9 ways Canadian music fans can observe Asian Heritage Month

May is Asian Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the contributions and rich heritage of Asian Canadians in this country, while also acknowledging the communities' continued fight for equity in a country with a history of racism, inequality and a recent rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. 

Musical events are an essential part of marking this important month, and below we've chosen nine events we think you'll enjoy that are taking place in May 2023 across the country, comprising films, group performances and an opera showcase. 

It's impossible to cover everything across Canada, so we're also asking for your help: is there a performance happening near you during Asian Heritage Month that you're excited about? How else are you celebrating? Let us know about it in the comments.

1. This film series coordinated by Foon Yap

FascinAsian Film Festival takes place from May 5 to 7 in Winnipeg and May 11 to 14 in Calgary — and Calgary-based artist and classically trained violinist Foon Yap is the festival coordinater this year. "I'm thrilled to use my platform to highlight diverse Asian perspectives," she said via email. "The multiplicity of stories from the diaspora and beyond enriches one's understanding of Asian contributions to the cultural fabric." There are plenty of great films on the lineup, including short film The Headhunter's Daughter, about a woman who "traverses the harrowing roads of the Cordilleran highlands to try her luck in the city as a country singer."

2. This concert in Wolfville, N.S.

On May 13, the Nova Scotia Chinese Culture & Art Club, Daughter 5 and Halifax pop-rock group Casual Cries for Help will take part in an Asian Heritage Month concert at Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville, N.S. Click here for tickets.

3. This Canadian Opera Company showcase series in Toronto

This series of four shows from the Canadian Opera Company features an evening of choral music from Asia and the Asian diaspora, as well as an evening focused on South Asian women in music, including performances by soprano Meher Pavri, actor and singer Tahirih Vejdani and musician/composer Suba Sankaran. It all takes place at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, and you can get more information and tickets here. 

4. This Enchanted Evening with Michelle Kwan and Royce Rich in Vancouver

On May 26, guzheng player Michelle Kwan and violinist Royce Rich (a CBC Music 30 under 30 alum) will kick off the 2023 season of the Enchanted Evenings concert series, which aims to provide "a safe, inclusive, creative space and platform for local BIPOC artists featuring a diverse range of musical genres reflecting the rich cultural mosaic of Vancouver's arts and culture scene." Tickets to the event include access to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, a "specially curated" menu of food and admission to the concert.

5. This evening at the Chan Centre, also in Vancouver

Violinist and composer Layale Chaker, clarinetist and composer Kinan Azmeh and composer/conductor and pianist Dinuk Wijeratne join forces on May 5 for a concert at Vancouver's Chan Centre titled The Journeyed Compass, described as a "Middle Eastern and South Asian music mix for a soulful program inspired by the idea of what 'home' means to us all." There will also be a pre-concert talk with Eshantha Joseph Peiris, who teaches at Vancouver Community College and Vancouver Academy of Music.

6. This monthly reading and art series in Ottawa

In Our Tongues is an Ottawa-based series dedicated to showcasing poets, writers, musicians and other artists who are Black, Indigenous and people of colour, and on May 10 it's celebrating Asian Heritage Month with an evening of storytelling and celebration featuring poet and musician Roshan James, drag performer Ai Amor and DJ Trinidaddy. The event is pay-what-you-can, and you can register via the In Our Tongues site.

7. This Festival Accès Asie afternoon of music in Montreal

Festival Accès Asie "promotes Asian arts, cultures and histories through a diversity of artistic disciplines including the visual arts, dance, theatre, film, music, literature, performance, new media and culinary arts" — and the festival is filled with opportunities to celebrate Asian Heritage Month in whatever art form speaks to you. Its closing event from 2 to 5 p.m. on May 28 will be a fun-filled afternoon in Montreal's Jardins Gamelin, where you can watch performances by Arashi Daiko, a Japanese drum group, as well as Pamana, a group of Filipino musicians and dancers, and sound artist Chittakone Baccam, a.k.a. Hazy Montagne Mystique.

8. This month-long themed radio showcase streaming anywhere you are

ISO Radio is a community station run out of Toronto that streams live online so anyone across the country can tune in. On top of its regular programming, ISO has selected a slew of Asian Canadian and Asian American DJs to take over its airwaves throughout this month. From May 3 to 24, you can hear mixes from the New Ho Queen collective, Angelphroot, DJ Mensa, Efemmera, Katarama, Manalang, Mui Mui and Hùng Đoàn. Three of the four ISO co-founders are of Asian descent, and they always make a concerted effort to platform DJs and hosts from their cultures. Co-founder Josephine Cruz told CBC Music that "Asian heritage is part of our year-round DNA, but we are always happy to take advantage of a month to be extra with it."

9. This evening of delightful performances in Charlottetown

This May 14 event at the University of Prince Edward Island Performing Arts Centre is hosted by the Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Filipino, Persian and Middle Eastern communities on P.E.I., put on by the province's Asian Heritage Society. The evening will include performances from dulcimer artist Yi Chen and Himalayan singing bowls artist Le Lan Huong, as well as a chance to learn tai chi. "I could just go on and on with these music talents we have in P.E.I.," Monika Wang, co-organizer of the Asian Heritage Society, told CBC Music. "We are truly lucky and blessed to host this event." Get tickets via Eventbrite.