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Laurel Gagnon, Koshiro Takeuchi and Sara Watanabe. Photo: Tam Photography

Newswire | Koshiro Takeuchi is the Grand Laureate of the Concours 2026

By Newswire on 5 June 2026 Classical Music, Montreal, Music Competition, Newswire, Strings, Violin

Montréal, Friday, June 5, 2026 – Japanese violinist Koshiro Takeuchi has been crowned the much-coveted Grand Laureate of the Concours musical international de Montréal 2026. Following a Grand Final filled with high emotions, Koshiro was awarded the top prize thanks to his refined musicality, his assured technique and his captivating stage presence. This thrilling Grand Final took place at the Maison symphonique, where the three Grand Finalists each performed a major concerto from the repertoire, accompanied by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal – the Concours’ official orchestra – led by Guest Conductor Sascha Goetzel. The decision was made by the…

Joe Hisaishi conducting Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Photo: Allan Cabral/Courtesy of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Review | Hisaishi Returns to Toronto Symphony Orchestra

By Andrea Rush on 2 June 2026 Classical Music, Concert Reviews, Orchestral, Strings, Toronto, Violin

French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal famously apologized for writing a long letter, explaining that he did not have enough time to write a short one. The multi-talented composer and maestro Joe Hisaishi would not need to make such an apology. The May 28 TSO program that he curated, and the scores he composes, exude beauty through simplicity. The evening featured three composers, three works, one governing idea: to demonstrate the beauty of simplicity. It is an attractive force that cuts across cultures and centuries. Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall was well sold out in advance. From the main floor to…

Sara Watanabe, Bade Dastan, Koshiro Takeuchi, Laurel Gagnon, Aozhe Zhang, Photo: Tam Photography

Newswire | CMIM announces five finalists for Violin 2026

By Newswire on 1 June 2026 Arts Industry, Montreal, Newswire, Violin

Montréal, Sunday May 31, 2026 – Following a Semifinal that captivated the audience, the International Jury presided by Lucie Robert selected the five Finalists of the Concours 2026. The announcement was made following the jury’s deliberations after the last session of the Semifinal, during which the competitors dazzled the audience with a program comprising at least one full sonata, a Canadian work and another piece of their choice. HERE ARE THE FIVE FINALISTS WHO ARE ADVANCING TO THE FINAL – MOZART ROUND (by order of performance) Koshiro Takeuchi, Japan Laurel Gagnon, United States Sara Watanabe, Japan Aozhe Zhang, China Bade…

Leland Ko, third-prize winner of the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Cello Competition, Photo courtesy of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.

Newswire | Canadian Leland Ko wins third at Queen Elisabeth

By Newswire on 1 June 2026 Arts Industry, Classical, Classical Music, Strings

Belgium – The First Prize – Queen Mathilde Prize includes a cash award of €25.000 and numerous concert engagements in Belgium and abroad. Thanks to the Pau Casals Foundation, Ettore Pagano will also receive the Goffriller “Casals” cello on loan for a period of four years. Prize List QUEEN ELISABETH INTERNATIONAL GRAND PRIZE First Prize – Queen Mathilde Prize €25,000 Ettore Pagano PRIZE OF THE BELGIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT Second Prize, awarded by the Belgian Science Policy €20,000 Tae-Yeon Kim COUNT DE LAUNOIT PRIZE Third Prize €17,000 Leland Ko PRIZE OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE BELGIAN COMMUNITIES Fourth Prize,…

Photo: Bo Huang

Mark Fewer: New Bach Recording Showcases Canadian Luthiers

By Heather Weinreb on 1 June 2026 Classical, Classical Music, Violin

Canadian violinist Mark Fewer not only plays the violin—he plays a lot of them. His album—J.S. Bach: Violin Sonatas and Partitas, to be released by Leaf Music in August—is recorded on six different violins, each made by a leading Canadian luthier. The album is an “homage to Canadian makers. …I thought, what better way to pay tribute to these great makers than to challenge yourself to record the greatest challenge of the repertoire to begin with—which is this repertoire of unaccompanied Bach,” says Fewer. A passion for lutherie has marked the performer’s career. When he founded the Sweetwater Music Festival…

