The Kessler Academy String Orchestra 2020

A digital production available online only, presented by Music on Main

There’s no better way to learn than with help from the greats – and, it’s even more fun with powerful music. The sixth consecutive year of The Kessler Academy features an entirely musician-led string orchestra mentorship program, driven by the Vancouver-based Microcosmos Quartet, in partnership with Music on Main.

This uniquely intergenerational project is dedicated to keeping classical music vital and vibrant in the 21st century. Although things look and feel a little different this year, the fundamentals are the same in this exciting educational program.

After five mid-August days of intensive mentorship and rehearsal in a socially-distant, encouraging, and safe environment, these compelling young performers, drawn from throughout the Lower Mainland, took to the stage at Vancouver’s Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, alongside the Microcosmos Quartet. Together, they created a video recording of great 20^th and 21st century works.

The Kessler Academy is named in honour and celebration of Vancouver’s legendary, still-living centenarian Mrs. Susan Kessler, whose vision and generosity enabled this initiative to take flight in 2015.

featuring:

The Microcosmos Quartet: Marc Destrubé, violin I; Andrea Siradze, violin II; Tawnya Popoff, viola; Rebecca Wenham, cello

With The Kessler Academy String Orchestra 2020:

violin: Aidan Yu, Brooklyn Wood, Caleb Chiu, Clara Chisholm, Jessica Tovey, Jessica Tseng, Kai Chow, Natasha Hall, Shijin Kim

viola: Caroline Olsen, Davin Mar, Wennie Wei

cello: Isidora Nojkovic, Jennifer Lim

bass: Christine Yang, Kelsea Hopkins

The Kessler Academy’s 2020 program cycle has been generously supported by grants from the KPMG Foundation, the Edith Lando Charitable Foundation, the Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, Hamber Foundation, The McLean Foundation, The Greygates Foundation, the Beech Foundation and the Chan Endowment Fund at the University of British Columbia.

These concerts are free, donations to Music on Main are greatly appreciated: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/10248