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Concerto Competition
Presents the 31st
Shurniak Concerto Competition
In co-operation with the
Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO)
& Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO)
Saturday, February 21, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Quance Theatre
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon
Admission: $10
History of the Concerto Competition
In 1979 three Saskatchewan organizations marked their 70th Anniversaries: the Saskatchewan
Music Festival Association (SMFA), the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO), and the Regina
Cartage and Storage Co. Ltd. To celebrate this milestone, Kathleen Keple, then Executive
Director of SMFA, initiated a Concerto Competition in partnership with the RSO, to be
administered by SMFA and funded by Regina Cartage and Storage Co.
The three organizations held similar ideals of “enhancing lives through an appreciation for
music”. SMFA has played a vital role in the cultural life of Saskatchewan by “providing young
musicians with educational opportunities to compete and perform”. The Regina Cartage &
Storage Co. President, Brian Keple, had long been supportive of community events throughout
its history. The RSO, the oldest operating orchestra in Canada, also held a commitment to
education in the province through the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra. The establishment
of the Anniversary Concerto Competition was a broadening of this commitment. In addition to
the monetary awards, the RSO provided the opportunity for the winner of the SMFA Concerto
Competition to be featured as a guest artist in the upcoming season. In 2000 the Saskatoon
Symphony Orchestra (SSO), under conductor Earl Stafford, added their support by providing the
winner with a performance opportunity with the SSO.
The first competition, in which several performers from across Saskatchewan competed, was
held in Regina before a panel of three distinguished musicians: Isobel Moore, pianist of
Edmonton; James Mendenhall, bassoonist of Brandon; and Gregory Millar, Music Director of
the RSO.
During the ensuing years generous sponsorship was provided by the City of Regina Arts
Commission, CKIT FM Radio, and the Sister Geraldine Boyle and Goodfellow Trust Funds. From
1992-2007 Yolande Hodges Fitzgerald, a former Saskatchewan teacher, was the major sponsor
for the competition, followed by the Lorne & Evelyn Johnson Foundation in 2009. Mr. William
Shurniak became the event sponsor in 2013.
SMFA continues to play a major role in the development of our province’s musicians. The SMFA
Concerto Competition, now holding its 31st competition, is a tangible result of Saskatchewan cooperation. SMFA is delighted that the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Saskatoon
Symphony Orchestra provide guest appearances for the winner of this event.
William (Bill) Shurniak enjoyed a long and successful career in international
banking and corporate business in Canada, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Australia, and
the UK. Upon his retirement, he returned to his native Saskatchewan, and
established the Shurniak Art Gallery in Assiniboia to showcase his extensive
collection of international and Canadian art. Mr. Shurniak continues to work on
several Boards of Directors, and supports educational and cultural
organizations, including the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association. Bill
congratulates all participants in the Shurniak Concerto Competition, and wishes
each of them well in future musical endeavours!
SMFA Friends List to date:
Sandra Ellis
Garry Gable &
Kathleen Lohrenz Gable
Joy McFarlane-Burton
Lillian Mitchell
Glena Purdy
Dave Kalist
Flo Campbell
Nancy & Richard Toppings
Dorothy J. Andrews
Jason Beutler Realty P.C. Ltd.
Eileen & Wayne Carlson (behalf of
Jean Bews)
Theresa Brost
Mr. & Mrs. K. Towle
Rick Burton
Robyn Rutherford
PO Box 37005
Regina, SK S4S 7K3
JASPER WOOD
Canadian violinist Jasper Wood has established a flourishing reputation
as a soloist through his frequent performances with many of North
America’s finest orchestras, in cities such as Toronto, Montreal,
Winnipeg, Buffalo, and throughout Europe. He has performed under
the batons of Gregory Novak, George Cleve, Georg Tintner, Bramwell
Tovey, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. He has also toured extensively
throughout the East Coast, including appearances with Debut Atlantic,
Prairie Debut, and throughout Quebec under the auspices of Jeunesses
Musicales Canada.
Jasper has also garnered acclaim for his dazzling performances as a
recitalist and chamber musician which have taken him to major cities worldwide. He has performed at
important venues such as Dame Myra Hess (Chicago), Carnegie Weill Recital Hall (New York) and the
Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts. Jasper, originally from Moncton, New Brunswick, is equally
committed to performing in Canada’s smaller communities, such as the Northwest Territories and other
parts of northern Canada.
