Sunday Concert: Cellist Hannah Wolkstein and Pianist Suren Barry
April 1st, 2010
(Hannah Wolkstein; photo courtesy RCM)
This week's Royal Conservatory of Music concert in the AGO’s Walker Court features cellist Hannah Wolkstein, with pianist Suren Barry.
Hannah Wolkstein is a cellist currently studying at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Hannah has attended the Meadowmount School of Music, Encore School for Strings, Henry Mancini Institute, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Innsbrook Institute, Quartet Program and the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, France. While attending Interlochen, she was a member of the World Youth Symphony and performed with Itzhak Perlman.
Suren Barry was the winner of the 2006 Ontario Music Festival Association competition in the open piano category, and also represented Ottawa at this competition in 2007 and 2008. A frequent recitalist in Ottawa, he performs in various venues with benefits going toward causes such as the Children of the Nork Marash Orphanage in Armenia as well as the Ottawa Food Bank. In the summer of 2007, he was showcased in two concerts as a "Rising Star" in the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival. Suren is currently studying at the Glenn Gould School.
The AGO is partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host Sunday afternoon concerts in the Gallery’s Walker Court, where talented RCM students present these weekly performances. Concerts are held from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
Sunday Concert: Valerie Gordon and Bijan Sepanji
March 26th, 2010
This week's Royal Conservatory of Music concert in the AGO’s Walker Court features East/West violin duo Valerie Gordon and Bijan Sepanji.
The AGO is partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host Sunday afternoon concerts in Walker Court, where talented RCM students present these weekly performances.
The AGO is partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host Sunday afternoon concerts in Walker Court, where talented RCM students present these weekly performances.
Bijan Sepanji and Valerie Gordon have been playing together as a duet for three years, with numerous styles of music – from Persian improvisational to contemporary electro-acoustic to a wide range of classical. From Bach to Rosza, they have been had a chance to explore the unique and virtuosic timbre of a violin duet, and most recently played for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Great Grants Award Ceremony.
Sunday concerts are held in Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
Sunday Concert: Pianist Hyoseon Sunny Kim
March 12th, 2010
The AGO is partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host Sunday afternoon concerts in Walker Court, where talented RCM students present weekly performances.
This week's concert features pianist Hyoseon Sunny Kim.
Born in Korea, Hyoseon Sunny Kim began her musical education at the age of 5, and moved to Canada when she was 12 years old. She enrolled in the RCM’s Young Artists’ Performance Academy program, performing at the master classes. She was awarded first prize in York Region’s Celebration of the Arts in 2006, and in Kiwanis Music Festival’s Trophy and Silver Tray classes, and many others. Previously attending the University of Western Ontario as a continuing admission scholarship recepient, she is currently studying at the RCM’s Glenn Gould School as a scholarship student.
Sunday concerts are held in Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
Sunday Concert: Tenor Michael Ciufo
March 5th, 2010
The AGO is partnering with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host Sunday afternoon concerts in Walker Court. Talented RCM students present weekly performances right through spring 2010.
This week's concert features tenor Michael Ciufo, with pianist David Eliakis.
Canadian tenor Michael Ciufo is quickly becoming known for his stage presence, charisma, and gorgeous voice. His opera experience includes Mozart’s "The Marriage of Figaro", the Canadian premiere of Respighi’s "The Sleeping Beauty", and Handel’s "Joshua" with the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and much more. Michael is a third year Sidgwick Scholar with the Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and is currently enrolled in the Artist Diploma Program at the Glenn Gould School studying voice.
Sunday concerts are held in Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
Sunday Concert: Mezzo Soprano and Pianist Cassandra Warner
February 12th, 2010
(Photo courtesy RCM)
The AGO and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) continue to host Sunday afternoon concerts by talented RCM students through spring 2010. Concerts are held in the AGO’s Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
This Sunday’s concert, February 14, features mezzo soprano and pianist Cassandra Warner.
Hailed as "an enchanting Cherubino" by Ken Winters of the Globe and Mail, a "powerful mezzo" and "sensory epiphany" by Opera Canada, Warner kicks off her 2010/2011 season playing the role of Cendrillon, Cendrillon by Massenet this March at the new Koerner Hall in Toronto.
Cassandra is a recent finalist in the 2010 RCO Concerto Competition at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She made her principal debut at Opera Atelier as First Priestess, Iphigenie en Tauride. An accomplished concert artist, she has been featured on CBC television & radio, and Toronto’s Classical 96.3FM. In 2007 she toured China with The Divas, a vocal trio presenting a program that was broadcast nationwide on Chinese television and radio.
Ms. Warner is the recipient of the Glenn Gould School’s highest scholarship in Voice, the Lily Kertes Rolin International Prize in Vocal Studies, and holds a Performance Diploma from the Glenn Gould School. This summer Warner has been invited to join Joan Dornemann’s International Vocal Arts Institute, and later in the year she will be joining the Calgary Opera Ensemble.
Don’t miss the next RCM concert:
- Sunday, February 28 – Claudia Chan, piano, and Melissa Wilmot, violin
Sunday Concert: Pianist Connie Kim-Sheng
February 5th, 2010
(Photo courtesy Royal Conservatory of Music)
The AGO and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) continue to host Sunday afternoon concerts by talented RCM students through spring 2010. Concerts are held in the AGO’s Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
This Sunday’s concert, February 7, features pianist Connie Kim-Sheng. She began piano lessons at the age of three, and was involved in numerous chamber groups since the age of 12, receiving awards and performing for radio broadcasts.
