Ron Korb

Ron Korb is a Canadian flutist (flautist), composer, recording artist, producer and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is also known as Dragon Flute (Traditional Chinese: 龍笛; pinyin: Lóng-dí ) in China, Thunder Blessing (Traditional Chinese: 雷恩寇伯 ; pinyin: Léi'ēnkòubó) in Taiwan and Prince of Flutes (Japanese: furūto no kikōshi) in Japan

Ron Korb released Asia Beauty in 2015. The album was nominated for Best New Age Album at the 58th Grammy Awards.

Musical style
Korb is known for writing culturally diverse music and his mastery of a wide array of world music wind instruments. His work spans a range of genres including Classical, Jazz, Latin, Asian, Celtic music, and Middle Eastern. Many of his songs are program music based on stories themes that form concept albums. The concepts often come from his exploration of his multi-cultural ancestry and extensive travel experience.

Education
Ron Korb started on the recorder in grade school and later joined an Irish fife and drum band in his teens. While attending the Royal Conservatory of Music, he won several local music competitions. He attended York University for a year to broaden his experience of playing jazz but later earned a scholarship to study classical flute at University of Toronto where he graduated with a degree in Music Performance. His primary teacher was Douglas Stewart but he also participated in master classes with Paula Robison, Robert Aitken in Shawnigan, Raymond Guiot in Domaine Forget and Michel Debost in Assisi, Italy. After graduating with honors from University, Korb discovered Chinese flutes (Chinese: 笛子, English:Dizi, [pinyin]: dÍ zÎ). The sound of the Asian bamboo flute intrigued him so much that he moved to Japan in the early '90s to study Japanese Gagaku court music, the traditional shinobue and ryūteki bamboo flutes with Akao Michiko. Since then he has travelled around the world collecting and studying indigenous flutes. He has a collection of more than 250 flutes.

Career
Ron Korb has released more than 30 solo albums in 20 countries on various record labels. He has also guested on recordings by many renowned artists such as Olivia Newton-John, Liona Boyd, Mychael Danna, Renaissance, Jim McCarty, Illusion, and the World Youth Day recording for Pope John Paul. Ron's talents have been employed in many major film and television scores. He has played on many Gemini, Genie and Cannes Film Festival award-winning projects and even Academy Award nominated films by directors such as Ang Lee, Atom Egoyan, John Woo, and Mira Nair (for detailed list see IMDb, Internet Movie Database). In Robert Lepage's film Nô Ron played the nohkan on camera in the opening scene dressed in traditional kimono. Ron was also featured in the documentary called Stolen Memories.

Ron has had many collaborations with longtime friend Donald Quan. In 1990 they released Tear of the Sun which charted No. 1 in the Canadian New Age Music Top 40 and in 2001 they did the musical direction for Peter Gabriel's Tribute and Homage for Harbourfront Centre's "World Leaders". The musical talent they shared the stage with included Peter Gabriel, Jane Siberry, Tia Carrere, Arn Chorn-Pond, Jeff Martin, Andy Stochansky and Lorraine Segato. That same year they penned the song for the Toronto Olympic Bid which was performed by the Toronto Symphony, Samba Squad and Nathaniel Dett Chorale in Roy Thomson Hall.

In 2004 Ron Korb Live was released which was filmed in Victoriaville Quebec, directed by Pierre and François Lamoureux and became the first independent artist in Canada to release a full length DVD.

Composing
Other than writing the instrumental pieces for his albums he has also written songs for major Asian singers. His song for Alan Tam (Traditional Chinese:譚詠麟) achieved Double Platinum sales. Another song recorded by the "Godfather of Cantopop" Roman Tam (Traditional Chinese:羅文) won Best Original Composition at the RTHK awards (Radio Television Hong Kong), Hong Kong's equivalent of the Grammys. In 2008 Ron was asked to put together a book of flute and piano pieces for classical flute exams for the Australian Music Examinations Board Flute for Leisure syllabus. Ron has also composed music for film dance and theatre. In 2012, Ron Korb's classical crossover album Europa (officially released in 2013, won the Global Music Awards, California, in 4 categories including: Award of Excellence-Album, Composition (St. Johann), Album Art/Graphics (Designer: Jade Yeh); Award of Merit: Acoustic Instrumental Solo Performance (St. Johann). His composition, Beckett's Whisper, originally written for Irish flute, pennywhistle, violin, cello, Celtic harp, accordion, double bass and piano, was rearranged by Korb himself for the Canadian Flute Association for flute choir: Piccolo, 4 C Flutes (flute 4 requires low B foot), Alto flute, Bass flute, Contrabass flute. Beckett's Whisper for flute choir was included in the 1st Canadian Flute Convention Closing Program as well as the opening concert of the 2014 National Flute Association (NFA) Convention in Chicago (played by Windy City Flute Orchestra, conducted by Kelly Via)

