IN MEMORY OF YEHONATAN BERICK (1968-2020)
Yehonatan was a frequent performer and Artistic Advisor for the series since 2011. We miss his infectious energy and humour, and his brilliant artistry.
Prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus, Yehonatan Berick was a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Performances as soloist include Quebec, Winnipeg, Windsor, Ann Arbor, Jerusalem and Haifa Symphonies, and the Israeli, Cincinnati, Montreal and Manitoba Chamber Orchestras, Thirteen Strings and Ensemble Appassionata. Recital offerings included the complete Paganini Caprices, and the complete Solo Sonatas and Partitas by Bach. He collaborated with many of the world's most renowned artists. Festival and chamber series including Marlboro, Ravinia, Seattle, Ottawa, Great Lakes, and Music@Menlo. He toured extensively worldwide, in the world's most important venues, including Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. On CD, Berick recorded for the Acoma, Albany, Centaur, Equilibrium, XXI-21, Gasparo, Summit, and Helicon labels. On video, he can be seen on a BluRay dvd Paganini: 24 Caprices and his recordings won rave reviews in the press. Equally sought after as violin teacher and chamber music mentor, Berick served as Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa from 2013-2020, as well as the University of Michigan and McGill Schulich School of Music. He was invited as teacher and artist-in-residence at many festivals, and featured in masterclasses worldwide. His students hold leading positions in major orchestras, ensembles, and music schools. Yehonatan played a 1761 violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi, generously on loan from the University of Ottawa, as well as violin by Honoré Derazey Père from 1852, and a viola by Stanley Kiernoziak from 2003.
www.yehonatanberick.com
Yehonatan was a frequent performer and Artistic Advisor for the series since 2011. We miss his infectious energy and humour, and his brilliant artistry.
Prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus, Yehonatan Berick was a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Performances as soloist include Quebec, Winnipeg, Windsor, Ann Arbor, Jerusalem and Haifa Symphonies, and the Israeli, Cincinnati, Montreal and Manitoba Chamber Orchestras, Thirteen Strings and Ensemble Appassionata. Recital offerings included the complete Paganini Caprices, and the complete Solo Sonatas and Partitas by Bach. He collaborated with many of the world's most renowned artists. Festival and chamber series including Marlboro, Ravinia, Seattle, Ottawa, Great Lakes, and Music@Menlo. He toured extensively worldwide, in the world's most important venues, including Carnegie Hall and Wigmore Hall. On CD, Berick recorded for the Acoma, Albany, Centaur, Equilibrium, XXI-21, Gasparo, Summit, and Helicon labels. On video, he can be seen on a BluRay dvd Paganini: 24 Caprices and his recordings won rave reviews in the press. Equally sought after as violin teacher and chamber music mentor, Berick served as Professor of Violin at the University of Ottawa from 2013-2020, as well as the University of Michigan and McGill Schulich School of Music. He was invited as teacher and artist-in-residence at many festivals, and featured in masterclasses worldwide. His students hold leading positions in major orchestras, ensembles, and music schools. Yehonatan played a 1761 violin by Carlo Ferdinando Landolfi, generously on loan from the University of Ottawa, as well as violin by Honoré Derazey Père from 1852, and a viola by Stanley Kiernoziak from 2003.
www.yehonatanberick.com
CAITLIN BOYLE, VIOLA & CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
A Hamilton based violin and viola performer and pedagogue, Caitlin Boyle is a member of the Isabel String Quartet, Sinfonia Toronto, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and teaches at the Hamilton Suzuki School of Music. Her passion for music education has led her to teach at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, Taylor Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Festival of the Sound Music Scores Program, Toronto District School Board, Central Okanagan School District, in addition to having taught students across the US, Spain, UK, Italy, and the UAE. She currently coordinates and coaches the chamber music program at Mooredale Youth Orchestras. A JUNO-nominated performing artist, Ms. Boyle concertized extensively for thirteen years with the Cecilia String Quartet. She has won several international awards including Banff, Bordeaux, and Osaka String Quartet Competitions.
