CMS national finals a great success

Performing Arts & Entertainment in Canada, Fall, 1996

Four days of beautiful performances were capped by a Gala Concert attended by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, Henry Jackman. Alex Baran of CJRT-FM 91.1 acted as master of ceremonies.

Featured performers at the gala were the Agfa Orchestra under the baton of maestro Kerry Stratton, and some of the top winners of the competition, including 15-year-old pianist Edward Choi and the brilliant trio of Andrea Case, Emily Fowler and Irene Wong. Clarinetist Pascal Archer and mezzo-soprano Nora Sourouzian, both from Montreal, brought the brilliant concert to a close.

Prizes ranging from $250 to $1,500 were distributed for a total of $15,800. To the monetary awards will be added many performance opportunities for all the talented participants. For example, 13-year-old Montreal pianist Dantonio Pisano and Marcel Sekine are invited to Mexico for a recital tour. The Toronto branch also plans a seven-concert series featuring most of the winners of the Provincial Finals. A special effort will be undertaken to increase the value and number of scholarships for all participants in these very demanding competitions.

CMC is grateful to Agfa for making the gala possible and for donating the top prizes. The support of Yamaha Music is priceless, as it gives us the superb pianos necessary for all of our concerts. And finally, the Ontario President of the CMC, Diana Isherwood, and her vast committee of dedicated workers deserve abundant congratulations for the complete success of the 1996 session.

PRIZES FOR NATIONAL FINALISTS: 1. Agfa-Film Prize $3,000 to one or more winners with the highest marks; 2. Yamaha Music Prize $2,000 to one or more winners with the highest mark in Piano; 3. Birk's Prize $1,000 to one or more winners; 4. Scholarship of the Eaton's Foundation $500 for the Chamber Music Ensemble with the highest marks; 5. The National Arts Centre Orchestra, 6. Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal and 7. Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal retain the option to engage a finalist soloist during their 1996/97 concert season.

PRIZES FOR ONTARIO FINALISTS: 1. Sun Life Assurance $1,000; 2. Ronald George Strasser/Steels and Alloys $500; 3. The English-Speaking Union $500; 4. Linda Lowden $300; 5. Harold Kurshenka $300; 6. Recital at the University of Toronto for a finalist 18 or older; 7. Concert with the Canadian Chamber Academy in Toronto.

PRIZES FOR QUEBEC FINALISTS: Fonds les Amis de l'Art Scholarship: 1. Yvonne Hubert Scholarship $500; 2. William Tritt Scholarship $500; and to (3.) to one or more winners $1,000; 4. Societe d'Energie de la Baie James to one or more winners: $1,000; 5. CAO/FAO to one or more winners $200; 6. Series of six recitals for finalists in Lachine during 1996/97 season, in co-operation with the City of Lachine and Spinelli Lexus Toyota; 7. Recital for finalists in the Bis-Arts Festival of Bizard Island; 8. Sons et Brioches Recital for a finalist at the Maison de la Culture of Riviere-du-Loup.

1996 NATIONAL FINALISTS

                      1ST   2ND   SCHOLARSHIP
NAME                   ELIM.'S    DONATED BY

PIANO

7 Years

Ida Tsz-Yan Chan      89    88    Ontario Committee $300
Vanessa Li            87    86    Dave Snider $200
Rosary Wang           87    87    Alice Rathe $250

8 Years

Euming Lee                  86    Roy & Valerie Yates $200
Regina Lui            98    87    Martin Rosenthal $250
Simon Ng              80    85    Mary Margaret Webb $200
Andrea Tu             81    88    Evelyn Bateman Memorial $300

10 Years

Caitlyn Merry         88    87    Martin Rosenthal $250
Lisa Mo                     85    Ontario Committee $200
Tiffany Mui           81    85    Peter Chiu $200
Ning Wang             90    85    Mary Adams Memorial $200

