AKAM PRESENTS

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

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The new generation of Canadian classical musicians is increasingly talented, performing at an outstanding technical and musical level, even while completing post-secondary education. Canada continues to build the foundation of young artists at a very high calibre.

 

Committed to the nurturing and development of emerging artists, AKAM's newest project, The New Gen, will provide a springboard for these talented young musicians who are on the cusp their professional career.

 

Curated and produced by AKAM, The New Gen project will pair two of Canada's up and coming classical musicians with a veteran artist in a concert of solo and chamber works. This classical variety program that will be toured, will highlight the amazing virtuosity and artistry of these young musicians. Understanding that there's limited marquee profile of emerging artists, pairing an established mentor artist will add to the marketability of the program. The emerging artists will perform for up to two seasons at which point they will have gained more notability, making their ability to strike out on their own musical career, stronger.

 

With the veteran artist, in discussion with the emerging artists, AKAM would curate a program that would have thematic interest and showcasing strength. AKAM does not see this as providing a turn-key career, but that of a fostering capacity, allowing the selected young artists direct industry and knowledge resources, as well as an incubator for artistic ideas. The emerging artists would be recent national or international competition winners, top graduates from music schools, or on the level of Canada Council's Instrument Bank recipients.

 

The inaugural season featured veteran pianist James Parker performing and mentoring the New Gen artists Brian Mangrum (horn) and Boson Mo (violin). Additional touring opportunities pending.

 

January 2023

 

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BRIAN MANGRUM, HORN

Recently appointed Principal Horn of the Columbus Symphony in Ohio, Brian Mangrum grew up in a musical family based in Montréal. He started taking horn lessons from Denys Derome at the age of twelve and furthered his studies John Milner at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal in 2011-2012, and completed his DEC (diplôme d’études collégiales) at Marianopolis College from 2012-2014 in John Zirbel’s studio. He attended Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as a student of Bill VerMeulen’s, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music in May 2018. Brian started his appointment in Columbus during the 2018 summer season.

 

In previous summers, Brian attended the Festival de musique du Domaine Forget (2013-2014), National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO) 2015 where he was the recipient of the Award of Excellence. Mr. Mangrum has also been awarded the New Horizons Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School (2013-2014, 2016-2017) where in 2016 he performed Richard Strauss’ 1st Horn Concerto as the Winner of the Brass Concerto Competition. Last November, he was awarded 1st Prize in the brass category of the Orchestre symphonie de Montréal’s Concours Manuvie 2017. In his free time, Brian loves hiking, biking, reading and cooking.

 

January 2023

 

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BOSON MO, violin

Hailed by the Houston Chronicle as having “stole(n) the show…with his rousing assertion of Fauré’s Violin Sonata” at his 2016 Da Camera of Houston debut, violinist Boson Mo has received great acclaim for many of his performances. Third Prize laureate at the 2013 Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Boson was named as one of Canada’s “30 under 30 Top Classical Musicians of 2015” by CBC Radio-Canada.  He is a recipient of the “Prix Joseph-Rouleau” at the 2010 Montreal International Violin Competition as well as a top 25 candidate at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, and is a winner of Canada’s prestigious Sylva Geber Foundation Award. Additionally, he is a two-time winner of violins on loan through the Canada Council for the Arts-Musical Instrument Bank competitions.

 

Boson has been featured as Young Artist in Residence of American Public Media’s “Performance Today,” and has been broadcast both nationally in the U.S., internationally on Radio New Zealand, and CBC Radio-Canada.  He has performed as soloist with the Auckland Philharmonia, Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil, the CIM Orchestra, and the F.A.C.E. Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared at such festivals as Aspen Music Festival and School, Montreal Chamber Music Festival, Festival Pontiac Enchanté, as well as Music@Menlo’s Winter Residency. He has toured Canada under the auspices of Debut Atlantic and Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. His 2018 performances include FIAF New York City, Festival de Lanaudière (Québec), Vancouver Chamber Music Society, Rockport Chamber Music Festival, Kalmia Gardens Music Festival, and Festival Emilia-Romangna in Italy.

 

Boson is an alum of Music@Menlo’s International Program, the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Perlman Music Program (New York), the Banff Centre, the International Holland Music Sessions, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, and Italy’s Casalmaggiore International Music Festival. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Boson is completing a Doctoral degree at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University under Paul Kantor.  Boson currently performs on a violin by MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Joseph Curtin.

 

January 2023