The Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, founded in 2001, was one of the first professional ensembles of its kind in the world. The VICO brings together musicians and composers from many cultural and artistic communities in the greater Vancouver area, including Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Indian, Persian (Iranian) and Middle Eastern, Vietnamese, North American and European. The VICO strives to be a fresh and relevant voice in the contemporary music of our city, our province and our country. We build bridges of imagination. We approach diversity as a fascinating challenge and a creative call to action. We create and perform orchestral music that transcends boundaries: cultural, social, political, geographical. A 2012 recipient of the City of Vancouver Cultural Harmony Award, the VICO has been described as “music that sounds like Vancouver looks” (Georgia Straight), and “the United Nations of music” (CBC Radio). www.vi-co.org