Lucy Wang (Violin), Hao Zhou (Violin), Aiden Kane (Viola), Tate Zawadiuk (Cello)
Chamber Music Kelowna proudly continues to present the winners of the Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC).
Co-laureate of the 2019 BISQC, Viano String Quartet is praised for their “huge range of dynamics, massive sound, and spontaneity” (American Record Guide). They won Grand Prize at the 2019 ENKOR International Music Competition, second prize at the 2019 Yellow Springs Chamber Music Competition and third prize at the 2018 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition, where they also received the Sidney Griller award for best performance of the compulsory work, The Four Quarters by Thomas Adès, and the Haydn Prize for the best performance of a Haydn string quartet.
Viano String Quartet was formed in 2015 at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, where they are Ensemble in Residence through the 2020-21 season. The quartet has performed in venues such as Wigmore Hall, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, SOKA Performing Arts Center, and the Cerritos Center for Performing Arts and has performed with world class musicians such as pianists Emanuel Ax and Elisso Virsaladze, violist Paul Coletti, and violinist Martin Beaver.
This concert is supported, in part, by the Banff International String Quartet Competition.
“Vidovic’s playing is nuanced and intensely personal, both deeply felt and deeply thought.” – Washington Post
Known for her beautiful tone, precise technique, well-defined phrasing and thoughtful artistry, Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary performer taking her place amongst the elite musicians touring internationally. Her career to date includes recitals, concerto engagements and festival appearances in Europe’s cultural destinations, such as Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Vienna’s Musikverein and King’s Place in London. She has also toured Australia, Brazil, Israel, Japan, Korea and North America.
Born in Croatia, Ana Vidovic started playing guitar at the age of 5. At the age of 11 she was performing internationally, and at age 13 she became the youngest student to attend the prestigious National Musical Academy in Zagreb where she studied with Professor Istvan Romer. She subsequently graduated from the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, where she studied with the legendary guitarist Manuel Barrueco.
Ana Vidovic has won an impressive number of prizes, including first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor Competition in Rome, Italy and the Francisco Tárrega Competition in Benicàssim, Spain. She has recorded a number of successful CDs and concert DVDs, and has been featured in three television documentaries by the eminent Croatian film director Petar Krelja.
Aaron Dan (Flute), Olivier Stankiewicz (Oboe), Sacha Rattle (Clarinet), Joost Bosdijk (Bassoon), Lionel Speciale (Horn), Zeynep Özsuca (Piano)
“Berlin Counterpoint was “fully present”, performing with alert senses and virtuosic verve.” – Die Glocke
Winner of 2013 Usedomer Musikpreis, Berlin Counterpoint has rapidly established itself in Europe as well as other parts of the world. Through their strong musical ideals, well-thought-out programming and above all, their intense desire to communicate through music, they are considered one of the premier ensembles of its kind. Their goal is not only to make classical music accessible to all audiences, but also to show how important this language is in the world today.
The six musicians of Berlin Counterpoint, who also perform worldwide as individuals, hold passports from Romania, France, the Netherlands, Britain, the United States and Turkey; Berlin Counterpoint’s sparkling sound, homogeneous virtuosity and adventurous yet thoughtful interpretations are very much owed to this meeting of different cultural and musical backgrounds. Berlin Counterpoint’s ever-growing repertoire, spanning from baroque era to contemporary music, includes traditional works for wind quintet and piano, as well as members’ own arrangements and other new works commissioned from young composers.
Since its conception in 2007, Berlin Counterpoint has received great acclaim for its appearances at many prestigious venues such as the Sociedad Filarmónica de Bilbao, Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Istanbul Music Festival, Palau de la Música Valencia, and the Kammermusiksaal of the Berlin Philharmonic as well as tours to Brazil, Mexico and USA. Its highly praised debut CD (2013 Genuin Label) was not only extremely well received by the audiences and critics, but also brought them a nomination for Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.
