A Vancouver Opera Legacy: From Grandmother to Grandson
A story of song, memory, and the stage—told across generations.
In celebration of Asian Heritage Month, we invite you to meet Zainen Suzuki—chorus member at Vancouver Opera and grandson of pioneering soprano and educator Ruth Huang Suzuki.
Zainen carries forward more than tradition; he carries a family legacy shaped by music, memory, and love. Through archival photos and personal reflections, this story honours Ruth’s impact as an artist and educator, and the generational echoes that continue to resonate—voice to voice, stage to stage.
Musical Beginnings Then and Now
From the moment Ruth Huang Suzuki stepped onto the stage to perform the lead role of Liu in Vancouver Opera’s 1972 production of Puccini’s Turandot, she knew she had found her true path. Now, decades after his grandmother captivated audiences with her soaring soprano, Ruth’s grandson, Zainen (far left in the photo below), is carrying forward the family legacy as a member of the Vancouver Opera Chorus.
Drawn to music and singing since she was a child in Taiwan, Ruth’s desire to immerse herself in music and singing followed her throughout her life with piano, organ, and singing lessons as a child, regular appearances as a singer in church as a teenanger, singing on Taiwanese national TV in her twenties, and even representing Taiwan in the 1967 International Madama Butterfly competition in Japan.
A Family Tree with Musical Roots
When Ruth’s family moved from Taiwan to Vancouver in 1967, Ruth wasted no time in putting down roots in Vancouver’s vibrant multi-cultural musical and cultural scene, becoming a member of the Vancouver Opera Chorus and singing in many of Vancouver Opera’s productions. Amid her operatic career, Ruth also made space for family life—becoming a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother.
But following in his grandmother’s musical footsteps didn’t always come that easily for Zainen. At the age of four, regular piano practice was expected of Zainen and his siblings. He recalls he “wasn’t a fan”—much to the amusement (and occasional frustration) of his parents and grandmother.However, Zainen interest in singing grew over the years and became the subject of many happy talks between Zainen and his grandmother Ruth: “She would always be happy about it—hearing what I was working on or talking about technique.”
Open Doors and Musical Journeys
Her 1972 success as Liu in Turandot opened new doors, leading to roles at major opera houses across Western Canada. Devoted to her art, Ruth would study roles in advance and wait for audition calls for her favourite parts, for which she was often already prepared—long before the audition notices appeared.
Ruth passed on this devotion to her grandson, assisting him in his studies, teaching him singing lessons, and helping him prepare for auditions.
In contrast to his grandmother’s focus on traditional opera and classical music, Zainen had a burgeoning interest in musical theatre at a young age, something he says his grandmother “could never quite understand”. However, she still supported him on his own musical path, which eventually led him to attend McGill’s Schulich School of Music. Zainen graduated with a Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance before going directly into a Masters program also at McGill with a heavy emphasis on opera.
A Love of Performance Passed Down
While grandmother and grandson’s musical journeys both differed and shared similarities, both have an unmistakable shared love of performance. While at school Zainen performed Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Mr. Gedge in Albert Herring, Maximillian in Candide, and sang pop songs and musical theatre whenever he had the chance. Since finishing school, Zainen has played Archibald Craven in the musical The Secret Garden in Edmonton, and Marco in Gianni Schicchi.
There is little doubt of how proud Ruth was of her grandson and his accomplishments.
Teaching and Learning Through Generations
While personal growth was very important to Ruth, she also wanted to give back to her community and share her love for music. Along with her husband Mike, Ruth established The Sakura Singers, which will celebrate its 55th anniversary next year and still performs concerts to this day.
Ruth was also a much loved and celebrated teacher at the Banff School of Music, Douglas College, and taught music camps at Capilano University to many young musicians over the years.
International Recognition
Ruth’s passion and talent brought her international recognition as she was twice the recipient of the Japanese Foreign Minister's Commendation: once in 2000 and again in 2011, both times for her contributions to traditional Japanese music. Additionally, Ruth was involved with two Taiwanese choruses, and the Vancouver Formosan Singers.
The Gift of a Legacy
Today, Zainen holds a renewed appreciation for his grandmother’s dedication—to her city, her craft, and the musical legacy she passed down. He credits her with surrounding the family in music, from early childhood to the stage itself. He recalls a time when Ruth took him to see Carmen. “I went with her after a very early morning start with a swimming competition…we went directly to the opera afterwards, still in a swimsuit.” It was also likely that dinner that night was prepared with one of Ruth's favourite operas playing in the background. For Ruth the meaning was always in the music, the performance, and the experience, something she took every opportunity to pass on to her grandchildren.
Now, decades after Ruth Huang Suzuki first stepped into the spotlight, her grandson walks the same backstage corridors, breathes the same charged air, and sings beneath the same stage lights at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Though he stands not at centre stage but among the chorus, his voice carries the echo of hers—an echo shaped by history, love, and the quiet devotion of a life steeped in music.
In every rehearsal, in every note he shares with his fellow singers, Zainen pays tribute not only to his grandmother’s artistry but to the inheritance she left him: a belief in beauty, in discipline, and in the power of music to build bridges across time, culture, and family.
And so, with each performance, he keeps her memory alive—not with grand gestures, but with the steady, soul-deep work of singing. One chorus at a time.
Text written by Jane Potter
Researched by Tabitha Brasso-Ernst with support from the Info Services Team at Vancouver Opera
Special thanks to Zainen and his family for sharing their memories and beautiful photos with us.