Biography

Patty Chan, born in Toronto, started playing the erhu at the age of 12. She went on to become principal erhu player with the Chinese Instrumental Music Group of Toronto for many years. She has studied with virtuoso George Gao. She is currently the principal erhu and concert mistress with the Toronto Chinese Orchestra.

In 1995 and 1996, Patty Chan won the first prize in the non-western string class of the Kiwanis Music Festival. She has appeared in Tapestry Music Theatre, as soloist with chamber orchestra, on television, and has performed with members of the Toronto Symphony.

Patty Chan is a multi-talented musician who plays Chinese and Western instruments with equal ease. From her studio, she teaches piano and erhu. At York University, she teaches erhu and assists with the Chinese ensembles. She is a member of Yellow River Ensemble.

Patty's primary erhu uses synthetic skin rather than python.