Musica Eterna
The orchestra “Musica Eterna”, founded in 1995 by Maestro Guido Lopez Gavilan, consists of a select group of students and graduates of the National Superior Art Institute of Cuba.
The group is a prestigious musical ensemble that performs to great acclaim at international events, at the principle theatres in Cuba, and on important radio and television programs. In addition, the orchestra has also recorded for a variety of media broadcasts. Their compact disc, “Barroco Tropico” (Tropical Baroque) won first prize in the competition, “PREMIO CUBADISCO 2001, in the chamber music category. On the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the Amadeo Roldan Theatre in Havana, the ensemble’s concert was broadcast world-wide by Radio Havana.
Recently, the group toured the principle cities of Spain and Colombia where they were greeted with great acclaim and accolades. They also performed at the prestigious Jordan Hall in Boston in the USA, where they received excellent reviews. On tour, all of the performances culminated in standing ovations and great applause in appreciation for the group’s interpretations.
Many outstanding Cuban soloists, as well as numerous international artists have collaborated with “Musica Eterna”. Amongst these have included the Italian double-bassist and composer, Stefano Scodanibbio, North American violinist Richard Luby and Austrian violist Cristoph Angerer.
The ensemble’s repertoire encompasses works of the great Baroque masters through to the technically demanding and esthetic works today’s composers.
The versatility of “Musica Eterna” permits them to overcome all musical barriers thereby allowing them to play such diverse works as Handel’s “Messiah” at the Havana Cathedral, or the music of John Lennon featuring the famous Cuban singer Silvio Rodriguez.
Their excellent versions of popular Cuban and Latin-American musical themes give a special color to the group which excitingly combines artistic rigor with the spontaneous dynamism of youth.
In the Wall Street Journal (New York, May 29, 1999), North American critic Greg Sandow described their concert at the Amadeo Roldan Theatre in Havana as follows:
… with a reduced group of string instrumentalists, they achieved a really excellent Vivaldi, as well as works by their own Lopez Gavilan. Both resulted in enormous acclaim from their public that had filled the theatre.
On their performance at the International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Spain:
…absolutely sensational results with the works of Lopez Gavilan, which constituted a demonstration of great technical prowess. Bursting with musicality, rhythmic vitality and creativity on the part of the instrumentalists, as well as a marvelously clear, flexible and expressive gesture on the part of the director. The public ovations displayed fervent clamor.
Enrique Bonmati (La Opinion, Spain)
Comments on their presentation at the University of Leon, Spain
… their capacity to create emotions, transmit feelings, elaborate moods, and above all, their rhythmic sense, made the experience of their performance an event difficult to be equaled by any cutting-edge European group.
-Esteban Belinchon (El Mundo, Spain)
Prolonged enthusiastic ovations of the public rewarded the performance of the Chamber Orchestra “Musica Eterna” in Jordan Hall of this city (Boston) where they offered a program dedicated to Cuban music. The group, comprised of young Cuban instrumentalists, received the warmest of praise from the Boston critics and colleagues, including that of the prestigious cellist, Yo Yo Ma, who was also in attendance.
-Granma, Cuba (Servicio Especial)
Members
Musica Eterna
Violin 1:
Liliana Serrano, Concert Master,
Julio García,
Aldo Aguirre,
Ricardo Labrada
Violin 2:
Carlos Suárez,
Yadis Marsal,
Carmen Despaigne
Viola:
Idalmis Ulloa,
Alenay Iglesias,
Roman Serrano
Cello:
Elis Regina Ramos
Double Bass:
Víctor Soto
Aldo, Ricardo, Yadis, Carmen and Alenay are students at the National Superior Art Institute of Cuba.
Liliana, Julio, Carlos, Román, Elis Regina and Víctor are graduates of the National Superior Art Institute of Cuba. and are now members of the National Symphony Orchestra in Havana.
Liliana, Aldo, Carlos, Idalmis and Víctor are founder members (since 1995) of Musica Eterna.
The Academy Strings
Founded in 1979 by Norman Nelson, the Academy Strings is the University of Alberta’s principal student string ensemble. Tanya Prochazka has been the conductor since 1998. Requiring a successful audition for admission, the group is composed primarily of string students from the Music Department. Nevertheless, the Academy Strings are proud to boast members from several other branches of the University, including Engineering, Creative Writing, Physics and Nursing.
Academy Strings (as a string orchestra, and as comprising the string sections of the University Symphony Orchestra) performs several concerts a year in the University of Alberta’s Convocation Hall, as well as in Edmonton’s famous Winspear Centre.
Academy Strings has performed throughout Western Europe, Alberta and British Columbia. In February 2002, Academy Strings undertook a highly successful concert and educational tour of Cuba where they performed in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santa Clara. Whilst in Cuba they collaborated with Musica Eterna, the premier student string ensemble from the National Art Institute of Havana, and Maestro Gavilan, in concerts and workshops in Havana, and also gave school workshops in Cienfuegos, Santa Clara and Havana.
