Need Help? Let's Talk
- +6221.2002.2012
The NERVE Framework
I came up with the acronym/framework N.E.R.V.E. in 2018 when I was trying to figure out why I felt there was a similar shaped hole in all of the artistic…
Video Snapshots of a Career in the Arts
Performance and Learning Gallery
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.
Worth Nothing Or Worth Noting?
Blog posts here cover topics ranging from industry news, business, and other thoughts.
About
The Musician
As the founding cellist of the critically acclaimed Afiara Quartet, Mr. 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.” Adrian 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.
In addition, he served as a jury member of the Eckhardt-Gramatte National Competition, ECM Generation National Award, and the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition. He earned his Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory, the Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School, and an MBA from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He was featured in Fortune magazine as one of the Best and Brightest Executive MBAs worldwide. Mr. Fung’s cello teachers include Bonnie Hampton, Joel Krosnick, Fred Sherry, Antonio Lysy, David Hetherington, and Susan Gagnon. He plays on a cello made in 1787 by Benjamin Banks, on lifetime loan to him from an anonymous donor.
The Arts Executive and Educator
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.
Having taught all over the world, Adrian is the Founder and CEO of Upgrade Learning LLC, a consulting firm and digital learning company focused on in-demand skills using a proprietary method proven to increase retention, clarity of understanding, and speed of application.
Consultancy
Passionate about helping organizations reach new heights
Having opened his private consulting practice over 10 years ago, Adrian’s wide and varied career lends insight to many prominent individuals and organizations
Consulting
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.
Advisory
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.
Projects
Music In The Morning
“The premiere matinee concert organization in Vancouver” – The Vancouver Sun
Upgrade Learning YouTube
Subscribe to Upgrade Learning’s YouTube channel for the latest! Follow our negotiation scene review series: “Noteworthy or Not Worthy”
Keep In Touch
Have a Question?
Email your questions or comments to Adrian here!
Need a Creative Solution?
For consulting or performance inquiries, please fill out the form below.