Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival

The Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival is a month-long summer music institute normally held at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Established in 1997 through a partnership with the Hong Kong-based Morningside Foundation, the program's initial goal was to offer a cultural and musical bridge between talented students of Chinese and Canadian origin.^[1] Agreements with the Central Conservatory in Beijing and the Shanghai Conservatory provided top students in both schools an opportunity to apply for a sponsored position in the program.

In 2003 the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage began a partnership with the program, leading to the attendance of many Polish students.

Morningside Music Bridge has since also been held in international locations such as Shanghai, China and Gdańsk, Poland.^[2]

Students

The Morningside Music Bridge program is open to gifted classical musicians, aged 12–18, by audition only. Students participate in private lessons, master classes and chamber music recitals centered on piano, violin, viola, and cello.^[3] All students are admitted on a full scholarship basis, making the program tuition-free for participants. Students participate in private lessons, master classes, orchestra and chamber music recitals centered on piano, violin, viola, and cello.^[4]

In addition to its three partner countries –Canada, China and Poland – the Morningside Music Bridge attracts students from Japan, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Korea, New Zealand, France, and the United States.^[5]

Older students (over 18 years of age) who want to work with the world-class faculty can participate for a fee in the Associate Program, which includes private lessons, masterclasses and performing at public recitals. Associate Program students may attend all or part of the four-week program.^[6]

Events

Concerts featuring both students and faculty take place throughout July and early August at the Mount Royal University’s Lincoln Park Campus and around Calgary. Notable concerts include the Morningside Music Bridge faculty concerts, the Highlights Concert and the Concerto Competition with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.^[7]

Commissioned Works

Beginning in 2008, the Mount Royal Conservatory has commissioned unique orchestral works to premiere during Morningside Music Bridge and invites proposals from composers for inclusion in future Music Bridge events. Past performances have included works by composers Randolph Peters (Canada), Fang Dongquiong (China), Michael Moc (Poland) and John Abram (Canada).^[8]

Faculty

Faculty include professors from Canada, the United States, China, Poland, Germany, and other countries, from such institutes as The Juilliard School, the New England Conservatory, The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, The Central Conservatory of Music, The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music, The Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory, The Colburn School, and others.^[9]

Notable faculty members have included Cellists

• Lynn Harrell
• Aldo Parisot
• Amanda Forsyth
• Andrés Díaz (cellist)
• Tomasz Strahl
• Na Mula
• Desmond Hoebig
• Paul Katz
• Janos Starker
• Johanne Perron
• Tian Bonian
• John Kadz

Pianists

• Gary Graffman
• John Perry
• Krzysztof Jablonski
• Anton Kuerti
• André Laplante
• Lee Kum-Sing
• David Moroz
• Angela Cheng
• Zhang Jin
• Jay Pengjie Sun

Violinists

• James Ehnes
• Pinchas Zukerman
• Gwen Hoebig
• Edmond Agopian
• Ning Feng
• Tadeusz Gadzina
• Ian Swensen
• Tong Weidong
• William van der Sloot

Violists

• Nicholas Pulos
• Teng Li
• Wang Shaowu
• Shanghai Quartet

Notable Alumni

• Chen Xi: Silver Medal (top violin prize) at 2002 Tchaikovsky Competition – the youngest performer to receive this honour; studied at Curtis Institute of Music
• Arnold Choi: Cello soloist with Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton symphonies; member of Janecki Trio which won 2005 Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition and 2006 Concert Arts Guild Competition in New York
• Nikki Chooi: International prize-winning violinist, including finalist in Queen Elizabeth Competition in Brussels, 2012; Graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music as a recipient of the Sylva Gelber Foundation Award from the Canada Council for the Arts
• Timothy Chooi: International prize-winning violinist, including Grand Prize at the Montreal Standard Life Competition, 2010 top prize in the Michael Hill International Violin Competition; Graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music as a recipient of the Sylva Gelber Foundation Award from the Canada Council for the Arts
• Karen Kang: Cellist – Winner of Holland America Music Society Competition in Chicago, June 2007; Student of Laurence Lesser at New England Conservatory
• Li Teng: Violist - Principal violist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Music faculty member at the University of Toronto
• Jan Lisiecki: International award-winning pianist, UNICEF Canada National Youth Representative, Deutsche Grammophon exclusive recording artist
• Kun Oskar Yao (Tiedan Yao): First Prize at the 11th Eastman International Young Artists Piano Competition along with the audience award and all special prizes (2008); Third Place at the Louisiana International Piano Competition (Artist Level) (2009).
• Scott MacIsaac: Pianist - Winner of 2010 Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival Rose Bowl
• Ning Feng: International prize-winning violinist, including First prize at the 2006 Paganini International Violin Competition
• Kalan Porter: Violist - Canadian Idol Winner, 2004
• Agata Szymczewska: Winner of Henryk Wieniawaski International Violin Competition, 2006
• Ni Tao: Associate Principal cellist with Los Angeles Philharmonic, First prize at the Johansson International String Competition (Cello Division) in Washington, D.C. (March 2000)
• Tian Bonian: Principal cellist with Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne Philharmonic, Germany; 1st Prize and the Gold Medal at the Fourth International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians in Xiamen, China
• Wan Xiao Han: Finalist in Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth Texas, June 2001
• Yuja Wang: Grammy-nominated classical pianist, Deutsche Grammophon exclusive recording artist

References

External links

• Morningside Music Bridge International Music Festival website