About Wallace
Wallace Leung had a profound influence on the music world and all those around him. This was communicated by his enormous love of music and life, thereby earning the respect and admiration of everyone with whom he came into contact.
Among his vast accomplishments, Wallace was the Music Director of the Prince George Symphony. A UBC graduate, he was also the Artistic Director of Vancouver Philharmonic and of the Canada West Chamber Orchestra and Conductor of the Vancouver contemporary music group, the Helikon Ensemble. Wallace co-founded The Little Chamber Music Series That Could and for many years was the Artistic Director. He also held the position of Music Director of the award-winning Delta Youth Orchestra and the Fraser Valley Symphony. Wallace’s longest-standing artistic affiliation was with The Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC. He played the violin at the opening of the theatre at age 15, began as assistant conductor at age 19 and became Music Director when he was only 27 years old - a position he held for 7 years until his tragic passing in 2002.
His influence and dedication were felt not only in Vancouver but across Canada and abroad. Wallace appeared with the Nova Sinfonia in Halifax, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra London Canada, the Hungarian Symphony in Budapest, Bohuslave Martinu Philharmonic in the Czech Republic and the Blue Engine Music Society in Halifax, for which he was an artistic advisor and guest conductor.
Wallace never stopped developing his skills as a conductor and was a frequent participant of International Symphonic Workshops. It was during Symphonic Workshops’ production of Die Fledermaus at the Silesian State Opera House in Opava, Czech Republic where he met his fiancée Evelyn Thatcher.
At the time of his tragic passing from encephalitis at only 33 years old, Wallace was mourned by his family, fiancée and multitudes of friends and countless people whom he touched and inspired in his various roles as conductor, musical director, violinist, teacher, and mentor.
Who was Wallace Leung? For those of us who were lucky enough to have known him, it was an honour to have been a part of his life. Everyone knew Wallace. But this kind of renown, to this day, is still very rare. His renoun came from having a meaningful impact on everyone he met, person to person. It is especially rare to have had such an impact on so many people at such a young age.
Wallace accomplished more professionally and personally in the short time he was here than many of us will in our entire lives. Even in his illness, the doctors said most people do not survive 24 hours, and Wallace fought for six weeks.
In addition to his many artistic accomplishments, Wallace will primarily be remembered for being a truly exceptional human being. Wallace lived with great passion in all aspects of his life. He had a great love of sports, particularly soccer, golf and hockey and was an outstanding athlete. Wallace was a consummate team player who put other's interests before his own. His exceptionally rare leadership qualities combined strength, unwavering vision, humility, great passion and humour.
He also loved to travel and considered Vienna to be like a second home. He had the great gift of inspiring both confidence as well as excellence in those around him, enabling each of us to be all we could be. Generous, kind, loyal and loving he had a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious laugh which continues to resonate in our hearts and minds. He loved others with the same passion and dedication with which he lived his life.
If you knew Wallace, you knew the true meaning of integrity and love. Thank you, Wallace, for being this incredible example and for reminding us how much more is always possible for our art and our lives when we open our hearts and expand our vision.
Mission
The Mission of The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund
is to support the growth and development of emerging conductors
from British Columbia, Canada
Immediate Goal
Since 2007 The Wallace Leung Scholarhip Fund has been awarding a scholarship every year to the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra for their Wallace Leung Memorial Assistant Conductor Internship.
Unfortunately this scholarship does not yet fully cover the VPO’s costs of the internship.
Every year we are $900 short.
The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund receives no grants and relies soley on your generous donations.
With your help, we hope to be able to fully fund
the VPO’s Wallace Leung Memorial Assitant Conductor Internship.
Long term Goal
It has been the dream of the committee of The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund since its inception in 2002 to one day make it possible for an emerging conductor from British Columbia to attend the same conducting workshop in the Czech Republic that Wallace loved so much,
and where he developed many of his skills as a conductor.
Past Scholarship Recipients:
The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund has given scholarships every year to the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra’s Wallace Leung Memorial Internship Assistant Conductor position for the past 16 years.
Past participants have included; Lindsay Mellor, Leslie Dala, Barnaby Kerekes, John Trotter, Risa McDonell, Bryan Deans, Rick Dorfer, Nicholas Urquhart, Jens Nissen, Janna Sailor, Alexander Cannon, and Jaelem Bhate
Use the QR Code below:
Ways to Donate
Or, Write a Cheque:
1) Select the amount you’d like to give
2) Select “Scholarships and Bursaries”
3) Under private message write:
"For The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund"
On behalf of the Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund committee,
We thank you so very much for contributing whatever you can,
and for helping to keep Wallace’s legacy and memory alive.
Please write your cheque to:
Vancouver Academy of Music
1270 Chestnut Street,
Vancouver, BC V6J 4R9
In the memo on the cheque please write:
The Wallace Leung Scholarship Fund