40 years of music - 40th anniversary of the Canadian Music Competitions

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Summer, 1998

A glorious evening of music on June 5th marked the fortieth anniversary of the Canadian Music Competitions. A concert at the George Weston Recital Hall at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts featured winners from the Ontario Provincial Finals as well as two choirs from the renowned St. Michael's Choir School. These talented young musicians gave a sparkling performance that entertained and inspired their audience.

The programme opened with the Junior Choir from St. Michael's Choir School conducted by Miss Kathleen Mann. These grade 6 boys captured rapt attention with three selections in Latin, French and English. They were followed by Rebecca Brenner, violin, accompanied by Carol Birtch. Seven-year-old Rebecca is the youngest member of the Young Artists' Performance Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Next came nine-year-old Rosary Wang on the piano. Rosary was awarded first place in her age category at the Provincial Finals. Marta Krechkovsky, who came to Canada in 1996 from the Ukraine, and is currently studying violin with Atis Bankas in the Young Artists' Performance Academy at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, was accompanied by Yuri Krechkovsky. Karen Ouzounian, cello, has twice been a CMC National Finalist. She was accompanied by Carol Birtch. The first part of the programme closed with Robert Pomakov, bass. Robert, a student of St. Michael's Choir School, studies at the studio of Mary Morrison. After an intermission buzzing with amazed and delighted comments, the concert reopened with Christopher Marsh on the piano. Christopher, aged fifteen, lives in Waterloo. He has been studying the organ for two years with Doug Has, and was a winner in the Competition in the organ category. Joseph Tang, violin, from Ottawa, was accompanied by Jean Desmarais. Joseph received the highest mark in his age category in the Provincial Finals.

Next came the PJK Trio. Ilya Poletaev, piano, Drew Jurecka, violin, and Alex Kim, cello, met at the RCM in Toronto, where they have been scholarship students in the Young Artists' Performance Academy for several years. They were followed by Karen Wierzba, soprano. Karen is a student of Mary Morrison, and a graduate of the U of T's performance programme. The final CMC performer of the evening was Andrew Aarons, piano. Andrew has been awarded first place in his age group in the Ontario finals of CMC for the past three years. In 1997 he played in Mexico City as a representative of CMC. The concert closed with the Tenor and Bass Choir from St. Michael's Choir School, conducted by Brian Rae. Their selections brought this memorable concert to a stirring conclusion.

When CMC Quebec was first begun, choirs were an integral part of the competition. We are grateful to St. Michael's Choir School for reminding us of the early days in 1958. With the continued assistance of the many dedicated volunteers and generous supporters CMC will continue to flourish and to nourish the talents of our outstanding young classical musicians.