ART OF TIME ENSEMBLE
For the last 25 years, Art of Time Ensemble has been on the cutting edge of the performing arts in Canada, fusing music with theatre, dance, film and literature in unique and unprecedented ways. The list of illustrious artists who have collaborated with Art of Time includes Margaret Atwood, Peggy Baker, Brent Carver, Barbara Hannigan, Branford Marsalis, Michael Ondaatje, Madeleine Péyroux, Jackie Richardson and many others.
MATTHEW CHIN
British based Violinist Matthew Chin leads a rich musical life as soloist, chamber musician and orchestral player throughout Europe and Asia. Born in HK, and graduate of Mozarteum University of Salzburg, HEMU Lausanne and Geneva. His mentors have included Pierre Amoyal, and Svetlin Roussev. Scholarships and awards during the period includes, Thomas Edward Wilson Scholarship (UK), MBF (UK), Ida Caroll Prize (UK), Helen Porthouse Paganini Prize UK, Tarisio Grant UK, Max D.Jost Foundation (CH), Lalive Foundation (CH), ‘Association des Amis du Conservatoire de Lausanne’ (CH). He has received top prizes in Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition (UK), Internationale Anton Rubinstein Wettbewerb (DE), 1st CullerArts International Violin Competition (ES), 8th International Arthur Grumiaux Violin Competition (BE), Concerto Competition Winner in Pablo Casals festival (FR) and Atlantic Coast International Young Soloist Competition, (PT), Musicus Society Young Concert Artist Audition (HK). Recent highlights have included Gstaad Menuhin Festival Switzerland, Haydn Violin Concerto in Pablo Casals Festival (FR), Mozart Violin Concerto No.5 with Capella Istropolitana(SK), Vivaldi Concerto in Musicus 10th Anniversary Festival (HK). Recitals at United Nations Palais (CH), Sevcik International Festival (CZ), Mayfield Festival (UK), Concertmaster at Moritzburg Festival Orchesta (DE), Aurora Chamber Orchestra (SE) and Guest Principal 1st Violin for Royal Northern Sinfonia and English Chamber Orchestra.
TIMOTHY CHOOI
Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi, (pronounced as “Chewy,”) has captivated audiences worldwide with his virtuosic and finely nuanced performances. He is highly sought after for his passionate renditions and extensive repertoire, as well as his exceptional ability to connect with a global audience, amassing a media following of millions of viewers who have tuned in to his music.
Chooi gained international recognition by winning First Prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany, and Second Prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition. He also received the prestigious classical music award, the “Yves Paternot Prize” at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. He has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Belgian National Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and Wiener Concert-Verein, among others. His performances have garnered glowing reviews from venues such as Carnegie Hall, Musikverein Wien, Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and the Royal Albert Hall in London. Additionally, he has collaborated with esteemed artists including Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pinchas Zuckerman, Jukka Pekka Saraste, Lang Lang, and James Ehnes.
This upcoming year marks an exciting touring year from Chooi, which includes collaborations with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Emmy Award nominee composer Brian Tyler, a return to the Toronto Symphony, and debuts with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Brucknerhaus Orchester, and at the Wimbledon Music Festival.
JANE COOP
Elegant, passionate and brilliant, are words to describe pianist Jane Coop who takes her art form to a higher stratum. Renowned for her appealing performance style, she is considered Canada’s premier Mozart interpreter by The Calgary Herald and has consistently been praised for her capacity to graciously carry the sensitivity and spirit of the music she plays, right to her listeners. Ms. Coop has worked with prominent conductors such as Sir Andrew Davis, John Eliot Gardiner, and Rudolf Barshai, and with orchestras around the world including the Royal Philharmonic, Seattle and Oregon Symphonies, Hong Kong Philharmonic, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, and most orchestras in Canada. As a sought after concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, she has made appearances in eminent halls such as the Bolshoi Hall in St. Petersburg, Wigmore Hall, the Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Beijing Concert Hall, and the Salle Gaveau in Paris. In her own country, she has given concerts in every province. Coop has recorded extensively and garnered multiple JUNO nominations. Her newest title, her 17th recording to her discography, Three Keyboard Masters: Bach, Beethoven, & Rachmaninoff, reflects the depth of her pianistic canon. She also has produced four concerto recordings, various chamber works recorded with the Satie String Quartet of France, and the complete Beethoven Piano and Violin Sonatas with esteemed colleague Andrew Dawes in her list.
