BANFF CENTRE BISQC. Banff. International PRESS KIT. String Quartet. Competition. Aug 29 - Sept 4, 2016

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1 BISQC Banff International String Quartet PRESS KIT Competition Aug 29 - Sept 4, 2016

2 BISQC BISQC (bisk) noun (est. 1983) 1. acronym for Banff International String Quartet Competition 2. renowned string quartet competition; presents the world s best young quartets under the age of 35, vying for over $150,000 in cash and prizes 3. a triennial event, hosted by Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity since 1983, giving audiences an in-depth and behind-the-scenes experience with the world s premier up and coming quartets bisqc.ca Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity noun (est. 1933) 1. Canada s arts and cultural organization providing multidisciplinary programming and advancing the practice of artists and leaders; a centre of excellence in convening conferences and meetings 2. home to BISQC quartets, jury, audience, and special guests from August 29 September 4, located in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, in Banff, Alberta, Canada banffcentre.ca Facing Page: Valerie Li, first violin, Afiara String Quartet, BISQC nd Place Laureate, during a recording session at The Banff Centre. Photo by Don Lee.

3 EVERY THREE YEARS, THE WORLD S BEST COMPETE IN BANFF. For over 30 years, BISQC has given audiences an in-depth and behind-thescenes look at the thrill and heartbreak of a live chamber music competition, while providing the world s best young string quartets unparalleled exposure to concert presenters, managers, and broadcasters from North America and abroad. Facing Page: Brian O Kane, cello, Navarra String Quartet, Third Place Laureates, 11th BISQC. Photo by Rita Taylor.

4 CELEBRATING THE NEXT GENERATION. Past BISQC Winners 2013 Dover Quartet 2010 Cecilia String Quartet 2007 Tinalley String Quartet 2004 Jupiter Quartet 2001 Daedalus Quartet 1998 Miró Quartet 1995 Amernet String Quartet 1992 St. Lawrence String Quartet 1989 Quatuor Manfred 1986 Franciscan Quartet 1983 Colorado Quartet The Dover Quartet Winning BISQC has been life-changing for the four of us! The performance opportunities have been fantastic, and BISQC s career support and counsel are truly invaluable. Milena Pajaro-van de Stadt, violist Dover Quartet, BISQC 2013, First Place Laureates Following a stunning sweep of the 2013 Banff International String Quartet Competition, the Dover Quartet has performed over 100 concerts per year throughout North America, South America, and Europe. Highlights include: Carnegie Hall Dumbarton Oaks Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival People's Symphony Concerts in New York "The young American String Quartet of the moment." - The New Yorker Confident, sinewy playing of distinctive sound and ample nuance...brilliantly done...terrific quartet." - National Post "To the outside observer, the Dover Quartet s rise to the top looks practically meteoric." - Strings Magazine Facing Page: Dover Quartet. Photo by Lisa-Marie Mazzucco.

5 HISTORY OF THE BANFF INTERNATIONAL STRING QUARTET COMPETITION. Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity has proud legacy of excellence in artistic development. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, we inspire everyone who attends our campus artists, leaders, and thinkers to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to society. Our world-class facilities and renowned faculty have made Banff Centre a premiere destination for hands-on training and professional development and an ideal host for the Banff International String Quartet Competition. Since its inception in 1983, hundreds of string quartets have been accepted to BISQC. This year, we received applications from the world s best young string quartets representing the Americas, Europe and Asia, all vying for more than $150,000 in cash and prizes rules and regulations available at bisqc.ca Facing Page: The Afiara String Quartet performs during BISQC Photo by Don Lee.

