Vi An Diep is a Canadian musician based in Calgary. Her most notable instrument is the long-plucked zither.
Diep was born in Vietnam in the late 1970s. She immigrated with her family to Canada in 1984, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1989. Diep first played the long-plucked zither at age six.
As a self-taught artist, Diep plays keyboards, synthesizers, samplers, pianos, and percussion. She is most well known for her playing of the long-plucked zither. She has collaborated with a wide array of diverse artists, formally and informally.
In 2005 she became an affiliate artist and composer for the Green Fools Theatre in Calgary. In 2006 she was won the Betty Mitchell Award for Best Original Musical Score and Sound Design for the production of “Dancing On Water” with the Green Fools. In 2013 she nominated for the Betty Mitchel Award for Best Original musical score for the production of “Elephant Song” with the Green Fools. In 2016 she was nominated for Interesting Vancouver Award. She was inducted as a Recording Music Artist Associate in December of 2020 at the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society (SEACHS). While based in Calgary, she has travelled in and out of Canada to perform.
Photo notes
The above photos were taken by me. The lead photo was taken of her August 20, 2008 at Olympic Plaza during a public forum on busking put on by the City of Calgary and local buskers. She spoke as a local busker in Calgary. The second photo is of her performing at the annual Lilac Festival in Calgary on May 30, 2010. I’ve seen her perform numerous times throughout Calgary.
© 2024 Robert Thivierge