Jasper performs regularly with guitarist Daniel Bolshoy in Duo Rendezvous and is a member of the
dynamic piano trio Triple Forte (with pianist David Jalbert and cellist Yegor Dyachkov), formed in 2003.
He has worked for over 20 years with pianist David Riley, who appears in many of Jasper’s recordings.
Jasper Wood’s diverse discography includes the music of Mozart, Strauss, Debussy, Ravel, Ives,
Stravinsky, Bartok, Andrew P. MacDonald, Oskar Morawetz, Eckhardt-Gramatte, Berio, and Saint-Saëns.
Mr. Wood’s media presence includes regular national broadcasts on CBC Radio/Societe Radio Canada;
CBC Television; Bravo Television, and British Columbia’s Knowledge Network. In 2007, Wood was
featured in a one hour nationally broadcast documentary/performance film titled “The Maritime Violin
of Jasper Wood”, produced by Mozus Productions and DreamStreet Pictures. In the United States, he is
often heard on National Public Radio.
Outreach and education is an important part of Jasper Wood’s mandate as an artist, and he enjoys
visiting schools and giving masterclasses. He was the Co-Artistic Director of Young Artist Experiences
(YAE), an organization which combines studies in sciences, humanities, arts, and social responsibility, in
addition to traditional rigorous training in the practice and performance of the chamber music
repertoire.
Jasper Wood made his solo orchestral debut in 1987 with Symphony Nova Scotia under the baton of
Georg Tintner. He holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music.
His main teachers were David and Linda Cerone, Oleh Krysa, and Philippe Djokic. Wood has won
numerous prizes and awards in the United States, Canada, and Europe, including the Lipizer Competition
in Italy, CBC Radio National Competition for Young Performers, the Eckhardt-Gramatte Competition, and
the National Music Festival. He has also been awarded both the Sylva Gelber Award and the Virginia
Parker Prize, two of the most distinguished prizes awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Today he
is in demand as a teacher and adjudicator for many prestigious competitions all over the world, as well
as mentoring future performers in competition at the local and national level. He has also served on the
jury of the Ontario Arts Council.
Jasper Wood has performed on the 1700 “Taft” Stradivarius from 2004-2006, and the 1820 Pressenda
from 2000-2004. He now plays a 1914 Stefano Scarampella violin. Currently residing in Vancouver with
his wife Grace and two children, Wood is Associate Professor of violin and chamber music at the
University of British Columbia.
KAREN FINNSSON
Karen Finnsson is currently Associate Professor of Music and Head of the
Department of Music at the University of Regina where she teaches saxophone,
music history, woodwind techniques, and coaches a variety of saxophone
chamber ensembles. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the
University of Victoria in saxophone performance and completed a Master of
Music degree at North Texas State University majoring in saxophone
performance/ woodwinds.
Ms. Finnsson has played soprano saxophonist with the Regina Saxophone Quartet
since 1987 and most recently with the Saskaphones Saxophone Quartet. The
quartets perform frequently in Saskatchewan and have also performed throughout Western Canada and
in Quebec. Ms. Finnsson has recorded for CBC radio both with quartet and as a soloist. She has played
clarinet, bass clarinet, alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones with the Regina Symphony Orchestra.
MARK TURNER
Mark Turner is the Executive Director of the Saskatoon Symphony and
Founding Artistic Director of Third Ave Centre. He holds an ARCT in
Performance and an Honours Licentiate in Recital Performance from London
College.
Mark has extensive experience in arts management,
organizations - his focus in management is based on his
exemplary standard of performance excellence and how
business of the arts. His career includes having worked as
curator, producer, radio host, consultant, and adjudicator.
helming many
passion for an
it impacts the
music director,
Having joined the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in 2014, Mark was
instrumental in the restructuring of the organization - the SSO has turned its attention on a new
business model and programming focused around attracting world class artists and creating
opportunities and projects for Saskatchewan artists.
As a producer he has worked with guests including Richard Margison, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra,
Isabel Bayrakdarian, James Ehnes, and Jan Lisiecki.
