The Calgary Suzuki Strings Association
is pleased to announce the return of the Annual
Teen Event
May 26th and 27th, 2006
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Crescent Road Chapel at 202 Crescent Road NW
Registration Deadline: May 10, 2006
Event Details Back to TopThis year's Teen Event is proud to welcome renowned musicians Edmond Agopian, Jeffrey Plotnick and John Thompson.Friday afternoon and Saturday - each registrant will participate in a master class with one of the above clinicians. An ensemble class with Jeffrey Plotnick and a demonstration to follow will be held Saturday. Individual schedules will be announced following registration. Friday evening (6:00 to 9:00 pm) - pizza and games night get together and hang out at the Yamamoto residence, 432 Bernard Mews NW. This event promises to be both fun and educational. Work with the Masters - choose an exam piece, an audition piece or whatever you are working on. We hope all teen members of CSSA will join us. Questions regarding the event can be directed to Sharon Fawcett at 251-5517; email S.Fawcett@aristoscorp.com CSSA's Teen Event is for member students aged 12 and older. Masters' Biographies Back to Top Edmond Agopian, violinist, professor of violin, and conductor, was recently awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal "in recognition of outstanding service to the people and province of Alberta". At the University of Calgary he holds the John Roberts Distinguished Professorship Chair in Fine Arts. Edmond Agopian graduated from The Juilliard School with a Master of Music Degree in Violin, and from the International Music Academy (Lugano, Switzerland) with an Honours Diploma in Conducting. His violin playing has received accolades for both his recordings and performances: "One of the best recordings of the year…" (Off the Record, CBC Radio) "His performance… was a triumph, both of technique and integration." (The Toronto Star) He has performed in Canada, Taiwan, the United States and Europe, and has been featured on CBC Radio regional and national broadcasts. A champion of Canadian music, he has premiered dozens of works by Canadian composers, including works he has himself commissioned, and as past member of the New Works Calgary Ensemble. He is the first violinist of the U of C String Quartet in Residence and is the music director/concertmaster of Calgary's professional string orchestra, the Kensington Sinfonia. He has been Music Director of the Calgary Youth Orchestra since 2002, and has been on the faculty of the Morningside Music Bridge program at Mount Royal College Conservatory since 1996. He is also the founder and artistic director of U of C's chamber music festival Contrasts.
Orchestras he has conducted include the Calgary Philharmonic, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra London, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the Festival del Piccolo Mondo Antico Orchestra in Italy. Under his direction, the University of Calgary Orchestra released its first recording, which was described by the Calgary music critique Bob Clark as a "hands-down winner". Mr. Agopian moved to Calgary in 1991 to take the positions of Professor of Violin and Conductor at the University of Calgary, and Artist-in-Residence at Mount Royal College Conservatory. Violin students of Edmond Agopian have won national and international awards and have performed as soloists with professional orchestras. They are now members of such ensembles as the renowned Borromeo String Quartet, the Montreal Symphony, the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic (Assistant Concertmaster), the Edmonton Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, etc. His violin method The No Time to Practice Technique Companion is on SHAR Music Company's bestseller list.
In addition to performing in the Calgary Philharmonic, Mr. Plotnick also serves as concertmaster of the Calgary Bach Society and the Calgary Festival Chorus Orchestras. Mr. Plotnick has often appeared as violin soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Calgary Bach Society and is heard in frequent performances as a solo and chamber recitalist. In October of 1998, Mr. Plotnick participated in a cultural mission to Kzakhstan, which included solo performances for its president. Mr. Plotnick has been a member of the faculties of the University of Calgary and Mount Royal College in Calgary and is conductor of Mt. Royal's Intermediate Youth Orchestra. In addition, Mr. Plotnick has been a faculty member of the Banff International Youth Orchestra Festival, the Valhalla and Strings and Keys summer music institutes and has appeared as a guest artist and clinician at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
For much of his career, John has worked with youth orchestras, having directed the Calgary Philharmonic Junior String Orchestra, Mount Royal College Junior Orchestra, and the Calgary Youth Orchestra. His association with the CYO has lasted many years, travelling to many parts of the world to international music and youth festivals. He has taught viola and chamber music at Mount Royal College Conservatory and the University of Calgary and is a frequent clinician and adjudicator across Canada. He has been recognized for his services to music with an Alberta Achievement Award from the Province of Alberta and a Distinguished Faculty Award from Mount Royal College. As a member of the CPO, John has been politically active, having served on the Orchestra Committee for more than a third of his tenure with the orchestra, most recently as Chairman. He has been the CPO's OSCM delegate and served on the Executive of OSCM as Treasurer for five years. He was also active as a Board member of the Calgary Musician's Association and has served on many committees, to promote musicians' welfare. Event Fees Back to Top
Please make cheques payable to CSSA and send, with completed Registration Form, to: 343 Canterville Dr SW |
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Jeffrey Plotnick, violinist, a native of Dayton, Ohio, is currently in his twenty-fifth season as Principal Second Violin with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. After graduating from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, Mr. Plotnick performed with orchestras in Cincinnati, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Caracas, Venezuela before assuming his present position in Calgary.
John Thompson, violist, arrived in Canada in 1971 after completing his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. He took the position of Principal Viola with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, a position he still holds. He has performed as soloist with the orchestra on many occasions and has been a featured artist on CBC Radio and Television. In addition to his orchestral responsibilities, he has been an active chamber musician, performing in many established ensembles and with visiting guest artists.