DANIEL HAMIN GO
Described as “authoritative, poised, and dripping with élan” (Jonathan Freeman-Atwood), Korean-Canadian cellist Daniel Hamin Go, is recognised as a special emerging artist in the world of classical music.
Daniel has performed throughout North America and Europe collaborating with renowned musicians including Jonathan Biss, Miriam Fried, Ida Kavafian, Daniel Philips, Rachel Podger, Fazil Say, and Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden; appearing in concert halls such as Berliner Philharmonie, Cadogan, Carnegie Hall, Flagey Studios, and Konzerthaus Berlin; with festival invitations to Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, IMS Prussia Cove, Kronberg Academy, Krzyzowa Music, Mendelssohn on Mull, Music Academy of the West, Ravinia’s Steans Institute of Music, Tsinandali Festival, and Yellow Barn.
As a passionate chamber musician, Daniel is a founding member of two ensembles: Duo Beattie-Go with guitarist Tim Beattie, and Duo Therrien-Go with pianist Jean-Luc Therrien – who recently were selected as Debut Atlantic’s touring ensemble and Isabel Bader Centre’s IMAGINE Arts Incubator. Daniel’s 2023-24 season includes collaborations with Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, Korean Canadian Symphony Orchestra, Caledon Music Festival, Kallos Chamber Music Series, and an Alberta-tour with Duo Beattie-Go.
ELISSA LEE
Winner of the 23rd Eckhardt-Gramatte Strings Competition, Korean-Canadian violinist Elissa Lee has appeared as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, the Boris Brott Festival Orchestra, the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Montreal and the Royal Conservatory of Music Orchestra. Elissa has held positions as second concertmaster in both the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and the WDR Sinfonie Orchester and now enjoys a busy freelance career performing in the greatest concerts halls and festivals in Europe. She has performed as Concertmaster with the Rundfunk Orchester Munchen, the Swedish Radio Orchestra, the KlangVerwaltung Orchestra in Munich, and Festival Strings Luzern, and in leading positions with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and Luxembourg Philharmonic and the Canadian Opera Company. She has also been a guest of world renowned Chamber of Orchestra of Europe, and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and has worked under the baton of Claudio Abaddo, Simon Rattle, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Bernard Haitink and Daniel Harding. Elissa has had a busy chamber music life as first violinist of the Kamareli Quartet and the Bomari String Quartet. As a chamber musician she has performed with Louie Lortie, Augustin Dumay, Anton Kuerti, Pascal Devoyon, Kevin Fitzgerald, Lawrence Lesser, and Shauna Rolston amongst others and has been a frequent participant of Open Chamber Music in Prussia Cove, England. Since 2010, Elissa has been a member of piano quartet Ensemble Made in Canada and the founding Executive Director of BIGLAKE Arts in Prince Edward County, ON.
MISCHA MEYER
In 1996, Mischa Meyer began his studies with Martin Ostertag, initially as a young student, and in 2004 he moved to the Hanns Eisler University of Music in Berlin, where he completed his concert exams with David Geringas and then with Peter Bruns. In 2007, Mischa received the German Music Competition Prize and has since been one of the most versatile talents of his generation.
In demand as a versatile chamber musician, he is particularly interested in early music as well as the music of the 20th and 21st centuries and is, among other things, Member of the Fontane Quartet. He received important inspiration from his collaboration with Jörg-Wolfgang Jahn and Pamela Frank. In addition to the German Music Competition, he won, among other things, the first prize at the International Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach (Austria) and at the International David Popper Competition in Várpalota (Hungary). He is also a winner of the Confederation of German Industry competition and the Stenebrüggen Prize of the city of Baden-Baden. At the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann 2006 he received a special prize for the best interpretation of the compulsory piece by Volker David Kirchner.