SMFA is funded through Sask Lotteries Trust for Sport, Culture & Recreation,
The Saskatchewan Arts Board, and SaskCulture
SHURNIAK CONCERTO COMPETITION
MC – Nancy Toppings, SMFA President
Opening Remarks
9:00 a.m.
SOFIA MYCYK, piano, Saskatoon
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23 – Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Andantino semplice – Allegro con fuoco
9:45 a.m.
KEVIN CHEN, violin, Saskatoon
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 47 – Jean Sibelius
(Yuli Chen)
Allegro moderato – Adagio di molto – Allegro ma non tanto
10:30 a.m.
GODWIN FRIESEN, piano, Saskatoon
Concerto in G – Maurice Ravel
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Allegramente – Adagio assai – Presto
* * * break * * *
11:15 a.m.
REBECCA WEGER, violin, Regina
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 – Ludwig van Beethoven
(Cherith Alexander)
MEGAN BAUMAN, alto saxophone, Saskatoon
Concerto pour Saxophone Alto et Orchestre – Henri Tomasi
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Allegro ma non troppo – Larghetto – Rondo
12:00 p.m.
Andante et allegro – Final Giration: Allegro-molto ritmico-vif-largo
* * * lunch break * * *
1:00 p.m.
HANS DEASON, violoncello, Saskatoon
Cello Concerto in b minor, Op. 104 – Antonin Dvořák
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Allegro – Adagio, ma non troppo – Finale: Allegro moderato-Andante-Allegro vivo
1:45 p.m.
NICKOLAS WHITELAW, trumpet, Saskatoon
Trumpet Concerto in E-flat Major, Hob.VIIe:1 – Joseph Haydn
(Chris Kelly)
Allegro – Andante – Allegro
2:00 p.m.
SOPHIE McBEAN, piano, Saskatoon
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22 – Camille Saint-Saëns
Andante sostenuto – Allegro scherzando – Presto
* * * break * * *
2:45 p.m.
SIMONE MA, violin, Regina
Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22 – Henryk Wieniawski
(Cherith Alexander)
Allegro moderato – Romance: Andante non troppo – Allegro con fuoco-Allegro
3:15 p.m.
BRENDAN CATALANO, alto saxophone, Saskatoon
Concertino da Camera – Jacques Ibert
(Jaya Hoy)
Allegro con moto – Larghetto-animato molto
3:30 p.m.
WILLIAM BOAN, violin, Saskatoon
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 7 – Dmitri Shostakovich
(Bonnie Nicholson)
Nocturne – Scherzo – Passacaglia – Burlesque
* * * break * * *
4:30 p.m.
EUNHYUN KIM, piano, Regina
(Kathleen Lohrenz Gable)
Piano Concerto in G minor, Op. 25 – Felix Mendelssohn
Molto allegro con fuoco – Andante – Presto-molto allegro e vivace
5:00 p.m.
CHARLEE WIELGOZ, violin, Regina
Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 – Felix Mendelssohn
(Bev Dyck)
Allegro, molto appassionato – Andante – Allegro molto vivace
REFRESHMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENT OF WINNERS
1st Place __________________________________________________
2nd Place __________________________________________________
3rd Place __________________________________________________
PHOTO SESSION TO FOLLOW
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to the collaborative artists who have performed at this competition. Your talents and musical support
are much appreciated.
