SEASON 13
AFFETUOSO
November 9th, 3 p.m.
Eric Abramovitz, clarinet
Expressive virtuoso bringing depth and brilliance to the clarinet repertoire
Acclaimed clarinetist Eric Abramovitz has performed widely across North America as both a soloist and chamber musician. Celebrated for his expressive sound and technical brilliance, he brings depth, nuance, and vitality to the clarinet repertoire.
Guest Artists:
Eric Abramovitz, Clarinet
Luri Lee, Violin
Rémi Pelletier, Viola
Luri Lee, violin
Internationally praised violinist known for lyrical artistry and dynamic presence
Violinist Luri Lee has appeared internationally in solo and chamber settings, praised for her lyrical artistry and dynamic stage presence. Her performances combine elegance with powerful expression.
Rémi Pelletier, viola
TSO violist admired for warm tone, refined musicianship, and chamber passion
Rémi Pelletier, violist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, is admired for his warm tone and refined musicianship. A devoted chamber player, he is in demand across Canada and abroad for his artistry and collaborative spirit.
FOUR TEMPERAMENTS
March 22nd, 3 p.m.
Guest Artists:
Monica Whicher, Soprano
Yolanda Bruno, Violin
Theresa Rudolph, Viola
Monica Whicher, soprano
Monica Whicher is Associate Professor of Voice, Teaching Stream, and Head of Voice Studies at the University of Toronto, where she also teaches English Song. A graduate of U of T and former member of the COC Ensemble Studio, she studied with Lois Marshall and at Banff, Britten-Pears, and Ravinia. She has performed with major orchestras and opera companies across North America, Europe, and Asia, in roles from Mozart’s Countess and Pamina to Purcell’s Dido and Britten’s Governess. A Juno and Dora Award nominee, her acclaimed recordings include Breathe: Music for Voices and Early Instruments, Lullabies and Carols for Christmas, and Sheida Gharachedaghi’s The Fairies. Critics praise her “gorgeous timbre” and expressive artistry. A dedicated teacher and clinician, her students have gone on to sing and teach internationally at the Canadian Opera Company, Vancouver Opera, Bard College, and the Metropolitan Opera.
Yolanda Bruno, violin
Yolanda Bruno, Ottawa-born violinist, has been praised for her “total control of her instrument with infinite variety in the sound palette” (La Presse). Winner of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, the Isabel Overton Bader Competition, and the Canada Council’s Virginia Parker Prize, she has appeared as soloist with the Montreal and Toronto Symphonies, the Orchestra of the Americas, and London Mozart Players. She has performed for the Queen at Buckingham Palace, recorded with Parkway Drive, and brought music to parks, prisons, hospitals, and classrooms. In 2021, she founded Music for Your Blues, offering free personalized concerts to combat isolation. Her debut CD The Wild Swans (2019) featured works by women composers, with a second album dedicated to Jeanne Lamon due in 2025. Former Concertmaster of the Kingston Symphony and Associate Concertmaster of the TSO, she teaches at The Glenn Gould School. Yolanda performs on a 1737 Montagnana violin, generously loaned by Groupe Canimex.
Theresa Rudolph, viola
Theresa Rudolph joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Viola in 2011 and has also performed with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra since 2018. At 21, she became the youngest member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and has since held positions with the Canadian Opera Company and National Ballet of Canada Orchestras, as well as appearances with the Vancouver Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra. A passionate chamber musician, she has performed at major festivals including Vancouver, Great Lakes, Santa Fe, and Ottawa Chamberfest, and appears regularly with the TSO Chamber Soloists, often heard on CBC and Classical 96.3 FM. Dedicated to teaching, she maintains studios at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory’s Taylor Academy, and has taught widely across Canada. Raised in Vancouver, she studied with Gerald Stanick before earning a Bachelor of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Robert Vernon. Theresa lives in Toronto with her husband, violinist Csaba Koczo, and their three children.
GRAND ROMANCE
May 31st, 3 p.m.
Guest Artists:
Annalee Patipatanakoon, Aaron Schwebel and Min-Jeong Koh, Violins
Sharon Wei and Hezekiah Leung, Violas
Guillaume Artus, Cello