He performed as a soloist, among other things with the Augsburg Philharmonic, the Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot, the Baden-Baden Philharmonic, the Munich Sinfonietta, the Brandenburg State Orchestra Frankfurt|Oder, and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. For the 2007|2008 season he was appointed solo cellist by the German Symphony Orchestra Berlin.
JEREMY RUSU
Whether it’s on jazz piano, drums with a big band, country lead guitar, bluegrass mandolin, accordion, or bagpipes, Jeremy Rusu is right at home on a stage as long as he’s making music. Blind since birth, Jeremy’s entire life has revolved around music. He was a member of several bands around Winnipeg and recently relocated to Brockville, ON. Jeremy is also busy working as a studio musician and recording engineer. Most recently, Jeremy has released his first solo recording titled “The Accordion Album,” and will soon be releasing an album of lullabies with his wife, Annie.
ENSEMBLE MADE IN CANADA
Ensemble Made In Canada is rapidly gaining recognition as Canada’s premier piano quartet. The members of the group have been forging outstanding individual careers and bring together a wealth of experience having already appeared at prestigious festivals such as Marlboro, Ravinia, Orford, Verbier, Prussia Cove, Pablo Casals and Evian. EMIC has performed for Winnipeg Virtuosi, Montreal Pro Musica, SUNY New Paltz, Stratford Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Parry Sound Festival of the Sound, Jeffery Chamber Music Series, Lindsay Concert Productions, Almonte in Concert, Women’s Musical Club of Toronto, Kawartha Concerts, including multiple work cycles for the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society. EMIC has provided master classes, chamber music coachings, and lectures at universities across Canada and in the United States and has also participated in outreach programs for public schools in Ontario. The group is grateful for support from FACTOR, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. EMIC has been Ensemble-in-Residence at Western University since 2014. ensemblemadeincanada.com
NICK BOBAS
Nick Bobas started playing the bass many moons ago in Ottawa. He has a B.Mus. from
McGill University, an Orchestral Studies Certificate from University of Ottawa
and a M.Mus. from Boston University. Additional private studies with Joel
Quarrington over the years were extremely influential and kept Nick’s eye on the
prize. Summer festivals that were formative for him include the Lucerne Festival
in Switzerland, four tours with the JM World Orchestra based in Spain and
multiple sessions at Domaine Forget, Orford Music Academy and the NAC
Young Artist Program.
He has played seasons with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Bergen Philharmonic
in Norway and the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. He has freelanced with a
variety of orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic, the Northern Sinfonia,
NACO, TSO, VSO, and COC among others. He feels fortunate to have played
with many great conductors and soloists over the years.
Nick felt he had copious amounts of extra free time so along with his partner
Sarah they decided to have two kids and open a brewery in Prince Edward
County called Slake Brewing where he brews all the beer which they co-own
with a couple of other exhausted people.
PHILIP CHIU
“A pianist-painter who transforms each musical idea into a beautiful array of colours” (La Presse), JUNO award-winning pianist Philip Chiu is acclaimed for his brilliant pianism, sensitive listening, and a welcoming stage presence that eschews the hermit-pianist image in favour of openness, authenticity, and connection with audiences. Inaugural winner of the Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer, Philip has become one of Canada’s leading musicians through his infectious love of music and his passion for creation and communication. Philip concertizes extensively as soloist and chamber musician and has performed solo recitals, concerti and chamber music concerts across Canada, as well as in France, Japan and the United States. He is a member of the JUNO award-winning piano quartet, Ensemble Made in Canada. Other chamber music partners have included James Ehnes, Emmanuel Pahud, Regis Pasquier, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Bomsori Kim, Johannes Moser, and the New Orford String Quartet; he has long-standing duo partnerships with Jonathan Crow and Cameron Crozman. His most recent JUNO-winning solo album Fables is part of an upcoming triptych (ATMA) presenting original commissions from distinguished composers such as Barbara Assiginaak and Alice Ping Yee Ho, paired with music by Ravel and Debussy. Philip is represented by Andrew Kwan Artists Management.
