NB Summer Music Festival Announces Artists

Sonja Adams, cello, the Saint John String Quartet.

The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival (NBSMF) is a professional classical chamber music festival now in its second decade. Their mission is to present the finest in classical chamber music to Atlantic Region audiences. They do this by specifically featuring top Canadian talent in concert with established regional performers. The festival runs throughout the month of August at various venues in Fredericton. For more information visit http://nbsummermusicfestival.ca.

Earlier this week festival organizers announced the participating artists including the Saint John String Quartet, Peter Allen, Sally Dibblee, Chloe Dominguez, Nadia Francavilla, Richard Hornsby, Andrew Miller, and Robert Uchida. Below is a profile of the Saint John String Quartet and its members, other artist profiles will be released in coming weeks.

Saint John String Quartet

David Adams, violin, the Saint John String Quartet.

The Saint John String Quartet can be often heard on CBC Radio, the Internet and on their four award-winning CDs including their 2011 recording of Jacques Hétu’s String Quartet No. 2 (which attracted a JUNO nomination in the “Classical Composition of the Year” category), and their 2006 CD Saint John String Quartet & Sally Dibblee, which won the ECMA “Best Classical Album of the Year” award.

With an active concert schedule of over 125 concerts a year, the Saint John String Quartet has played for the Prime Minister of Canada, HRH Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Charles, as well as at prestigious festivals such as the Tochigi Music Festival in Japan, the Arcady Festival in the USA, and the Forbidden City Festival in Beijing, China.

The Saint John String Quartet comprises violinists David Adams and Laurissa Chitty, violist Christopher Buckley, and cellist Sonja Adams.

Chris Buckley, viola, the Saint John String Quartet.

David Adams, violin
David Adams, a native of Winnipeg Manitoba, completed his Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of Toronto and went on to pursue his career as a professional violinist. With many scholarships and first prizes to his credit, Adams has gained critical acclaim as a soloist, conductor, chamber and orchestral musician. His current activities include artist-in-residence at the UNB’s Saint John campus, playing principal violin with the Saint John String Quartet and concert master for Symphony New Brunswick and Atlantic Sinfonia.

Along with his active performing schedule Adams teaches privately, performs in school concerts, and coaches youth orchestras. David has received the New Brunswick Merit Award, and in 2003 he received the Golden Jubilee Medal for his contribution to Music in New Brunswick.

Sonja Adams, cello
After earning a performance degree from the University of Toronto, cellist Sonja Adams established herself in Saint John where she has become an active member of the New Brunswick cultural community. Sonja performs with the awarding winning Saint John String Quartet and Symphony New Brunswick. She is a passionate educator, coaching and teaching young people throughout the province.

Christopher Buckley, viola
Christopher Buckley grew up in Quispamsis, New Brunswick and is presently a member of the Saint John String Quartet, Symphony New Brunswick, Atlantic Sinfonia, is Musician-in-Residence at UNB Saint John, and is a coach with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. Chris currently lives in Saint John with his wife Elizabeth and their son, Seth.

Laurissa Chitty, violin, the Saint John String Quartet.

Laurissa Chitty, violin
Heralding from Vancouver, British Columbia, Laurissa Chitty grew up on the West Coast and began her violin studies at age seven. She accredits her passion for violin playing to a Junior Strings program which eventually put her on the path of pursuing serious musical studies. Still thriving with this youthful energy, she has successfully obtained a Master of Music from the University of Ottawa studying with David Stewart, and a Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University studying with Jerzy Kaplanek from the Penderecki String Quartet.

Winning the Kiwanis Nationals in Chamber Music 2007 with her piano trio Hammers and Bows was a highlight which strengthened her zeal for chamber music.

She is an alumni of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2006, 2008), and has attended musical training programs in Ireland, Norway, Quebec, and Northern British Columbia. She has played with orchestras in Ontario and teaches both privately and with a studio. Laurissa loves music because she believes it breaches all language and cultural boarders; she believes in the power of music for radical change and healing.

The New Brunswick Summer Music Festival also includes artists: Peter Allen, Sally Dibblee, Chloe Dominguez, Nadia Francavilla, Richard Hornsby, Andrew Miller, and Robert Uchida. For more information visit http://nbsummermusicfestival.ca.