Vancouver Symphony USA has announced its first-ever $1 million gift.

In honor of his wife Nien-Wei Hsiao, Dr. Michael C. Liu provided the company with a $1,2500,000 contribution to  rebrand the chamber music series as the VSO-USA Nien-Wei Hsiao Chamber Music Series. The gift also sets up Nien-Wei Hsiao endowment fund.

Hsiao and Dr. Liu were major supporters of the company since 2001 with Hsiao described as the organization’s “most active volunteer.” Hsiao passed away earlier in 2025 due to a rare form of cancer for which there is currently no cure.

“Nien-Wei was an inspiring and visionary community builder who introduced the VSO to hundreds of people over the years,” said Igor Shakhman, VSO’s Chief Executive Officer, per an official press release. “It is meaningful and fitting that future generations will associate music of the highest caliber with someone who understood the transformative power of bringing people together.”

“The tremendous dedication and musicianship from my fellow musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Salvador Brotons have always been a source of inspiration. The orchestra members deserve to be recognized – and compensated – as the top-tier artists they truly are,” added Dr. Liu. “The VSO-USA is a cultural treasure, a catalyst for community, and a beacon of artistic excellence internationally. In the spirit of my wife, I am proud to further its legacy.”

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