COC ENSEMLE STUDIO
The Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio is an innovative artist development program for emerging Canadian opera professionals. The company’s uniquely collaborative approach blends advanced study and practical experience through a multi-year program that’s individually tailored for each member. Artists receive intensive vocal coaching; language, movement, and acting studies; as well as private masterclasses with renowned opera professionals. Ensemble singers perform and understudy mainstage roles, while Ensemble pianists participate in the preparation of the COC’s mainstage productions. Members of the Ensemble Studio are the COC’s resident artists and important community ambassadors for the company. Through performances and collaborations with local schools and organizations, Ensemble members are often the first point of contact with opera for many; their ongoing participation in this area is integral to creating inclusive and welcoming opportunities for more people to engage with the art form. Since 1980, nearly 230 young professional Canadian singers and pianists have acquired foundational opera experience through the Ensemble Studio. Former members include Ben Heppner, Krisztina Szabó, Emily D’Angelo, Claire de Sévigné, Gordon Bintner, Ambur Braid, Miriam Khalil, Wallis Giunta, and David Pomeroy.
PETER EOM
Armed with a versatility of creative interests ranging from literature to fashion, cellist Peter Eom has been hailed for his “flowing, lyrical quality of sound” and “agility, purity of intonation, and sureness of taste” (Harald Eggebrecht, Süddeutsche Zeitung, 2022).
Most recently, Eom was the sole recipient of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and YoungArts NYC Residency to produce SEAMLESS, an interdisciplinary project combining Classical music, fashion design, and modern choreography. SEAMLESS will premiere in NYC Fashion Week FW 2026.
Eom has performed as soloist with orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, Denver Philharmonic Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, and MusicaNova Orchestra. He is also the cellist of the Rolston String Quartet, first prize winner of the 12th Banff International String Quartet Competition and heralded as “one of the very best in a quartet-rich age.”
Eom is a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts, a former Rebanks Fellow at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, and holds degrees from Colburn Conservatory and Northwestern University. His mentors include Clive Greensmith, Gary Hoffman, and Hans Jørgen Jensen.
SHEILA JAFFÉ
Sheila Jaffé was born into a family of musicians and was fascinated by classical music from a young age. Born in Montreal and raised in South Florida, she returned to her native Quebec at the age of thirteen to live and study with her second cousin Catherine Dallaire, concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec and professor of violin at the Conservatoire de Musique de Québec. After completing high school as part of the arts intensive program at l’École Secondaire Pierre-Laporte in Montreal, Sheila completed her Bachelor’s degree in violin performance at the Université de Montréal. Over the course of her years in Montreal, it became clear that chamber music and orchestral playing were at the core of her musical passions. She co-founded the Alaya String Quartet, performed in numerous chamber music concerts in the city, and kept herself impossibly busy with every kind of ensemble she could put together. In the summers, she participated in orchestral, chamber music and masterclass festivals such as Schleswig-Holstein Orchester, Domaine Forget, International Musicians Seminar and Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove, Orford Arts Centre, Aurora Music in Sweden, and several others. Sheila continued her studies in Berlin, Germany with a Master’s program at the Hanns Eisler Hochschüle für Musik, during which she also was accepted into the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Akademie for a one-year position. During this time she also co-founded the Alondra String Quartet, who were invited to the International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove as well as the Toronto Summer Music festival. The members of this quartet are now in leading orchestras around the world. In 2013, at the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival in Alberta, Canada, she co-founded the Rosebud String Quartet (RSQ), with whom she currently performs regularly. Sheila is also the