2019 Chamber Music Festival Musicians

New Zealand String Quartet

Formed in 1987, the New Zealand String Quartet has established an international reputation for its insightful interpretations and dynamic performing style. Career highlights have included performances at London’s Wigmore Hall, the prestigious Frick Collection in New York, and in Washington’s Library of Congress. The quartet’s recording, Notes From a Journey, a collection of works by New Zealand composers on the Atoll label, won best classical music album at the 2011 New Zealand Music Awards. Most recently they have completed a 3 CD set of the Brahms string quartets and quintets for Naxos, including the Clarinet Quintet with James Campbell. Dedicated teachers as well as performers, the NZSQ is Quartet in Residence at the New Zealand School of Music at Victoria University in Wellington.

Born in Ithaca, New York, Helene Pohl spent her childhood on both sides of the Atlantic. At 17, she was accepted at the Musikhochschule Cologne; she continued her studies with members of the Cleveland Quartet at the Eastman School of Music and at Indiana University with Josef Gingold. As first violinist of the San Francisco based Fidelio String Quartet (1988-1993), Helene performed extensively in the USA, Germany, England, Italy and South America. Helene joined the New Zealand String Quartet as first violinist in February 1994. In 2001 she became Artistic Director, with fellow quartet member Gillian Ansell, of the Adam Chamber Music Festival. In 2014 she was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her outstanding services to music in New Zealand.

Monique Lapins began her violin studies at the age of 6 and continued at the Australian National Academy of Music under William Hennessy, and at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music under Professor Qian Zhou. She has twice been a finalist in the Asia Pacific Chamber Music Competition and has participated in programmes and festivals in France, the Czech Republic, Holland, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia and at the prestigious Open Chamber Music Seminars in Prussia Cove in the UK. Monique has toured extensively with the Australian Chamber Orchestra Collective, the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed under the baton of Seiji Ozawa in Japan and under Philippe Herreweghe in France. Monique joined the NZSQ in May 2016.

Auckland-born Gillian Ansell made her concert debut as a violinist with the Auckland Philharmonia at the age of 16. At 19, a scholarship took Gillian to the Royal College of Music in London to study violin, viola and piano. She continued her studies at the Musikhochschule Cologne with Igor Ozim and the Amadeus Quartet. Gillian was a founding member of the New Zealand String Quartet where she was second violinist for two years before taking up the position of violist. In 2001 she became Artistic Director, with fellow Quartet member Helene Pohl, of the Adam New Zealand Chamber Music Festival. In 2008 Gillian was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her outstanding services to music in New Zealand.

Rolf Gjelsten began cello studies in his native city Victoria, B.C. with James Hunter and Janos Starker at the age of 15. At 22, he became the youngest member of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Rolf returned to North America to study with Zara Nelsova which led to further study with the members of the La Salle, Hungarian, Vermeer, Cleveland and Emerson string quartets. Rolf continued his studies with the great Casals protégé and Beaux Arts Trio cellist Bernhard Greenhouse at Rutgers University, where he received his doctoral degree in cello. He joined the New Zealand String Quartet in May 1994 and in 2014 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his outstanding services to music in New Zealand.

Evan Hesketh

Originally from Victoria, Evan Hesketh studied violin and viola at the University of Victoria with Ann Elliott-Goldschmid and Joanna Hood; he frequently performed in the Victoria Symphony, Galiano Ensemble, and Vancouver Island Symphony. His studies took him to the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was a student of Robert Vernon and Jeffrey Irvine. While in Cleveland, Evan was a member Ariadne String Quartet; the Quartet won prizes at both the Coleman and Fischoff chamber music competitions. Evan completed a second Masters degree in orchestral conducting at UVic and attended the Tafelmusik summer and winter workshops (Toronto), Banff Centre for the Arts, and the conducting course at the International Bartók Seminar and Festival (Hungary). Recently appointed to the position of Principal Violist of the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra, Evan also performs with other ensembles in California and continues to write our excellent programme notes!

