NEWS

 
DA COSTA WINS VIRGINIA PARKER PRIZE

June 15, 2010

[June 15, 2010 - Ottawa] AKAM is very pleased to announce that The Canada Council for the Arts has awarded violinist Alexandre Da Costa with the 2010 Virginia Parker Prize. The prize, worth $25,000, will be formally presented to Mr. Da Costa during his week of performances with Orchestre Metropolitan du Grand Montreal in the fall of 2010 in Montreal.

Originally known as the Virginia P. Moore Prize, the Virginia Parker Prize was established in 1982 by the late, Virginia Parker. Recognizing that talented young musicians need assistance in moving forward with their careers, this annual prize was established for Canadian classical musicians, under the age of 32, who demonstrate outstanding talent and musicianship.



WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT LUCILLE

Lucille Chung's latest recording, Camille Saint-Saëns Piano Transcriptions, is receiving rave reviews. Below are a few recent press clippings.

"Her technique is impeccable, as is her sense of phrasing. And I'm in awe of how she manages to make the concerto work with two small hands."

-TORONTO STAR
(John Terauds, Feb 23, 2010)

"Lucille Chung traverse la partition avec une virtuosité et une puissance très impressionnantes. Quelques passages où une certaine difficulté est évidente ne diminuent en rien l'immense plaisir que procure cette exécution où nuance et subtilité ont aussi leur place.

- CYBERPRESSE.CA
(Claude Gingras, May 15, 2010)

"And he [Saint Saëns] couldn't have picked a better performer of his piano music than the young, immensely talented Montreal-born virtuoso, Lucille Chung...Her playing has self assured attack, virtuosity, romantic abandon and a sense of youthful exuberance..."

- WHOLENOTE
(Janos Gardonyi, May 5, 2010)

WONNY SONG WINS THE YOUNG CANADIAN MUSICIANS AWARD

[May 7, 2010] Adding to his international honours, Montreal-based pianist Wonny Song, takes home the Young Canadian Musicians Award in the amount of $15,000.

This is the first year that there has been more than one recipient for the award. The Young Canadian Musicians Awards Foundation was founded by Maestro Oundjian's late father, Haig Oundjian, who died in 2001. A prominent friend and great donor to musical causes, and an enthusiastic amateur pianist, he wanted to help enable the finest young Canadian artists to attain important careers. Wonny Song and the Afiara String Quartet will be featured in a joint performance, as part of Mooredale Concerts' 2010-11 season, Sunday, October 31, 3:15 p.m. at Walter Hall.



GRYPHON TRIO - UPCOMING CD RELEASE

Canada’s pre-eminent ensemble, the Gryphon Trio, completes its collection of great piano trios by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). To be released in the fall of 2010, this latest CD features piano trios Op. 70 No. 1 & 2 and Op. 11. This Analekta release marks the final CD in a three part exploration of the great composers work.



Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin
Roman Borys, cello
Jamie Parker, piano

www.gryphontrio.com



ANDREW KWAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT INC. IS PLEASED TO WELCOME BASSOONIST, NADINA MACKIE JACKSON

May 1, 2010

One of the world’s leading bassoonists, Nadina Mackie Jackson is not afraid to explore the boundaries of performance. From unaccompanied baroque to newly commissioned concerti, her performances often reach far beyond traditional settings for bassoon. As a concerto soloist, Nadina has appeared with Montreal Symphony, Toronto Chamber Orchestra, and Cayuga Chamber Orchestra to name a few. An active orchestral musician, she was a member of the Montreal Symphony for ten years, was principal bassoon for the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and continues to lead various ensembles. Nadina has eleven solo and chamber CD titles to her credit and can be heard on over one hundred orchestral recordings. On faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University, University of Toronto, and The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, she is often invited to give workshops and clinics across North America. Nadina is co-director of the Grand River Baroque Festival and is the founder of the Council of Canadian Bassoonists.

“Jackson removes all doubts as to the bassoon being born a solo instrument”

- NORTHWEST REVERB

ANDREW KWAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT INC. IS PLEASED TO WELCOME THE MULTI-INSTRUMENTAL DUO, GUY&NADINA

May 1, 2010

Guy Few – Trumpet, Corno da Caccia, Piano
Nadina Mackie Jackson - Bassoon

Known internationally as soloists, chamber musicians, recitalists and fashionistas, guy&nadina celebrate their passionate artistry and musical collaboration. Since their first performance in 2005, they have continued to inspire audiences and musicians in concerts, concerto performances and workshop presentations. The result of their musical union has already seen the commission of 4 solo concerti, 3 double concerti, 1 triple concerto and one symphony written exclusively for this duo. guy&nadina have performed in Canada and the United States as concerto soloists, as a multi-instrumental recital duo and as recording artists. They recently recorded their third CD, titled After Hours; a collection of their favourite music for trumpet, corno da caccia, bassoon and piano.

“Play[ing] with polished tone, immaculate intonation and infectious high spirits; it’s obvious they’re having a blast”

- ALLMUSIC.COM

ANDREW KWAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT INC. IS PLEASED TO WELCOME PIANIST LUCILLE CHUNG

February 26, 2010

Noted as a “pianist of rare stamina and technique” (SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE) with “purity and intellect” (THE LONDON - SUNDAY TIMES), she is celebrated as one of the foremost pianists of her generation. Lucille is known for her artistic versatility, expansive repertoire and appearances in solo, chamber, and concerti performances. She has performed with over 50 leading orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Flemish Radio Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, UNAM Philharmonic (Mexico), Israel Chamber Orchestra as well as all the major Canadian orchestras. As a recitalist, she has performed in over 30 countries and often performs with her husband as a member of the Bax-Chung Piano Duo. Ms. Chung has a discography of eight titles and her most recent recording of piano transcriptions of Camille Saint-Saens (XXI Productions/Universal Music) was just released in February 2010 and has already garnered critical praise and received radio broadcast internationally.

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