violinist and violist of the Array Ensemble, specializing in new music. In 2015, Sheila joined the Canadian Opera Company as a violist while continuing to nurture her love of chamber music on the violin with her string quartet as well as other chamber ensembles and various solo performances. She is now principal viola of the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada orchestras. Her first album, “Lachrymae”, a tribute to her late husband Peter Longworth and featuring works by Franck, Elgar and Britten in collaboration with Welsh pianist Huw Watkins (Coviello Classics), came out in 2022, closely followed in 2023 by her string quartet’s first album of Haydn and Mozart featuring Canadian violist Steven Dann and the Rosebud String Quartet (Leaf Music). Sheila Jaffé plays on a Francesco Gobetti (1710-15) violin and Raymond Schryer (2001) viola on generous loan from Canimex
TREY LEE
MUSICAL & EDIBLE PROMENADE CANDLELIGHT CONCERT CARNAVAL DES ANIMAUX IMPACT
Hailed as a “miracle” by Gramophone, Trey Lee enthralls audiences with a virtuosity that combines intellectual sophistication and a profound depth of emotions. His concerto debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage earned him a standing ovation, with The New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini declaring him “the excellent cellist…with enveloping richness and lyrical sensitivity.” The late Lorin Maazel praised him as “a marvellous protagonist…a superb cellist” after conducting Trey in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
2023 and 2024 highlights include touring with Camerata Salzburg, the season opening concert in London with the English Chamber Orchestra, a recital tour of 11 cities in China, and concerto performances in Paris, Berlin, Milan, Vienna and Budapest. Notable musicians Trey has worked with include conductors Vladimir Ashkenazy, Yuri Bashmet, Mikko Franck, Hannu Lintu, Juanjo Mena, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, Vassily Sinaisky and Dima Slobodeniouk; the philharmonics of BBC, Netherlands, Radio France; the Tapiola Sinfonietta; the Moscow Soloists; and the chamber orchestras of London, Mantova, Munich, Stuttgart and Romanian Radio, among others.
Seeking to increase the expressive possibilities of the cello, Trey has re-arranged Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, which he debuted with the Trondheim Soloists followed by a tour of Norway. Wang Liping’s The Dream of the Red Chamber Capriccio, co-rearranged by Trey, was premiered with Leonard Slatkin and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, Trey has given world premieres of two pieces dedicated to him: Bright Sheng’s The Blazing Mirage (recorded for Naxos) and contemporary Finnish composer Kirmo Lintinen’s Cello Concerto.
Trey is a laureate of major international competitions, including First Prize at the International Antonio Janigro Cello Competition. His debut and recital albums were distributed by EMI with critical acclaim; recent recordings include a recital by Deutsche Welle television, the German public international broadcaster.
Trey plays on the 1703 “Comte de Gabriac” cello by Venetian master maker Matteo Goffriller.
ANNEMARIE MOORCROFT
Annemarie Moorcroft was born in London, Ontario and began playing the violin at age 4. As a teenager, she switched to viola and studied at Western with Ralph Aldrich and in Cologne, Germany with Rainer Moog. Her musical education continued in New York, where she studied with Michael Tree and Cynthia Phelps, receiving her Masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 1995.
In 1996 Annemarie was appointed principal violist of the German Symphony Orchestra of Berlin and soon after made her Berlin debut playing Don Quixote with Yo-Yo Ma under Vladimir Ashkenazy. She has since performed concertos under conductors Leonard Slatkin, Sir Roger Norrington and Kent Nagano among others.
Annemarie is also a versatile and avid chamber musician. Her experiences performing at the Marlboro Festival were early inspirations and she was a member of the Breuninger String Quartet from 1998-2010, performing regularly in the Berlin Philharmonic Hall. Recently she has performed with wonderful collaborators such as pianists Kirill Gerstein, Benjamin Hochman, and beloved Canadians, Mark Fewer, Sharon Wei and Scott St. John.
PUI YING WONG
Wong Pui Ying was born in 2004 in Hong Kong and she began learning the violin at the age of four. She is now studying with world-renowned Professor Boris Kuschnir at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz.
