Guest Artists

"When you experience excellence,
the range of the possible expands."

Edmond agopian violin

Edmond Agopian began his violin training in Constantza, Romania where, along with classical studies at the Constantza Music Lyceum, he played and toured with a taraf- a Romanian /Gypsy ensemble. He continued his musical studies at the University of Toronto (BMus), and the Juilliard School (MMus) and is now Professor of Violin at the University of Calgary, Conductor of the U of C Orchestra and Artist-in-Residence at Mount Royal College Conservatory. In 2005 Mr. Agopian was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal “in recognition of outstanding achievements and service to the people and province of Alberta”.

Conducting work has included performances with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Canadian Chamber Orchestra (conductor and concertmaster), and yearly engagements with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2002 he was appointed Music Director of the Calgary Youth Orchestra, Mount Royal College Conservatory. His first violin teacher, Constantin Anghel, was a Romanian Gypsy who was his mentor in two musical cultures: the stringent, methodical, Classical violin school, and the “play by ear” folk tradition. After immigrating to Canada, Edmond Agopian continued to play with various folk bands. His violin method The No Time to Practice Technique Companion has been on the Shar Music Company’s bestseller list.

Dr. Aaron Au violin

A native of Lethbridge, AB, Dr. Aaron Au is currently a first violinist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a Visiting Assistant When you experience excellence, the range of the possible expands. Guest Artists Professor of Violin and Viola at the University of Alberta. His principal instructors have included Gerald Stanick, Andrew Dawes, Thomas Riebl and Martin Riseley. In demand as a violinist, violist, teacher and adjudicator, Dr Au has performed and taught in Canada, the US, Europe, Japan and Cuba and was recently an adjudicator at the Canadian National Music Festival. In 2007 Aaron was awarded his Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta.

CECELIA QUARTET

The Cecilia String Quartet is one of Canada’s most exciting young ensembles today.  First Prizewinners at the 2010 Banff International String Quartet Competition, they are currently the Resident String Quartet at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada. The CSQ has performed across Europe and North America in such halls as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Berlin Konzerthaus. The quartet were prizewinners at other notable competitions such as Bordeaux (2010) and Osaka (2008), and winners of the 2007 Galaxie Rising Stars Award in Canada. The CSQ is highly committed to teaching and outreach.  The ensemble has held teaching duties at the Austin Chamber Music Festival in Texas, San Diego State University in California, and McGill University.

Nigel Boehmcello

Nigel Boehm has been recognized as an accomplished Canadian cellist through his recordings for Radio-Canada and National Public Radio (USA), dedication to musical education, and many performances as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician throughout Canada, United States and abroad. Committed to the education of young musicians, Nigel Boehm is a faculty member at Mount Royal Academy and Conservatory of Music in Calgary Alberta, where he is an instructor of cello and chamber music. Mr. Boehm holds a Performance Diploma completed at Mount Royal College, a Bachelor of Music in solo performance with a minor in Musicology and Music History, and a Masters of Music both completed at McGill University. In addition to his music career, Mr. Boehm travels throughout North America, the United States and Asia as a consultant, dealer and bow-maker for Wilder & Davis Luthiers.

judith fraser cello

Judith (Anne) Fraser began to study cello at 10, working with Mary Short in Calgary and, after 1949, with Audrey Piggott in Vancouver. She lived 1954-60 in London, where she studied cello 1954-7 with Douglas Cameron at the RAM and briefly with Paul Tortelier, and was principal cello 1957-60 with the Festival Ballet orchestra and played in the Sadler's Wells Opera orchestra. She returned to Vancouver in 1960 and thereafter studied cello on occasion with Colin Hampton, Zara Nelsova, Aldo Parisot (at the Banff CA in 1989), and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. Fraser has played in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (1953-4, 1960-71) and the CBC Vancouver Chamber Orchestra (1953-4, 1960-81), and was a founding member and manager of the Baroque Strings of Vancouver (1967-88).

She helped to found the Vancouver Cello Club in 1968 (and remained an active member in 1991), joined the orchestra of the Vancouver Opera in 1977, becoming orchestra manager in 1981, and was principal cellist 1980-3 of Symphony Canadiana. She has taught cello privately and at the Courtenay Youth Music Camp (1969-74), Malaspina College in Nanaimo, BC (1977-8), the Vancouver Academy of Music (from 1972), and Central Vancouver Island Music School (from 1977). Her pupils have included Sonia de Langen, Carrie Eley, Stephanie Finn, Margaret Gay, John Husser, Morag Northey, Sean Varah, and Sophie Willer. Fraser's playing has consistently displayed insight and sensitivity, and her teaching is marked by dedication to her task and to her students.

kai gleusteen violin

Kai Gleusteen studied violin from the age of five in his native city, Calgary. By the age of seventeen, Kai was awarded the top prize in the Commonwealth Concerto Competition in Australia and the prestigious Skene Award in Scotland. Kai is the concertmaster of the Orchestra ‘del Gran Teatre del Liceu’ in Barcelona, where he is also professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya. He continues to perform extensively as a soloist in Europe and N. America and has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings.

"Great teachers and coaches make it possible for students to stretch beyond the ordinary."

Katharine Rapoport violin

Violinist and Violist Katharine Rapoport is an extraordinarily successful teacher whose former students play with leading orchestras around the world. Her students have received prizes in festivals and competitions and have won scholarships to Juilliard, Eastman and many other major schools.

Her performance career reflects a special interest in new music. She has premiered solo and chamber works by many prominent living Canadian composers in concerts, broadcasts and recordings, and is currently a member of Esprit Orchestra.

She conducts the RCM Chamber Orchestra and has created a course in String Pedagogy which she teaches at the Glenn Gould School. She has given masterclasses at the University of Western Ontario, Glenn Gould School, at festivals and summer programmes throughout Canada, as well as at the University of Toronto’s Wednesday Performance Classes.

She received her MA from Cambridge University and her postgraduate Certificate of Advanced Studies in Violin from the Guildhall School of Music, London. She has taught at the University of Toronto Faculty When you experience excellence, the range of the possible expands. of Music since 1996 and at the Royal Conservatory of Music (including the Glenn Gould School) since 1983.

DANIEL SCHOLZ,viola

is the Principal Viola of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. As a solo artist, Daniel has performed concertos with numerous orchestras.  Daniel has also toured Europe with the Nordic Symphony as Guest Principal Viola. Highly sought after as an instructor, Mr. Scholz teaches at the University of Manitoba and is the conductor of the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Past guest artists

2009-11 Aaron Au, Joan Barrett, Judith Fraser, Tom Mirhady, Players Ensemble, Ben Plotnick, Nick Pulos, Beth Root Sandvoss, and the Ying Quartet. 2008-9 Danuta Ciring, Daniel Scholz, Christine Bootland, Edmond Agopian (University of Calgary), Rob Penner (Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra), Judy Fraser (Vancouver Academy), Donovan Seidle (music director 2010 Olympics), Lawrie Hill (Vancouver Academy)

2007-8
2007-8 Danuta Ciring, Jeffrey Plotnick (principal second Calgary Philharmonic), Edmond Agopian (University of Calgary)

Past guest coaches

Nancy Russell, Morag Northey, Olena Kylchyk, Kirill Kalmykoff, Diane Valentine, Vanessa Goymour, Andrea Neumann, Karen Youngquist, Dorothy Bishop.