RACHEL DESOER, CELLO
Rachel Desoer is a cellist from Hamilton, Ontario. She studied at the Juilliard School, Oberlin College, McGill University and the Banff Centre. She graduated from Oberlin in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Rachel was the cellist of the Cecilia String Quartet from 2010 to 2018. In this ensemble Rachel toured extensively around the world, recorded 4 albums on the Analekta label and taught chamber music at the University of Toronto. Touring has brought Rachel to inspiring venues such as Wigmore Hall, The Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Konzert Haus Berlin and many more. The Cecilia Quartet also made educational programming a priority and performed hundreds of presentations for schools. In 2014 the quartet created a concert series called Xenia concerts specifically designed for children on the autism spectrum and their families. Exemplifying their commitment to the equal representation of women in music, Rachel spearheaded the commissioning of 4 string quartets by Canadian women composers in 2016. Throughout her schooling and career Rachel has also played recitals and concertos with orchestra. She has also worked in other orchestras, most notably, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company. She is currently the acting principal cellist of Symphony Nova Scotia.
YOSUKE KAWASAKI, VIOLIN
Yosuke Kawasaki currently serves as Concertmaster of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. His versatile musicianship allows him to pursue a career in orchestra, solo and chamber music. His orchestral career began with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and soon led to Mito Chamber Orchestra, Saito Kinen Orchestra and Japan Century Orchestra all of which he led as Concertmaster. His solo and chamber music career spans five continents, collaborating with artists such as Seiji Ozawa, Pinchas Zukerman and Yo-Yo Ma and appearing in the world's most prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall and The Royal Concertgebouw. Kawasaki's current regular ensembles are Trio Ink and the Arkas String Quartet. His passion for chamber music led to his appointment as Music Director to the Affinis Music Festival in Japan. He is also an artistic advisor to a brand new chamber music festival in Bulgaria called Off The Beaten Path. As an educator Kawasaki has given masterclasses and performed side by side with students in schools across Canada. Well versed in the string quartet literature he was entrusted by Seiji Ozawa as the youngest faculty member of the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy at the age of 26. He is currently an adjunct professor of violin at the University of Ottawa School of Music. Mr. Kawasaki began his violin studies at the age of six with his father Masao Kawasaki and continued with Setsu Goto. At the age of ten he was accepted into The Juilliard School Pre-College Division and further continued his education and graduated from The Juilliard School in 1998 under the tutorship of Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, Felix Galimir and Joel Smirnoff.
Yosuke Kawasaki currently serves as Concertmaster of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. His versatile musicianship allows him to pursue a career in orchestra, solo and chamber music. His orchestral career began with the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra and soon led to Mito Chamber Orchestra, Saito Kinen Orchestra and Japan Century Orchestra all of which he led as Concertmaster. His solo and chamber music career spans five continents, collaborating with artists such as Seiji Ozawa, Pinchas Zukerman and Yo-Yo Ma and appearing in the world's most prestigious halls such as Carnegie Hall, Suntory Hall and The Royal Concertgebouw. Kawasaki's current regular ensembles are Trio Ink and the Arkas String Quartet. His passion for chamber music led to his appointment as Music Director to the Affinis Music Festival in Japan. He is also an artistic advisor to a brand new chamber music festival in Bulgaria called Off The Beaten Path. As an educator Kawasaki has given masterclasses and performed side by side with students in schools across Canada. Well versed in the string quartet literature he was entrusted by Seiji Ozawa as the youngest faculty member of the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy at the age of 26. He is currently an adjunct professor of violin at the University of Ottawa School of Music. Mr. Kawasaki began his violin studies at the age of six with his father Masao Kawasaki and continued with Setsu Goto. At the age of ten he was accepted into The Juilliard School Pre-College Division and further continued his education and graduated from The Juilliard School in 1998 under the tutorship of Dorothy DeLay, Hyo Kang, Felix Galimir and Joel Smirnoff.
CARISSA KLOPOUSHAK, VIOLA
Based in Ottawa, violinist Carissa Klopoushak is a proud member of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. A laureate of the 2018 Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank Competition, Carissa performs on the beautiful Maggini model 1851 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin. She is also the founder and artistic director of the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in her hometown of Saskatoon, artistic director of Ottawa Chamberfest, and, with the Ironwood Quartet, served as co-director of the Classical Unbound Festival in Prince Edward County. Carissa holds a doctorate in violin performance from McGill University, where she focused on the little-known classical violin repertoire by Ukrainian composers. Her debut recording, SOUNDWORLDS, was released in 2016 with Canadian pianist Philip Chiu.