In 2011, Wong attended the First International Contest for Musically Talented Chinese in Beijing and was the winner in the Western Musical Instrument category. Not only was Wong nominated to be the spokesperson for the 2013 Beijing International Youth Music Festival, but she also joined the World Chinese Musician Association as the youngest member in the same year. She continued to succeed and was the winner in the Fifth China Conservatory of Music Society National Competition, Grade 10. In 2014, she obtained Licentiate Diploma for violin performance, issued by Trinity College London. A year later, Wong was honoured to be the overall champion of the Second Hong Kong International Music Festival Competition. Wong also received first prize in the 68th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, violin concerto age 19 or under category. Wong even received second prize in the 69th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Hong Kong Strings Scholarship category. In May 2017,Wong have won the first prize of category A of the VII International Yampolsky Violin Competition. In May 2018, Wong has won first prize of junior group of the IV Yankelevitch International Violin Competition. In Sep 2019, Wong has won the second prize of group B of the 3rd Zhuhai Mozart International Violin Competition, She has also received the best Chinese repertoire prize. In Sep 2019, Wong received a commendation by Ymission. In Jan 2020, Wong received the commendation by the Secretary for Home Affairs’ of Hong Kong for making outstanding achievements in international arts and cultural activities.
Wong has had opportunities to work with different orchestras, including New Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra, Guangxi Orchestra, Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra and the Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra. Following her performance in the Hong Kong International Music Festival, Wong has been invited by Dr. German Gutierrez to perform with Texas Christian University and the Fort Worth Youth Orchestra in the US.
CARN DAVIDSON 9
The Carn Davidson 9 (CD9) was formed in 2010 as a collaborative project between JUNO Award-winning artists, trombonist William Carn and saxophonist Tara Davidson. This co-led ensemble is an opportunity for both artists to craft their original compositions for this chamber jazz instrumentation. With its seven wind instruments underpinned by acoustic bass and drums, CD9 is a dynamic and engaging ensemble that commands and entertains a live audience. From swing to Brazilian baião, CD9 performs a diverse and compelling repertoire of compositions by Carn and Davidson that is eclectic yet cohesive.
The Carn Davidson 9’s unique sound is made stronger by an all-star lineup of prominent Canadian artists who are all exceptional ensemble players as well as outstanding soloists. CD9 has produced three recordings. CD9’s debut recording, “Nine”, was released in 2012; “Murphy” was released in 2017; “The History of Us” was released in 2021. Comprising of two three-movement suites, “The History of Us” is a meditation on the universal themes of family, migration, and loss. “The History of Us” received much critical acclaim, including a 4-Star review in DownBeat magazine. All three recordings garnered JUNO nominations for Jazz Album of the Year.
NIKKI CHOOI
VIRTUOSO VIOLINS CANDLELIGHT CONCERT
Praised for his powerful and poetic performances, internationally acclaimed violinist Nikki Chooi has established himself as an artist of rare versatility. Gramophone stated he performed with “total conviction and assurance.” Nikki is a Laureate of the Queen Elizabeth and Tchaikovsky Competitions, and was awarded 1st Prize Winner at the Montreal Symphony’s ManuLife Competition, the Klein International Strings Competition, and the Michael Hill International Violin Competition.
Nikki is currently Concertmaster of the Grammy-award winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under Music Director JoAnn Falletta. Highly in demand as a guest concertmaster, he has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Houston Symphony, Sydney Symphony, and Macao Orchestra. Previously Concertmaster of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Nikki’s solos can be heard through The Met: Live in HD broadcasts in productions of Verdi’s La Traviata, Janacek’s Jenufa, and the Grammy-nominated recording of Strauss’ Rosenkavalier released on the Decca Label.
In 2022-2023, Nikki made critically-acclaimed debuts at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium as soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic and at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall with Orchestra NOW. He was also featured soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, Puerto Rico Symphony, National Taiwan Symphony Festival Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, and Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. In past seasons, he has appeared as soloist with orchestras across Canada and internationally including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Victoria Symphony Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra of Wallonie, National Orchestra of Belgium, Auckland Philharmonia, Malaysian Philharmonic, and Hong Kong Philharmonic.
