Biography
Berlin Philharmonie concert hall
Ricker Choi is a Toronto-based classical pianist and artist. He had performed live on 96.3 FM classical radio in Toronto. He has also been featured at TSMAF`s Emerging Artists in Concert at Walter Hall, and with Off Centre Music Salon at Glenn Gould Studio. In 2011, he gave a solo recital at Four Seasons Centre. His most memorable experience was performing at 2,400-seat Berlin Philharmonie and 1,000-seat Salle Gaveau in Paris. Ricker had participated in masterclasses of renowned pianists including Anton Kuerti, Olga Kern, Andre Laplante, Marietta Orlov, Ilya Itin and Joseph Banowetz.
Ricker began studying piano at age 13, after his family immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong. After earning the ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance at age 18, Ricker enrolled in York University’s Schulich School of Business, where he earned an undergraduate degree and MBA. He is also a Financial Risk Manager.
He used his music and art to advocate for democracy in Hong Kong. He composed a solo piano work "Hong Kong Rhapsody" (香港狂想曲) in honor of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement. He is also a prolific artist and his protest art has been exhibited in Hong Kong, London (United Kingdom), New York (USA), Toronto, Edmonton and Alberta (Canada), Tokyo (Japan), and Dublin (Ireland), Prague, Taiwan, and magazine Broken Pencil.
Ricker combines his love of art and philanthropy, has organized many fund-raising concerts and art auction for various causes.
AWARDS:
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3rd: 2012 Concours International de Grands Amateurs de Piano
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2nd: 2010 Berlin Int'l Amateur Piano Competition
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2nd: 2009 Boston Int'l Amateur Piano Competition
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3rd: 2008 Washington Int'l Piano Artists Competition
Local festival Grand Prize winner:
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Markham Music Festival
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North York Music Festival
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Scarborough Music Festival
For more on Ricker's musical journey, see "From HK's SPCC to Toronto's Brebeuf".
