Young Artist Program in Piano
This class is open to senior piano 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:
Pianists who have completed the Mozart, Sonata, K. 330 (Suzuki Bk. 6) or who are working at the Grade 9 piano level or above (RCM or Conservatory Canada). Admission to the YAP program is based on invitation following a successful video audition.
Daily in-person only program includes:
Daily Optional Classes: (you may choose up to two options)
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 Piano 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 enrollment in the YAP).
Application deadline is May 1st
Prepare your video audition, upload it to a web hosting service, and email download links to Elayne Ras by May 1st (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 11, and you will be notified via email about the specific times.
Students Eligible:
Pianists who have completed the Mozart, Sonata, K. 330 (Suzuki Bk. 6) or who are working at the Grade 9 piano level or above (RCM or Conservatory Canada). Admission to the YAP program is based on invitation following a successful video audition.
Daily in-person only program includes:
- Master Class (half-hour per student) with Elaine Lau (ON)
- Daily String/Piano Chamber Ensemble Class or Duo Piano Class, depending on student registration
- Daily percussion class
- Chamber music performance
- Solo performance at the end of the week
Daily Optional Classes: (you may choose up to two options)
- Choir for Everyone!
- Beginners Composition
- Intermediate Composition
- Fiddling for Pianists
- Handbells
- Improv
- Organ for Pianists
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 Piano 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 enrollment in the YAP).
Application deadline is May 1st
Prepare your video audition, upload it to a web hosting service, and email download links to Elayne Ras by May 1st (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 11, and you will be notified via email about the specific times.
A founding member of Toronto’s award-winning junctQín keyboard collective, Elaine regularly premieres new works for toy, solo and duo piano. As a duo pianist with Joseph Ferretti, Elaine has performed across North America and recorded for Capstone Records. Recordings in the last few years include reTHINK, a CD of contemporary piano music for six hands (Redshift Records) and a recording collaboration with Quatuor Bozzini released in 2024. Elaine is also featured on composer Alex Eddington’s album, “A Present from a Small Distant World” (2021, Redshift Records), with soprano Kristin Mueller-Heaslip. Recent projects include the premières of six-hand works by Nicole Lizée and Vincent Ho, and the launch of PLAYrePLAY, a listener-interactive platform of 3 new works. Elaine looks forward to joining other musicians from diverse genres in next season’s Exit Points concert series at Arraymusic.
Elaine was a coach/repetiteur for the Opera Theatre of Lucca (Italy) and, for several years, a collaborative pianist/instructor for the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts (USA). Active nationally as an adjudicator and Senior Examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music, she also received the Contribution to Teaching Award from the ORMTA. A piano faculty member at Wilfrid Laurier University since 2003, Ms. Lau has served as keyboard faculty at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
NOTE: All information, classes, faculty, etc. are subject to change depending on enrolment.