www.carissaklopoushak.com
Based in Ottawa, violinist Carissa Klopoushak is a proud member of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra. A laureate of the 2018 Canada Council for the Arts Instrument Bank Competition, Carissa performs on the beautiful Maggini model 1851 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin. She is also the founder and artistic director of the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in her hometown of Saskatoon, artistic director of Ottawa Chamberfest, and, with the Ironwood Quartet, served as co-director of the Classical Unbound Festival in Prince Edward County. Carissa holds a doctorate in violin performance from McGill University, where she focused on the little-known classical violin repertoire by Ukrainian composers. Her debut recording, SOUNDWORLDS, was released in 2016 with Canadian pianist Philip Chiu.
www.carissaklopoushak.com
CSABA KOCZO, VIOLIN
Hungarian-born violinist Csaba Koczó began his studies in Yugoslavia and then continued in Hungary at the Richter Conservatory in Gyor and the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest. After attaining his bachelor’s degree with distinction at the College of the Franz Liszt Academy of Music, he continued his studies in Toronto with Lorand Fenyves and Erika Raum at the Glenn Gould School and the University of Toronto, where he was the recipient of the H. Carter scholarship. Mr. Koczó enjoys a prolific career as a chamber musician and soloist both in Canada and abroad. He has shared the stage with such illustrious musicians as Mayumi Seiler, Steven Isserlis, Scott St.John, Douglas McNabney, Yehonatan Berick and the St. Lawrence String Quartet. As a soloist, he has been featured with the Sandor Frigyes Chamber Orchestra and has also had the opportunity to perform the Beethoven Violin concerto and Vivaldi's Four Seasons. As a founding member of the Banff Competition prizewinning and Dora award nominated Tokai String Quartet, Mr. Koczó has toured across Canada and the US and some of his performances have been broadcast on the CBC and the Hungarian National Radio. He has performed at the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, and the Toronto Summer Music Festival where he has worked with Ian Swensen and the Leipzig String Quartet. Mr. Koczó has taught at the Universities of Stanford, Toronto, Kingston, Halifax and Acadia in Wolfville NS, and spends every summer as a faculty member of Music at Port Milford in Picton, ON. In addition, Mr. Koczó was one of the founding members of the Via Salzburg Chamber Orchestra, and is currently Assistant Principal Second Violin of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, and holds a position with the Canadian National Ballet Orchestra where he has been Acting Concertmaster.
www.tokaiquartet.com
www.tokaiquartet.com
JESSICA LINNEBACH, VIOLIN
Appreciating the importance of versatility in today’s world, Jessica Linnebach has successfully built a multi-faceted career. Best known for her “burnt caramel sound, utterly fearless virtuosity...and romantic lyricism” (Artsfile), she has distinguished herself among the next generation of classical artists being lauded on concert stages around the world for her artistry and passion. Jessica made her soloist debut at the age of seven, shortly followed by acceptance to the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music at the age of ten. She remains one of the youngest Bachelor of Music graduates in the history of the school. While there, Jessica’s primary teachers were Aaron Rosand, Jaime Laredo and Ida Kavafian. At the age of eighteen, she received her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where she studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec. Jessica has been a member of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra since 2003, and was named their Associate Concertmaster in April 2010. She was also a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, a string quintet led by Pinchas Zukerman, and toured extensively for almost a decade throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand. Currently, she is a member of the Ironwood String Quartet, with whom she shares her strong passion for discovering new and exciting chamber works while performing in more intimate and interactive spaces, allowing her to have a closer connection with her audience. Jessica plays a circa 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (Guarnerius del Gésu 1737) violin and bows crafted by Ron Forrester and Michael Vann.
Appreciating the importance of versatility in today’s world, Jessica Linnebach has successfully built a multi-faceted career. Best known for her “burnt caramel sound, utterly fearless virtuosity...and romantic lyricism” (Artsfile), she has distinguished herself among the next generation of classical artists being lauded on concert stages around the world for her artistry and passion. Jessica made her soloist debut at the age of seven, shortly followed by acceptance to the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music at the age of ten. She remains one of the youngest Bachelor of Music graduates in the history of the school. While there, Jessica’s primary teachers were Aaron Rosand, Jaime Laredo and Ida Kavafian. At the age of eighteen, she received her Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City where she studied with Pinchas Zukerman and Patinka Kopec. Jessica has been a member of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra since 2003, and was named their Associate Concertmaster in April 2010. She was also a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, a string quintet led by Pinchas Zukerman, and toured extensively for almost a decade throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and New Zealand. Currently, she is a member of the Ironwood String Quartet, with whom she shares her strong passion for discovering new and exciting chamber works while performing in more intimate and interactive spaces, allowing her to have a closer connection with her audience. Jessica plays a circa 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaume (Guarnerius del Gésu 1737) violin and bows crafted by Ron Forrester and Michael Vann.
