FRIDAY, OCT 26, 8:00 p.m.
FRANCIS WINSPEAR CENTRE FOR MUSIC
FRANCIS WINSPEAR CENTRE FOR MUSIC
Part of the Alberta Emerging Musicians Festival
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ALBERTA YOUTH CHOIR
The Alberta Youth Choir is the province's honour choir for singers ages 16-22. AYC provides a unique opportunity for outstanding young singers from across the province to join forces in the pursuit of excellence in choral music under the direction of a renowned conductor. This year, 70 choristers from 30 different Albertan choirs will come together under the direction of Dr. Cristian Grases, Associate Professor of Choral Music at USC Thornton. Following their three day residency and performance at Music Conference Alberta, AYC will embark on a two day tour of northwestern Alberta. |
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CRISTIAN GRASES, Alberta Youth Choir guest conductor
Cristian Grases joined the USC Thornton faculty in the Fall 2010 semester and is currently an associate professor of choral music and conductor of the USC Thornton Concert Choir. Born in Venezuela, he earned degrees from the Simón Bolívar University (MM) in Caracas, Venezuela, and the University of Miami (DMA). He has previously served as interim director of choral activities at Central Washington University; assistant professor in choral music at California State University, Los Angeles; and national coordinator of choirs for EL SISTEMA under Maestro José Antonio Abreu. He also served as conductor for the Women’s Chamber Ensemble of the University of Miami, was the assistant conductor of the Miami Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Eduardo Marturet, and the conductor of the Young Musician’s Orchestra. Additionally, he is an award-winning conductor and composer, and has been commissioned to write for several prestigious organizations such as the Piedmont Children's Chorus and the Santa Fe Desert Chorale. Most recently, Dr. Grases has started a new Choral Series entitled “The Choral Music of Latin America and the Caribbean” published by Gentry Publications as an editorial outlet for new Latin American choral repertoire. |
AMEF Student Recognition Award Winners 2018
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AARON WANG, pianist, Calgary
Piano sonata No. 14 in C♯ minor Op. 27, No. 2 (Moonlight Sonata) - Ludwig van Beethoven Aaron is 15 years old. He has played piano for 8 years, studying for 3 years in Fort McMurray with Mrs. Susan Maxwell and 5 years in Calgary with Mr. Peter Rudzik. He has won many music scholarships from Mount Royal University, music teacher associations and music festivals and has won the Fort McMurray music composition contest twice. Recently, Aaron won 2017 Calgary Performance Arts Festival (CPAF) Chopin Scholarship in the European Master Program. He has been awarded the RCM Gold medal for the highest examination mark in Alberta several times. He premiered a couple new pieces by Canadian composer Peter Rudzik. Aaron has also played ice hockey for 10 years. |
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RENA FAR, violinist, Calgary | KAREN NEARY, piano
Caprice d'après l'étude en forme de valse, Op. 52, No. 6 - Eugène Ysaÿe/Camille Saint-Saëns Rena Far has been studying violin with Prof. Edmond Agopian at the University of Calgary since 2014. She began her musical studies at age four with Keiko Takahashi, and has since achieved success in many music festivals and competitions, including winning first prizes at the 2015 RBC Concerto Competition and the 2016 Alberta Provincial Music Festival. She has been featured on three occasions as soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to her solo studies, Rena is an active and dedicated chamber musician, having recently performed with groups such as the UCalgary String Quartet, UCalgary Klezmer Band, and New West Piano Trio. Through her participation in the Calgary Pro Musica Society’s Young Artists Development Program, Rena performed a series of community outreach shows at local elementary schools, and worked closely with world-renowned chamber musicians including members of the Jerusalem String Quartet, London Haydn Quartet, and Danish String Quartet. An experienced orchestral musician, Rena has served as Concertmaster of the UCalgary Orchestra and the Calgary Youth Orchestra. Rena also performs frequently as an extra musician with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, and various other local ensembles. Rena is an alumna of the Amici String Program, through which she participated in masterclasses and fostered her interest in chamber music at an early age. She holds an ARCT Performer’s Diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music - First Class Honours with Distinction. Outside of music, Rena is a frequent recipient of academic scholarships and awards as a Bachelor of Health Sciences student at the University of Calgary. |
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ABA WIND SYMPHONY
The ABA Wind Symphony is comprised of outstanding band students from across the province of Alberta. One of the cornerstone programs of the Alberta Band Association, through this opportunity thousands of Alberta’s finest music students have had the chance to grow musically and to meet and perform with their peers. Music educators have been able to meet and observe the work of some of the most outstanding band directors in the world. Many benefits have accrued to Alberta music programs from this valuable program of the ABA. Each year, an international guest conductor is selected to work with the group, providing these students with a unique opportunity to learn from a leading band director. The guest conductor selects the pieces of music that will be performed by the Honour Band based on his/her knowledge of music and the average level of past bands. |
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JACQUELINE DAWSON, ABA Wind Symphony Conductor
Jacqueline Dawson received undergraduate degrees in music and music education from Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a masters degree in conducting from the University of Manitoba where she studied with Dale Lonis and Earl Stafford. Jacquie is currently Assistant Professor and Director of Bands at the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music where she conducts the Concert Band and Wind Ensembles and teaches courses in music education. She also serves as Faculty Advisor for music education student teachers. Prior to her appointment at the University of Manitoba Jacquie taught in public school for twenty years and served as a sessional instructor at the University of Manitoba. Jacquie is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator across Canada, appearing at numerous festival and conference coast to coast. Guest conducting engagements have included the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Rising Stars Manitoba Senior Honour Band, the Manitoba Intermediate Honour Band, the Manitoba Junior Honour Band, the International Music Camp, and numerous provincial, regional and divisional honour bands. Jacquie was awarded the 2003 University of Manitoba School of Music Excellence in Music Education Award, the 2013 University of Manitoba Teacher Recognition Award and the 2015 Manitoba Band Association Award of Distinction. Jacquie is in her ninth season as Artistic Director of The Winnipeg Wind Ensemble. Under Jacquie’s leadership the group has expanded in infrastructure, artistic standard and programming, and recently launched a new division of the organization, The Winnipeg Youth Wind Ensemble. |