Touring
Ron Korb has performed in five continents including venues and events such as: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., the World Art Stage in Edinburgh, the Eusebius' church in Arnhem in the Netherlands, The Glastonbury Festival in England, Teatro Nacional de Panama, Heian Shrine in Kyoto, Zhong Shan Hall in Taiwan, The Shanghai International Music Festival, The Century Theatre in Beijing and Sun Yet Sen Memorial Hall in Guangzhou, China. Also he represented Canada at Expo 2005 in Nagoya, Japan. In addition, he has been an opening act for Cesária Évora and has toured in China and Canada with world music vocalist Dadawa (Chinese: 朱哲琴, pinyin: Zhu Zheqin)

In 2012, Ron Korb toured to Poland to give performances in Nowy Sacz, Krakow, the 11th Festival of Musical Virtuosity and Humour Fun & Classic.

In 2013, he completed a 6-week Asia tour to five countries giving concerts, interview, lectures, and workshops.

In the 2014 China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Ron Korb represented Canada in the Canadian Culture Week Theme Festival, which also include Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, etc., and give concerts in the cities of Shanghai and Wuxi.

Discography

 * 2018 World Café
 * 2015 Asia Beauty
 * 2013 Europa
 * 2010 Oriental Angels vs Ron Korb DVD, China
 * 2009 Once Upon A Time (龍笛傳說), Taiwan
 * 2009 Dragon Heart(龍の心), Singapore
 * 2008 Native Earth (聖靈大地), Taiwan
 * 2007 Ron Korb 龙笛-当代第一魔笛, China
 * 2006 Our Native Land
 * 2006 East West Road, Singapore
 * 2005 Rainforest Flute-Ron Korb and Ken Davis, Australia
 * 2005 Seasons: Christmas Carols – with Donald Quan
 * 2005 Ron Korb Live (Singapore)
 * 2004 Ron Korb Live DVD
 * 2004 Ron Korb Live CD
 * 2004 Celtic Quest (重返祕世界), Taiwan
 * 2003 Romancing The Dragon-The Best of Ron Korb, Singapore
 * 2003 World Of Ron Korb
 * 2002 Taming The Dragon 龍笛, Taiwan
 * 2001 Behind the Mask東方戀, Taiwan
 * 2001 Celtic Heartland 心靈祕境, Taiwan
 * 2000 Celtic Heartland
 * 2000 Celtic Quest
 * 2000 Rencontre en Provence, France
 * 1999 Tapestries-Titanic Odyssey
 * 1999 Mada Minu Tomo e, Japan
 * 1999 Taming The Dragon
 * 1998 Celtic Skye
 * 1998 Natural Friends (UK)
 * 1996 Tapestries-Celtic Dawn
 * 1995 Behind The Mask
 * 1994 Flute Traveller
 * 1993 Japanese Mysteries –with Hiroki Sakaguchi
 * 1990 Tear of the Sun – with Donald Quan
 * 1989 Bach for Relaxation

