Program
Douglas Finch
Fantasy on a Russian Folksong for violin, cello and piano (1989)
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Nocturne in B major op. 62
Polonaise in A flat op. 53
Douglas Finch
Improvisations on Themes From the Audience
-Intermission-
Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884)
Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 15
Moderato assai
Allegro, ma non agitato
Finale Presto
Douglas Finch is a Canadian pianist and composer, known for his innovative and imaginative approach to performance, and for helping to revive the lost art of classical improvisation in concert.
He was born in Winnipeg, and had his initial musical training with his mother and later Winnifred Sim and Jean Broadfoot. He continued at the University of Western Ontario with William Aide and then at Juilliard, NY, with Beveridge Webster. After winning a Silver Medal at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition in Brussels in 1978, he began to perform extensively throughout Canada, as well as devoting much of his time to composition, with a number of his works being broadcast on CBC Radio. He settled in London, UK, in 1993 and soon afterwards co-founded The Continuum Ensemble with conductor Philip Headlam, premiering over 40 new works and recording for Avie and NMC. He has been artistic director of several acclaimed events in London, including ‘In the MOMENT’, a festival of dance and music at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2009, that featured over 350 performers.
As a composer, he has written works for piano, chamber ensemble, orchestra and theatre as well as the soundtracks for five feature-length films by British director Jon Sanders, one of which – Late September(2009) – features him as a pianist/character in the film.
Douglas Finch is Professor of Piano and Composition at Trinity Laban, and a regular guest teacher at Chetham’s School of Music, Chetham’s International Piano Summer School, and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
Joyce Lai, Currently concertmaster and artistic director of the Canadian Sinfonietta, violinist Joyce Lai enjoys a career as a soloist and chamber musician. She has been featured as a guest artist with orchestras around the world, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Szeged Symphony Orchestra of Hungary, the Canadian Chamber Academy, and the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. As an avid chamber musician, Joyce performs regularly in chamber settings and has been featured at various festivals including the Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival in Manitoba, the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Festival and the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival in B.C. Joyce is also first violinist in the Riverdale Ensemble, a chamber group that specializes in performing rare and unique works, as well as premiering new Canadian works. The Riverdale Ensemble’s highly praised CD, Twelve by the Moon-dial, was released in 2008. In addition to her performing career, Joyce is also an enthusiastic educator as well as a pianist and has a private studio of violin and piano students ranging from ages 3 to 73. She has taught at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Baptist University, in addition to giving violin clinics in the Ontario area. She is currently the conductor for the Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra (CSYO) Junior Strings. Joyce holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Manhattan School of Music and a Masters of Music Degree and Performer Diploma from the Indiana University.
András Weber received his musical training in Budapest, Hungary. His mentor, Janos Starker, has been a major influence in his work. He has been principal cellist with orchestras in Hungary, Mexico City and Canda. Has given concerts in North America, Europe, and Korea. He was the winner of DEBUT in Montreal where The Gazette called him a “generously gifted” musician who plays with a “nicely colored and singing tone.”
Mr. Weber has recorded in Hungary and Canada and plans to release some CD’s: music for cello and organ with his wife Ran Kim, works for harp and cello with the acclaimed Mexican harpist Mercedes Gómez and solo cello works.
Mr. Weber is the founding artistic director of the Toronto series ‘Music Alive!’ and teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music. He is a member of Sinfonia Toronto and Canadian Sinfonietta chamber orchestras. He has played concertos with many orchestras around the world.
In May 2005 he toured in Hungary, appearing in recitals and chamber music ensembles and giving master classes. Over the summer he played in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City in chamber music festivals. Mr. Weber plays the 17th century Mariani cello.
