Strings News from the West
Vancouver Youth Band
Two
Ensembles:
Due to the success and growth of our strings
program, we are delighted to announce that we will be dividing the
string program into two ensembles for the 2011-2012 season!
1. The WVYB String Ensemble will meet on Saturday mornings from
10 a.m. to 12 noon. Jointly taught by Edette Gagné and Michelle
Faehrmann, the String Ensemble's primary goal is to help less
experienced players grow into strong ensemble members. These players
will explore repertoire suitable for their ability levels, and will be
challenged during the year by joining the more advanced ensemble for
special selections.
2. The WVYB Sinfonia will meet on Tuesday evenings from 7:30 to
9:30 p.m. Led by Edette Gagné and special guest clinicians
and conductors, the Sinfonia is designed for more advanced players who
are ready for more challenging string techniques and ensemble
repertoire.
Both ensembles will have a wide variety of performance opportunities
during the year.
To register for
these ensembles, please go to our Registration
Page.
Conductor, Edette
Gagné has built a reputation of excellence in musical
performance through her work as a conductor and singer. Blending careful
attention to performance practice and historical accuracy with her deep
passion for music, Ms. Gagné's
performances reflect the high standards she sets for both herself and her
ensembles. Ms. Gagné
holds a Master of Music degree in conducting from the University of Calgary,
Bachelor degrees in arts and education from the University of Alberta, as well
as Associate Performance Diplomas in piano and voice from the Royal
Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She is presently the Resident
Conductor for Opera Appasssionata, Associate Conductor for the BC Boy's Choir,
Artist in Residence at St. Patrick's Regional Secondary School and Artistic
Director and Conductor of the Coast Symphony Orchestra.
Principal
Guest Conductor, Nicholas Urquhart is a Vancouver based conductor, double
bassist and music educator. He holds degrees in Music as well as Education. He
began his conducting studies while studying double bass with Gary Karr at the
University of Victoria. There he studied with conducting mentors Janos Sandor
and Yariv Aloni, earning his Bachelor’s in Music with distinction. Nicholas
continued his conducting studies once in Vancouver, studying with Kenneth
Hsieh, Morihiro Okabe and Bujar Llapaj and is looking forward to tutelage from
Maestro Jin Zhang in the upcoming years as the Vancouver Philharmonic’s
newly appointed Assistant Conductor.
Nicholas has worked with a number of ensembles in B.C. including, the West
Coast Symphony, Kabok Chamber Strings, Elgar Strings, Lord Byng Symphony
Orchestra, BCMEA Honour Orchestra, University of Victoria Chamber
Orchestra (a group which he founded), A Little Night Music Orchestra, Plastic
Acid Chamber Strings, Surrey Youth Orchestra and West Vancouver Youth
Orchestra. As well, Nicholas
is a regular clinician with the Vancouver and Burnaby school boards.
Nicholas is currently in his third year as the assistant conductor for the
Canada Day Pops Orchestra. Nicholas continues his double bass playing as a
freelance artist, playing with ensembles including, the Vancouver Chamber
Players, Opera Appassionata and the Kamloops Symphony and is the President of
the West Coast Symphony. Nicholas is thrilled to be on board for an exciting
year with the WVYB as their Principal Guest Conductor.
String
Ensemble Goals
When
I was a younger musician, nothing gave me greater joy than getting out of my
practice room and into a rehearsal with other string players. Orchestral music
is incredibly beautiful and hearing your own sound blend with a room full of
other players is amazing.
From
Bach and Corelli to Stravinsky and Barber - the range of music for string
orchestra is incredibly diverse. Each work presents new challenges for
technique and interpretation, and there is a limitless pool of great music
from which to choose. Beyond string repertoire, we also have a wealth of music
for full orchestra to explore together. Like chapters in an marvellous
journey, the music unfolds before us without end.
Bringing
that experience to as many young musicians as possible is my inspiration as I
take the lead with the North Shore String Ensemble. Fast-paced rehearsals, a
wide variety of music, hard work and laughter will all be part of our time
together as we strive to do justice to each composer's intentions. Ultimately,
we may discover something about ourselves as well as the music in our midst.
Edette
