Kaimerata Concerts

Canadian born violinist, Kai Gleusteen, finished his post-secondary studies in the US, having studied at University of Michigan and Rice University under the tutelage of Camilla Wicks. Since 1990, he has lived in Europe. Almost 10 years in France, a year in Prague and since 2000, in Barcelona, as concertmaster of the Gran Teatre del Liceu Symphony Orchestra. He has performed world-wide with Catherine Ordronneau and has now completed 13 seasons of Kaimerata Festivals, highlighting a different composer every year.

Violinist Joan Blackman, former Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, is much sought after as a chamber musician throughout North America. She is an active teacher, and gives master classes throughout BC. Joan has performed and recorded as soloist with Vancouver Symphony, Victoria Symphony, CBC Radio Orchestra and the Banff Festival Orchestra. As Artistic Director of the Vetta Chamber Music and Recital Society, she programs and performs with the best of BC talent along with invited guests from afar. She is a member of the acclaimed American String Project, which brings together concertmasters and soloists throughout North America. Joan has performed at several summer festivals including the Hornby Island and Pender Harbour Chamber Music festival. She is also a member of the Vancouver-based Sea and Sky, which will be recording a new CD this May.

French born pianist, Catherine Ordronneau enjoys a diverse musical life, sharing her time between teaching and performing. She is equally at ease performing concertos with orchestra as in solo recitals, having a preference of being able to share the stage with her favourite colleagues. She has been a professor of piano and chamber music in the Conservatorio Superior del Liceu in Barcelona since 2008 and Kai's partner in life and chamber music since over 25 years. She is co-founder of Kaimerata Concerts and continues to extensively tour North America, Europe, and China.

Cellist Beth Root Sandvoss has a notably varied career as a recitalist, chamber musician and pedagogue. Beth is a founding member of the Land’s End Ensemble and a member of the UCalgary String Quartet. Beth has recorded twelve commercial CDs and has premiered more than 125 new works for solo cello, cello/piano and chamber ensemble. Beth has the great pleasure and privilege to perform on an award- winning cello made by her husband, Luthier, Christopher Sandvoss.

​Known for her passionate and expressive performances, cellist Sabina Sandvoss is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at the Glenn Gould School, studying with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz. She recently won the 2025 Corcoran Concerto Competition, performing Schelomo, by Bloch. A three-time concerto competition winner in Calgary, Sabina received early mentorship from her mother, Beth Root Sandvoss, and performs on a cello handcrafted by her father, Christopher Tilman Sandvoss.

Tilman Sandvoss is an accomplished orchestral, chamber, and solo musician noted for having a luscious tone and profound musicality. He began his musical education at home with his father Christopher Sandvoss at the young age of five, and later continued his viola studies in the Academy and Advanced Performance Program at the Mount Royal Conservatory. He has participated in international festivals including the Festival Academy Budapest, the Domaine Forget Academy and its Chamber Music Intensive program, as well as the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove. Tilman received his Bachelors of Music degree in viola performance at The Glenn Gould School in Toronto under the mentorship of violist Steven Dann. He is continuing his education at The Hochschule für Musik in Basel where he is pursuing his Masters degree in the class of violist Silvia Simionescu. Tilman performs on a viola made by his father, master luthier Christopher Sandvoss.