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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

October 2009

Dear Colleagues,

It gives me great pleasure to present the newly designed Andrew Kwan Artists Management website in time for the 2010-2011 season. Now entering our 18th season, AKAM continues its initial goal, that is, the successful career development of Canadian artists domestically and internationally. While last year brought exciting changes in our company’s look and location, this year boasts even more impressive developments with new artists, projects, and an expansion into the genre of World Music.

I am pleased to welcome the talented Montreal-based artists, Wonny Song, piano, and Alexandre Da Costa, violin. Both young soloists are developing an international reputation with their outstanding recital and concerto performances as well as their expanding discography. Amazingly, they are also great friends who share the same musical vision and style and have come together to form the Da Costa/Song Violin & Piano Duo.

Another development in the classical division includes our foray into the world of producing. AKAM’s new show entitled “The Schumann Letters” is a musical biography narrated by Juno Award winner Colin Fox, with soprano Susan Gilmour Bailey and pianist Michael Kim. With 20+ performances already in store for this season, this music-as-theatre performance depicts a journey with words and music through a life of love, obstacles, happiness and tragedy between Robert and Clara Schumann. Just in time for Robert’s 200th anniversary, we are sure that this show will appeal to a wide audience.

In the genre of World Music, AKAM welcomes Juno recipient Kiran Ahluwalia, singer of ghazals and Punjabi folk songs as well as Luis Mario Ochoa with his Cuban quintet. While the addition of a world music division is a fresh direction for AKAM, it remains our mandate to develop and nurture Canadian musicians of the highest calibre and these unique artists far surpass this expectation.

With the expansion of the company, AKAM proudly announces the appointment of our new Artist Representative, Erin Crooks. Erin will be representing the company and its artists at many of the Contact Conferences this season.

It remains the belief of this agency and of its artists that the presence of arts and culture is essential in our society. Despite the challenges of sustaining and reaching new audiences, we recognize that both classical and world music have important voices and we are dedicated to insuring that Canada continues to thrive as an artistic force on the world stage.

We applaud you for your continued commitment to maintaining Canada’s cultural integrity, and we thank you for your support of AKAM, and of classical and world music.


With best wishes,

Andrew J. Kwan
Director, Andrew Kwan Artists Management Inc.