Two accomplished and internationally active faculty members of the University of Victoria School of Music bring an eclectic program of works to Music on Sunday at TOSH on Oct. 5.
Suzanne Snizek received her undergraduate degree in flute performance at the University of Indiana-Bloomington. While an undergraduate student she was a winner in the national “Flute Talk” Magazine Competition. Her Master degree (in flute performance) was completed at University of the Arts (Philadelphia) where she studied with Julius Baker. While at University of the Arts, she won first place in the concerto competition, and subsequently performed the Jolivet Concerto. She also won second place in the New York Flute Club Competition and won scholarships to attend Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Walfrid Kujala’s (Chicago Symphony) summer master classes at Northwestern University and Julius Baker’s Danbury summer master classes.
A native of Vancouver, Canada, Michelle Mares began her musical studies at the age of four. As a student of the Suzuki Piano Method, she amassed a great deal of performing experience from an early age as a child prodigy. She won top prizes in competitions as a youngster, including the Robert Casadesus International Competition (1993) and at the age of 17, top prize at the 1988 Geneva International Competition.
She has attracted the attention of some of the world’s most eminent musicians studying with Canada’s own Jane Coop at UBC and Leon Fleisher at the Peabody Conservatory.
She received her performance degree at the Mozarteum Conservatory in Salzburg, Austria in 1995. Subsequently, she moved to London, England to work with Alfred Brendel and was also privileged to come into the orbit of the great Hungarian composer, György Kurtag who had an enormous influence on her as a musician.
It was at this point that she decided to settle in Europe.
She has lead an active performing career in both Canada and Europe spanning the entire repertoire as a soloist and chamber musician.
The performance, co-presented by Quality Foods, is from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $16; reservations are recommended. Call 250-752-6133.
— Submitted by TOSH