The Calgary Pro Musica Young Artists Development Program (YADP) is intended to discover, nurture and promote young Calgary musicians. The resources of Calgary Pro Musica (CPM) allow us to offer unique opportunities in individual instruction, performance and career development for emerging musicians in Calgary.
ANNOUNCEMENT – Young Artist Development Program 2023-24 – Applications now open
Application Deadline – May 15, 2023
Application Process
- Preliminary recording, application and teacher’s recommendation letter – Due May 15, 2023.
- Finalists will audition and interview live in May or June 2023.
- Winners will be notified June/July 2023.
Eligibility:
- Students living and studying full time in Calgary age 16 to 26 during the 2023 – 2024 academic year.
- Open to individual String, Piano, Woodwind, Brass and percussion instrumentalists.
- Open to pre-formed traditional chamber ensembles (String Quartet, String Trio, Piano Trio, Piano Quartet, Piano Quintet, Woodwind Quintet, Brass Quintet and other ensembles considered on a case by case basis)
Prize:
- Up to three (3) $2,500 scholarships for individuals or $7,500 in scholarships for a pre-formed ensemble with multiple players.
- Perform a Pro Musica sponsored public concert on April 29, 2024 in the Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall at the University of Calgary’s Rozsa Centre.
- Coachings and instruction with Calgary Pro Musica Visiting Artists.
Please click here for a copy of the application form.
About the Calgary Pro Musica Society and the Young Artist Development Program
The Calgary Pro Musica Society Young Artist Development Program is intended to discover, nurture and promote young Calgary musicians. The resources of CPMS allow us to offer unique opportunities in individual instruction, performance and career development for emerging musicians in Calgary. We are looking for players with outstanding talent and a serious commitment to developing themselves as well-rounded musicians. Participants in the Program will receive exclusive instruction from the CPM visiting artists, be presented in a fully sponsored and publicized CPM concert and prepare and perform a series of school concerts with CPM Education Director. We will also provide scholarship support to the winning individuals or pre-formed ensemble. Scholarships will be used to fund the student’s regular individual instruction. Depending upon the audition results, there will be 2 to 5 students in the program per season.
2022-2023 Participants
Ben Linton, violin
Ben has been an active member of the Calgary music community since a young age as a chamber musician, soloist, and orchestral musician. He is currently a student of Fiona Carnie and has previously studied with Theresa and Jeff Plotnick. He is currently a first violinist in the Calgary Youth Orchestra and part of the Amici String program. In the summer of 2022, Ben was given the opportunity to participate in and perform at Quartet Fest West, in Victoria, BC. Ben won the Category A People’s Choice Award from the Alberta Music Education Foundation in 2022. He enjoys nothing more than sharing his passion for music!
Robert Mulchrone, violin
Robert was a member of the Vienna Boys Choir for 4 years. He is an accomplished violinist and also plays the viola, piano and loves to improvise. He is the music librarian for the Calgary Youth Orchestra and he spent last summer playing in the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. He is currently in Grade 12 at Bishop Carol High School and studying violin with Joan Barrett. We are very happy to have him in our Talmon Hertz Young Artist Development Program for the 2022-23 season.
Tessa Nyesetvold, cello
Seventeen year old Tessa Nysetvold began her musical studies at age four. She is a member of the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University Conservatory where she studies with celebrated cellist Beth Root Sandvoss. Additionally, she studies under the tutelage of John Kadz and Johanne Perron. With a passion for orchestral performance, Tessa serves as the principal cellist for the Calgary Youth Orchestra. In addition to cello, Tessa studied piano for ten years with Allen Reiser.
Calgary Pro Musica announces their new Musical Body Break project.
The Musical Body Break project is a series of twelve 3-5-minute “Musical Body Break” videos. These videos will incorporate motion with the live-recorded music by the Young Artist Development Program (YADP) participants. Each video illustrates a musical concept and is targeted to children 12 and under.
Click here for more information on the YADP Musical Body Break Project
Education Advisor
Samantha Whelan Kotkas M. Music, B. Music
Born in Canada, raised in Africa and educated in Calgary and Houston,Samantha has been praised for creating truly unique and totally engagingmusical experiences. She currently lives in Calgary and is the second trumpetplayer in the Red Deer Symphony.
As a Teaching Musician for the National Arts Centre of Canada she has performed her trumpet for over 3000 students a year since 2005. In September 2010 Samantha was appointed the position of education advisor for the Calgary Pro Musica society, one of the leading chamber music presenters in Canada.
In February 2010 Samantha joined George Zukerman and Daniel Bolshoy in Nunavut, Canada for an exciting tour of the North. She joined George Zukerman again in April 2011 for a tour of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Her high energy and fun filled performances have made her a crowd favorite for small and large audiences alike.
If you would like to know more about Samantha Whelan Kotkas please visit her website at Storyfair.
YADP PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS
We are looking for players with outstanding talent and a serious commitment to developing themselves as well-rounded musicians.
Participants in the Program receive:
- exclusive instruction from the prestigious CPM visiting artists,
- be presented in a fully sponsored and publicized CPM concert,
- prepare and perform a series of school concerts with CPM Artistic Director and
- receive valuable career development instruction
- scholarship support to the winning individuals or pre-formed ensemble. Scholarships will be used to fund the student’s regular individual instruction.
Depending upon the audition results, there will be 2 to 6 students in the program per season.