Jamie & Laurie Syer, Victoria/Bergen - Artistic co-Directors
The founding co-directors of Strings & Keys have both distinguished themselves as performers, teachers, and leaders in the arts.
Pianist Jamie Syer is Keyboard Department Head at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and a faculty member at the University of Victoria. He is widely-known as a solo and chamber music performer, master class clinician, and adjudicator.
Laurie Syer performs on both violin and viola, and teaches a large class of string players in the small community of Bergen, Alberta.
Together, Jamie and Laurie have toured throughout Canada and Europe. In past years, they were featured performers at the Cambridge History Festival, University of Cambridge; and at an interdisciplinary conference on Canadian history and culture in Debrecen, Hungary.
Judith Fraser, Vancouver - cello
Alberta born cellist Judith Fraser received her early musical training with Mary Shortt, Audrey Piggott and at the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. Returning to Vancouver, she became a member of the Vancouver Symphony and the CBC Radio Orchestra. A founding member and manager of the Baroque Strings of Vancouver for ten years, Ms. Fraser was treasurer of the Vancouver Cello Club for 37 years and also delegate to the American Cello Council. She played with the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and was orchestra manager for 12 years. As a participant in the Banff Summer Residency programs, Ms. Fraser worked extensively with Aldo Parisot on pedagogy, and has given workshops for the Australian String Teachers Association in Brisbane, Hobart and recently in Melbourne. Together with John Kadz from Mount Royal College in Calgary, Judith has organised 8 “Cellofests” at the Banff Centre with International Mastercellists. She is Editor of the Vancouver Cello Club newsletter, is a life member of the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra, teaches and coaches in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, coaches Adult Ensemble Classes, has taught in the summer at Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Summer Strings and at Valhalla Summer School of the Arts in the Kootenays, is a regular Festival adjudicator and is currently on the Faculty of the Vancouver Academy of Music and the S. K. Lee College. During the past year Judith has given masterclasses at Hornby Island, Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, England, and at the University of Ottawa.
Joel Stobbe, Langley - cello
After studying in Augsburg, Germany, Joel Stobbe returned to Canada as a founding member of the Borealis String Quartet (2000-2005) with whom he toured and gave with frequent broadcasts on radio and television. Joel is currently the principal cellist of the Vancouver Island Symphony, and gives frequent concerts as soloist and chamber musician. Joel is director for advanced programs and head of the string department at the Langley Community Music School.
Janet Hammock, Sackville NB - piano
Janet Hammock taught piano majors at the university level for 31 years. In 2003 she was appointed Professor Emeritus of Music at Mount Allison University, in recognition of her distinguished teaching and performing career. She undertakes a wide range of musical projects, including piano instruction, composition, performance, and sonic explorations of all kinds. In November, 2009, Janet Hammock was among 50 Canadian musicians honoured by the Canadian Music Centre for playing an exceptional role in shaping the Canadian music scene and raising the profile of Canadian music.
Terence Dawson, Vancouver - piano
Terence Dawson is a versatile artist with a career as piano soloist, chamber musician and pedagogue. He has given solo and chamber performances across Canada, England, and Asia, has made concerto appearances with the Vancouver Symphony and National Arts Centre Orchestra, and records frequently for CBC Radio. Well known across Canada for his engaging lectures and master classes, he teaches piano and chamber music at the University of British Columbia.
Aaron Au, Edmonton - violin, viola
A native of Lethbridge, Alberta, Aaron Au is currently a first violinist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as well as Sessional Lecturer of Viola at the University of Alberta. Aaron has appeared as a faculty member and performer at festivals throughout Canada, including the Ottawa International, the Agassiz and the Victoria Chamber Music Festivals. Aaron has also acted as an adjudicator at music festivals including the 2002 National Music Festival.
Theresa Plotnick, Calgary - viola, violin
Theresa Plotnick studied at the University of Cincinnati and played with orchestras in the US and Venezuela. She performs frequently as a freelance violinist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Calgary Bach Society, Calgary Festival Chorus, and numerous chamber ensembles. She is a founding member of the Allegra String Quartet. After serving on the faculty of the Suzuki Talent Education Society for 17 years she now teaches a private studio of violin and viola, and is co-director of the Amici music school.
Tobi Jurchuk, Calgary - violin
Tobi Jurchuk is a founding faculty member of Strings & Keys, known for her creative and energetic teaching of young children. For many years a faculty member at the Mount Royal College Conservatory, she now teaches privately in Calgary, and performs in Alberta and British Columbia.