Music & Sound Notes

April 2005 edition

Welcome to the online version of Music & Sound Notes 2005 – the newsletter for alumni and friends of Music & Sound at The Banff Centre.

We will not be doing a printed version of the newsletter, so please e-mail your fellow Banff alumni to let them know about this newsletter!

Contents

• Coming home to BISQC
• The Rolston Tribute Weekend - what a celebration it was!
• First Rolston Fellowship recipients named
• Fall and winter residency report
• Composer creates Island in Banff
• Generosity takes action – Stephen Maxym scholarship
• In Memoriam - Chris Driscoll scholarship
• En route to summer!
• Audio associates score six awards in San Francisco

Also visit the new Alumni News & Awards page.

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Coming home to BISQC

For Meg and Liz Freivogel, participating in this summer’s Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC) was a homecoming of sorts. For three summers, from 1996 to 1998, the two sisters traveled from their home in St. Louis, Missouri, to study in the Centre’s Strings Master Class and Chamber Music programs. “Banff was the most beautiful place we had ever been,” says Liz. “The setting and the music were fantastic … we loved it.”

During those summers, the whole Freivogel family, including parents Margie and Bill, visited Banff, camping at Tunnel Mountain and sitting in on the girls’ classes. “I remember [Master Class faculty member] Karen Tuttle working with Liz on how to communicate what was in her head to an audience,” says Margie. “It was a very supportive atmosphere at a formative stage in their lives.”

The opportunity to study in Banff was a turning point. “Chamber music became more of a priority for us, as a result of The Banff Centre,” says Liz. “It gave us the opportunity to concentrate on chamber music to the exclusion of all else.” That early focus paid off this summer when the Freivogels, along with the other members of the Jupiter String Quartet, Daniel McDonough and Nelson Lee, took home first prize in the 8th Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC). Created in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Banff Centre, BISQC is one of the world’s leading string quartet competitions.

The first prize RBC Award includes $20,000, a Canadian recital tour, a quartet of custom bows by renowned bow maker Michael Vann, and the offer of a Banff Centre residency, including the production of a CD. Liz says it is all still sinking in “We worked very hard to prepare for Banff. We dreamed about winning – but we didn’t expect it,” she says. And the best part? “The recognition is great, BISQC is very respected,” says Liz. “And we’re especially excited about the opportunity to return to Banff, and the mountains, to record our CD.”

In addition to the first prize at the 8th Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Jupiter Quartet also won the Székely Prize, named after Zoltan Székely, for the best performance of a Beethoven quartet in the first two rounds of the competition.

Other 2004 BISQC winners were as follows:

2nd prize: Ensō Quartet (Canada/U.S.)
3rd prize: Royal String Quartet (Poland)
4th prize: Fry Street Quartet (U.S.)

Pièce de concert prize: Ensō Quartet for the best performance of Stewart Grant’s
String Quartet No. 2 – Banff Variations.

BISQC is supported by RBC Financial Group.

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The Rolston Tribute Weekend - what a celebration it was!

The Rolston Tribute weekend, held in July 2004 in honour of outgoing artistic directors Tom and Isobel Rolston, was a delightful weekend attended by many friends, alumni, and faculty from past and present. The Tribute concert drew a sold out house of nearly 1,000 to recognize Tom and Isobel and wish them well into their retirement.

Tom and Isobel have been honoured several times this year for their dedication and exceptional contributions to Canadian music. Honours include:

• Music Alberta’s inaugural Orpheus Award, presented to Tom in November 2004 to recognize his significant volunteer contributions made over an extended period to the growth, development, and appreciation of music in the province of Alberta.
• The Alberta String Association (ASA) recognized Tom and Isobel with a special 25th Anniversary Dinner in their honour in November 2004.
• The Canadian League of Composers (CLC) and the Canadian Music Centre (CMC) awarded Tom and Isobel the 2004 Friends of Canadian Music Award in January 2005.

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First Rolston Fellowship recipients named

The Banff Centre is pleased to announce the first recipients of the Rolston Fellowship in Music. Duo Diorama, comprised of violinist Minghuan Xu and pianist Winston Choi, will attend the June 2005 Chamber Music Program as Rolston Fellows. Tuition, room, meals, and a travel allowance for the three week program will be covered by the fellowship and thanks to support from the Honens’ Artistic and Career Development Program. Total value of the fellowship is in excess of $5,000.

A native of Beijing, China, Minghuan Xu began playing violin at the age of five. She has received numerous awards for her artistry, including top prizes at the Midland-Odessa National Young Artist Competition, the Samuel & Elinor Thaviu String Scholarship Competition, and the Northwestern University and Interlochen concerto competitions. In addition to concerts with Choi, Xu performs extensively as a soloist, chamber musician, and concertmaster in China and across the United States. Xu is in the doctoral program at Stony Brook University.

