Ethan Liang is a conductor, pianist, fortepianist, and harpsichordist.
This is his inaugural season as the Handel Society’s Artistic Director
Ethan started his musical journey in his pre-teens in his native Taiwan focusing primarily on violin and piano. In high school his interest switched almost exclusively to piano. The range of the instrument, with its inherent ability to express orchestral pieces greatly appealed to him. He began playing everything from Bach to Chinese Pop.
When his family immigrated to Canada, Ethan picked up his studies with the renowned pianist Jane Hays, studying privately while attending Kwantlen University in Langley, BC. Around this time he also began playing church music and jazz with some local groups and became particularly fascinated with music improvisation, harmony, and counterpoint.
He moved to Montreal to pursue his undergraduate and graduate degrees in music at McGill University. During this time he began studying the fortepiano with Tom Begin and Harpsichord with Hank Knox. He also took continuo classes with Hank Knox and became fluent in figured bass and improvisation on keyboard instruments. Ethan has a wide range of experience with chamber ensembles and choral groups as well as baroque orchestras on both piano and harpsichord.
His conducting experience includes the La Chorale Chinoise de pays de rève de Montrèal in Montreal and he has taught music and directed bands at several private schools including Bodewell High School and Cascade Christian School. In addition to his new role of Music Director with the Handel Society he is a music choral and band teacher in both the Langley Publish School District and Surrey School District.