Opus 35 years in the making

The Anne Burrows Music Foundation is turning 35 this year and it is planning to throw a special party.

The foundation offers major scholarships to young performers from the Capital Region pursuing their studies with top-tier instructors across the world.

This year in addition to celebrating the nine current scholarship recipients, three alumni and special guest musicians will perform at The Opus 35 Christmas Concert Fundraiser on Saturday, Dec. 27 at Holy Trinity.

“The concert is a way to support these very talented musicians. Music is often at the bottom of the totem pole for governments. And we’re here to try to educate the public and help them recognize the talent we have and how it can be nurtured. This is a once-a-year concert and we hope people will come out and support it,” says foundation president Winnie Yiu-Young. She has been involved with the foundation since its founding days.

Leading the pack of recipients is pianist Adam Boeker, who made national headlines in 2011 as the only Canadian finalist of the BBC Young Musician Competition in England.

He also edged out the competition in the Hailun Search for the Best Competition this year winning a high-end upright piano.

Joining him is McGill violinist Ewald Cheung and classical guitarist Trevor Cooper, a graduate of Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Seville Spain.

Also in the spotlight is clarinetist Josh Iverson, double bassist Taddes Korris, and classical guitarist Eric Meier, winner of the Alberta Provincial National Guitar Class.

Rounding out the lineup is pianist Jack Olszewski, French horn player Molly Wreaks and Karl Schwonik.

“Karl is an amazing percussionist. He’s in his 20s and is legally blind but he is so musical. He’s done a bachelor and masters in music and plans to pursue a doctoral in California. He is visionary – just amazing.”

Bringing back alumni, many who have gone on to illustrious careers, is always gratifying for foundation members added Yiu-Young.

The three Burrows alumni playing alongside the recipients include Alissa Cheung, a tenured member of the Edmonton Symphony; violinist and two-time Juno nominee Andrew Wan, and current concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal; and double bassist Lindsay Woolgar now studying at the University of Manitoba and fronting her own jazz quartet.

“We want to showcase what these kids do and the diversity of music they play. I’ve had people tell me they rarely see such a variety of instruments at one concert,” Yiu-Young said.

Accompanying the musicians are special guest pianists Dr. Jacques DesprĂ©s, a foundation board member; jazz musician Charlie Austin and St. Albert’s own Michael Massey, resident pianist for Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.

Everyone involved in hosting Opus 35 recognizes that a career in music is deeply rewarding. But for talented young musicians aspiring to reach the pinnacle, it is also a financial burden. Annual tuition at McGill University can run as high $15,000 and south of the border at Julliard it’s closer to $50,000.

However, the Anne Burrows scholarships give these young prodigies a leg up.

Michael Massey, who has seen many of the recipients pass through the Edmonton Youth Orchestra described it neatly.

“They are our future artistically and we are going to need them more and more. There is a difference between art and entertainment and to create art we need to involve ourselves at every level.”