From performances with my award-winning Afiara Quartet to instructional videos helping artists and creatives negotiate their careers, this section represents some of my projects and current passions.
Blog posts here cover topics ranging from industry news, business, and other thoughts.
As the founding cellist of the critically acclaimed Afiara Quartet, Dr. Fung is a winner of the Concert Artist Guild International Competition, Young Canadian Musicians Award, 2nd prizes at the Munich ARD and Banff International String Quartet Competitions, and the Szekely Prize for Best Interpretation of Beethoven. Le Devoir praises “their intrinsic class, their panache, and their expressive intensity” and La Presse calls the quartet “a revelation”. A JUNO-nominated artist and producer, his projects have been featured by Forbes and CBC Music in each of their Top 10 Albums of the Year and praised by Toronto Star as “one of the most attention-grabbing shows of the year.” He has performed over 600 performances in extensive tours worldwide including such storied stages as Carnegie Hall, Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw, Austria’s Esterhazy Palace, the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center, Munich’s Prinz Regenten Theatre, the Royal Library in Copenhagen, and London’s Wigmore Hall. As a soloist, he has been critically acclaimed for his “virtuosic” playing (San Francisco Classical Voice), his “superb” and “brilliant” performance (New York Concert Review), and as a “consummate interpreter of the composer’s message” (Ontario Arts Review). As a soloist and guest artist, he has appeared in recital at Carnegie Hall, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, and DJ Kid Koala.
Recognized as one of Musical America’s 30 Innovators of the Year, Adrian Fung is the Executive and Artistic Director of Vancouver’s celebrated concert organization, Music In The Morning Concert Society and founding cellist of the Afiara Quartet. He has held senior executive roles at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, University of Oklahoma, and The Royal Conservatory. His work has brought artistic, social, and economic innovation, including international projects reaching audiences of over 14.5 million, 50 orchestral commissions and over 40 partner orchestras. He also led the creation of a new multi-camera e-learning platform with self-directed angle toggling, bringing to life over 20 live, full-orchestra video and audio recordings. During his tenure as head of The Royal Conservatory’s Learning System, he led 64% growth to teacher-student engagement, oversaw new launches of the Piano and Violin Series, and seven-figure growth in digital revenues.
Previously, Adrian served as Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Music at the University of Oklahoma’s Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts. Adrian led the creation and launch of the Arts Management and Entrepreneurship (AME) graduate and undergraduate programs, a graduate certificate offered co-jointly with the Price College of Business, and the International Arts Incubator.
Since joining Music In The Morning as Executive & Artistic Director in 2017, Adrian Fung has led the organization through a remarkable period of financial growth, strategic expansion, and artistic excellence. Under his leadership, MITM has transformed an annual deficit into a surplus, marking a 302% turnaround in net financial position. Overall revenue has grown by 56%, driven by a combination of expanded subscription and ticket sales, diversified funding sources, and new strategic opportunities. This includes doubling single ticket sales while increasing subscription sales by 34%. Adrian has overseen significant fundraising: Corporate sponsorships have increased by 60% and non-government grants and foundation support have increased by 525%.
Having taught all over the world, Adrian is the Principal of Creative Edge Group, a strategy and digital marketing consultant firm. His work includes bringing over a quarter million dollars of new audience ticket revenues for symphony orchestras, opera companies, and arts organizations across North America.
In addition, Dr. Fung is the Founder and CEO of Upgrade Learning LLC, a consulting firm for higher education. The firm specializes in organizational planning and curriculum design to better equip students for the professional realities they will enter.
Having opened his private consulting practice over 10 years ago, Adrian’s wide and varied career lends insight to many prominent individuals and organizations
Business, digital, and growth strategy. Track record of implementing large-scale digital channel launches, leading international projects garnering industry prizes and critical acclaim, and creating revenue-generating marketing funnels in both for-profit and non-profit sectors.
From strategy behind collective bargaining agreements to helping lead multi-party international deals, Adrian can help you envision and execute the next phase of your business either through contract work or board membership.
Email your questions or comments to Adrian here!
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