the myriad bridges between them.
- Winner, 2012 City of Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award

TONIGHT in Mexico City! Saturday Oct 10, 2026 at 6:00 pmThe VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor present ECHOES OF NOW...
10/10/2026

TONIGHT in Mexico City! Saturday Oct 10, 2026 at 6:00 pm

The VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor present ECHOES OF NOW - a vibrant contemporary classical programme featuring:

1. Mirage by Saeed Mirzazadeh
2. Intermezzo #1 by Manuel M. Ponce (arr. Taraneh Foroozan)
3. As the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow by Rita Ueda
4. NightSongDance by Mark Armanini
5. Joy Boy by Julius Eastman
6. Oncidium Blossoming by Tonalli R. Nakamura
7. Planh: de temps by Farshid Samandari
8. Balada: de temps by Farshid Samandari

Thank you to Festival CulturaUNAM () for inviting us, and to our co-presenter Imaginante SC and the funders who have made this tour possible:
*Canada Council for the Arts
*BC Arts Council
*City of Vancouver

TONIGHT! Thurs Oct 8 at 7:30 pm in LeónThe VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor perform with members of Trinitate Phil...
10/08/2026

TONIGHT! Thurs Oct 8 at 7:30 pm in León

The VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor perform with members of Trinitate Philharmonia and Orquesta Fundación León. On the bill:

1. Simple Tunes in Yunnan Folk Style by Jin Zhang
2. Crossover by Ali Razmi
3. Xochipitzahuatl - traditional, arranged by Amy Stephen
4. Passion’s Passage by Moshe Denburg
5. In C by Terry Riley

Co-presented by Imaginante SC, with thanks to the funders who have made this tour possible:
*Canada Council for the Arts
*BC Arts Council
*City of Vancouver

TONIGHT! Weds Oct 7, 2026 at 8:00 pm in LéonThe VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor present ECHOES OF NOW - a vibrant...
10/07/2026

TONIGHT! Weds Oct 7, 2026 at 8:00 pm in Léon

The VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor present ECHOES OF NOW - a vibrant contemporary classical programme featuring:

1. Mirage by Saeed Mirzazadeh
2. Intermezzo #1 by Manuel M. Ponce (arr. Taraneh Foroozan)
3. As the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow by Rita Ueda
4. NightSongDance by Mark Armanini
5. Joy Boy by Julius Eastman
6. Oncidium Blossoming by Tonalli R. Nakamura
7. Planh: de temps by Farshid Samandari
8. Balada: de temps by Farshid Samandari

Thank you to Forum Cultural Guanajuato for inviting us, and to our co-presenter Imaginante SC and the funders who have made this tour possible:
*Canada Council for the Arts
*BC Arts Council
*City of Vancouver

10/06/2026

Next stop: Mexico! 🇲🇽 The VICO Tentet and conductor Janna Sailor are en route to concert appearances at Forum Cultural Guanajuato (Léon) and Festival Cultura UNAM (Mexico City). We are honoured to have been invited to perform at these festivals, and can’t wait to share music with new audiences in our Latin American debut. Grateful thanks to our Mexican co-presenter, Imaginante SC, and to the funders who have made this project possible: Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, and the City of Vancouver.

Next stop: Mexico! The VICO Tentet, conductor Janna Sailor, Artistic Director Farshid Samandari, and Marketing/Productio...
10/06/2026

Next stop: Mexico!

The VICO Tentet, conductor Janna Sailor, Artistic Director Farshid Samandari, and Marketing/Production Coordinator Gina Hernandez Sanchez all boarded a flight to Mexico City early this morning, en route to concert appearances at Forum Cultural Guanajuato (Oct 7-8, Léon) and Festival Cultura UNAM (Mexico City, Oct 10-11). This is the VICO's Latin American debut, and we are so excited to perform at these festivals!

We extend grateful thanks to our Mexican hosts, co-presenter Imaginante SC, and the funders who have made this adventure possible:
*Canada Council for the Arts
*BC Arts Council
*City of Vancouver Cultural Services

We're still buzzing from the beautiful evening we had last Friday Sept 25, celebrating the VICO's 25th birthday! To this...
10/02/2026

We're still buzzing from the beautiful evening we had last Friday Sept 25, celebrating the VICO's 25th birthday! To this fantastic group of artists for the gorgeous music, to everyone who came and celebrated with us, and to all of the friends and supporters who have helped over our first quarter century to build the VICO into what it is today... thank you!! Here's to the next 25 years, and beyond.

