NAIA STRING QUARTET: Light, Rhythm and Movement
SUNDAY, 8 November 2026 | DOORS AT 14:30, PERFORMANCE FROM 15:00
THIS IS A GIFT ECONOMY event
Vancouver’s hottest new chamber ensemble, Naia String Quartet, will play an evocative program featuring three vibrant contemporary works: Osvaldo Golijov’s haunting Tenebrae, Caroline Shaw’s richly textured Plan & Elevation, and Jessie Montgomery’s energetic Strum. Together, these works explore darkness and light, rhythm and movement, and our connection to place.
The Program
Our program brings together three distinctive contemporary voices: Osvaldo Golijov, Jessie Montgomery, and Caroline Shaw. Though each composer has a unique musical language, all three works invite us to consider how sound can evoke place, community, memory, and the world around us.
Osvaldo Golijov’s Tenebrae is a haunting expressive work inspired by the ancient Christian tradition of Tenebrae – the service of darkness. Written in response to the violence and uncertainty of the modern world, the piece moves between intimacy and intensity, creating a powerful meditation on grief, hope, and humanity.
Caroline Shaw’s Plan & Elevation turns our attention toward architecture and landscape. Inspired by the gardens and design of Dumbarton Oaks in Washington, D.C., the piece explores the relationship between people and place through shifting textures, colors, and perspectives. Like walking through a garden, the music continually reveals something new around the corner.
Jessie Montgomery’s Strum takes on a different energy, drawing on the rhythmic vitality of American folk music traditions. Its infectious pulse and layered textures create a sense of movement and collective momentum, while moments of lyrical reflection reveal the warmth and versatility of the string ensemble.
Together, these works form a journey through darkness, discovery, and motion: three different perspectives on how music can connect us to one another and to the spaces we inhabit.
About Naia String Quartet:
Formed in 2025 from a shared love of chamber music, the Naia String Quartet (Samantha Kung and Alvin Tran, violins; Ju Dee Ang, viola; and Trisha Doo, cello) strives to bring high-quality performances to audiences throughout the Lower Mainland.
The NSQ is passionate about presenting diverse and underrepresented repertoire in both traditional and unconventional venues. Through engaging and accessible performances, the quartet seeks to create unique experiences that foster meaningful connections between audiences and musicians.
Members of the NSQ regularly perform with ensembles throughout British Columbia and beyond, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony, and Kamloops Symphony. They hold degrees from institutions including the University of British Columbia, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, McGill University, Eastman School of Music, and Boise State University.
Offstage, the NSQ enjoys good coffee, great ice cream, and anything fresh from the oven.
Alvin
Born in Vancouver, Canadian violinist Alvin Tran is an active performer throughout North America. Comfortable performing solo, orchestral, and chamber music, Alvin is eager to bring music of all kinds to audiences around the world. He is a former member of the first violin section of the Boise Philharmonic and plays as an extra musician with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Sam
Samantha Kung obtained both her bachelor of music degree in violin performance, and master’s degree in music at the University of British Columbia. She is an active violinist, performing in concerts throughout the Greater-Vancouver community whether it is solo or ensembles of various make-up and sizes. She loves music making and working with dancers, singers and a variety of artists.
Ju Dee
Ju Dee Ang is a busy freelance violist around the Vancouver area who enjoys a varied musical life but is most passionate about chamber music and quartet playing. Originally from Singapore, Ju Dee holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Music degree from Indiana University.
Trisha
Canadian cellist Trisha Doo is a versatile performer known for her charismatic and radiant style. She made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall at age 16 and has since performed as a soloist with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and Vancouver Cantata Singers, and regularly plays as a substitute cellist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Trisha holds a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and is an active solo, chamber, and orchestral musician based in Vancouver.