Second Laureate of the 2003 Honens International Piano Competition and winner of France’s 2002 Concours International de Piano 20e siècle d’Orléans, Canadian pianist Winston Choi is one of today’s most dynamic young artists. His CD debut of the complete piano works of Elliott Carter received a rave review from BBC Music Magazine. He recently finished the first of three recordings of the piano works of French composer Jacques Lenot, and will soon record Bach’s Art of the Fugue. Choi earned master’s and bachelor’s degrees at Indiana University, studying with Menahem Pressler. He is currently a doctoral student at Northwestern University. As a laureate of the triennial Honens International Piano Competition, Choi’s residency at The Banff Centre is also generously supported by the Honens’ Artistic and Career Development Program.

Together Xu and Choi form Duo Diorama, a partnership that goes beyond music. Xu and Choi will be married in August, and their love of music and each other is evident in the beautiful music they make together.

In talking about the duo in a recent Calgary Herald article, Xu says, “We met when we were both students at Northwestern University in Chicago. A teacher introduced us. The first thing I thought was that he was such a great pianist and then I realized he was very cute, too!”

“We met through music, and our music is such a gift for us,” says Xu. “By playing together we develop our music, our friendship, and our love.” Coincidentally, Tom and Isobel Rolston were also a violin and piano duo, having met in their early years studying music in London.

The Rolston Fellowships in Music were created in 2004 on occasion of the retirement of Isobel and Thomas Rolston, who had worked in Music & Sound at The Banff Centre for over three decades. Alumni, friends, and colleagues of the Rolstons donated to the endowment, which will enable gifted musicians to take part in Banff Centre Music & Sound programs as participants, faculty, composers, conductors, or special guests. Rolston fellows will be selected on an annual basis by Music & Sound in consultation with faculty and staff.

Donations to the endowment are still gratefully accepted and will ensure that Music & Sound at The Banff Centre continues to offer the “Banff experience” to worthy musicians for years to come.

Donations to Rolston Fellowships in Music Endowment can be made online, or call the Development Office at 1-888-495-4467.

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Fall and winter residency report

This year’s fall and winter residents were a true delight! Hailing from Australia, Austria, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Korea, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, The Netherlands, U.K., and the U.S., the resident musicians and audio engineers represented all five continents. Together with the staff of Music & Sound, the residents and engineers produced roughly 150 concerts in Banff, the Bow Valley, and Alberta. The concerts drew record crowds, including six sold out events in the Friday evening Concert Night Out series.

There were an unusually large number of percussionists in the residency, served by visiting artists Kenny Aronoff and Michael Burritt; and five trumpeters who worked with Larry Knopp and Al Vizzutti. The small string contingent was therefore incredibly busy as they made up a string quartet which was in great demand. The pianists provided the widest variety of styles from solo classical and collaborative to freeform jazz. The large contingent of resident composers not only provided world premiere material, but also inspired several musicians to become composers for the first time. The creative burgeoning which occurred in these two terms created an amazing source of inspiration to all artists who attended. Best wishes to all artists and engineers who were here this fall and winter as they go on to the next project!

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Composer creates Island in Banff

Transforming the printed word into an opera was the task Canadian composer Christopher Donison embarked upon while in residence at The Banff Centre during the fall 2003 and winter 2004 terms in the Music & Sound program. While in residence, Donison wrote music and libretto for the first five scenes of Island, an opera based upon a short story by Canadian writer Alistair MacLeod.

The story of Island is one of tremendous emotional depth – of isolation, tragic circumstances, and the internal turmoil the main character faces over several decades of her life on the remote island. “The characters live in a rural setting, a fishing village on the East coast. There is not a lot of dialogue, and this makes it a challenge to tell the story in the form of an opera. It becomes the task of the music to plumb that deep emotion, create the sense of isolation, and tell the story.” Donison proved up to the challenge – the opening scenes written in Banff were presented in a public performance in March 2004 and were well received by those in attendance, including MacLeod, Jack Hodgins – whose short stories Donison based his 2001 opera, Eyes on the Mountain, and McClelland & Stewart Publishing president Douglas Gibson, who acted as master of ceremonies.

“At The Banff Centre, I had the opportunity to bring together musicians and singers for the performance, as well as take advantage of the facilities to create a CD and DVD of it. That, in addition to the awareness of the project and the publicity from the performance, was a great benefit of working on this project at the Centre,” says Donison.

Upon completing his residency, his first in Banff, Donison wrote, “It has been a privilege to be in such an inspiring place for such a duration of time – for me it was what was needed.”

Commissioned by the Kingston Symphony, the opera is set to premiere in Kingston in 2006.

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Generosity takes action – Stephen Maxym scholarship

When Stéphane Lévesque first chose to study bassoon at The Banff Centre in 1992, he could not have known how important a decision he had made. It was then he first met Stephen Maxym, and the meeting was to have a lifelong impact. “The first summer I worked with Mr. Maxym changed my life in so many ways that I returned to The Banff Centre every summer for the next five years, eager to gain as much knowledge from him as possible.”

