2020-2021 Golden Violin Award Winner Announced
Congratulations to violinist Russell Iceberg, winner of the 2020-2021 Golden Violin Award!
The Golden Violin Award finalon Sunday, May 16,2021,was an evening of outstanding music performed bythree exceptional Schulich string players:violinistAlicia Choiɾٳ辱ԾٲBrigitte PoulinԻGaspard Tanguay-Labrosse;DZԾRussell Icebergwith pianistFelix Hong;and violinistAstrid Nakamurawith pianistBrigitte Poulin. The repertoireselection enjoyed by the online viewing audience was varied andexciting, and was played with deftskill and musicality by all candidates, making for an engaging final round.
A student ofAndrew Wan,Russellbegan his 40-minute program with Beethoven’s famed “Kreutzer”Sonata No. 9 in A Major for Piano and Violin, Op. 47and closed with aBallade No. 1 in G Minor, Op.23 byChopin,adapted for violin and piano by EugèneYsaÿe.Russell saidthat thoughhe could not choose afavouritefromthe pieceshe played during the competition, the Chopin was extra special. Shares Russell, “Chopin sadly did not write any pieces for the violin, so we are forced to steal piano pieces, with sometimes mixed success. I learned ofYsaÿe’sadaptation of the famous G Minor Chopin Ballade because one of my teacher’s former students, JacobNiederhoffer, did a beautiful job creating a proper published edition of this adaptation. I think it is a beautiful and effective adaptation.For me it is so much fun to get to play one of Chopin’s most loved and emotional works on the violin. As well, it has been a fun piece to work on with Felix, as he knows this work inside and out.”
For the final, candidates presenteda program of 40 minutes of music of their choice, excludingrepertoire presented at the semi-final round, as required by the competition.The jury for both the semi-final and final roundwascomprised of Schulich School of Music faculty members Assistant Professor of CelloElizabeth Dolin, Associate Professor of ViolinViolaineMelançon, Associate Professor of Viola and GeneralԻArtistic Director of MISQA,AndréRoyalongwith invitedguestsMarianneDugal, 2ndassociate and concertmaster of the OSMas well as Violin professor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal andAnne Robert, founding member of Trio Hochelaga and violinprofessor at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and the Faculty of Music at the Université de Montréal. The jurywaschaired byProf. DouglasMcNabney,Associate DeanofAcademic and Student Affairsat the Schulich School of Music.
The winner receives a generous scholarship, valued this year at $30,000, as well as a smaller likeness of the violin in the form of a 14-karat gold lapel pin. In addition, the winner will perform in the upcoming Schulich concert seasonԻreceives6 hours of career coaching sessions with Marie-CatherineLapointe ofBoulevartArtists’ Management in Montreal. Runners-up in the final were awarded a $1,000 cash prize.
About the Golden Violin Award
The Golden Violin Award was established in 2006 by businessman and philanthropist Seymour Schulich, a year after he donated $20 million to SM’s Schulich School of Music. Made of pewter and gold plate, the Golden Violin remains on permanent display in SM’s Marvin Duchow Music Library.