Georgian Music

The French Touch

November 13, 2011

Thomas, Ravel, Saint-Saëns

Winner of the Alice Coleman Grand Prize at the 60th annual Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in 2006, the internationally acclaimed Attacca Quartet has become one of America's premier young performing ensembles. Comprised of violinists Amy Schroeder and Keiko Tokunaga, violist Luke Fleming and cellist Andrew Yee, the Attacca Quartet was formed at The Juilliard School in 2003. They made their professional debut in 2007 as part of the Artists International Winners Series in Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and have appeared there on numerous occasions since.

Magnetic, easy-going and delightfully articulate, Canadian pianist Ian Parker captivates audiences wherever he goes. He has appeared with the Buffalo Philharmonic, Calgary Philharmonic, Cincinnati , CBC Vancouver, Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom, Edmonton Symphony, Greenwich Symphony, Honolulu Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic, Mobile Symphony, National Symphony, Quebec Symphony, and the symphonies of Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, and Winnipeg, among others.

Christmas Memories

December 11, 2011

Four Seasons Harp Quartet

Caroline Léonardelli classical harpist has an accomplished career at as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician and teacher. Born in France, Caroline graduated with first prize in harp from the Paris Conservatoire under the guidance of Jacqueline Borot at the age of 18. Caroline went on to advanced study with Judy Loman through the McGill University School of Music. During her youth, Caroline studied in France with Lily Laskine, one of the most celebrated harpists of the 20th century.

Very sought as a soloist, chamber and orchestra musician, Caroline Lizotte has held the Montreal Symphony Orchestra’s second harp chair since 2003, and the principal harp chair with the Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières since 1995. She plays with many ensembles and orchestras in Eastern Canada, and she is an active musician in studio recording for many classical and popular records.

At eight years old, the harp crossed the life path of Jennifer Swartz. Beginning at a summer music camp, she has yet to look back. Her early years of harp study were with Maureen McKay, a student of the renowned harpist Judy Loman. It was not long before she became a student of Ms. Loman’s herself and continued under her mentorship for many years. Other notable teachers have been Alice Chalifoux, Nancy Allen and Marilyn Costello. In 1992, Jennifer graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

Lori Gemmell has been a musician all her life. Growing up in Montreal, as the child of a Presbyterian minister and a musically passionate mother, singing, and playing music were her natural state of being. She taught herself the flute in high school, played trumpet in the band, and spent her weekend mornings at harp lessons at L’ecole Vincent D’Indy.

Please note this concert performs at this venue:
Central United Church - 54 Ross Street

One of the World’s Great Pianists
Anton Kuerti

February 19, 2012

Throughout his prodigiously successful career, pianist Anton Kuerti has been acclaimed for the clarity of his musical vision and the immense technique with which he serves a wide choice of repertoire. He remains among an elite list of pianists performing at the very highest level, through which he extends his vision to a new generation of listeners. Recent concerto performances with the Boston Symphony and the Detroit Symphony, and return recital engagements at the Concertgebouw are only the latest in a long series of performances through which Kuerti's artistry deepens the human experience.

Vienna Piano Trio

March 25, 2012

"...phenomenal interpretations...technically accomplished...enchanting beauty of sound." - Berliner Allgemeine

For almost 20 years, the Vienna Piano Trio has been performing regularly in virtually every major music center in Europe, the Americas, Australia and the Far East. The trio was founded by violinist Wolfgang Redik, cellist Marcus Trefny and pianist Stefan Mendl in 1988. Extensive studies with various highly renowned musicians paved the trio’s way to an international career soon after. The most important teachers and mentors of the ensemble include Isaac Stern, Ralph Kirschbaum and Joseph Kalichstein as well as the members of the Trio di Trieste, the Beaux Arts Trio, the Guarneri Quartet and the LaSalle Quartet. In the summer of 2001, Matthias Gredler replaced Marcus Trefny as the trio’s cellist.

Music That Rocks

May 6, 2012 - Bonus Concert

The Nathaniel Dett Chorale is Canada’s first professional choral group dedicated to Afrocentric music of all styles, including classical, spiritual, gospel, jazz, folk, and blues. These 21 classically-trained, outstanding vocalists have shared the stage with internationally recognized artists such as Juno Award-winning jazz pianist Joe Sealy; and opera star Kathleen Battle and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.