Connie has performed as a soloist with the Rio Hondo Symphony, Verde Valley Sinfonietta, Cal State Northridge Orchestra, and the YMF Debut Orchestra. Her awards include first places in the Young Musicians Foundation National Debut Concerto Competition, Rio Hondo Young Artist Concerto Competition, Los Angeles Liszt International Competition, the Bronislaw Kaper Awards for Young Artists held by the LA Philharmonic and 2009 California MusicFest. Most recently, she was named a 2009 Davidson Fellow and placed third in New Orleans International Competition for Young Artists. She is currently studying at the Glenn Gould School.
Stay tuned for information on upcoming concerts.
Sunday Concert: Soprano Vocalist and Pianist Taylor Strande
January 29th, 2010
(Photo courtesy Royal Conservatory of Music)
The AGO and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) continue to host Sunday afternoon concerts by talented RCM students through spring 2010. Concerts are held in the AGO’s Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
This Sunday’s concert, January 31, features soprano vocalist and pianist Taylor Strande, who has been hailed as "the best on stage with natural acting ability and a clear arcing lyric soprano" by Classical 96.3.
Most recently, Strande has been seen as Josephine in Comedy on the Bridge and Despina in Cos fan tutte with The Glenn Gould School, and has also performed with the New Music Ensemble in Pierre Michaud’s Constat dune metamorphose among many other roles. She completed her Bachelor of Music from the U of T, and is pursuing an artist diploma from the Glenn Gould School.
Next Sunday’s concert – Connie Kim-Sheng on piano.
Concert January 24: Violin duo Shannon Bowles and Hanna Matthijsse
January 21st, 2010
The AGO and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) continue to host Sunday afternoon concerts by talented RCM students through spring 2010. Concerts are held in the AGO’s Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
This Sunday’s concert, January 24, features violin duo Shannon Bowles and Hanna Matthijsse.
Matthijsse has been featured as soloist with the Glenn Gould School Sinfonia, was a finalist in the 2009 Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition. She has performed as a chamber musician on CBC Radio, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, and with the Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School.
Bowles has performed as concertmaster of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, associate concertmaster of the Symphony of the Kootenays, and as a member of the Calgary Youth Orchestra and Nelson Songfest Orchestra, among others. She has recently completed her undergraduate studies at the Glenn Gould School.
Don’t miss these upcoming concerts:
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January 31 – Taylor Strande, vocal and piano
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February 07 – Connie Kim-Sheng, piano
RCM Concert Series Gears Up for 2010
January 15th, 2010
The AGO and the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) continue to host Sunday afternoon concerts by talented RCM students through spring 2010. Concerts are held in the AGO’s Walker Court from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission.
(Image courtesy Royal Conservatory of Music)
This year’s first concert on January 17 will feature the Meiden Quinet, with piano and strings.
Violinist Hanna Matthijsse has been featured as soloist with the Glenn Gould School Sinfonia, was a finalist in the 2009 Glenn Gould School Concerto Competition. She has performed as a chamber musician on CBC Radio, the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre, and with the Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, and is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School.
Violinist Shannon Bowles has performed as concertmaster of the Royal Conservatory Orchestra, associate concertmaster of the Symphony of the Kootenays, and as a member of the Calgary Youth Orchestra and Nelson Songfest Orchestra, among others. She has recently completed her undergraduate studies at the Glenn Gould School.
Canadian violist Ronelle Schaufele recently performed at the Euro Festival in Leipzig, Germany and completed an Artist in Residency program at the Banff Centre of the Arts. Her performances with various orchestras include the Okanogan Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Currently principle violist in the Urban Village Chamber Orchestra, she is completing an Artist Diploma Program at the Glenn Gould School.
Hannah Wolkstein is a cellist currently studying at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. Hannah has attended the Meadowmount School of Music, Encore School for Strings, Henry Mancini Institute, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Innsbrook Institute, Quartet Program and the Pablo Casals Festival in Prades, France. While attending Interlochen, she was a member of the World Youth Symphony and performed with Itzhak Perlman.
Pianist Markéta Ornova has performed as a chamber musician throughout Italy, the Czech Republic and Austria, and at numerous summer performance festivals, including the Orford Arts Center in Quebec, the Toronto Summer Music Festival and Academy, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in Maine, the Adriatic Chamber Music Festival and Orvieto Musica in Italy. Having recently completed the four-year Performance Diploma at the Glenn Gould School, she is now pursuing the post-graduate Artist Diploma there.
Sunday Concert: GGS Bassoons
November 20th, 2009
Talented RCM students present Sunday afternoon performances in the AGO’s Walker Court. The AGO has partnered with the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) to host these concerts, which will continue through spring 2010.
This Sunday’s concert, November 22, features the The GGS Bassoons. This quartet of bassoonists is a collection of musicians from The Glenn Gould School (GGS) of The Royal Conservatory. Ranging in age from 20-27, they represent the full range of programs offered at the school.
- Newfoundlander, Neil Bishop, is currently in his second year of study at GGS. He began playing bassoon four years ago, and can be heard in Toronto playing as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral bassoonist.
- Susan Durnin is in her second year of her Artist Diploma at GGS. She moved to Toronto from Winnipeg two years ago, and has since played in numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles.
- Ondrej Golias has performed locally in various chamber ensembles and as a member of the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. Best known for his arrangements of chamber music, visually aesthetic manuscripts and his great Contrabassoon playing, Ondrej is in his final year at GGS.
- Kevin Harris began playing bassoon at age 17 in his hometown of Edmonton. In his first year at GGS, he has played in his local youth orchestra and wind ensemble, as well as other ensembles and chamber groups.
Concerts at the AGO are held in Walker Court Sundays from 1:30 to 2:15 pm, and are free with admission. Watch for these upcoming Sunday concerts:
- November 29: Members of the Murnival String Quartet
- December 6: Grace Kim, pianist