Local pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko is about to embark on another exciting summer adventure.
After attending the Morningside Music Bridge international program at Mount Royal University on full scholarship for each of the last three summers, he is now preparing to travel to Aspen, Colorado for eight weeks at the prestigious Aspen Summer Music Festival and School.
The program brings together a “who’s who” of North America’s most promising musicians and teachers from top conservatories, with more than 600 attendees coming from some 40 U.S. states and 40 countries.
While in Aspen, Izik-Dzurko will receive weekly lessons from Hung-Kuan Chen, a faculty member of the Juilliard School and Yale University School of Music.
He will also have the opportunity to attend and participate in more than 300 live performances, master classes and workshops.
The talented young pianist, who is planning to audition for post-secondary music studies this fall, sees this summer as a great opportunity to connect with some of North America’s top piano teachers and learn more about opportunities outside of Canada.
Izik-Dzurko is currently representing Salmon Arm in the National Music class of the Performing Arts BC provincial festival, being held in Fort St. John until June 3.
After his summer in Aspen, Izik-Dzurko will be focused on representing the area in the BC Registered Music Teachers piano competition in Vancouver.
And in May 2017, he will be appearing as a guest artist with the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, performing Rachmaninoff’s fiendishly difficult, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
“He is particularly excited that the concert will be included in the KSO’s series of Salmon Arm concerts,” says his mother, Patricia.
In order to raise much-need funds for his adventure in Aspen, Izik-Dzurko will perform in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 10 at First United Church.
The program will include works by Beethoven, Schumann, Scriabin and Brahms.
Admission is by donation.
