Edmonton, AB – On Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20, 2023, six string players from across Canada will take to the stage of Muttart Hall at the Alberta College Campus of MacEwan University (10050 MacDonald Drive, Edmonton) as they vie for the $8,000 top prize in The Shean Strings Competition and the opportunity to play with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at a later date.
The competition will see the competitors perform their String Recital Programs on Friday, May 19 from 1:00 – 4:00 PM and 6:30 – 9:30 PM, and perform their String Concertos on Saturday, May 20 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM and 6:30 – 9:00 PM. The adjudications and awards will follow the concertos on Saturday at approximately 9:15 PM.
This year’s competitors (with hometowns in parentheses) are:
- Oliva Yelim Cho, violoncello (Vancouver, BC)
- Melissa Du, violin (Richmond, BC)
- Dale Jeong, violoncello (Toronto, ON)
- Lexie Jana Krakowski, violoncello (Victoria, BC)
- Daria Schibitcaia, violin (Chișinău, Republic of Moldova)
- Benjamin Seah, violin (Montréal, QC)
The adjudicators for this year’s competition are: David Hoyt, Chair; Nancy Dahn, violin; and Shauna Rolston, violoncello.
Admission to The Shean Strings Competition is $10 per session.
For more information, please visit www.sheancompetition.com.
The Shean Competition for Strings and Piano, made possible by a generous grant to the Edmonton Community Foundation from Ranald and Vera Shean in 1996, is open to young amateur musicians between 15 and 28 years of age who are residents of Canada currently studying here or abroad, or to non-residents who have been studying in Canada for a minimum of two academic years. Six semi-finalists are chosen from the submitted discs. The winner of the 2023 Competition may be invited to perform with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at a later date. Strings and piano are featured in alternative years.
Ranald Shean excelled in both music and sports and was a “Master Music Teacher”. Vera Shean was an equally gifted violinist and pianist. They met in Vancouver where Ranald was an associate teacher with Gregori Garbovitsky’s and Vera was Garbovitsky’s piano student. Vera also completed advanced piano studies with Sir Arthur Benjamin. Ranald & Vera married and began a lifelong collaboration in music, predominantly in the Edmonton area.
In the 1940s, Ranald was concertmaster and conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. In addition to playing violin in the Symphony, Vera performed in recital and as an accompanist for the CBC, and Ranald also conducted the Edmonton Youth Orchestra. In 1966, they established the Edmonton Conservatory of Music which later merged with the Alberta College Conservatory of Music.
Their passion was teaching. During their lives, they both maintained a full teaching schedule (Vera – piano, Ranald – violin) working seven days a week. Sunday was “Open House” for their students. Any student who wanted to come and practice, work with an accompanist (Vera), have extra coaching, play in an ensemble, etc. was welcome. Both Ranald and Vera were inducted into the City of Edmonton’s Arts & Culture Hall of Fame.
Their dream for young musicians to experience the same passion they had for music lives on in The Shean Competition.
The Shean Strings Competition Finalists
Olivia Yelim Cho, Violoncello – Vancouver, BC
Hailed as one of CBC Music’s “30 hot classical musicians under 30,” Korean-Canadian cellist Olivia Yelim Cho is praised for her “ravishing tone and organically felt phrasing… sincerity, wonderful taste, and a mature aplomb beyond her years” (ARTSFILE).
In 2020, Ms. Cho débuted with Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Alexander Shelley. She received the Award of Excellence at the 2022 and 2021 National Youth Orchestra of Canada, the Isabel Overton Bader Award at the 2020 Bader & Overton Canadian Cello Competition, and the Orford Award at the 2016 OSM Manulife Competition. Ms. Cho attended the Aspen Music Festival & School on
fellowship in 2019 and in 2017 through the Emerging Artist Grant from the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Passionate about musical outreach, Ms. Cho worked with her sister in 2020 to organize a socially-distanced and online benefit concert titled con moto to raise funds for local groups supporting Black & Indigenous Lives. Ms. Cho also enjoys performing at senior homes, hospitals, and churches, as well as working with younger musicians.
Ms. Cho is currently pursuing her M.M. with Clive Greensmith at The Colburn Conservatory. She completed her B.M. and German minor at the University of Michigan with highest honors studying with Richard Aaron, and formerly studied with Joseph Elworthy at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
Melissa Du, Violin – Richmond, BC
Melissa Du began her violin studies when she was six years old in Vancouver, Canada. She currently studies at the Coleman Violin Studio in Seattle, WA, with Simon James and collaborative pianist Chien-Lin Lu, as well as coach Hiro David in New York. In the past, Ms. Du has been awarded numerous gold medals and scholarships from festivals in both Vancouver and Seattle, including a top prize in the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra’s Concerto Competition. She has recently performed with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2023 and has played in concert halls such as the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. An avid orchestral and chamber musician, Ms. Du was formerly the concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra School of Music’s Junior String Orchestra and enjoys participating in chamber music. Ms. Du has appeared at summer camps such as the Sounding Point Academy and is fortunate to have performed in masterclasses led by Augustin Hadelich, Ray Chen, Soovin Kim, and Mimi Zweig, among others.