Stewart Goodyear (left) and Lucy Landymore (right)

Music and Beyond 2026: From Vivaldi to Duke Ellington

By La Scena Events on 1 June 2026 Chamber Music, Classical Music, Orchestral, Ottawa, Strings, Violin, Vocal

Ottawa’s summer cultural calendar will once again come alive with the 16th season of the Music and Beyond festival, which runs from July 4–17. Now firmly established as one of North America’s most distinctive classical music and multidisciplinary arts festivals, Music and Beyond continues to redefine what a classical music festival can be by linking music with a wide range of other art forms and cultural disciplines. Presented in venues throughout the Ottawa area, the 2026 edition offers a wide-ranging and ambitious program. As always, audiences can expect internationally celebrated artists, innovative thematic programming, and performances that move fluidly between…

Canadian finalists of the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition, Andrew Ilhoon Byun (left) and Leland Ko (right)

Newswire | Canadians Andrew Ilhoon Byun and Leland Ko Reach Semifinals of 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition

By Newswire on 19 May 2026 Arts Industry, Newswire, Strings

Brussels – Saturday 17/05/2026 The twelve finalists of the 2026 Queen Elisabeth Competition for Cello have been announced. Canadians Andrew Ilhoon Byun and Leland Ko reached the semifinals. Cello Competition 2026: Final From Monday 25 to Saturday 30 May, at 8.15 pm (Studio 4, Flagey) The 12 finalists are: Andrew Ilhoon Byun Clara Dietlin Tae-Yeon Kim Yo Kitamura Leland Ko Álvaro Lozano Cames Lionel Martin Krzysztof Michalski Dilshod Narzillaev Ettore Pagano Ivan Sendetsky Maria Zaitseva More about each Finalists of Queen Elisabeth Competition 2026: www.queenelisabethcompetition.be Jury for the final The composition of the jury may vary from one round to…

SooBeen Lee in the final round of CMIM Violin 2023. Photo: Tam Photography

Concours musical international de Montréal 2026: All Shades of the Violin

By Heather Weinreb on 4 May 2026 Classical Music, Interviews, Montreal, Music Competition, Strings, Violin

Out of 250 violinists who auditioned from all over the world, the preliminary jury selected 24, including three Canadians (Justin Saulnier, Paloma So and Belle Ting), to compete at this year’s edition of Concours musical international de Montréal. “We could have easily selected twice that amount,” says Artistic Director Shira Gilbert. “The level [of the competitors] is really exceptional.” Founded in 2001 by legendary Canadian bass Joseph Rouleau, together with politician and philanthropist André Bourbeau, the Concours is North America’s only international multidisciplinary classical music competition. Rotating annually between violin, voice, and piano, it is based on the model of…

CLVB '33. Photo: Abigaile Edwards. Courtesy of Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity.

Newswire | Banff Centre Announces 2026 Summer Arts Festival Lineup

By Newswire on 21 April 2026 Chamber Music, Classical Music, Dance, Literature, Multimedia, Music Competition, Newswire, Orchestral, Strings, West

BANFF, AB, April 21, 2026 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is excited to bring together world-renowned musicians, artists, and writers, as well as passionate audiences for the 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival (BCSAF). Running throughout May to September, the 2026 festival invites audiences to experience a season of artistic discovery of over 100 free and ticketed events. Tickets are now available for the 2026 Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival at banffcentre.ca/summer-arts-fest. What started as a single week of events in 1950, Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival is now the signature summer arts event in Banff, Alberta. As a…

Photo: Jag Gundu

Anoushka Shankar: The Next Chapter

By Kaitlyn Chan on 15 April 2026 Interviews, Orchestral, Strings, Toronto

“The sitar was an important part of my life before I even played it because it was so key in my family,” says sitarist and composer Anoushka Shankar. Shankar’s father, sitar virtuoso and composer Pandit Ravi Shankar, played a pivotal role in bringing the world’s attention to Hindustani classical music. He was also A. Shankar’s first sitar teacher. Growing up, Shankar was surrounded by a variety of artistic influences. Her parents, who were from different areas of India, both passed down a love for the music and dance styles from their regions. “I listened to a mix of Hindustani, Carnatic…

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