
OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 09/22/11 -- Seven exceptionally talented young Canadians are the 2011 recipients of over $100,000 in music awards from the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation.
Sharing in the awards totalling $101,500 are:
-- Yolanda Bruno, 21, of Ottawa. Ms. Bruno has studied violin at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, was a finalist in the 2009 Stulberg International String Competition and frequently performs with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Her award will enable continued studies with David Takeno at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, England. -- Dongkyun An, 24, of Edmonton. Mr. An studied cello at the University of Alberta and with Colin Ryan, principle cellist of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. The award will aid in furthering his cello studies under renowned Professor of Cello, Raphael Wallfisch at the Zurcher Hochschule der Kunste in Zurich, Switzerland. Most recently, Mr. An placed second in cello at the 18th International Johannes Brahms Competition in Portschach, Austria. -- Caroline Cole, 24, of Peterborough. At age 12, Ms. Cole first began playing her harp with the Peterborough Symphony. After receiving the silver medal for highest grade achieved in the grade ten Royal Conservatory of Music harp examination, she was invited to study with world-renowned harpist Judy Loman. She obtained her undergraduate degree in music at the University of Toronto, graduated from the Juilliard School's Master of Music program and will continue her harp studies with Nancy Allen, principal harpist for the New York Philharmonic. -- Camilo Davila Marin, 28, Toronto. Mr. Davila, a self-taught clarinettist until age 17, won a scholarship to train in Colombia and, upon winning the Young Artist National Competition of the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota,. moved to Canada to pursue his studies under Joaquin Valdepenas at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory. He appears regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company. He is accepted to study for his Master's degree at Rice University in Houston, Texas. -- Brian Yoon, 25, of Coquitlam. Mr. Yoon recently completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Ottawa, and has appeared with both the Guelph and Ottawa Symphony Orchestras. He is furthering his cello studies toward a Master of Music degree at Shepherd School of Music, Rice University, where has been working with Desmond Hoebig, former principal cello of the Houston Symphony and Cleveland Orchestras. -- Devon Joiner, 22, of Nanaimo. Mr. Joiner received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia, and will continue his piano studies under Julian Martin toward a Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School. Already recognized as an exceptionally gifted musician, Mr. Joiner has been invited to perform solo recitals throughout the U.S. and Canada, most recently replacing - with only a few days notice - the celebrated Canadian virtuoso pianist Andre Laplante at a concert in Nanaimo, B.C. -- Jeffrey Dyrda, 24, of Kitchener. Mr. Dyrda took his Bachelor of Music with high distinction in violin at McGill University, and his Master of Music degree in violin performance from Boston's New England Conservatory of Music. He has performed with the Boston Philharmonic, and will continue his studies in the Graduate Diploma Program at the Conservatory.
The Sylva Gelber Music Award Foundation, established by the late Sylva Gelber, aims to support outstanding young Canadians who are pursuing or about to embark on a professional career in classical music performance. The Foundation accepts applications by referral, drawing from a pool of candidates recommended by prominent conductors, directors and music schools in North America and Europe.
Contacts:
Barbara Laskin 613-562-9953
http://www.sylvagelber.ca/
Photos of the 2011 winners available on request
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