📷 : VICO Anniversary Orchestra, by Gina Hernandez Sanchez
Front row (L-R): Geronimo Mendoza, Moshe Denburg, Farshid Samandari, Janna Sailor, Ali Razmi, Doug Hensley, Jun Rong, Mark Armanini, Sina Ettehad, Dailin Hsieh

Back row (L-R): Mark Takeshi McGregor, Liam Hockley, Amy Stephen, Zhongxi Wu, Lan Tung, Mike Brown, Saina Khaledi, Martin Fisk, Jonathan Bernard, Sarah Kwok, Mark Ferris, Finn Manniche, Michael Vaughn

09/24/2026

We can’t wait to celebrate the VICO’s 25th birthday this Friday Sept 25, with all these amazing musicians…and YOU! Tickets are still available online or at the door - only $25. Don’t miss out!

Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra returns to the Roedde House Museum this fall for a fusion of Celtic & Persian music i...
09/02/2026

Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra returns to the Roedde House Museum this fall for a fusion of Celtic & Persian music in their historical parlour!

🫖🍪Tea and Cookies will be served at the end of the concert.

Ticket holders should arrive no later than 10 minutes before showtime to secure seats.

Seating is limited.

📍1415 Barclay Street
🎟️link in bio or scan QR code
🕰️ 7PM

🎉VICO Celebrates 25 Years on Sept 25! 🎉We're marking our first quarter-century with a joyful concert that brings togethe...
09/01/2026

🎉VICO Celebrates 25 Years on Sept 25! 🎉
We're marking our first quarter-century with a joyful concert that brings together ensemble members past and present, and showcases the VICO’s signature fusion of Canadian contemporary classical and world music. We'd love for you to join us in marking this milestone!

TICKETS (only $25!): https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/vico-25th-anniversary-concert

Featuring: The VICO Tentet; Janna Sailor (conductor); Amy Stephen (vocals, harp); Lan Tung (erhu), Dailin Hsieh (zheng), Jonathan Bernard (percussion); Liam Hockley (clarinet); Mark Takeshi McGregor (flute); Mark Ferris (violin); & other special guests still to be announced!

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The VICO respectfully acknowledges that this concert takes place on the traditional, unceded territories of the Coast Salish people, in particular the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tseil-Waututh First Nations.

We also extend grateful thanks to the following funders, whose support is crucial to this project:

The Canada Council for the Arts
The Province of BC (Community Gaming)
The City of Vancouver (Cultural Services)
District of West Vancouver
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TONIGHT! Tickets available at the door! After a rapturous reception for this programme in East Vancouver last night, we'...
08/21/2026

TONIGHT! Tickets available at the door! After a rapturous reception for this programme in East Vancouver last night, we're bringing it to Surrey tonight (Fri Aug 21). Don't miss out!

MIDSUMMER MIX TAPE
August 21, 2026 at 8 pm
Green Timbers Covenant Church
14219 88 Ave, Surrey
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/midsummer-mix-tape OR at the door

This year’s concert explores the concept of freedom and the many ways in which this can be felt, represented, and sung across musical cultures. “Grandview Park Playlist” weaves together strands from Chinese, Persian, Balkan, Celtic, and Métis cultures into a fresh, uniquely Canadian tapestry of sound.

FEATURING: Vocalists D'arcy Han (Z**i), Shireen Nabatian, Kathleen Nisbet, and Amy Stephen
with arrangements by Amy, Kathleen, Mariah Mennie, and Michael J Fleming
Each vocalist will perform a colourful selection of folk/pop/contemporary songs, arranged specially for a unique instrumental ensemble featuring Molly MacKinnon (violin), Laine Longton (cello), Dai Lin Hsieh (zheng), Mike Brown (bass clarinet), Saina Khaledi (santour), Amy Stephen (accordion/harp), and Jonathan Bernard (percussion).
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1895 Venables Street
Vancouver, BC
V5L 2H6

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