Events › Staircase Sounds: Celestial Strings, A Very Việt Christmas

Our monthly concert series Staircase Sounds continues with a one-of-a-kind Christmas concert! This holiday season, Santa’s playlist is getting a major remix. Forget sleigh bells and snow globes — today it’s silk strings, bamboo tones, and one very big cello teaming up with Vietnam’s most iconic instruments! 

In this unique holiday concert, the cello is making friends with the đàn bầu, the đàn tre lắc, the đàn nguyệt and many more traditional Vietnamese instruments to create a festive, cross-cultural soundscape. Together, they’re turning your favourite Christmas carols into something you’ve never heard before! Harmonics that twinkle like fairy lights, plucked strings that sparkle brighter than tinsel, and bass notes so warm you’ll think Santa swapped his red suit for a comfy áo dài. What happens when East meets West under the Christmas tree? “Silent Night” becomes a shimmering lullaby sung on a single string. “Jingle Bells” races along on bamboo and zithers while the cello provides the horsepower. And when the drums kick in — well, Rudolph might need to pedal a xích lô to keep up!

Featuring the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society Band with Mai Nguyen on cello, Edgar Olaguer on guitar, and many unique traditional instruments from Vietnam, this concert is sure to be an unforgettable holiday experience!

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Mai Tuyet Nguyen is a Vietnamese Canadian cellist and educator recognized for her expressive tone and community-minded artistry. A gifted musician from childhood, she was recruited to the Vietnamese National Conservatory before earning a scholarship to the Bulgarian National Conservatory, where she completed a master’s degree in cello in 1995. Since then, Mai has taught cello intensively and performed widely, including chamber appearances with colleagues from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with SEACHS’ ensembles of dancers and singers for festivals, cultural celebrations, and community events.

Edgar Olaguer discovered his passion for music as a child growing up in Manila, teaching himself to play classical guitar pieces by ear. With his father imprisoned as a political detainee, the family had no means to afford formal music lessons. Yet, driven by his love for music, Edgar developed his craft through informal collaborations with childhood friends, many of whom would go on to become renowned professional musicians and composers. His musical journey continued after immigrating to Vancouver, where he embraced new opportunities to explore diverse styles of music unfamiliar to him back home. 

Led by Khắc Chí and Hung Nguyen, the SEACHS Band (also known as Khắc Chí Bamboo Music) is a collective of Vietnamese musicians. They have performed internationally across Asia, Europe, and North America. Rooted in loving-kindness, compassion, equanimity, and joy, the band advances an ethical, decolonizing cultural practice through the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society. Their work raises the visibility of the Southeast Asian diaspora in Canada; nurtures traditional arts as contemporary, experimental expressions; and fosters partnerships that honour heritage while supporting community well-being and environmental care.

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This program is generously funded by VPL Foundation donors. 

This program is being presented in partnership with the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society.

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Accessibility: VPL is committed to making our programs accessible for all. If you have an access need that we have not addressed here, please email us at programs@vpl.ca.

• Level 8 is accessible via the main elevators.
• The Grand Staircase is an open indoor area, that may be busy during the performance.
• Participants are welcome to move, take breaks, or leave the space as needed.
• There will be many seating options available: small hard chairs, big soft chairs, stools, and benches.
• We will reserve a section of chairs for people with mobility needs. There will also be spaces for wheelchairs and mobility devices.

For more information on physical access, view the Accessibility information on the Central Library page.