Dylan Palmer

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dylan Palmer received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he studied with pedagogue Jeff Bradetich. He has participated in the Spoleto (USA), Domaine Forget, and Sarasota music festivals. He also attended Tanglewood Music Centre in 2005 and 2008, where he performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra as a fellow. Dylan Palmer joined the Vancouver Symphony as Principal Double Bass in January 2010. Prior to joining the VSO, Dylan was a member of the New World Symphony, in Miami Beach, Florida. (And we hear that he’s also a hot tango musician, having played with Linda Lee Thomas and her group, Tangissimo!).

Christie Reside

A native of Calgary, Christie Reside began her career in the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as second flute at the age of 19. She studied with Timothy Hutchins at McGill University in Montreal, and continued her training at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Christie has participated in festivals around the world, including the Spoleto Music Festival in Italy, the Bellingham Music Festival, and the Mountain View International Festival of Song and Chamber Music. Christie is currently the Principal Flute of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and a proud member of the Vancouver-based Standing Wave Ensemble, which won Ensemble of the Year at the 2017 Western Canadian Music Awards. She teaches at the University of British Columbia, as well as at the Vancouver Academy of Music.

James Campbell

Called “Canada’s pre-eminent clarinettist and wind soloist”, James Campbell has performed with the world’s finest orchestras, string quartets, and jazz ensembles. Both the BBC and The Times of London rated a Campbell recording of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet as the best available. Not one to restrain his musical imagination, Campbell joined forces with the Allegri String Quartet for Stolen Gems, an album that features an adventurous collection of works by composers as diverse as Percy Grainger, Edvard Grieg, and Dave Brubeck. In 1989, he was named Canada’s Artist of the Year and, in 1997, he was awarded the Order of Canada. Recent musical travels include New Zealand and Europe. James Campbell is a true national treasure.

Graham Campbell

Described as a “gifted guitarist and composer” (The Whole Note), Graham Campbell is a versatile musician based in Toronto. He performs regularly with psychedelic Brazilian rock band Os Tropies, reggae band The Human Rights, Brazilian singer-songwriter Bruno Capinan, and multi-instrumentalist Emilyn Stam. Whether lyrical and introspective, quirky and lighthearted, or rhythmic and danceable, Graham’s music is story-driven. His original works have been featured at festivals across Canada and Europe and, as an arranger, he has been commissioned by artists such as Dan Stacey, Bruno Capinan, and Robert Pilon. His original compositions are featured on As You Near Me, a collaboration with clarinetist and father James Campbell on Marquis Classics, and his pop songs can be heard on House, released by art pop band Words Around the Waist.

Tigran Saakyan

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Pianist Tigran Saakyan was born in Russia to Armenian parents. He received his Bachelors Degree in piano performance at Gnesins Russian Academy of Music in Moscow, followed by studies with Alexander Tselyakov at Brandon University in Manitoba where he was awarded a Masters degree. He has performed internationally in recitals and at piano competitions, winning first prize and the international prize in the 2010 Citta di Barletta in Italy as well as first prize in the 2016 MRMTA Scholarship Competition in Canada. He is an active solo performer and chamber musician, with interest in repertoire ranging from the early period to composers of the 21st century, and he is drawn to Armenian composers such as Komitas, Babajanyan, and Khachaturian. Tigran is also an educator, currently teaching in Calgary.

Artistic Director and Pianist

Alexander Tselyakov

Alexander Tselyakov’s deep knowledge of chamber music repertoire as well as his gift for beautiful programming has helped to shape the Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival from the very beginning. This Russian-born Canadian pianist has delighted audiences on the world’s stages since his professional debut at the age of nine. He’s the prize winner of many prestigious international competitions including bronze medal in the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow. He has been called a “phenomenal pianist” with “an intoxicating sound.” Recent performances in California, China, Russia, and Belarus include the International Conservatory Week Festival in St. Petersburg and Belarusian Music Autumn International Festival in Minsk. Alexander is Professor of Piano at Brandon University where he enjoys the challenges of nurturing the next generation of young musicians.