Academy Strings and the Music Department of the University of Alberta is hosting the “Collaborative Concert and Workshop Tour of Alberta”, with Maestro Guido Lopez Gavilan and Musica Eterna.
Members
Academy Strings Chamber Ensemble
Violin 1 and 2:
Maria Barton,
Natalia Gomez,
Ken Heise,
Melissa Hemsworth,
Ryan Herbold,
Aaron Hryciw,
Elizabeth McHan,
Charles Turanich-Noyen
Viola:
Jeanette Comeau,
Leanne Dammann,
Charlene VandenBorn
Cello:
Anthony Bacon,
Martin Kloppers,
Caitlin Smith
Double Bass:
Toscha Turner
Academy Strings Tour Group
Violin:
Maria Barton,
Natalia Gomez,
Melissa Hemsworth,
Ryan Herbold,
Elizabeth McHan
Viola:
Leanne Dammann
Cello:
Caitlin Smith
Double Bass:
Toscha Turner
Percussion:
Court Laslop
Elizabeth is in her final year of a Bachelor of Music degree in violin and viola performance at the University of Alberta. She acts as rotating concertmaster for the orchestra, and first violin in the Scholarship Quartet. She will continue her studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg this coming year.
Melissa is currently in her fourth year of her Bachelor of Music Degree in Violin Perfromance. She is also rotating concert master of Academy Strings and THE University Symphony Orchestra, and is originally from Chatham, Ontario.
Leanne Dammann is currently a second year Bachelor of Music Performance student on Viola, studying with Aaron Au. She has performed with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the USO and Academy Strings as principal violist, and various chamber ensembles.
Ryan Herbold is a second year Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education student who has studied violin for the past 15 years. Ryan plans on continuing his musical studies and eventually entering law school to pursue a corporate law degree.
Maria Barton started playing the violin when she was five years old. She began her university studies at the University of Ottawa, and she is currently in her third year of a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance at the University of Alberta.
Toscha Turner is a graduate student in music and sociology at the University of Alberta and has a Bachelor of Music degree in double-bass performance. She has studied both at the University of Alberta and McGill University, most recently completing an Artist's Residency at the Banff Centre where she studied with Edgar Meyer. Toscha teaches double bass at the Alberta College Conservatory at Grant McEwan College in Edmonton.
Court Laslop holds a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of Alberta. An active member of the Edmonton music community, Court currently resides in Devon where he continues to perform, teach and give clinics for students.
Cailtin Smith is a second year Bachelor of Music Cello student at the University of Alberta. She currently teach for the Edmonton Public School Board and enjoys
performing in all sorts of ensembles from small chamber to orchestra.
Charles Turanich-Noyen is in the third year of a Bilingual Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Alberta. A former member of the University of Alberta Golden Bears varsity swim team, he is now pursuing interests in music with the USO as well as in the Applied Music program.
Aaron Hryciw is a Ph.D. student in Physics at the University of Alberta, as well as a member of the Academy Strings. He also studies composition with Malcolm Forsyth.
Natalia Gomez Perez is a Colombian studying at the University of Alberta at the Department of Physics. She started her violin studies at age 4, continuing at the Conservatorio de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia. She studied music later at Universidad de los Andes under the supervision of Gustav Kolbe until spring 2002.
The University Symphony Orchestra
The University Symphony Orchestra, directed by Professor Tanya Prochazka, is the full University of Alberta student symphony orchestra. Participation is mandatory for string students. The Academy Strings comprise the string section of the USO. The USO performs a wide range of repertoire, from the classical period to modern composers. The Symphony Orchestra gives three concerts in the University's Convocation Hall each year, and often participates in choral concerts and operatic presentations. In February 2003, the USO collaborated with the Opera program to produce The Magic Flute by Mozart and in January, 2005 will perform Gianni Schicchi by Puccini and Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief. The USO has performed four times in Edmonton's concert hall, the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, each time enjoying a full house.
Members
University Symphony Orchestra and Academy Strings
Piccolo Erin Scheffer,
Flute Aura Giles,
Oboe Alyssa Miller,
Cor Anglais: Daniel Waldron,
Clarinet Michelle Davies,
Bass Clarinet: Lyndsey Cohen,
Bassoon Ondrej Golias
Horn Olwyn Supeene,
Trumpet Ryan Frizzell,
Trombone Andre Guigui
Percussion Court Laslop, David Meagher, Mason Koenig, Jeff Tetrault
Harp Laura Neeland
Violin 1 and 2:
Maria Barton,
Suin Choi,
Adrian Fung,
Natalia Gomez,
Quinn Grundy,
Rebecca Guigui,
Ken Heise,
Melissa Hemsworth,
Ryan Herbold,
Aaron Hryciw,
Cynthia Johnson,
Chloe Kung,
Corrine Ludwig,
Elizabeth McHan,
Charles Turanich-Noyen,
David Wong,
Carmen Yuen
Viola:
Jeanette Comeau,
Leanne Dammann,
Viera Linderova,
Charlene VandenBorn,
Sarah Weingarten,
Mark Zupan
Cello:
Anthony Bacon,
Matthieu Damer,
Paula Harding,
Martin Kloppers,
Kathleen Ludwig,
Karyn Robertson,
Caitlin Smith
Double Bass:
John Hickle,
Joseph Lubinsky-Mast,
George Lywood,
Ted Tessier,
Toscha Turner
Edmonton Public Schools Music Enrichment Strings Program
The Edmonton Public School Music Enrichment Strings Program was
founded in 1959 and has over 700 students learning violin, viola cello and bass. Starting in grade 3, students are provided with an instrument, a group lesson and the opportunity to play in one of the five public school orchestras.
