Southwestern Ontario Suzuki Institute Inc.

Student Institute Aug. 13–18 | Teacher Development Aug. 12–20, 2023 | In Person at WLU & Online

Young Artist Program in Violin

This class is open to senior violin students, and provides instruction in a setting that moves towards traditional music college/university instruction while maintaining roots in Suzuki philosophy and pedagogy. It is expected that these senior players, who provide a role model to other participating students, will join enthusiastically in other Institute events.

Students Eligible:

Violinists who have completed Suzuki Bk. 8 or who are working at a Grade 9 RCM level or higher. Admission to the YAP program is based on invitation following a successful video audition.

Daily in-person only program includes:
  • Daily public Master Class (half-hour per student) with Jerzy Kaplanek (ON)
  • Daily Group Class
  • Daily Advanced Orchestra rehearsal
  • Solo performance at the end of the week

Daily Optional Classes: (you may choose one option)
  • Fiddling
  • Singing with Marion (choir)
  • Chamber Music
  • Viola for Violinists
  • Bass for Strings
  • Klezmer Music
  • Composition for Beginners
  • Percussion
  • Music through the Ages

Cost: $690 CDN. Optional classes extra

Please note that mature students may better handle the audition process and the public master class instruction in the Young Artist Program. While there are no age limits, high school age students may adapt to this somewhat more intense experience more easily than younger children. The regular Senior String program is another very rewarding option available for advanced students who are not sure about the YAP, or who are not accepted into the program (there is strictly limited enrolment in the YAP).

Application deadline is May 1, 2023

Prepare your video audition, upload to a web hosting service, and email download links to Elayne Ras by May 1, 2023 (no exceptions). See the Video Audition instructions.

NOTE: Audition recordings will not be processed until we have received the registration fee. Some classes will begin on Sunday August 13, and you will be notified via email about the specific times.

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Internationally renowned violinist Jerzy Kapłanek has established himself as a chamber musician, member of the celebrated Penderecki String Quartet, soloist, dedicated teacher, adjudicator, artistic director of QuartetFest and lately as a jazz violinist

He performs throughout Europe, Asia, and North and South America over 80 concerts each season. His album of works by Karol Szymanowski with pianist Stéphan Sylvestre was highly praised by The Strad magazine as “an outstanding release”. His discography with the Penderecki Quartet comprises over two dozen CD’s (Marquis, Eclectra, CBC, CMC, EMI labels), including the highly acclaimed recording of the complete string quartets of Béla Bartók.

Mr. Kaplanek has collaborated with such notable musicians as pianists David Braid, Leopoldo Erice , Vladimir Feltsman, Janina Fialkowska Francine Kay, Lev Natochenny, Jamie Parker Stéphan Sylvestre, cellists Marc Johnson, Antonio Lysy Paul Pulford, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and clarinetist James Campbell amongst others. He is frequently heard on CBC Radio and NPR. He has made solo appearances with the Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton, Peterborough and CBC Vancouver Symphonies and was a featured soloist at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Jerzy Kapłanek was born in Poland in 1965. His music education started at the age of six on piano and at the age of ten he began his violin studies. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory in Bytom. In 1990, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Musical Arts from the prestigious Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice. There, he studied with the distinguished teachers Janusz Skramlik, Aureli Błaszczok and Stanisław Lewandowski

In 1987-88 he studied with Efim Boico and the Fine Arts Quartet at the Chamber Music Institute in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In 1989-90, he was a student of Sylvia Rosenberg in New York City and in 1990-91 he studied with Daniel Heifetz, the Guarneri String Quartet and its violinists, Arnold Steinhardt and John Dalley. Pursuing his interest in performance practice, Mr. Kapłanek also worked with the pioneer of baroque violin, Jaap Schroeder.

Jerzy Kapłanek is presently an Associate Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where since 1991 he has been teaching violin and chamber music. He frequently gives master classes in Canada and abroad.

Mr. Kaplanek performs on a 2016 Samuel Zygmuntowicz violin made in New York City.
NOTE: All information, classes, faculty, etc. are subject to change depending on enrolment.