RACHEL MERCER, CELLO & CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Principal Cello of the NAC Orchestra in Ottawa and Co-Artistic Director of the "5 at the First" Chamber Music Series in Hamilton, Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician across five continents. Described as a "pure chamber musician" (Globe and Mail) creating "moments of pure magic" (Toronto Star), Rachel plays with the Mercer-Park Duo, and was a member of JUNO-winning Ensemble Made In Canada (2008-20), and the Aviv Quartet (2002-10). An advocate for new Canadian music, Rachel has commissioned over 25 works including a cello concerto by Stewart Goodyear recently premiered with the NAC Orchestra, and an album of Canadian women composers released on Centrediscs. Rachel plays a 17th century cello from Northern Italy.
www.rachelmercercellist.com
www.rachelmercercellist.com
ANGELA PARK, PIANO & CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Angela Park has established herself as one of Canada’s most sought-after pianists. Praised for her “stunningly beautiful pianism” (Grace Welsh Prize, Chicago), “beautiful tone and sensitivity” (American Record Guide), and for performing “with such brilliant clarity it took your breath away” (Chapala, Mexico), Angela’s versatility as both soloist and chamber musician has led to acclaimed performances across Canada, as well as in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Mexico. She is a founding member of the award-winning Ensemble Made In Canada, the Mercer-Park Duo, the Seiler Piano Trio, and the AYR Trio, and has recorded solo albums, as well as collaborative discs with cellist Rachel Mercer, oboist Linda Strommen, and Ensemble Made In Canada, for labels including NAXOS Canadian Classics, Centrediscs, and Enharmonic Records. She is currently Artist-in-Residence with Ensemble Made In Canada and Assistant Professor of Piano at Western University.
www.angelapark.com
www.angelapark.com
THERESA RUDOLPH, VIOLA
Theresa Rudolph is Assistant Principal Viola of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and a member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. Theresa began her orchestral career as the youngest member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra at the age of 21. She has also performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, Theresa has performed throughout North America, appearing in festivals such as the Great Lakes and Santa Fe Chamber Music Festivals, Ottawa Chamberfest, and New Music Detroit. Frequently heard on series throughout Ontario, she performs regularly as a member of the TSO Chamber Soloists, and has been featured on CBC/Radio-Canada. Increasingly sought-after as a teacher, Theresa maintains a robust studio at the University of Toronto, and is the Viola Faculty of the Taylor Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has been a guest clinician at the Universities of Montreal, Western Ontario, and Ottawa, and is the Viola Coach of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. Theresa holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Robert Vernon. While at CIM, she toured and recorded with the Musicians from Ravinia, was a prizewinner at the prestigious Fischoff Competition, and performed in Carnegie Hall.
SCOTT ST. JOHN, VIOLIN
Violinist Scott St. John, from London Ontario, is known for his joyful style of music-making and inspiring chamber music coaching. Scott is Concertmaster of the innovative ROCO Chamber Orchestra in Houston, Texas, and returns frequently to the summertime Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont. From 2018 to 2021 he was Director of Chamber Music at The Colburn School in Los Angeles. Early violin success with teacher Richard Lawrence in London Ontario gave Scott a path to the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and the chance to work with David Cerone, Arnold Steinhardt and Felix Galimir. After winning the Alexander Schneider Competition and playing a Carnegie Hall debut, NYC pulled Scott into its orbit, where Young Concert Artists gave him fabulous opportunities for performance. In addition to a magical year of working at the Disney Store in Times Square, Scott has been Associate Professor at the University of Toronto, and Artist-in-Residence at Stanford University as part of the St. Lawrence String Quartet. Scott has received an Avery Fisher Career Grant and won a Juno Award for recording Mozart with his sister Lara St. John. He has founded two chamber music awards for students: the Felix Galimir Award at University of Toronto and the Ida Levin Award at the Colburn School. Scott loves chamber music, Dvorak, new music, music by less-known composers, and a great espresso. He has been to all the Canadian provinces, 49 of the United States, and would prefer to travel by train when practical. He is married to violist Sharon Wei and they have a 10-year-old daughter named Julia.
www.scottstjohn.com
www.scottstjohn.com