Young Artist Program in Violin or Viola
This class is open to senior violin students and provides instruction in a setting that moves towards traditional music college/university instruction while maintaining roots in Suzuki philosophy and pedagogy. It is expected that these senior players, who provide a role model to other participating students, will join enthusiastically in other Institute events.
Students Eligible:
Violinists or Violists who have completed Suzuki Bk. 8 or who are working at a Grade 9 RCM level or higher. Admission to the YAP program is based on invitation following a successful video audition.
Daily in-person only program includes:
Daily Optional Classes: (you may choose up to two options)
Cost: $690 CDN. Optional classes extra
Please note that mature students may better handle the audition process and the public master class instruction in the Young Artist Program. While there are no age limits, high school-age students may adapt to this somewhat more intense experience more easily than younger children. The regular Senior String program is another very rewarding option available for advanced students who are not sure about the YAP, or who are not accepted into the program (there is strictly limited enrolment in the YAP).
Application deadline is May 1st
Prepare your video audition, upload it to a web hosting service, and email download links to Elayne Ras by May 1st (no exceptions). See the Video Audition instructions.
NOTE: Audition recordings will not be processed until we have received the registration fee. Some classes will begin on Sunday August 9, and you will be notified via email about the specific times.
Students Eligible:
Violinists or Violists who have completed Suzuki Bk. 8 or who are working at a Grade 9 RCM level or higher. Admission to the YAP program is based on invitation following a successful video audition.
Daily in-person only program includes:
- Daily public Master Class (half-hour per student) with Jerzy Kaplanek (ON) or Christine Vlajk (ON)
- Daily Master Class includes piano collaborator (if required, and rehearsal before classes begin)
- Daily Group Class
- Daily Advanced Orchestra rehearsal
- Solo performance at the end of the week
Daily Optional Classes: (you may choose up to two options)
- Chamber Music
- Choir for Everyone!
- Beginners Composition
- Intermediate Composition
- Fiddling
- Handbells
- Improvisation
- Percussion
- Viola for Violinists
Cost: $690 CDN. Optional classes extra
Please note that mature students may better handle the audition process and the public master class instruction in the Young Artist Program. While there are no age limits, high school-age students may adapt to this somewhat more intense experience more easily than younger children. The regular Senior String program is another very rewarding option available for advanced students who are not sure about the YAP, or who are not accepted into the program (there is strictly limited enrolment in the YAP).
Application deadline is May 1st
Prepare your video audition, upload it to a web hosting service, and email download links to Elayne Ras by May 1st (no exceptions). See the Video Audition instructions.
NOTE: Audition recordings will not be processed until we have received the registration fee. Some classes will begin on Sunday August 9, and you will be notified via email about the specific times.
Internationally-renowned violinist Jerzy Kapłanek has established himself as a chamber musician, member of the celebrated Penderecki String Quartet, soloist, dedicated teacher, adjudicator, artistic director of QuartetFest and lately as a jazz violinist
He performs throughout Europe, Asia, and North and South America over 80 concerts each season. His album of works by Karol Szymanowski with pianist Stéphan Sylvestre was highly praised by The Strad magazine as “an outstanding release”. His discography with the Penderecki Quartet comprises over two dozen CD’s (Marquis, Eclectra, CBC, CMC, EMI, Decca labels), including the highly acclaimed recording of the complete string quartets of Béla Bartók.
Mr. Kaplanek has collaborated with such notable musicians as pianists David Braid, Leopoldo Erice , Vladimir Feltsman, Janina Fialkowska Francine Kay, Lev Natochenny, Jamie Parker, Stéphan Sylvestre, cellists Marc Johnson, Antonio Lysy Paul Pulford, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and clarinetist James Campbell amongst others. He is frequently heard on CBC Radio and NPR. He has made solo appearances with the Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Peterborough and CBC Vancouver Symphonies and was a featured soloist at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.
