What is the YADP?
The Calgary Pro Musica Society Young Artists Development Program is intended to discover, nurture and promote young Calgary musicians. The resources of CPM 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 Advisor. 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.
Acknowledging YADP’s Benefactors
Dick Matthews is remembered as one of Calgary’s great arts supporters, and he was a true friend of Calgary Pro Musica. His philanthropy was recognized nationally in 2012 when he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada. Dick had a special passion for young artists. With this in mind, Calgary Pro Musica recognizes Mr. Matthews’ unique contributions to the arts by naming our Young Artists Development Program in his honour.
Tristram Chivers is Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at the University of Calgary. He and his wife Sue are longtime CPM subscribers and supporters. Tristram has generously provided scholarship support for all YADP musicians this season and in perpetuity. Tristram writes on August 11, 2024, “The inspired establishment of the Young Artists Development Program 15 years ago has become an integral part of Pro Musica’s concert season. In addition to their exceptional musical ability, YADP participants are enthusiastic and articulate promoters of classical chamber music. These scholarships are intended to recognize their successful acceptance into this prestigious Program and to provide encouragement in the pursuit of their musical careers.”
Glacier String Quartet
Isaac Willocks (violin), Sora Kim (violin), Ethan Mung (viola), and Takumi Rodgers (cello) first met in 2021 at the University of Calgary, where they were all undergraduate students in the Music Performance program. The four became fast friends, reading quartets for fun during the summertime and taking on every opportunity to play together. They began their formal studies as a string quartet with Professor Edmond Agopian in 2023, and they will continue together at the Mount Royal University Conservatory in the coming year. In its various incarnations and with many beloved collaborators, Glacier SQ has performed at many concerts and events at the University of Calgary. The Quartet was featured by the Calgary Pro Arts emerging artist concert series and at a Theatre Calgary opening, and it has premiered works by emerging Canadian composers.
As Albertans, the members of Glacier String Quartet chose this name to honour their home province that brought them together. They are committed to the long-term development of local talent and to improving the accessibility of classical music through outreach and school concerts.
Isaac Willocks, violin
Isaac Willocks is in his fourth year of studies in the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree at the University of Calgary where he studies violin with Edmond Agopian. He is also studying at the Mount Royal University Conservatory in the Advanced Performance Program, under the direction of William Van Der Sloot. A sought-after collaborator, Isaac is currently the rotating concertmaster of the University of Calgary Orchestra, as well as being awarded the second violin spot in the SCPA faculty quartet. Isaac has also worked with non-profits like A Better World Canada to help raise money for more musical and educational opportunities for more underprivileged students and communities so that anyone who wants the opportunity to pursue music is given the chance.
Sora Kim, violin
Calgary-born violinist Sora Kim is an alumnus of the Mount Royal Conservatory Academy, and currently studies with Edmond Agopian while pursuing a dual BSc/BMus in violin performance at the University of Calgary. She has been a national finalist of the Canadian Music Competition and was the 2016 winner of the Ambrose Concerto Competition. In addition to her performing career, Sora is passionate about music pedagogy and maintains an active teaching studio in Calgary. Sora has most recently performed with Theatre Calgary and as part of the Calgary Pro Arts emerging artist series. She currently serves as co-concertmaster of the University of Calgary Orchestra.
Ethan Mung, viola
Ethan Mung is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance at the university of Calgary and studies with Dean O’Brien. Born and raised in Calgary, Ethan has been involved with music for most of his life. He started violin lessons when he was five years old and piano at age six. At fourteen he began playing the viola, eventually focusing his studies primarily on that instrument. He has been a member of various orchestral programs, including the Calgary Youth Orchestra and most recently the National Youth Orchestra of Canada in its 2022 season. In addition to performance, Ethan has had some experience in composition. His debut work, Lament for Strings was performed by the Mount Royal Sinfonia in 2019 as a part of its Winter Fantasia concert.
Takumi Rodgers, Cello
Takumi Rodgers is a Japanese-Canadian cellist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in cello performance at the University of Calgary. In his studies with Beth Root-Sandvoss, Takumi functioned as the principal cellist of the University of Calgary Orchestra, and contributed to multiple chamber ensembles. In his time at U of C, Takumi has been awarded the Hertz Trio prize and the Don Wright scholarship as well as Honours in the Frank Simpson concerto competition. Formerly, Takumi was the principal cellist of the Calgary Youth Orchestra, and University of Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, a member of Queensland Youth Orchestra in Brisbane, Australia, a member of the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra. He recently performed as the solo cellist in the pit orchestra for Theatre Calgary’s production of Beaches: the Musical.
University District Block Party
Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Hear violinists Isaac Willocks and Sora Kim as well as violist Ethan Mung and cellist Takumi Rodgers perform string quartets at this fun outdoor neighbourhood festival. Stop by Calgary Pro Musica’s booth in front of the August building, right next to the OEB patio, to show your support and hear beautiful music.
Samantha Whelan Kotkas M. Music, B. Music
Born in Canada, raised in Africa and educated in Calgary and Houston, Samantha Whelan Kotkas has been praised for creating truly unique and totally engaging experiences for young audiences. She is an award-winning producer, storyteller, trumpet player and teaching artist who has traveled internationally as a creative consultant and performer. Her creative efforts have focused on combining her love of music and the outdoors with her desire to enhance arts education in Canada. In June of 2018, she was very honoured to be asked to serve as the “Distinguished Graduate” at the University of Calgary’s convocation ceremony.
In conjunction with her active career as a performer, Samantha is the education advisor for Calgary Pro Musica and a teaching artist for the National Arts Centre of Canada (NAC) where she finds the cross-cultural work she does with Walter MacDonald White Bear, as part of the Arts Alive Program, very meaningful. She has written outreach and music teaching guides for the NAC, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Samantha just completed writing and producing ‘Wandering with Wonder’: an immersive outdoor musical storytelling experience with original live and recorded music, story, puppetry and dance which was successfully premiered to a sold-out audience in September 2021 at the Leighton Arts Centre and then made into a film by the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra with full orchestrations in October 2022. For more information about Samantha please visit her website at www.samanthawhelankotkas.com
2025-26 Application Information