Mr. Frank Fei Jan Huang

Frank Fei Jan Huang, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, musician, conductor, soloist, cellist, but foremost a music educator his entire life, died peacefully at VGH on Wednesday morning, September 18, surrounded by family. He was 91.

Frank was born in Guangzhou, China on December 14, 1921. He received his music training at Saint John's University and the National Conservatory of Music in Shanghai. He left Shanghai and began teaching in Macao in 1949. He remained in Macao until he moved to Hong Kong in 1953. There, he took post as staff in Hong Kong Department of Education overseeing the music curriculum in Hong Kong public school system. While residing in Hong Kong, he was the principal cellist for the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Sino-British Orchestra, conductor for the Hong Kong Oratorio Society, music director for the Hong Kong Kowloon City Baptist Church as well as many other music involvements throughout city until his emigration to Canada.

Upon his retirement, Frank emigrated with his family from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada in 1975 and almost immediately saw a great need to develop Chinese choruses as a way to enhance and preserve Chinese culture within the Canadian Chinese communities in the greater Vancouver area. Over the next 30 years, he would establish and conduct numerous community choirs:

UBC Chinese Student Alumni Choir in 1976

Vancouver Chinese Choir Association in 1984

Vancouver Oratorio Society in 1991

Vancouver Formosan Oratorio Society in 2001

All the while, he was the music director at, first the Chinese United Church, then the Chown Memorial and Chinese United Church. His choirs have toured and performed throughout Vancouver and across Canada in Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal as well as the United States, Europe and the Far East including Hong Kong and mainland China. As a cellist, he had been member with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra, and Elgar Strings, performing regularly.

While at Kowloon City Baptist Church, Frank met his future wife Winnie. They were married in 1960 and have 3 children Annie, Andrew, and Kay. The whole family was an integral part of church life. Over his long musical career, he never ventured away from his religious upbringing, always merging music with his Christian faith. Raised in a household of Christianity and music, he kept his roots to the end, ever faithful. This is evident in his life at home, in public, and everyone he encountered.

An avid golf and tennis player, he continued to lead an active lifestyle until recently. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Winnie; daughters Annie (Raymond) and Kay (Steve); son Andrew; grandchildren Alison, Michael, Silas, Elijah, and Trinity. Frank also leaves behind his brother Philip and his sister Phoebe.