For string quartet

Original composition by Alice Hong

2025
Length - 9:00

Written for Toronto Summer Music, in honour of Jonathan Crow

Anyone Can Cook comes from a place of celebration: celebrating the wonderful tenure of Jonathan Crow as the Music Director of Toronto Summer Music from 2016 - 2025, Toronto Summer Music marking their 20th anniversary, and the strong community that TSM has cultivated surrounding and embracing classical music and incredible musical talent.

But the piece also comes from a very personal and sentimental memory of mine: when I walked into a violin lesson with Jonathan, then a first-year student pursuing her doctorate, just one week before my first doctoral recital. When he asked how I was doing, I burst into tears from the stress I was feeling. In response, instead of focusing on the impending recital, Jonathan sent two tickets to Ratatouille in Concert with the Toronto Symphony.

For me, these tickets were a sweet reminder that in music, despite all of the necessary hours and focus needed to pursue this career, we are allowed to take time for mental and emotional health. This was a message no teacher had ever relayed to me before Jonathan, and now it is always something I remind my own students, colleagues, and myself. I will always be grateful for that anecdote.

So, in honour of Jonathan, TSM and Ratatouille, I hope Anyone Can Cook brings a smile to your face and reminds you to always take some time for yourself.