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after multiple surgeries, young musician gives back with benefit concert for b.c. children's hospital
dane sung arranged the show himself, booking the venue and finding the talent.
aug 13 2024
3 minute read
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emerging artists at the hollywood — a benefit concert for b.c. children’s hospital
when: aug. 20 at 7:30 p.m.
where: hollywood theatre, 3123 w. broadway, vancouver
tickets: available by donation, with a minimum of $10 encouraged, reserve at eventbrite.ca
after undergoing multiple surgeries at b.c. children’s hospital, dane sung wants to give back. so the 17-year-old kerrisdale high school student has put together a benefit for the hospital that features himself and other young performers.
“it’s something that i’ve thought about a lot during the school year, while i was the grade 11 community engagement representative,” sung said.
“i knew i didn’t have the time to do it during the school year because i was invested in doing well academically. but the idea for the concert came to me as a way to create something positive from a really difficult situation, which for me was five surgeries in grades 10 and 11 in just under 18 months.”
prior to his surgeries sung had taken piano and guitar lessons but hadn’t enjoyed them. following a knee injury, his interest in music was renewed when he taught himself to play through youtube videos.
a bone graft in his left hand sidelined his guitar playing.
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“i kept up piano as much as i could. and i started singing and learning how to write songs and then how to record music on my home computer.”
he began releasing music onto streaming platforms and videos on social media.
“music just completely replaced sports as my main area of passion, and that’s persisted even through the surgeries i’ve had recently. i’m very grateful that i found music through the whole experience.”
the benefit concert represents a new frontier for sung, who has played live mostly in front of friends and schoolmates.
“this is the first time i’m doing something with a broader vancouver community,” he said. “i’m really excited because there’s going to be a lot of groups of different people — my friends, family, some of my teachers, my parents’ friends, and a lot of people that i don’t know who have got tickets.”
sung arranged the show himself, booking the venue and finding the talent. the other performers include nirvana bandi, a classmate with whom he performed in a school production of the wizard of oz, and a student at the sarah mclachlan school of music. she’s bringing along another student at the school, prince cabangon.
also on the bill are zada and angel zhao.
“i saw zada perform recently, and she sounded amazing. she’s releasing music all the time and has a big following on spotify.” he connected with zhao through mutual friends. “she’s my age, going into grade 12, and has been in a lot of musicals.”
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sung’s music is influenced by acoustic pop singer jack johnson — whom he grew up listening to thanks to his parents — and john mayer.
“he’s a big inspiration for me. i think he’s an amazing guitar player.”
but the benefit is ultimately about celebrating the team at b.c. children’s hospital, including sung’s surgeon, dr. jeff pike.
“i really felt like i was in great hands there. the first time i met with him, he got me in within the next four days for surgery. there was a real sense of urgency, i think, to help me. and he’s a terrific surgeon. i definitely feel like it’s such a great facility, and it’s very important to me that i do something to help give back to them.”
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