HATCH / CONTINUUM
For over 35 years, Continuum has supported new ideas in contemporary chamber music through unique and compelling programming in Toronto. Under Artistic Director (and ensemble percussionist) Ryan Scott and Operations Manager Christina Volpini, Continuum each year presents a series of diversely themed concerts, often involving interdisciplinary collaborations with a broad range of partners and participants. Continuum has commissioned more than 300 new works from early-career and established Canadian and international composers, recorded three CDs, created an online resource of all live concerts since 2010 and toured extensively in Canada and Europe. Drawing from a collective of some of Canada’s most accomplished contemporary music performers and composers, the organization continuously earns international acclaim as a leading contributor of opportunities in the art form, delivered within the highest standards of musicianship. Continuum has simultaneously created multiple mentorship opportunities with the aim of growth and development in our art form: HATCH, our annual summer music mentorship program for early-career composers, performers and conductors; PIVOT, our biennial national early-career composer project with the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre; our annual Teen Composer Award; and Continuum in the Classroom now with over 75 world premieres and engagement with over 7000 TDSB students.
HIU SUNG FAN
Winner of the New York International Artists Association Violin Competition, Verão Clássico Festival, and the Adelphi Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, violinist Hiu Sing Fan has established himself as one of the eminent young rising stars of the international concert stage. Mr. Fan has frequently performed at music festivals internationally such as the Verbier Festival, Verão Clássico Festival, Great Mountain Festival, Marvão Music Academy, among others.
Mr. Fan has collaborated and mentored by renowned artists such as Leonidas Kavakos, Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, Vadim Repin, Itzhak Perlman, Kristóf Baráti, Ferenc Rados, Pamela Frank, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Donald Weilerstein, Aaron Rosand, the Quatuor Ebène, and the Emerson Quartet.
Born in Hong Kong, Mr. Fan began violin lessons at the age of four. He is the recipient of the Cordelia Lee Scholarship and Betty & Daniel Bloomfield Fund Scholarship at the Juilliard School, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree under Hyo Kang and I-Hao Lee before going on to further studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, with Julia Fischer, Christoph Poppen, Lena Neudauer and Veronika Eberle. As the recipient of the Eckstein Scholarship, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University.
During the 2023-24 season, Mr. Fan returns to the Cologne Chamber Orchestra as guest concertmaster and makes debut as the soloist with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta performing the Brahms Violin Concerto as the winner of Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s Auditions On Stage.
ALEX KUSTUROK
Alex Kusturok has emerged as a formidable force in the world of traditional and contemporary fiddle music. Immersed in the rich Métis fiddle culture since childhood, Alex’s journey in music began in the lively old-time dances of Manitoba, where he accompanied his mother, Patti Kusturok. By age 7, his deep-seated passion for music was unmistakable, a passion that has since evolved into a flourishing career as both a performer and an educator.
Alex’s music is a dynamic blend, heavily influenced by Quebecois and Cape Breton fiddle styles. However, the essence of Métis fiddling remains the heart and soul of his performances. The heart beat of his music lies in the power of his footwork and his versatility has kept him in high demand across Canada.
In Alex’s captivating shows, audiences experience a rich tapestry of culture, music, and dance, interwoven with personal stories and an infectious energy. His performances are more than just concerts; they are a celebration of heritage, an exhibition of unparalleled musical talent, and a heartfelt journey through the rhythms of the fiddle. Alex Kusturok continues to inspire and educate, leaving an indelible mark on the Canadian music scene and beyond, championing the sounds and stories of his Métis heritage.
LOUIS LORTIE
For over three decades, French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie has continued to build a reputation as one of the world’s most versatile pianists; he extends his interpretative voice across a broad spectrum of repertoire, and his performances and award-winning recordings attest to his remarkable musical range. In demand on five continents, Lortie has established long-term partnerships with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, Orchestre National de France and Dresden Philharmonic in Europe, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony and St Louis Symphony and New Jersey Symphony in the US. In his native Canada he regularly performs with the major orchestras in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary. Further afield, collaborations include the Shanghai Symphony, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan, and the Adelaide and Sydney Symphony Orchestras and Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo in Brazil. Regular partnerships with conductors include, among others, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Edward Gardner, Sir Andrew Davis, Jaap Van Zweden, Simone Young, Antoni Wit and Thierry Fischer.