6 MEET THE BISQC PEOPLE. Executive Director Competition Jury Members Preliminary Jury Barry Shiffman Vera Beths, violin Formerly with Rondom Kwartet Geoff Nuttall, violin St. Lawrence String Quartet Clive Greensmith, cello Tokyo String Quartet Special Guests Denis Brott, cello Formerly with Orford String Quartet Peter Salaff, violin Formerly with Cleveland Quartet Douglas McNabney, viola Artistic Director of Toronto Summer Music Joel Krosnick Mentor in Residence Isabel Charisius, viola Formerly with Alban Berg Quartet Alasdair Tait, cello Formerly with Belcea Quartet Philip Setzer, violin Emerson String Quartet Zosha Di Castri Composer in Residence Yoshiko Nakura, violin Formerly with Tokyo String Quartet

7 THE QUARTETS. Aeolus Quartet (USA) Nicholas Tavani, violin Rachel Shapiro, violin Gregory Luce, viola Alan Richardson, cello Omer Quartet (USA) Mason Yu, violin Erica Tursi, violin Jinsun Hong, viola Alexander Cox, cello Rolston String Quartet (Canada) Luri Lee, violin Jeff Dyrda, violin Hezekiah Leung, viola Jonathan Lo, cello Ulysses Quartet (Canada/Taiwan/USA) Christina Bouey, violin Rhiannon Banerdt, violin Colin Brookes, viola Grace Mei-En Ho, cello Argus Quartet (USA) Jason Issokson, violin Clara Kim, violin Diana Wade, viola Joann Whang, cello Quartet Arpa (Japan) Kyoko Ogawa, violin Nao Tohara, violin Ayane Koga, viola Yu Ito, cello Tesla Quartet (Russia/South Korea/USA) Ross Snyder, violin Michelle Lie, violin Edwin Kaplan, viola Serafim Smigelskiy, cello Verona Quartet (Canada/Singapore/USA) Jonathan Ong, violin Dorothy Ro, violin Abigail Rojansky, viola Warren Hagerty, cello Castalian String Quartet (UK) Sini Simonen, violin Daniel Roberts, violin Charlotte Bonneton, viola Christopher Graves, cello Quartet Berlin-Tokyo (Israel/Japan) Tsuyoshi Moriya, violin Dimitri Pavlov, violin Eri Sugita, viola Ruiko Matsumoto, cello

8 QUARTET IN THE COMMUNITY. Christina (Jung Yun) Choi, violin Danny Koo, violin Keith Hamm, viola Julie Hereish, cello The Quartet in the Community program takes chamber music out of the concert hall and introduces it to new audiences in unexpected locations. From the farmer s market to the top of Sulphur Mountain, both visitors and local communities will have the joy of experiencing extraordinary music where they least expect it. Beyond training these young musicians in community engagement, the Quartet in the Community will also attend the competition and be coached by special guests during the week. Rolston-Szekely Young Artists Program Travelling Quartet and Sakata/Kim Duo, The Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists The Kolden Quartet, Vancouver Academy of Music The Rundle String Quartet, Banff The Székely/Rolston Young Musicians Program celebrates the next generation of great chamber musicians by creating a special, welcoming and affirming experience for young chamber ensembles as part of the Banff International String Quartet Competition. These promising young musicians will attend BISQC lectures and concerts, receive coaching from some of the leading musicians of our time. Facing Page: The Thalia Quartet, BISQC 2013 Quartet in the Community. Photo by Rita Taylor.

9 BANFF CENTRE IS AT YOUR SERVICE. Accreditation With hotel-style accommodations on-site and a variety of dining outlets, Banff Centre is pleased to host accredited media representatives during BISQC. Media rates are negotiable, and we work closely with Banff Lake Louise Tourism and Travel Alberta to offset additional costs of travel, accommodation, and sightseeing while in the Banff area. Interviews Remote Broadcasting Banff Centre has the space and technology to accommodate any format of remote broadcast. In the past, the Centre has hosted full broadcasts of radio and television programming. Content Contact us for behind-the-scenes footage, artist interviews, and podcasts produced at Banff Centre that you can use to enhance your stories. Banff Centre can facilitate both on-site and telephone interviews with competing quartets, guest lecturers, and administrators to learn firsthand about their BISQC experience. BISQC Media Room BISQC Images Banff Centre Logos About BISQC Videos: Compilation Video 2013 Compilation Video 2010 Quartet in the Community Mentorship Facing Page: The Asasello Quartet performs during BISQC Photo by Don Lee.

10 GET IN TOUCH. Stay up to date with the latest news and announcements. Facing Page: View of the Town of Banff, Banff Lake Louise Tourism. Paul Zizka Photography.