Q&A with Philip Chiu
We recently caught up with our SweetWater friend JUNO-award winning pianist, Philip Chiu, back this May to perform with us in Thornbury and Leith. Here's what he's been up to lately and why he's excited to return!
What have you been up to since we last welcomed you in May 2024?
Has it really been a year already? Time flies! I'm grateful to have spent the past year traveling across Canada, performing incredible music for wonderful audiences—not just my SweetWater family. Some highlights include my first performances of major works for piano and orchestra, including Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto and Grieg’s A minor Concerto. And as I write this, I’m gearing up for Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto in early May—wish me luck, I’ll need it! You may have also caught me on CBC this winter, guest-hosting for Tom Allen and Julie Nesrallah on About Time and Tempo—a total blast!
When you are here with us in May, you'll be performing for school children in Owen Sound & Meaford. What's the best question a kid has ever asked you during a school concert?
After more than twenty years of concerts for young audiences, I’ve heard every kind of question—some delightfully silly, others astoundingly astute. But my favorite? The statements that aren’t questions at all: "My uncle plays the piano." Full stop.
You are an avid foodie and we know one of the job perks as a touring pianist is your ability to explore restaurants across the country. What's your favourite spot to eat in Owen Sound?
Casero’s is the gathering spot when artists first arrive in Owen Sound. Edwin (your ever-hospitable artistic director) always welcomes us with a feast of guac, chips, tacos, and laughter—quintessential SweetWater vibes. And if you haven’t tried the Grilled Wild Mushroom dish at Shanny’s, you’re missing out—I’d happily eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Speaking of our hospitable Artistic Director, you and Edwin have played music together since you were teenagers! What's your favourite performance memory with Edwin?
Among friends and colleagues, I’m infamous for having a sieve-like memory when it comes to specifics. But what remains from my years with Edwin is crystal clear: he was already, undeniably Edwin—generous, empathetic, passionate, a touch silly, and, above all else, profoundly kind.
Both concerts in May will feature Schumann's Piano Quintet - a piece that hasn't yet been performed as a part of the SweetWater Festival. What do you love about this piece?
Schumann’s Piano Quintet is chamber music on a grand scale—raucously, unapologetically Romantic. A slugfest between the string quartet and one mighty piano, it expands the intimacy of chamber music into something symphonic in scope, structure, and sound. It erupts like fireworks, whispers like a secret, and never stops thrilling with its twists and turns. Come hear for yourself.