Jerzy Kapłanek was born in Poland in 1965. His music education started at the age of six on piano and at the age of ten he began his violin studies. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory in Bytom. In 1990, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Musical Arts from the prestigious Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. There, he studied with the distinguished teachers Janusz Skramlik, Aureli Błaszczok and Stanisław Lewandowski
In 1987-88 he studied with Efim Boico and the Fine Arts Quartet at the Chamber Music Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1989-90, he was a student of Sylvia Rosenberg in New York City and in 1990-91 he studied with Daniel Heifetz, the Guarneri String Quartet and its violinists, Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley. Pursuing his interest in performance practice, Mr. Kapłanek also worked with the pioneer of baroque violin, Jaap Schroeder.
Jerzy Kapłanek is presently a Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where since 1991 he has been teaching violin and chamber music. He frequently gives master classes in Canada and abroad.
Mr. Kaplanek performs on a 2016 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin made in New York City.
Jerzy Kapłanek was born in Poland in 1965. His music education started at the age of six on piano and at the age of ten he began his violin studies. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory in Bytom. In 1990, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Musical Arts from the prestigious Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. There, he studied with the distinguished teachers Janusz Skramlik, Aureli Błaszczok and Stanisław Lewandowski
In 1987-88 he studied with Efim Boico and the Fine Arts Quartet at the Chamber Music Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1989-90, he was a student of Sylvia Rosenberg in New York City and in 1990-91 he studied with Daniel Heifetz, the Guarneri String Quartet and its violinists, Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley. Pursuing his interest in performance practice, Mr. Kapłanek also worked with the pioneer of baroque violin, Jaap Schroeder.
Jerzy Kapłanek is presently a Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where since 1991 he has been teaching violin and chamber music. He frequently gives master classes in Canada and abroad.
Mr. Kaplanek performs on a 2016 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin made in New York City.
Violist Christine Vlajk has performed extensively across North and South America, Europe, China, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, appearing in venues such as Weill Concert Hall at Carnegie Hall, the 92nd Street Y, the Kennedy Center, and REDCAT Hall in Los Angeles. She has served as violist of the Penderecki String Quartet and Artist-in-Residence in viola and chamber music at Wilfrid Laurier University since 1997, making her the quartet's longest-serving member alongside violinist Jerzy Kaplanek.
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Vlajk holds Bachelor's degrees in Viola Performance and Music Education from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a Master's degree in Viola Performance from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She studied with Oswald Lehnert, Jerry Horner, Denes Koromzay, and members of the Cleveland, Juilliard, LaSalle, Takács, and Fine Arts Quartets, and won prizes at the Banff, Coleman, Yellow Springs, Carmel, and Evian Chamber Music Competitions.
As an orchestral musician, she has been principal violist of the West Virginia Symphony and a member of the New Hampshire Music Festival, and has appeared as guest soloist with the West Virginia Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Peterborough Symphony, and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. With the Penderecki String Quartet and the Montclaire Quartet, she has recorded nearly 30 albums for labels including Koch, Leonarda, Eclectra, Marquis Classics, and EMI, and has premiered viola concertos by Peter Grella-Mozejko and Karol Gostyniski.
Committed to music education, Vlajk has led children's concerts throughout the U.S. and Canada and given master classes at institutions including the Lynn Conservatory, Indiana University's String Academy, Florida State University, the University of Toronto, SUNY Fredonia, and the Glenn Gould Professional School, as well as venues in Mexico, China, and New Zealand.
Orchestra
with Dragon Djerkic (QC)
Dragan will lead our senior orchestra in a varied selection of music on Friday's Final Orchestral Concert. He has vast experience working with student orchestras. Prepare to be amazed!
Dragan will lead our senior orchestra in a varied selection of music on Friday's Final Orchestral Concert. He has vast experience working with student orchestras. Prepare to be amazed!
NOTE: All information, classes, faculty, etc. are subject to change depending on enrolment.
Thank you to Gabriel Ting for most of the beautiful photos in this year’s website.
Thank you to Gabriel Ting for most of the beautiful photos in this year’s website.