Special thanks to:
Stephen Nicholson, Yamaha Piano, and University of Saskatchewan, Department of Music
SMFA Concerto Competition Winners
Since its inception in 1979, the SMFA Concerto Competition has gained momentum and recognition
within the musical community of our province. It is with great pride that we list the winners of previous
year’s competitions:
1979
st
1 – Tannis Gibson
nd
2 – Guy Few
rd
3 – Lawrence Amundrud
1980
st
1 – Audrey Andrist
nd
2 – Marlena Tureski
rd
3 – Arthur LaVertu
1981
st
1 - Stephen Beke
nd
2 - Hwa-Jung Lee
rd
3 - Kathy Palyga
1982
st
1 – Kirsimarja Helppi
nd
2 – Linda Bardutz
rd
3 – Guy Few
1983
st
1 – Hwa-Jung Lee
nd
2 – Kent McWilliams
rd
3 – Bridget Hunt
1984
st
1 – Darren Lowe
nd
2 – Eldon McBride
rd
3 – Bridget Hunt
1985
st
1 – Kent McWilliams
nd
2 – Bridget Hunt
rd
3 – Janice Kwon &
Collette Forer
1986
st
1 – Janice Kwon
nd
2 – Erika Raum
rd
3 – Peter Pas
1989
st
1 – Nicolo Eugelmi
nd
2 – Beatrice Ngai
rd
3 – Mark Altman
1990
st
1 – Mark Altman &
Noel Laporte
nd
2 – Grant Wenaus
rd
3 – Rob Thaller
1991
st
1 – Cherith James
nd
2 – Marla McLennan
rd
3 – Roslyn Friesen
1992
st
1 – Michael Angell
nd
2 – Anna Genest
rd
3 – Karmyn Dyck
1993
st
1 – Karmyn Dyck
nd
2 – Allison Joynt
rd
3 – Kjersti Nostbakken
1994
st
1 – Deanne Mohr
nd
2 – Sarah Konecsni
rd
3 – David England
1995
st
1 – Susan Ouyang
nd
2 – David England
rd
3 – Ava Weidenhammer
1996
st
1 – Thomas Yu
nd
2 – Nathan Degenhart
rd
3 – Ava Weidenhammer
1987
st
1 – Linda Bardutz
nd
2 – Erika Raum
rd
3 – Daphne Leong &
Colin Traquair
1997
st
1 – Ava Weidenhammer
nd
2 – Rodney Epp
rd
3 – Stephen Runge
1988
st
1 – Erika Raum
nd
2 – Mary Jane Kliewer
rd
3 – Nicolo Eugelmi
1998
st
1 – Sarah Konecsni
nd
2 – Allen Harrington
rd
3 – Preston Hawes
1999
st
1 – Stephen Runge
nd
2 – Preston Hawes
rd
3 – Bede Hanley
2000
st
1 – Thomas Cosbey
nd
2 – Allen Harrington
rd
3 – Nigel Taylor
2001
st
1 – Kayla Wong
nd
2 – Junelle Rayne
rd
3 – Jonathan Dyck
2002
st
1 – Oxana Ossiptshouk
nd
2 – Allen Harrington
rd
3 – Elation Paul
2003
st
1 – Eric Greenwood
nd
2 – Jonathan Dyck
rd
3 – Amelia Borton
2005
st
1 – Yuli Chen
nd
2 – Raymond Ko
rd
3 – James Coghlin
2007
st
1 – Raymond Ko
nd
2 – Samuel Deason
rd
3 – Maria Fuller
2009
st
1 – Samuel Milner
nd
2 – Justin Min
rd
3 – Helen Kashap
2011
st
1 – Samuel Deason
nd
2 – Meagan Milatz
rd
3 – Alyssa Ramsay
2013
st
1 – Gerard Weber
nd
2 – Jessica Ramsay
rd
3 – Alyssa Ramsay
2014 - 2015 PROVINCIAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President ...................................................... Nancy Toppings, Kipling
First Vice President ....................................... Karen Unger, Spalding
Second Vice President .................................. Sherry Sproule, Lafleche
Past President ............................................... Karen MacCallum, Swift Current
Director ......................................................... Robin Swales, Regina
Director ......................................................... Sandra Senga, Meadow Lake
Director ......................................................... Donna Kreiser, Prince Albert
Director ......................................................... Wendy Thienes, Shaunavon
Director ......................................................... Kelly Stein, Simpson
PROVINCIAL OFFICES
Executive Director ........................................ Carol Donhauser, Regina
Assistant to the Executive Director .............. Sandra Kerr, Regina
Calendar of Events
February - May
SMFA District Festivals (48 Locations)
June 5 - 7, 2015
Provincial Finals – Saskatoon
August 13 - 15, 2015
National Music Festival – Edmonton, AB
November 2015
Saskatchewan Music Conference and
SMFA Annual General Meeting – Regina
February, 2014
Wallis Memorial Opera Competition – Regina
SMFA is supported by grants from Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture &
Recreation, Sask Arts Board, and SaskCulture, Inc.
www.smfa.ca