Awards and recognitions

 * Nominee for 58th Grammy Award for Best New Age Album (Asia Beauty), 2016
 * First Prize, Best Instrumental (Two Mountains from Asia Beauty), IAMA 2016
 * Brand Personality Award Winner, The BrandLaureate Awards, 2016
 * Gold Medal Winner - Best of Show, Best Instrumental Album (Asia Beauty), The Global Music Awards 2015
 * Best World Album(Asia Beauty), Zone Music Award 2015
 * First Prize, Best World/Global Fusion Album (Asia Beauty), One World Music Awards 2015
 * Best Instrumental Performance (Blue Bamboo from Album Asia Beauty), The Global Music Awards 2015
 * Silver Medal Winners - Outstanding Achievement, Chinese Crossover World Music (House of the Five Beauties from Album Asia Beauty) and Album Art/Graphics (Asia Beauty), The Global Music Awards 2015
 * Finalist in the open song category (Hanoi Café from Album Asia Beauty), International Acoustic Music Awards 2015
 * Nominee on Best World Music, Toronto Independent Music Awards 2015
 * Andrew Kinghorn Scholarship (University of Toronto)
 * Best Original Composition, Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)
 * Grand Prize Winner, Canadian National Exhibition
 * 2004 April Most Popular Foreign Artist, iRadio FM96.3, Taiwan
 * 2010 Finalist, Annual International Acoustic Music Awards
 * 2010 Golden Maple Award Best Artistic Achievement
 * 2012 Global Music Awards: Award of Excellence-Album, composition (St. Johann), Album Art/Graphics; Award of Merit-Acoustic Instrumental Solo Performance (St. Johann)
 * 2012 Beckett's Whisper (from Album Europa), Finalist, International Acoustic Music Awards

Filmography (Music Dept)
Ron Korb's flute playing can be heard in over hundred of films and TV series, including
 * Pride of Lions (film), a 2014 film directed by Sidney J. Furie
 * Devil's Knot (film), a 2013 American film directed by Atom Egoyan
 * Death or Canada, a 2008 TV Movie documentary
 * Still Small Voices (2007 film)
 * The White Countess, a 2005 drama film directed by James Ivory)
 * 1-800-Missing (2 episodes- Patient X ; Fugitive, 2005
 * Whiskey Echo, a 2005 Irish-Canadian mini-series
 * Saint Ralph, a 2004 Canadian comedy-drama film written and directed by Michael McGowan
 * Being Julia, a 2004 comedy-drama film directed by István Szabó
 * Shattered City: The Halifax Explosion, a 2003 mini series by CBC Television
 * The Snow Walker (2003 Canadian film directed by Charles Martin Smith)
 * Wild Card (TV series), 2003
 * Long Life, Happiness & Prosperity, a 2002 Canadian film directed by Mina Shum, starring Sandra Oh)
 * Saint Monica, a 2002 Canadian film directed by Terrance Odett)
 * Space Station 3D, a 2002 3D short documentary film narrated by Tom Cruise)
 * Tracker, a 2001 Canadian television series
 * Blind Terror, a 2001 suspense thriller directed by Giles Walker
 * Blue Murder (Canadian TV series), 2001
 * Starhunter, a 2000 Canadian television series)
 * Canada: A People's History, a 17-episode documentary television series, 2000
 * Franklin and the Green Knight: The Movie (Video), 2000
 * The War Next Door, a 2000 American television series
 * Relic Hunter, a 1999 Canadian television series
 * Ride with the Devil (film), a 1999 film directed by Ang Lee
 * Felicia's Journey (film), a 1999 British-Canadian psychological thriller film directed by Atom Egoyan
 * Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, a 1998 documentary film, directed by Paul Jay
 * Nô (film), is a 1998 film by director Robert Lepage
 * Blackjack (film), a 1998 TV action film directed by John Woo
 * Emily of New Moon (TV series), 1998
 * Earth: Final Conflict, a 1997 Canadian science fiction television series
 * The Sweet Hereafter (film), a 1997 directed by Atom Egoyan
 * The Ice Storm (film), a 1997 film directed by Ang Lee
 * Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, a 1996 Indian film directed by Mira Nair
 * The Pillow Book (film), a 1996 film by British director Peter Greenaway
 * Johnny Mnemonic (film), a 1995 film directed by Robert Longo
 * Exotica (film), a 1994 film directed by Atom Egoyan
 * Avonlea, or Road to Avonlea, a Canadian television series, 1990

Additional references

 * Ron Korb Gets First Grammy Nomination In 30-plus-album Career Toronto Star 2015]
 * Ron Korb Interview 2013 by DurhamRegion
 * Ron Korb Discography
 * Ron Korb Bibliography. Reference Answers
 * Ron Korb. Alcione.
 * Ron Korb Flute Traveller Adelaide Fringe Festival 2008
 * Ron Korb Trivia and Quotes. TV.com
 * Concerts Celebrates Japan at the ROM. Consulate-General of Japan in Toronto