Some members of the Illuminant Beijing team surprised our chief executive with a happy birthday video, made over one Saturday amongst iron-clad secrecy in August 
Carlo Aspri performance at Canada Club Beijing 2008-08-15 (36), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.
It’s been an eventful summer for our client Carlo Aspri.
After a wonderfully well-received debut concert July 19 at the YAMAHA Music Performance Center, Carlo Aspri’s success continued with hit performances at the British Columbia Pavilion during the Olympics, a VIP-only mini-concert at the Canada Club, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience at Shaolin Monastery.
Carlo, a phenomenally gifted young composer and pianist from Quebec, entertained crowds at the British Columbia Pavilion’s Pub Night events. Attended by dozens of VIPs, the Pub Nights gave Carlo the opportunity to support his native land during the Olympics. He performed classic favorites as well as his own compositions.
Carlo was also honored when the Canadian Embassy asked him to perform at an exclusive, VIP-only event at the Canadian Club, celebrating the 400th anniversary of his native Quebec. Carlo performed traditional Quebec music and was touched by the opportunity to honor his home.
Fresh off his Gamestime success, Carlo headed off to Shaolin Monastery, for a much deserved week of gong fu training and exercise. It was a terrific chance for Carlo to continue his study of Chinese gong fu, at the world’s premier gong fu center. Carlo enjoyed the opportunity to train with the Shaolin monks and even took the opportunity to create a video chronicling his experience at the monastery.
It’s been a terrific summer for Canada’s next great musical export, with more excitement sure to come this fall.
Destination Greenwich at London House Beijing 2008-08-18 (129), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.
Illuminant’s efforts for London’s Greenwich Council culminated August 18 in a very successful event at the Beijing Olympics’s London House, located in the prestigious Shichahai Club.
More than 100 VIPs and media joined us for a traditional British afternoon tea party to hear from business and government leaders about investment opportunities in Greenwich – one of London’s oldest, most historic boroughs – during the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Greenwich is one of London’s most prestigious areas, and is currently enjoying a renaissance bringing growth and redevelopment. The next summer Olympics – in 2012 – represent a golden opportunity for Chinese investors to explore the booming London market. More than one third of London 2012′s Olympic events will take place in Greenwich, which is also the home to GMT and the Cutty Sark.
Chris Roberts, Mayor of Greenwich, delivered an excellent speech on the opportunities on offer to Chinese investors in the borough. Illuminant organized for Chinese VIP guests from 10 different industries to be invited to the event, including leaders in tourism, higher education, creative industries, sports management, Olympic sponsorship, culture, and inward investment.
The Greenwich Council presents this vision also on the official website on www.destinationgreenwich.com where potential investors and business partners will also find further information and contact details.
Greenwich Council was thrilled with the success and quality of the event. It was an exciting challenge for Illuminant and we look forward to continued collaboration with Greenwich Council.
SmartTrans Kooka Networking at BCA 2008-08-15 (6), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.
Illuminant is proud to have supported our client SmartTrans through its triumphant success at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
SmartTrans, an Australian Stock Exchange listed company (ASX: SMA), supplied Olympic sponsors with its fantastic EventTrack service – an all in one GPS navigation, VIP transportation, and translation tool. High profile clients including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Omega, BHP Billiton, Macquarie Bank, and DB Schenker relied on EventTrack for their Gamestime VIP transportation needs.
This fantastic achievement was the result of a months-long, intensive collaboration between SmartTrans and Illuminant.
Illuminant worked closely with SmartTrans to support its Gamestimes efforts, having secured the endorsement of Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at his inaugural visit to China earlier this year. Rudd’s endorsement of EventTrack at its April 10 launch event marked the Mandarin-speaking prime minister’s only commercial endorsement during his trip. Illuminant’s support for SmartTrans continued right through Gamestime.
We’re extremely proud of our work for SmartTrans and look forward to continuing our collaboration, as SmartTrans furthers its success in the Chinese marketplace post-Games.
Carlo Aspri’s Yamaha Beijing Performance Centre concert 2008 (12), originally uploaded by Illuminant Partners.
It’s been a busy month for our client Carlo Aspri!
Carlo’s debut concert July 19 at the YAMAHA Music Performance Center was a smash success. Carlo, a brilliant young composer and pianist from Montreal, Quebec, played two beautiful sets for a select, by-invitation-only audience of 50 Canadian and Chinese VIPs. The concert primed Carlo for his next series of performances, at the upcoming Canada Olympic House “Pub Nights” during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
Playing on a fantastic YAMAHA concert grand in the performance center – a gem of a venue – Carlo performed original compositions from his debut album, “Carlo Aspri,” and newer pieces from his upcoming second CD. He also offered stirring arrangements of “The Moon Represents My Heart,” a traditional Chinese song, and the Canadian national anthem, “O Canada.”
Guests enjoyed fine Canadian wines and delicious European hors d’oeuvres provided by our fine caterer, Café Europa. We were extremely pleased with the turnout by VIP guests and the support Carlo received from the Canadian community in Beijing. The Canadian Embassy was represented by VIPs including Jane Lang, First Secretary of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, and Rene Milot, the head of the Quebec government offices in China.
Energized by the success of the YAMAHA concert, Carlo is now looking forward eagerly to his four upcoming Pub Night performances at Canada Olympic House over the next two weeks. The Canada BC Pavilion is a beautiful venue which serves as Canada’s home base in Beijing during these Olympic Games. Carlo will be helping the Canadian government entertain its VIP guests with a dynamic repertoire comprised of both classic favorites and some of his original compositions. It’s an auspicious start for Canada’s next great musical ambassador to the world.
Carlo’s performances at Canada House are on the evenings of Tuesday 12th August, Thursday 14th August, Tuesday 19th August and Thursday 21st August.
Immediately following the Canada House performances, Carlo heads to the Shaolin Monastery where he will train with the monks for a much deserved break.