Lawrence de Guzman and Erica Binder
UBC Bands students Erica Binder, Lawrence de Guzman and Graeme Lister were selected to The National Youth Band of Canada (NYB), the most comprehensive music education youth project offered by the Canadian Band Association. The NYB provides an enriching musical and cultural experience to outstanding musicians aged 16 to 22 in Canada, with opportunities to perform under the leadership of a renowned Canadian conductor and a Yamaha Canada Music featured soloist.
Saxophone student Henry Cao won first prize in the Woodwinds division (ages 19-22) of the Bellegrande International Music Competition. Henry studies with Prof. Julia Nolan. Check out his winning video performance of Henri Tomasi’s Ballade here.
Percussion student Jesse Guo and clarinet student Felix Rowe were the winners of the Winds, Brass and Percussion Division Solo Competition this year. Felix performed composer J. Widmann’s Fantasie for solo clarinet, while Jesse performed Casey Cangelosi’s White Knuckle Stroll.
Clarinet student Samuel He has won a job with the prestigious Canadian Armed Forces Bands.
UBC Cello students Bruno Quezada, Joseph Wang, Nathan Kwok, Jungeun Choi, Aireleen Zhu, Adrian Pang and Lyla Lee presented a video of creative compositions and improvisations, paired with photographs of animals found in quirky places in Vancouver by artist Nomi Kaplan.
Soprano Catherine Thornsley and baritone Matthew Kim will star in a production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte at the BrottOpera Festival in Hamilton, Ontario this July. Catherine will be singing the role of Fiordiligi, and Matthew will be singing Guglielmo.
As part of the Wall Opera project, UBC Opera students are collaborating with an exemplary team of researchers from UBC Neuroscience to study the effects of opera on the brain. They have been collecting data through MRIs, neuropsychological tests, heart rate variability testing during performances, brain activity monitors, and more. The research will continue this year, including in-depth performance research during the upcoming production of Le nozze di Figaro, as the team works to unravel the complex cognitive functions and multi-tasking required of the brain of the opera singer.