Members
Enrichment Strings Program (conductors Olivia Walsh and Miriam Lewis)
Violin
Gillian Albert,
Athena Anders,
Yunona Anders,
Drew Armstrong,
Mychael Ballesteros,
Madelaine Bosniak,
Katie Chalmers, Jessie Ching,
Emily Cliff,
Ashley Condie,
Emily de Caen,
Ivy Cross,
Angela Climenhaga,
Janaya Devereux,
Lisa Ellison,
Kelin Flanagan,
Leah Flemmer,
Gloria Fung,
Denis Goulden,
Emma Greer,
Serah Jaco,
Liz Jung,
Maria Kendal,
Adrienne Kennedy,
Maruéy Kunattanóndà,
Michael Lee,
Jennifer Lo,
Jouce Loo,
Celine Mah,
Krystal Mah,
Kathleen Pickford,
Lydia Roseman,
Fontaine Schaerer,
Julianna Simmons,
Ilara Stefaniuk-Gaudet,
Aretha Tillotson,
Keegan Trahan,
Derek Wong,
Lindsay Woolgar
Viola:
Kimberly Chang,
Melanie Dunch,
Michael Esau,
Erika Goos,
Laryssa Hecker,
Taylor Livingstone,
Hannah Miller,
Ian Moore,
Allen Nicholas,
Melissa Schleiermacher
Cello:
Kate Boyle,
Jenna Clarahan,
Lena Clayton,
Kathleen de Caen,
Debbie Esau,
Scott Esau,
Nate Gartke,
Jacob Gramit,
Beth MacIntosh,
Erin McKay,
Brendon Moar,
Lauren Stieglitz,
Byron Tse,
Kirsten Watson
Bass:
Roxanne Nesbitt
Suzuki Charter School
The Suzuki Charter School is a publicly funded school which provides innovative music and general education in accordance with the Suzuki philosophy and serves parents who have an active commitment to music and academic advancement for their children.
Dr. Shinichi Suzuki, the legendary Japanese violin teacher saw a great opportunity to enrich the lives of children through music. His teaching method is based on the assumption that humans are born with a very high potential for developing themselves, not only in knowledge and technical skill, but also in character and sensitivity. Dr Suzuki, in his book “Nurtured by Love”, explains how he came to the realisation that language, the most complex thing humans learn, is learned by every child easily and naturally at a young age. Dr. Suzuki began to teach music modeled on the way children learn language. After tremendous success with music, Suzuki encouraged Kindergarten and Elementary school teachers to try this “mother-tongue” approach in other subjects.
Members
Suzuki Charter School students (director Grazyna Sobieraj)
Violin:
Dempsey Bolton,
Sarah-Thea De Souza,
Clara Duffy,
Rebecca Gero,
Shadrak Gobert,
Autumn Kowalenko,
Lauren Kubica-Teply,
Rafael Piesiur,
Joel Price,
Adam Sangster,
Nicholas Smoliak,
Tymek Stolarz,
Paige Tomaszewsky
Viola:
Savannah Marriot,
Benjamin Hollihan,
Alexia Stuart
Cello:
Cairo Beland,
Connor Beland,
Rowan Campbell,
Kyla Chalmers,
Willow Dew,
Conrad Sobieraj,
Bela Martineau,
Emily Matejko,
Natalia Stuart,
Kailey Meyer
Double bass:
Eric Dew,
Jordan Fox,
Zachary Grant,
Stephane Krimms,
Connor MacDonald,
Joshua Strasbourg
Guitar:
Jonah Dancer,
Nikolai Farrus,
Andrew Jack,
Paul Kostiw,
Otty Nguyen-Sears,
Darby Readman,
Nicholas Rocco,
Martin Szczepanski,
Austin Yadlowski
Recorder:
Thomas Berkes,
Suzanna Bourque,
Jackson Hollihan,
Sophia Schoen
Flute:
Andrea McIntosh
Piano:
Jacob Baranowski,
Kristen Bretzke,
Nicole Embree,
Lucas Green,
Jenna McNabb,
Miranda Normey,
Antonina Zarnoch,
Devin Zenchynson-Smith,
Adriano Aschenbrenner,
Lukas Bochno,
Kai Chen,
Brenna Hardy,
Jennifer Onyschuk,
Adam Pickering,
Andreana Salouk