Dale Jeong, Violoncello – Toronto, ON
Dale Jeong is a 20-year-old ’cellist going into his 3rd year at The Juilliard School, pursuing a Bachelor of Music (Cello Performance) in the studio of Clara Minhye Kim. Previously, he was a full scholarship student at The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists in the studio of David Hetherington and Joseph Johnson.
Mr. Jeong has participated in numerous competitions across Canada. 1st prizes include the Ontario Music Festival Association’s 2017 and 2019 Provincial Finals Competition and the 2019 Federation of Canadian Music Festivals’ National Music Festival. He was the Grand Prize winner of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition, performing the Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No.1 with the orchestra in May 2018.
A member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra (TSYO) from 2015 to 2018, Mr. Jeong served as principal ’cello for multiple seasons. At the age of 14, he became a winner of the 2016/2017 TSYO Concerto Competition, subsequently performing as soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall in December 2017. He was also invited to perform the Dvořák Cello Concerto with the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2019.
During the summer, Mr. Jeong enjoys working with new chamber groups at festivals such as Toronto Summer Music, Morningside Music Bridge, and Yellowbarn YAP. He has collaborated with esteemed professionals such as Martin Beaver, Jennifer Stumm, Sharon Wei, Steven Dann, and Stephanie Gonley.
Lexie Jana Krakowski, Violoncello – Victoria, BC
Featured as one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” in 2022, 19- year-old ’cellist Lexie Jana Krakowski has been awarded first place at several recent competitions, including First Prize and Grand Award at the 2021 National Music Festival of Canada. Originally from Victoria, BC, she received early instruction from Brian Yoon, Paula Kiffner, and Karen Whyte at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. During that time, Ms. Krakowski was awarded first place at the 2020 Don Chrysler Competition, 2019 Roberto and Mary Wood Scholarship Competition, and appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras. Currently a second-year undergraduate student at The Glenn Gould School of Music, Ms. Krakowski studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz, and gratefully receives full scholarship support from The Patrick and Barbara Keenan Foundation. Additionally, she has had the opportunity to attend summer institutes such as The Meadowmount School of Music, Orford Academy, and Domaine Forget de Charlevoix; learning from acclaimed ’cellists such as Hans Jørgen Jensen, Lynn Harrell, and Johannes Moser, among others.
Ms. Krakowski currently plays on a 19th century French ’cello and bow generously on loan to her from the Gail O’Riordan Climate and the Arts Legacy Fund under the auspices of the Victoria Foundation.
Daria Schibitcaia, Violin – Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
Winner of the International Music Competition “MadeInUkraine”, Moldovan-born violinist Daria Schibitcaia is a young artist with an immense passion for her craft. Ms. Schibitcaia began her studies at the age of six and has since performed in Canada, Moldova, Germany, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Belgium, Russia, and Romania.
As a soloist, she was invited to represent Moldova at the 12th Youth Delphic Games of the CIS Member States in the Sverdlovsk region (Russian Federation); shortly after that, she made her solo début with the Moldavian National Symphony Orchestra at the age of 17, performing Dmitri Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 1.
After graduating from Republican Lyceum of Music “S. Rachmaninov” in 2018 with a Gold Medal, she moved to Canada and graduated from The Phil and Eli Taylor Academy at The Royal Conservatory of Music where she studied with the late Victor Danchenko. Ms. Schibitcaia is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in Violin Performance under the tutelage of Erika Raum at the University of Toronto, where she is a Richard Iorweth Thorman Scholarship recipient.
In addition to her solo performances, Ms. Schibitcaia is a passionate chamber and orchestral musician. Her most recent orchestra appearances include performances
with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, as well as the Moldavian National Youth Orchestra, Romanian National Youth Orchestra, and University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra where she served as the concertmaster in 2022.
