Vancouver, B.C. — Music can soothe pain, kindle hope, and remind us of the power of human connection. As winter settles over the city, a group of young musicians are preparing to brighten Vancouver with an evening devoted to life itself.
Presented by Nature Financial Group and produced by Botu Alliance, “Love Across Mountains and Seas, Voices That Bind Us — Voices for Life: Justin Ko & Friends Charity Concert for the BC Cancer Foundation” will take place on Friday, November 28, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated directly to the BC Cancer Foundation. The organizers have also pledged to raise the total to a minimum of $5,000, ensuring meaningful support for cancer research, treatment innovation, and patient-care programs.
In a city full of performances, this event aims to stand out quietly—not with glamour or marketing tricks, but by returning art to its warmest purpose and letting philanthropy be the brightest light on stage.
Professionalism and Heart: A Winter Night of Shared Resonance
Vancouver never lacks concerts, but few stages manage to hold both artistic excellence and genuine community spirit. This charity performance brings together musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds—Chinese and non-Chinese, immigrants and Canadian-born second-generation youth.
They come from Canada, Germany, and China, each with their own musical language, united by a simple belief: that music can serve life, kindness, and hope.Here, music becomes more than expression. It becomes connection—an honest resonance across cultures, generations, and lived experience.
Justin Ko:
A Vancouver Voice Singing for Something Larger
Vancouver-born Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter Justin Ko will headline the concert. Known for his songwriting, arranging, and piano work, he has become a rising talent in the local music scene. His voice is warm yet bright—carrying the salty wind of the Pacific and the quiet strength of the Rockies.
Ko will present a selection of original works and, in a special tribute segment, will honour Vancouver’s own rock legend Bryan Adams with a performance of “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You.” This timeless ballad will once again echo through Vancouver, linking memory, emotion, and courage.
Guest Artists: A Fusion of East & West, Style & Spirit
YungBoyOtis & Simon Kratz
This cross-cultural music duo will bring an intimate, youthful edge to the stage. Blending rap elements, sung melodies, and electronic soundscapes, they experiment with synthesizers, rhythm, and texture to shape a sound that feels both modern and vulnerable.Their songs do not set out to be heroic. Instead, they linger in the quiet struggles of creative life—the melancholic pull of yearning for a muse, having that muse present in the studio, and realising that while inspiration can fuel the music, it doesn’t automatically heal emotional wounds. In their work, the sad and the joyful stand side by side, embracing both as equally real parts of life.
Song Chen:
Former drummer of Shanghai’s Crystal Butterfly Band and now a folk singer-songwriter, Song Chen will perform his original piece “Land Without Dreams.” His deep, resonant voice—almost reminiscent of throat singing—creates a powerful vibration in the chest that speaks to anyone who has ever paused in life yet refused to abandon their dreams.
Carlo:
A Canadian performer who once represented Canada at the Youth Olympic Games closing ceremony in China—and a cancer survivor. Carlo’s return to the stage is more than a performance; he is a living symbol of hope.In his songs, the audience will hear more than melody: they will hear survival, courage, and the will to move forward.
Li Huan:
Li Huan has devoted many years to the field of classical music education in Vancouver and is deeply committed to discovering and nurturing talented young musicians in the city. With refined technique and exquisite musical sensitivity, she paints a landscape on the strings—an artistic vision reminiscent of traditional Chinese ink-wash scenery.In her performance, the precision of classical music intertwines with the expressive spirit of the East, adding a touch of elegance and serenity to the entire concert.
Four-Host Ensemble:
The evening will be hosted by Bailanmei, Yanzhi, Hekou, and Yuyang, who will guide the audience with warmth and clarity through each chapter of music and storytelling.
When Music Meets Purpose, the Stage Shines Brightest
This concert is about more than artistry. It is an act of generosity, commitment, and care for the community.
Every participating musician—many still at an early stage in their careers—
• is performing without compensation, and
• the lead artist has personally funded a professional band to ensure the highest musical quality.
Every clap from the audience will become encouragement for cancer patients.
Every ticket will translate into real support—helping bring hope to those facing some of life’s toughest battles.
In this multicultural Pacific city, these young artists are offering their own answer to a simple question:
What is the meaning of music?
Their answer is gentle yet powerful: Music is for life.
Event Information
Voices for Life – Charity Concert
Date: Friday, November 28, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Venue: Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre
Address: 950 West 41st Avenue, Vancouver
Ticket Price: $29.99
Tickets (e-transfer): bobbi3333@yahoo.com
Please include a note: “Voices for Life”
On November 28, let voices and hearts share the same space.
Let kindness gather into light inside the theatre.
This winter, Vancouver will be brighter and warmer—thanks to a group of young artists who believe that music can heal, uplift, and unite.