DECEMBER 2019

THREE NEW ALBUMS BY AKAM ARTISTS

The debut album by Rolston String Quartet was released on November 1, 2019 on the Outhere Music label. This much-anticipated debut album, Souvenirs, is a chamber music portrait of one of the Quartet's favourite composers, Tchaikovsky. The recording features three major works by Tchaikovsky, String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11, selections from Children's Album, Op. 39, and String Sextet "Souvenir de Florence", Op. 70 with Miguel Da Silva (viola), Gary Hoffman (cello).

 

Also on November 1, pianist Philip Chiu's debut solo recording was released on the Centrediscs label. This album features the Twenty-Four Preludes for Solo Piano by Canadian composer John Burge. A journey through the major and minor keys, this modern cycle takes inspiration from the preludes of Chopin, but in a truly Canadian way. Philip Chiu is "a pianist-painter" (La Presse), and he captures the moods and nuances of Burge's preludes with emotional detail. Join Philip at his CD launch concert on Wed. January 29, 202 at 5pm, at Montréal's Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur.

 

Celebrated pianist Jane Coop continues her commitment to strengthening the Canadian music ecology. She has just released her 17th album, Three Keyboard Masters: Bach, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, on the Skylark Music Label and distributed through Naxos. The album features Bach's Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, BWV 903; Seven Bagatelles, Op. 33 by Beethoven; and a selection of Preludes and Etudes by Rachmaninoff as well as his virtuosic transcriptions of Kreisler's Liebeslied and Mendelssohn's Scherzo from A Midsummer Night's Dream.

 

 

 

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DECEMBER 2019

WHAT’S A PERCUSSION CONCERTO?

Congratulations to AKAM's TorQ Percussion Quartet for two standing ovation performances with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (KWS) conducted by guest Carlos Izcaray last month. As part of KWS Signature Series, the concert, titled "Czech Hits" paired two Canadian percussion quartet concertos (Bob Becker and Dinuk Wijeratne) with two works by Czech composers, Smetana and Dvořák.

 

TorQ was honoured to give the North American premiere of Music on the Moon, by their teacher, mentor, and founding member of Nexus percussion ensemble, Bob Becker. The program also included 'Valdrada' and 'Ersilia' from Invisible Cities by Dinuk Wijeratne. Originally a concerto for percussion quartet and large wind ensemble commissioned by TorQ, this great works has been re-orchestrated by the composer for percussion quartet and orchestra.

 

 

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DECEMBER 2019

CBC MUSIC PICKS TOP CLASSICAL ALBUMS OF 2019

Just in time for some last minute stocking stuffers, CBC Music has released their list of the 20 best Canadian classical recordings of 2019. Among the favourites are albums of four AKAM artists!

 

Congratulations to:

 

Philip Chiu

John Burge: 24 Preludes for Solo Piano

 

Tafelmusik
Vivaldi con amore

 

Rolston String Quartet
Souvenirs: Music of Tchaikovsky

 

Cameron Crozman with pianist Philip Chiu

Cavatine

 

> READ THE FULL LIST

 

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DECEMBER 2019

AKAM AT CAPACOA & THE SUCCESSION PLAN

AKAM's Artist Representative, Susan Durnin was selected this year to participate in CAPACOA's The Succession Plan (TSP) during the CAPACOA Conference in Ottawa ON. Attending the conference as both an exhibitor representing AKAM and a participant of TSP, Susan had the opportunity to connect with other emerging arts professionals. She was paired with mentor Natalie Lue, Director of Vancouver Civic Theatres.

 

TSP is an opportunity for emerging arts leaders from across the country and artistic disciplines to engage with a national network of peers, and be mentored by leaders in the industry. Agency Director Andrew Kwan has been a mentor for TSP at previous conferences and is a supporter of this great program and opportunity, as a means of connecting and developing future leaders in the Arts Sector. Thank you to Andrew Giguère and the CAPACOA team for creating this wonderful opportunity through TSP.

 

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DECEMBER 2019

AKAM’S FALL SHOWCASE REPORT

The fall months are always busy with travels and conferences. We are proud of our two AKAM ensembles who showcased this year at various 2019 conferences. VC2 and Ladom Ensemble both performed superb showcases at Ontario Contact in St. Catharines ON, and Ladom Ensemble dazzled the conference attendees at Arts Northwest in Boise ID. We can't wait to share these artists with audiences!

 

Special this year, AKAM invited emerging arts administrator and outstanding violist, Brenna Hardy-Kavanagh to attend the Ontario Conference. AKAM is dedicated to the mentorship of the next generation of arts professionals. Like the TSP at CAPACOA, the industry needs to engage the new faces and people to strengthen the sector.

 

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SEPTEMBER 2019

JOINT WINNERS AT 2019 BANFF INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET COMPETITION

The 13th Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) saw 10 quartets from around the world competing this August. In an unprecedented jury decision, First Prize was awarded jointly to the Marmen Quartet (UK) and Viano String Quartet (Can/USA).

 

The Marmen Quartet is emerging as one of the most interesting voices on the UK chamber music scene. Winners of the Grand Prize at the 2019 Bordeaux International String Quartet Competition, additional accolades include winning the 2018 Royal Over-Seas League Competition and Second Prize at the 8th International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition, as well as the Special Prize for the best interpretation of a contemporary work (Four Quarters by Thomas Adès). Founded in 2013 at the Royal College of Music, London, the Marmen Quartet consists of violinists Johannes Marmen and Ricky Gore, violist Bryony Gibson-Cornish and cellist Steffan Morris.

 

Praised for their “huge range of dynamics, massive sound, and spontaneity” (American Record Guide), the Viano String Quartet won Third Prize at the 2018 Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition along with the Sidney Griller award for best performance of the compulsory work, Four Quarters by Thomas Adès, and the Haydn Prize for the best performance of a Haydn string quartet. The Viano String Quartet was formed in 2015 at the Colburn Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles and consists of violinists Lucy Wang and Hao Zhou, violist Aiden Kane, and cellist Tate Zawadiuk.

 

Congratulations to both quartets on their amazing performances and talent showcased at BISQC. AKAM looks forward to working with both quartets as the official Canadian representative. For booking opportunities during the 2020-21-22 Seasons, please contact AKAM.

 

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SEPTEMBER 2019

JANE COOP RECEIVES THE ORDER OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Congratulations to AKAM pianist Jane Coop who has been named to the Order of British Columbia. The Order was established in 1989, to recognize those persons who have served with the greatest distinction and excelled in any field of endeavour benefiting the people of British Columbia or elsewhere. This year, 15 recipients were chosen from 209 nominations. Jane Coop's nomination recognizes her 40-year international performing career as a concert pianist, educator, and mentor and her contribution to the recording sector through her label, Skylark Records.

 

 

 

 

 

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JULY 2019

Cellist Cameron Crozman Selected 2019 CBC ICI-musique's Classical Révélation Artist

A lot has happened since his return to Canada after 6 years in Paris. Two album releases, a solo tour through the East Coast, and now, Cameron Crozman, selected the 2019 Classical Révélation artist by CBC ICI-musique. CBC Quebec's ICI-musique Révélation award is a program to help support and promotes emerging artists by successfully developing their profile through various media platforms including radio, television, and internet. Four Révélation artist are selected annually, spanning jazz, world, pop, and classical, will receive one-year support to pursue their initiatives. These projects are disseminated over any CBC platform to help artists build ties with primary audiences and communities.

 

> LEARN MORE (en français)