Benjamin Seah, Violin – Montréal, QC
Benjamin Seah is an 18-year-old violinist from Montreal, QC. He has been studying at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in the class of William van der Sloot since the Fall of 2021. Mr. Seah has won numerous prizes in competitions across America and Europe such as the Canadian Music Competition, the Marie Cantagrill International Violin Competition and the Sorel-Tracy Music Festival. He is a recipient of scholarships from the Oberlin Conservatory, Orford Music Festival, the Camp Musical des Laurentides, and the Festival Père Lindsay. In 2018, he won the third season of the television show Virtuose hosted by Gregory Charles which led to a series of concerts, professional recordings, and television appearances. An avid orchestral musician, Mr. Seah has sat as concertmaster for the Oberlin Orchestra, the Montréal Conservatory Orchestra, and the Montérégie Symphony Orchestra, where he has also performed as soloist in May 2021. An enjoyer of new music, Mr. Seah has participated in world premières as soloist and chamber musician. Mr. Seah has been fortunate to participate in Master Classes taught by Almita Vamos, Blake Pouliot, Eszter Haffner, Mark Kaplan, and the Verona Quartet.
The Shean Strings Competition Adjudicators
David Hoyt, Chair
David Hoyt graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in musicology. While still a student, he joined the Edmonton Symphony (ESO) horn section becoming Principal Horn in 1975. He also played horn with the Canadian Opera Company, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Hamilton Philharmonic, and the Chuck Mangione Band. He played Principal Horn for the Toronto Symphony and performed in Carnegie Hall with l’Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
David Hoyt began conducting professionally in 1982, becoming assistant conductor of the Edmonton Symphony in 1985 and of the Canadian Opera Company in 1991. He has been guest conductor for the Atlantic Symphony, Orchestra London, the Winnipeg Symphony, the Saskatoon Orchestra, the Regina Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Edmonton Opera Company, the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, the Okanagan Symphony, the Vancouver Island Orchestra, and the Vancouver Symphony.
David Hoyt had a long-standing relationship with the Banff Centre working there yearly since 1972. He taught for ten years at the University of Alberta, and has taught across the country at Festival 500 (St. John’s), The Scotia Festival (Halifax), Domaine Forget (Québec), Les Concerts Bell (Montréal), International Music Camp (Toronto), Festival of the Sound (Parry Sound), MusiCamrose (Alberta), and Courtney Music Festival (British Columbia).
David Hoyt resigned from the ESO in 2004 and presently conducts two ensembles: The Mill Creek Colliery Band and Orchestra Borealis. For the last twenty years he has been artistic director of The Shean Strings & Piano Competition. He is married to pianist Janet Scott-Hoyt and they have two daughters, both musicians.
Nancy Dahn, Violin
Violinist Nancy Dahn, University Research Professor and fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, is widely known as one half of Duo Concertante, with pianist Timothy Steeves. Known for the passion, subtlety, and brilliance of their performances, Duo Concertante
has worked together since 1997, developing the exceptionally unified voice that has repeatedly impressed audiences worldwide. In over 600 performances at prestigious venues such as Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Roy Thompson Hall, and the Forbidden City Concert Hall, critics have described their playing as “grace and fire… fury and repose… a triumphant mass of non-stop energy” (WholeNote), “Splendid… a miracle of knowledge and poetry” (Gramophone),”spectacular” (American Record Guide), and have praised their “artistry, poetry, and impeccable technique” (La Scena Musicale).
Nancy’s twelve commercial CDs include a 2011 JUNO award winner and the ECMA Classical Recording of the Year for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Their newest release of new Canadian works inspired by the climate emergency, Ecology of Being(Marquis Classics, March 2022), has been praised as “world-class…a powerful and deeply moving album” (WholeNote), and “wonderful music, superbly recorded… a balm for the soul” (Audiophilia). A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, she holds the John Lewis Paton Distinguished Professorship at Memorial University and is also Co-Artistic Director of the Tuckamore Festival. www.duoconcertante.com
Shauna Rolston, Violoncello
Award-winning Canadian ’cellist Shauna Rolston is considered by peers and fans alike to be one of the most compelling and unique musical voices on the stage today. Since receiving a mini ’cello for her 2nd birthday, Shauna has appeared around the world, performing in the world’s major concert halls including Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall, and was the featured artist at the 1988 Olympics.
Praised for her blazing technique and her ability to touch the heart of each audience member, Shauna continues to astonish and delight with concerts, recordings, and world premieres. Her passion for contemporary music has led to the commission and creation for her of more than 50 works for ’cello, including concerti by Canada’s leading composers.
The diversity of Shauna’s artistry is reflected in her many honours, most recently her appointments as Canadian Music Centre Ambassador and Honorary Ambassador for Sistema-Toronto, and the Oskar Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music Performance.
In addition to her concert and recording career, Shauna is a devoted educator, and much in demand as a master class artist, and as a juror for prestigious competitions, most recently the Bader and Overton, and the Concours de Genève Cello Competitions.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music where she studied with the distinguished ’cellist and pedagogue, Aldo Parisot. Ms. Rolston is currently Professor of Cello at the University of Toronto and is managed world-wide by Michael Dufresne ([email protected]).