The influence of Maxym on his protégé was palpable. “Mr. Maxym loved teaching and he cared deeply about his students. Banff was particularly special to him and the mountains seemed to fill him with a unique kind of energy. He taught us the value of careful, intelligent work and practise, of thoughtful and passionate music making, of honesty and integrity as performers and colleagues. He encouraged us to become not only better bassoonists, but better artists.”

Lévesque took his mentor’s instruction to heart and now enjoys a lively career as a soloist, as well as principal bassoon with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. An assistant professor at McGill University, Lévesque has given master classes at numerous international music institutions, including the Oberlin Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music.

In 2002, he was asked to succeed his mentor at The Banff Centre as faculty for the summer master class program. “I feel privileged to have been chosen to succeed Mr. Maxym, and I strive to recreate the same positive atmosphere we had in his studio.”

This year, Lévesque has taken that commitment one step further by championing a campaign to generate additional funds for the Lucy and Stephen Maxym Scholarship endowment, first established by the Maxyms in 1997.

“I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can give back to the community, to donate time and money to help the financial health of an institution as important as The Banff Centre. I have learned so much at the Centre over the years, both as a student and now as a faculty member, and I feel a responsibility to play a role in the continued influence The Banff Centre has for the artistic world.”

Donations to the Lucy and Stephen Maxym Scholarship can be made online, or call the Development Office at 1-888-495-4467.

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In Memoriam - Chris Driscoll scholarship

Jazz drummer Chris Driscoll was a gifted musician who will be remembered by his friends, family, and colleagues for his openness and warmth. Those who knew him at The Banff Centre talk of the vitality he exuded, and the special way he made them feel. Pat Reid, a close friend and Banff Centre alumnus, says “Chris was the only person I knew who could love completely without fear. He had an abundance of energy that was felt by everyone he touched.”

While taking part in the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music in 2004, Chris contributed his creative energy, his enthusiasm for collaboration, and his talent to music. “Chris came into his own this past summer at Banff,” says Pat Reid. “Never have I seen him so able to share everything inside of him through music. That was his favourite medium, as it is ours. It was one of the happiest memories I'll have of Chris and I feel privileged that I got to share it.”

Michael Bates, The Banff Centre’s jazz program coordinator, suggested creating a scholarship in memory of Chris: “The workshop has a very profound effect on everyone who attends it. In three weeks, many of us created a very deep bond with Chris and his passing is a heartbreaking tragedy. The idea is to make a gesture to his family and to let them know how much it meant for all of us to have Chris be a part of our musical and personal lives. It will also create an opportunity for someone to attend the workshop in Chris Driscoll’s honour and let his family reach out to someone through their son.”
We invite you to contribute to the Chris Driscoll Jazz Scholarship. With your support, this scholarship in memory of this special person can continue to provide outstanding jazz musicians the opportunity to pursue their creative and professional ambitions in the unique environment offered by the Centre.

Donations to the Chris Driscoll Jazz Scholarship can be made online, or call the Development Office at 1-888-495-4467.

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En route to summer!

Stretches of beautiful weather in January and February provided false alarms that summer was on its way, but with the winter residency now complete, and Harpfest West and jazz programs coming in shortly – summer is definitely on the way!

This summer, we welcome back many returning faculty members, as well as some new faces in the international jazz workshop and master classes.

The Banff Summer Arts Festival kicks-off in May and will celebrate Alberta’s Centennial through this four-month celebration of the arts at The Banff Centre. As part of the Centennial celebration – John Murrell and John Estacio’s new Canadian opera Filumena will be re-mounted and presented with music provided by artists in Music & Sound’s opera and orchestra residency. Over 40 musicians will participate in this exciting program on a full scholarship!

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Audio Department Scores Six Awards in San Francisco Competition

Congratulations to the three Music & Sound audio engineers, under the direction of Theresa Leonard, director of audio at The Banff Centre, who picked up a total of six awards in the student recording competition during the 117th Audio Engineering Society (AES) convention in San Francisco this past October. The elite panel of Grammy and Emmy-award winning recording engineers judged the recording entries, and gave the following awards to our engineers:

• Surround Classical Category (first place): Jonathon Stevens, Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol op.34.
• Audio Post Surround Category (first place): Shawn Everett, I Don’t Remember Hurting, Boston Post Documentary.
• Classical Stereo Category (second place): Jonathon Stevens, Saint-Saens, Trio 1 in F major
• Non-Classical Surround Category (second place): Jonathon Stevens, Shh, Roger; (third place) Daniel Orejuela No, Daniel Orejuela.
• Pop/Rock Stereo Category (fourth place): Shawn Everett, You Don’t Know What I Know, The Moffats.