Musicians:
With the cooperation of:
Copyright © 2013 by Kaimerata Concerts
DANIEL SCHOLZ, viola
Born in Saskatchewan, Daniel Scholz holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Regina, and pursued graduate studies at McGill University and at the University of British Columbia, where he was a student of Gerald Stanick. Daniel is the principal viola of the WSO and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and is a core member of The Winnipeg Chamber Music Society and the Rembrandt String Quartet. As a solo artist he has performed concertos with the WSO, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, MusicBarock, Okanagan Symphony and the Vancouver Chamber Players, and toured Europe with the Nordic Symphony as guest principal viola. He was also a prize-winner at the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition, the most prestigious event of its kind, held on the Isle of Man.
Daniel has performed and taught at many of Canada’s major festivals and is a faculty member of the University of Manitoba Summer Chamber Music Program, Amici Stringfest in Calgary and Winnipeg’s Rosamunde Summer Festival.
CATHERINE ORDRONNEAU, piano
Having performed her first recital at the age of twelve, it wasn’t until the age of twenty, after two years of law school that Catherine decided to devote herself entirely to music. Taught by Colette Fernier, Monique Deschaussées, Sergio Perticaroli, and encouraged by François-René Duchâble, she received the highest distinction at both the Conservatory in Rouen and later at the Ecole Normale Alfred Cortot in Paris. Catherine was also awarded the Yvonne Lefébure Foundation Prize leading to television and radio broadcasts and concert engagements. Catherine chose to avoid the international competition circuit in favour of taking the time to study repertoire in its historical context. Being a great lover of nature, a fan of Marcel Proust and having spent many years in Normandy, she explores in depth the composers who were inspired by this region, such as Roussel, Debussy, and Saint-Saëns. She deepens her understanding of Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms with numerous trips to Germany and her knowledge of the language and by reading Goethe and Heine. Her interpretation of Chopin is nourished by the time spent in Poland and a close examination of his letters. Catherine’s approach to music is very much appreciated not only by solo piano audiences throughout Europe and North America but also by various renowned chamber musicians. She is regularly invited to perform in chamber music festivals throughout these countries and devotes a large part of her time to her duo with Kai Gleusteen and the Trio Liceu.
KAI GLEUSTEEN, violin
Canadian born violinist, Kai Gleusteen started at the age of five years old in his native city, Calgary. Early on, he met with success in national music competitions in addition to receiving top academic awards. Already at a young age, he had the opportunity to study with the most renowned violinists and teachers of his time, including Nathan Milstein, Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold, Dorothy Delay, and Zakhar Bron. By the age of seventeen, Kai was awarded the top prize in the Commonwealth Concerto Competition in Australia, he had received the prestigious Skene Award in Scotland and had formed his first chamber orchestra: The Group of Twelve.
A strong believer in the musician as a multi-dimensional human being, Kai chose to combine his musical studies with academic pursuits. At the University of Michigan, he studied anthropology, geophysics, and philosophy. He received a Master’s Degree from Rice University under the tutelage of the person who would become his greatest inspiration on both a personal and musical level, the violinist Camilla Wicks.
In 1991, Kai moved to Europe to live in the heart of Western Culture. Paris and Prague were his bases for nine years, allowing him to develop and perform both as a soloist and leader of numerous orchestras. In the year 2000, he won the concertmaster position of the Orchestra ‘del Gran Teatre del Liceu’ and subsequently moved to Barcelona. In 2003, he created the Gran Teatre del Liceu Chamber Orchestra and was appointed professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya. He continues to perform extensively as a soloist and a recitalist throughout Europe, North America and China and has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings.
Kai plays on a violin made by J.B. Guadagnini in 1781.
Beth Root Sandvoss, cello
Cellist Beth Root Sandvoss has a notably varied career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and pedagogue. Beth's early professional activities took her to Hong Kong, where she became a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra as well as the Victoria String Quartet, performing throughout Asia. After completing undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison with cellist Parry Karp, Beth finished graduate work at the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as further studies in San Francisco. Beth settled in Calgary, Alberta where she enjoys an active performance career in Canada and abroad. Beth has recorded six commercial CDs and has premiered more than 50 new works for solo cello, cello/piano and chamber ensemble.
Beth has an intense interest in new music and is a founding member of the acclaimed Land's End Ensemble, whose most recent Centrediscs release, Gravity and Grace, won a Juno Award and a Western Canadian Music Award in the category of Classical Composition of the year (2014) for the work Field Notes by Allan Gordon Bell. In addition to her Land's End Ensemble activities, Beth is a member of the UCalgary String Quartet in residence at the University of Calgary. Nominated as Instrumental Group of the Year, the UCalgary String Quartet has completed live recordings of all the Beethoven String Quartets as well as the CD Far Behind I left My Country which features Klezmer and East European Folk Music.
Along with her performance career, Beth is a very dedicated pedagogue. As a sought after clinician she has worked with both teachers and students on her methods. Her pupils have won numerous competitions in Canada and are regularly invited to summer festivals around the world. Beth's students have continued on as scholarship students to major universities and conservatories such as New England Conservatory, Mannes College of Music and the Juilliard School. She is a faculty member at Mount Royal University as well as the University of Calgary and spends her summers teaching and performing at music festivals throughout Canada and the United States. Beth has the great pleasure and privilege to perform on an award - winning cello made by her husband, Luthier, Christopher Sandvoss.
Sharon Stanis, violin
Sharon Stanis has a multi-faceted career as a chamber musician, soloist, and educator. As a co-founder of the Lafayette String Quartet, she has toured extensively in North America and Europe. The quartet garnered prizes from the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition and the Portsmouth (England) International String Quartet Competition with appearances in Wigmore Hall and Concertgebouw. This year the Lafayette Quartet celebrates 35 years of performing together.
In addition to appearing as soloist with the Victoria Symphony and the Palm Court Orchestra, Sharon has served as concertmaster of these ensembles. She has performed the Bottesini Grand Duo with double bassist Gary Karr.
A dedicated and enthusiastic teacher, she is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Victoria, where she teaches violin and coaches chamber music. She adjudicates numerous festivals across Canada and enjoys giving master classes throughout North America.
Before coming to Victoria, Sharon was a member of the Renaissance City Chamber Players, and on faculty at Oakland University and The Institute of Music and Dance in Detroit.
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she studied with Linda and David Cerone, Gary Kosloski, Henryk Kowalski, and Peter Salaff. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University, where she coached with Rostislav Dubinsky who was integral in the formation of the Lafayette String Quartet. Other coaches include members of the Cleveland, Alban Berg, and Amadeus Quartets.
In addition to recordings on the Dorian and CBC labels with the Lafayette Quartet, Sharon has recorded the Murray Adaskin Second Violin Sonata and the John Mills-Cockell Concerto of Deliverance.