NEW ZEALAND STRING QUARTET
Founded in 1987, the New Zealand String Quartet – Te Rōpu Tūrū O Aotearoa – exists to provide transformational chamber music experiences for all New Zealanders. Over the past 36 years the Quartet has established an international reputation for its insightful interpretations, compelling communication, and dynamic performing style.
The NZSQ provides dynamic and high-quality musical experiences for all New Zealanders embracing the fresh and familiar. The Quartet’s rich repertoire includes a wide variety of New Zealand music, composers’ cycles from Beethoven to Bartok, Mozart to Berg, and theatrical presentations encompassing spoken word and dance, from Haydn’s Seven Last Words to Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night. The NZSQ proudly champions New Zealand and Māori music and artists as cultural ambassadors at home and abroad. Since its inception, the Quartet has premiered over 150 New Zealand works, and now works closely with its Mātanga Ngā Toi Māori, taonga pūoro player Horomona Horo.
The NZSQ takes a leadership and advocacy role in advancing music education. Devoted teachers and mentors, all members of the Quartet teach at the New Zealand School of Music – Te Kōkī where the NZSQ has been Quartet-in-Residence since 1991, as well as running the Adam Chamber Music School in Nelson. The NZSQ runs the NZSM Chamber Music Intensive Weekend in Wellington for up-and-coming chamber musicians, and regularly mentors students from Sistema programmes across the country.
ILYA POLETAEV
A musician with a fiercely inquisitive mind, impeccable technique and an intensely poetic vision, Ilya Poletaev is an artist equally at home on the modern piano or on historical keyboards: harpsichord, fortepiano, and chamber organ. Hailed as “one of the most significant pianists of his generation” by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, he launched his career after capturing First Prize at the prestigious International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig in 2010 — the only Canadian ever to win that competition. He has since appeared at the Leipzig Gewandhaus, KlavierFestival Ruhr, Dresdner MusikFesttäge, Potsdam Musikfestspiele, Leipzig BachFest, Accademia Filarmonica Romana, Montreal Bach Festival, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and Chamber Music Society, St. Paul’s Ordway Center, Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall, Caramoor Festival, Chamber Music Northwest, and many other prestigious venues and festivals across Canada, US, Italy, Romania, Germany, and Russia. He also was the Grand Prize winner of the 2008 Concorso Sala Gallo in Italy, a laureate of the 2008 Canadian Stepping Stone, a top prize-winner at the 2007 SEHKS harpsichord competition, and a prize-winner at the 2011 George Enescu Competition in Bucharest. In 2009 he joined the roster of Astral Artists and is currently an Astral Artist laureate.
On the modern piano, he has appeared with the Toronto Symphony, Orchestra of St.
Luke’s, Hartford Symphony, Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, Samara Philharmonic,
Sinfonia Toronto, Orchestra Filarmonica di Cluj, Orchestra Filarmonica de Bacau, and
McGill Symphony Orchestra collaborating with such conductors as David Robertson,
Peter Oundjian, Bernhard Gueller, Alexis Hauser, Rossen Milanov, Nurhan Arman, John
Holloway and Leo Kraemer.
Known for the breadth and creativity of his programming choices, Poletaev has in past
seasons offered solo performances ranging from the complete 2nd Book of J.S. Bach’s
Well-Tempered Clavier (which he performs in its entirety on both modern and historical
keyboards); to traditional recitals and concerto performances of both well-known and
neglected repertoire (C.P.E. Bach, Dussek, Medtner, Enescu, Nielsen, etc.), to interdisciplinary
events combining performances on different instruments, poetry readings,
spoken commentary, and historical narrative.
JOHANNES DEBUS