Annalee Patipatanakoon (Violin), Roman Borys (Cello), Jamie Parker (Piano)
“The Gryphon’s musical conversations are animated and charming… It has character and detail to spare, and elegance is no small accomplishment.” – The Globe and Mail, Toronto
For over 25 years, the Gryphon Trio has firmly established itself as one of the world’s preeminent piano trios, garnering acclaim and impressing international audiences with its highly refined, dynamic and memorable performances. With a repertoire that ranges from traditional to contemporary and from European classicism to modern-day multimedia, including over 85 commissioned new works, the Gryphons are committed to redefining chamber music for the 21st century.
The Trio tours regularly throughout North America and Europe and their prolific recording catalogue includes over 23 releases on the Analekta, Naxos, and other labels, and is an encyclopedia of works for the genre. Honours include thirteen nominations and three JUNO Awards for Classical Album of the Year, Opus Magazine Album of the Year, and the prestigious 2013 Walter Carsen Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts from the Canada Council for the Arts.
In 2019 the Gryphon Trio was appointed Directors Designate of Classical Music Summer Programs at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Roman Borys is Artistic and Executive Director of the Ottawa Chamber Music Society. Annalee Patipatanakoon and Jamie Parker serve as OCMS’ Artistic Advisors in addition to their responsibilities at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music, where Mr. Parker is the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance and Ms. Patipatanakoon is Associate Professor of Violin and Head of Strings.
Celebrated for her “deep rich sound, exceptional virtuosity, and enthusiasm,” violist Marina Thibeault travels the world as a sought-after soloist. Named Radio-Canada’s classical “Revelation” for 2016-2017, Marina has delighted audiences across Canada, the United States, and Europe with her elegant, spellbinding performances and engaging presence.
An accomplished concerto soloist, Marina made her solo debut with numerous orchestras this past season, including with Yannick Nézet-Séguin’s Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal. In 2019, she performed the north-american premiere of Peteris Vasks’s concerto with the Sinfonia Toronto. Future concert dates will bring Marina to Los Angeles, Cleveland, Seoul, Eastern Europe, and Costa Rica.
In spring of 2017 Marina’s first solo album, Toquade, was released to critical acclaim. Her next album, Elles, features all women composers, performers, and production team, and was released on International Women’s day in March 2019 on the ATMA label.
Corey Hamm has established a unique musical profile as a solo pianist and chamber musician of diverse talents. In recent years, he has toured extensively with Frederic Rzewski’s hour-long solo piano epic The People United Will Never Be Defeated! His recording of this work won Spotify’s Best Classical Recording in 2014. Future recording plans include a CD of works written for him and the complete piano works of Henri Dutilleux.
Corey Hamm has commissioned over 200 solo, chamber and concerto works, many for his ensembles PEP (Piano and Erhu Project, his duo with erhu virutoso Nicole Ge Li), The Nu:BC Collective, and Hammerhead Consort. His three chamber music initiatives have received praise both for their recordings and artistry. Recent performances include The People United Will Never Be Defeated! in NYC in honor of Rzewski’s 80th birthday, as well as an Asian tour in Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. In addition to his solo performances and his work with PEP, Corey Hamm regularly plays with the violist Marina Thibeault.
The Chamber Music Kelowna Society’s purpose is to provide the community with opportunities to experience live chamber music in intimate settings as performed by accomplished musicians at all stages of their careers.
In chamber music each player or singer has a part all his own: he/she does not play or sing the same part as other performers, as he/she would in a chorus or the string section of an orchestra. A chamber work may be for one person as in a piano sonata, or for as many as twenty, as it’s a work for chamber orchestras or wind ensemble.
Learn more about usAs part of each concert season several of the featured artists will, during their stay, also engage with students in the community. These programs may include master classes, school performances and open rehearsals.
Learn moreConsider adding a tax-deductible contribution to your ticket order this year. Donations help Chamber Music Kelowna support the concert season; enable the organization to support young chamber musicians through scholarships; and provide opportunities for community outreach programs including school concerts, master classes and open rehearsals.
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