Scholarship committee chair, Lance Gitter, presents the award to Vladimir Soloviev

Ellen Meyer, Alex Ciccone, Mathieu Poirier, Vladimir Soloviev, Myvanwy Mackness, Catherine Slovak, Carmen Lee, Chelsea Lee

2010 Scholarship Finalists performing in this Concert
 

Carmen Lee has just finished her first year at the University of Western Ontario’s Don Wright Faculty of Music.  She began playing the clarinet at the age of 12 and began formal studies with Patricia Wait at the age of 16.  For the past year, she studied with Peter Shackleton.  This past year, she had the privilege of being a part of the UWO Wind Ensemble. She attended Markville Secondary School, where she was heavily involved in the music department, including band, jazz band, choirs, and music council.  She also received Best Musician in her senior year, and other various awards including Most Valuable Player and Top Mark Band.

Myvanwy attended Huron Heights Secondary School in Newmarket where she began learning vocal technique, basic guitar and the thrill of performance through choirs, talent shows and musicals. She has just finished her second year as a Classical Voice student at York University. As part of her studies Myvanwy sings with the school’s Gospel Choir and in solo classical voice recitals. On top of that, she is involved in an a cappella singing group that is affiliated with YorkU, called Wibi. The group was recently hired by GlobalTV for various performance-based marketing gigs through which the group has gained the attention of other corporations as well. During her spare time, Myvanwy writes her own songs which she sings in coffee shops and other informal venues, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar.

Vlad has been studying piano for 11 years. Raised on the sunny beaches of Siberia, Vlad has sacrificed the appealing warmth of Russian weather for meticulous practice. Throughout his career Vlad has participated in and won a variety of festivals of local, provincial and national levels. His most recent achievements include appearances in the finals of faculty-wide Pattison and London Music Competitions at the University of Western Ontario. Vlad is currently going into second year at the university, studying piano performance under the leadership of John-Paul Bracey, and is looking forward to sharing his music with you.

Guest Performers
 

Mathieu Poirier, piano

Alex Ciccone, vocal

Mathieu has been playing the piano for 7 years and has won numerous awards in local and provincial competition, among which are the Star of the Festival award at the Pickering Rotary Festival, the Chairman's Advanced Piano Scholarship at the Oshawa-Whitby Kiwanis Festival, 3 Honourable Mentions at the Ontario Provincial Competition, scholarships from both the Toronto Kiwanis Festival and the Pickering GTA Music Festival, as well as the Jim Souch Scholarship from the Ontario Philharmonic. He has studied with Eleanor Gummer, Michelangeli student Garth Beckett, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in piano performance at McGill University in Montreal with renowned Canadian pianist Richard Raymond. His plans for the future are to continue a performing and teaching career while also doing work in translation. Among his other interests are languages, classics, chess and reading.

Born North of Toronto, to Italian parents, Alex grew up listening to such greats as Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti becoming inspired to discover his own singing talent. With an affinity to ‘big voice’ music Alex followed his passion studying under some of North America’s most respected vocal coaches including Canadian Tenor Colin Ainsworth and Elaine Overholt. Showcasing his talent at many events including, Miss Canada Universe Pageant, Telelatino’s “Viva Domenica”, Rogers “Daytime TV”, Free The Children/CHILDLIKE INaSENSE fundraiser, York Region Celebration of the Arts, CNE Rising Star, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada’s annual gala, Alex has been able to distinguish himself as someone to look out for. Recently completing a classical pop crossover demo with Gemini winning composer Glenn Morley, Alex is grateful that he can continue to share his gift and touch the hearts of those who listen.

 www.myspace.com/alexcicconemusic