11 Years

Robyn Huang           89    85    Sing Too Daily $200

12 Years

Jessica Tong          89    86    Patrons of Wisdom

13 Years

Andrew Aarons         91    90    Forrest Memorial $500
Irene Wang            92    89    Yip's Childrens Choir $300

14 Years

Christopher Miranda   89    88    Maria de los Angeles Iglesias $300

15 Years

Nancy Ahn             81    86    Ontario Committee $200
Louise Chan                 86    Ontario Committee $200
Andrea Chin           81    85    Tai Pei Economic & Culture $200
Joshua Tamayo         84    86    Yip's Childrens Choir $200
Henry Tang                  87    Ontario Committee $250

16 Years

Cindy Cheng                 86    Ontario Committee $200
Mathew Choy           86    86    Autosystems $200
Donna Lee             90    87    Julie & Walling Ruby $250

17 Years

Sarah Bowker                87    Ontario Committee $250
Karen Brennan               86    Ontario Committee $200
Jennifer Yu           83    85    Toronto Committee $200

18 Years

Evelyn Hum                  89    Ontario Committee $300
Judy Park             88    86    Salon du Livre $200
Isaac Surh            87    86    University Women's Club $200

19 Years

Daniel Mullin         89    87    Julia & Walling Ruby $250

21 Years

Vanessa Hsu           93    86    Mary Adams Memorial $200

23 Years

Wakana Iwaki          80    90    Yamaha & Ars Prima 4500

25 Years

Frederic Lacroix            89    Steven Brenninkmeyer $300

VIOLIN & CELLO

10 Years

Justin Gopal                86    Constance Fetchison $200
Eugene Nakamura       94    95    Bastien Memorial $500

12 Years

Maurice Chang         88    86    Geringas Memorial $200
Giselle Rivah         87    86    Ontario Committee $200

14 Years

Alex Kim              82    86    Julia & Walling Ruby $200
Katie Stillman              91    Minnette Church Memorial $500

15 Years

Anthony Rullo         82    88    In Hae Jung $300

17 Years

Ming Goh                    86    Ontario Committee $200

19 Years

Rachel Mercer         91    89    Patrons of Wisdom $300
Luke Pomorski         90    88    Autosystems $300
Sarah Pratt           87    88    Julia & Walling Ruby $300
Gwendolyn Smith             88    Sister Callistas $300

GUITAR

19 Years

Daniel Bolshay        81    85    Julia & Walling Ruby

WINDS

21 Years

Nancy Wood            85    87    Diana Isherwood $250

25 Years

Joseph Salvaggio      87    89    Susan Steele $300
NATIONAL FINALS Scholarships for winners with minimum mark of 90
donated by Toronto Region CMC

Ida Tsz-Yan Chan             86
Vanessa Li                   88
Rosary Wong                  95     $500
Regina Lui                   91     $200
Simon Ng                     96     $1000
Andrea Tu                    92     $200
Caitlyn Merry                81
Lisa Mo                      86
Tiffany Mui                  89
Ning Wang                    93     $300
Robyn Huang                  88
Jessica Tong                 89
Andrew Aarons                93     $250
Irene Wong                   88
Christopher Miranda          87
Louise Chan                  88
Andrea Chin                  90     $200
Joshua Tamayo                83
Henry Tang                   80
Cindy Cheng                  85
Mathew Choy                  90     $200
Sarah Bowker                 83
Karen Brennan                83
Evelyn Hum                   92     $200
Judy Park                    89
Isaac Surh                   90     $200
Daniel Mullin                83
Vanessa Hsu                  85
Wanaka Iwaki                 87
Justin Gopal                 87
Eugene Nakamura              98     AGFA Prize
Maurice Chang                86
Giselle Revah                85
Alex Kim                     82
Katie Stillman               92     $200
Anthony Rullo                84
Ming Goh                     89
Luke Pomorski                92     $200
Sarah Pratt                  90     $200
Gwendolyn Smith              91     $200
Daniel Bolshay               87
Nancy Wood                   82