What role did Pinchas Zukerman and Bramwell Tovey play in launching your career?

I really have to thank them for recognising my talent early on and for giving me crucial opportunities. Maestro Tovey heard me play when I was 14 and immediately decided to engage me to play with the Vancouver Symphony in the following season. He has invited me to play with the orchestra on numerous occasions – one of which was to be the guest soloist on the orchestra’s first national tour in 30 years. Maestro Zukerman invited me to attend his summer music program in Ottawa when I was 17. It was my first chamber music experience (Schumann Piano Quintet) and it opened up a whole new world of music to me. A few years later, Maestro Zukerman engaged me to play with his National Arts Centre Orchestra. Normally, that would have been already a big break for any young artist. However, Maestro Zukerman went a step further and got Yo-Yo Ma, who was appearing in the same concert, to agree to perform with me. I was given only a few days notice to learn the piece we were going to perform: Chopin’s Introduction and Polonaise brillante Op. 3....