From Darkness to Light

Vincent Ho’s From Darkness to Light is a deeply personal and emotionally charged work, originally composed for cello and string orchestra. It was inspired by the experiences of cancer patients and survivors, the piece explores the psychological and emotional journey of facing illness, from the fear and uncertainty of diagnosis to moments of reflection, strength, and eventual healing. It’s not just about struggle; it’s about resilience. The music moves through contrasting moods, at times bleak and searching, other times peaceful, even luminous, capturing what Ho describes as “the courage and triumph of the human spirit.” The cello serves as the voice of the individual, vulnerable but never alone, supported by the warmth of the orchestra as it journeys from inner darkness toward light. Ho collaborated closely with Calgary oncologist Dr. Arnie Aberman and patients at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre when writing this work. Their stories and insights directly influenced the piece’s emotional arc, making From Darkness to Light not just a piece of music, but a shared reflection on life, loss, and hope.

Vincent Ho, composer

Vincent Ho is a multi-award winning composer of orchestral, chamber, vocal, and theatre music. His works have been described as “brilliant and compelling” by The New York Times and hailed for their profound expressiveness and textural beauty, leaving audiences talking about them with great enthusiasm. His many awards and recognitions have included four Juno Award nominations, Harvard University’s Fromm Music Commission, The Canada Council for the Arts’ “Robert Fleming Prize”, ASCAP’s “Morton Gould Young Composer Award”, four SOCAN Young Composers Awards, and CBC Radio’s Audience Choice Award (2009 Young Composers’ Competition). During the period of 2007-2014, Dr. Ho has served as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s composer-in-residence and had presented a number of large-scale works that have generated much excitement and critical praise. His Arctic Symphony has been described “as a beautiful work that evokes the Far North in a very special way” (John Corigliano), and “a mature and atmospheric work that firmly establishes Ho among North American composers of note” (Winnipeg Free Press). His percussion concerto, titled The Shaman, composed for Dame Evelyn Glennie was hailed as a triumph, receiving unanimous acclaim and declared by critics as “Spectacular” (The New York Classical Review), “A powerhouse work” (The Winnipeg Free Press), and “Rocking/mesmerizing…downright gorgeous” (The Pittsburgh Gazette). His second concerto for Glennie titled From Darkness To Light, Ho’s musical response to the cancer illness, was  lauded as “a lasting masterpiece of sensitivity and perception” (Winnipeg Free Press).  His cello concerto, City Suite, composed for Canadian cellist Shauna Rolston, has received similar praise with critics calling it “Thrilling” (Windsor Star) and “Overflowing with striking ideas…The most successful piece heard at this year’s Festival” (Classical Voice America). Born in Ottawa, Ontario in 1975, Vincent Ho began his musical training through Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music where he earned his Associate Diploma in Piano Performance. He gained his Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary, his Master of Music from the University of Toronto, and his Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California. His mentors have included Allan Bell, David Eagle, Christos Hatzis, Walter Buczynski, and Stephen Hartke. In 1997, he was awarded a scholarship to attend the Schola Cantorum Summer Composition Program in Paris, where he received further training in analysis, composition, counterpoint, and harmony, supervised by David Diamond, Philip Lasser, and Narcis Bonet. In his free time, he enjoys running, reading, traveling, dancing, hiking, playing chess, and learning the keyboard works of Bach, Beethoven, Ravel, and Ligeti (among many others). He is also an enthusiast of old-time radio shows, photography, crime noir, Zen art, jazz, Jimi Hendrix, graphic novels, and Stanley Kubrick films. Dr. Ho has taught at the University of Calgary and currently serves as Artistic Director to Land’s End Ensemble. His works are published and managed by Promethean Editions Ltd and Theodore Presser Company.

Symphony No. 5 in D minor, Op 47

Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 is one of the most famous examples of music created under political pressure, and of an artist speaking truth through coded expression. After being publicly denounced by Stalin’s regime for his opera Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, Shostakovich needed to redeem himself. This symphony, premiered in 1937, was officially subtitled “A Soviet artist’s creative response to just criticism”, but its music tells a more complex story. The piece moves between raw intensity, haunted stillness, and moments of sweeping grandeur. At the Leningrad premiere, many audience members reportedly wept during the Largo, not from joy, but from recognition. Despite its official success, many listeners heard the symphony as a quiet act of resistance, a powerful reminder of how music can carry meaning even when words are dangerous.

Dimitri Shostakovich, composer

Dmitri Shostakovich was one of the most influential — and enigmatic — composers of the 20th century. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, he lived and worked during one of the most politically oppressive eras in Soviet history. His music, especially his symphonies and string quartets, is often full of tension, irony, and hidden meanings beneath. He first rose to fame in the 1920s, but his relationship with Stalin’s regime was volatile. After being denounced for “formalism,” Shostakovich responded with works like Symphony No. 5 that seemed to conform, yet left room for listeners to hear deeper messages of resistance or grief. Throughout his life, Shostakovich was deeply affected by war, censorship, and political surveillance. His music often reflects fear, mourning, and endurance, but also wit and strength. Despite the challenges, he remained incredibly prolific, writing 15 symphonies, 15 string quartets, operas, concertos, and film scores. Shostakovich reportedly kept a packed suitcase by the door for years, in case he was arrested during the night. Still, he never stopped composing.