Welcome to the Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Spring Concert
Michael Clark, Music Director
Sunday May 26, 2024 @ 2pm
Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre
Entrance by Donation
Program
Paul Dukas
Fanfare pour Précéder La Péri for Brass
R. Vaughan Williams
English Folk Song Suite
Klaus Badelt
Pirates of the Caribbean
Short Interval
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Violin Concerto in A Major, K.219,
Ist Mvt
Soloist Jessica Zhuang, violin
Jean Sibelius
Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47,
2nd Mvt
Soloist Elana Zhang, violin
Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Capriccio Brillant, Op. 22
Soloist Amy Chau, piano
Soloists
Jessica Zhuang
Sixteen-year-old violinist Jessica Zhuang has been studying violin for over a decade with James Keene. She’s a regular participant of the Edmonton Music and Speech Arts Festival and has represented Edmonton at the Alberta Music Festival multiple times, winning first place in 2019. In 2022, she won first place at the Canada West Performing Arts Festival, representing Alberta, in the 17 and Under category. Jessica has also been the recipient of various scholarships; most notably, the Ranald Shean Violin Scholarship and the Edmonton Philharmonic Scholarship. In 2022, she earned her RCM Associate Diploma (ARCT) in violin studies with First Class Honours with Distinction. Jessica also studies the piano with David Tutt, and in 2020, she earned her RCM Associate Diploma (ARCT) in piano studies.
Jessica is an avid enjoyer of chamber music. She also enjoys performing for the community, especially for the senior residents at Canterbury Court and for benefit concerts. She’s a student at Old Scona Academic, where she’s an executive for Music Club. In her free time, she enjoys listening to various interpretations of classical pieces, accompanying her brother on the piano, and promenading around the neighbourhood.
Elana Zhang
Elana Zhang is a 15-year-old Grade 10 student at Argyll Centre in Edmonton. Elana began learning the violin at the age of 8 and became a student of James Keene one year later. At age 9, Elana started participating in the Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival regularly and has received numerous scholarships. Elana was recommended to represent Edmonton to compete at the Alberta Provincial Music Festival for Violin Solo class in 2023, and was awarded 1st place in her age class.
Elana began studying chamber music in September 2022 at the Chamber Music Academy under the instruction of the Garneau String Quartet at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music. Elana joined the Edmonton Senior Youth Orchestra – Violin I section in September 2023. Elana enjoys collaborating with other musicians to play music in the community. She has performed at several senior residences including Our Parent’s Home, Devonshire Seniors, and Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre.
Elana has attended the summer programs at the Heifetz International Music Institute in 2022 and 2023. She also attended the Sounding Point Academy summer program at Colburn School in June 2023. In the summer of 2024, Elana will attend the 7-week summer program at the Meadowmount School of Music in New York.
Elana has performed in masterclasses under renowned musicians such as Shlomo Mintz, Benjamin Beilman and Edward Zienkowski. Other violin teachers that influenced Elana’s early violin learning are Frank Ho, Laszlo Szajko Jr., and Yuliya McKee.
In her spare time, Elana loves drawing, birding, hiking, and fishing.
Amy Chau
Amy Chau completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 2021 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music After-Degree in Piano Performance at the University of Alberta under the instruction of Dr. Jacques Despres. In 2014, she completed the Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT in Piano Performance Diploma with First Class Honours and the highest mark in the Edmonton region.
In the same year, she took part in the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) and advanced to the national finals, placing 4th in her age category across Canada. Recently, she participated in the 2024 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, winning a silver award in the national round for the chamber music category and advancing to the international finals which will take place in Kansas between July 6-7. In her spare time, Amy enjoys using her musical talent to serve her community. She has been an active member of the Heart of the City Music Program (HCMP) since 2015, serving as both a performer and volunteer piano teacher.
Musicians of the Orchestra
VIOLIN 1
Karen Hagens (Concertmaster)
Deirdre Eeson
Janice Hoffman
Svitlana Remniakova
Katie Sinclair
Shirley Werbicki
VIOLIN 2
Cathy Campbell
Beverley Currie
Becca Epp
Cynthia Howard
Brad Salomons
Linda St. Onge
VIOLA
Judy Carscadden
Maxine Wong
CELLO
Catherine Eadie
Frances Elgaard
Sopulu Ephraim
Alice Goulet
Judy Lamothe
Judy Lewis
BASS
Troy Majewski
Leland Stelck
FLUTE
Jean Triscott
Marcia Wright
CLARINET
Kiffy Doerksen
Brenda Russell
OBOE
Marion Boyd
Sharon Sherman
BASSOON
Alfred Falk
Jacqueline Miller
FRENCH HORN
Ana Fortoloczky
Ross McLean
Richard Wiznura
TROMBONE
Kaleen Clark
Scott Palmer
TRUMPET
Lexi Bruseker
Michael Mott
Scott Watson
TUBA
Drew Bowering
PERCUSSION
Douglas Vick
About Us
The Edmonton Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1971 by violin teacher Ranald Shean. As a community orchestra, we bring free admission concerts to retirement homes, care centres and hospitals. Funds are provided through members’ fees, spring concert receipts, community arts grants, and charitable donations.
Robert Cook, former Music Director of the Provincial Cultural Development Branch, was our first Music Director and Conductor. Since then, we have been privileged to work with Dr. Manus Sasonkin, Eric Hanson, Dan Breda, Kirk Muspratt, John Unsworth, Dr George Naylor, Diane Persson, Aaron Au, Murray Vaasjo, Dr. Danielle Lisboa, and, since October 2023, Michael Clark. We are indebted to them for their patience and excellent direction.
To support young Edmonton and Alberta musicians competing in the Edmonton Music and Speech Arts Festival, we created the Edmonton Philharmonic Society Scholarship. We feature winners of the scholarship in our spring concerts. We have also commissioned and performed music written by local composers.
Sponsors & Support
