This Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30 at the Winnipeg Arts Gallery’s Main Hall, the Virtuosi Concert Series is putting on a concert called With Sick and Famished Eyes. Featuring the otherworldly, gorgeous voice of Canadian baritone Jonathan Adams, this is going to be fantastic concert that features 17th century song, traditional Indigenous music, and their own poetry.
Opening up the concert will be a string trio that consists of three of the finest young string players in Winnipeg today.
The Triad Trio consisting of violinist Bella Rodgers, violist Mikayla Sawatzky, and cellist Sophie Caron, were formed in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic and since then, they have won awards at the Winnipeg Music Festival and have been selected by Virtuosi’s Young Artist Program through their stringent selection process to open up this weekend’s concert.
The Triad’s are a direct product of the Winnipeg Youth Orchestras. The three first met through rehearsals with the Youth Strings. As they became older, they found themselves performing together in the Youth Concert Orchestra, and eventually the Youth Symphony Orchestra, where they are all members now.
The other big catalyst to the trio’s formation was the celebrated string teacher Laurel Howard. Howard has taught Youth Orchestra sectionals for many years and was also a teacher of both violinist Bella Rodgers and violist Mikayla Sawatzky. It was during the pandemic that Howard suggested the three members form a trio.
On Saturday night The Triad’s will be performing the fourth movement to Beethoven’s Serenade in D major Op.8. As Sophie Caron says, “It’s a really fun and challenging piece. It really demonstrates the technical abilities of each player.” Rodgers jokingly chimes in, “Sophie likes it because there is a really fun cello solo at the beginning.” Mikayla is also quick to point out, “There is lots of fun happening for the viola as well… it’s all over the place…it’s busy for all parts which is nice.”
The comradery and talent that each of the members of the trio has for the ensemble and the music is inspirational! Their performance on Saturday, March 2nd at 7:30 at the Winnipeg Arts Gallery’s Main Hall opening for Jonathan Adams is sure to be something really, really special. It will be very interesting to see these three very fine young musicians grow further into seasoned pros, as their careers progress.
For more details on Virtuosi’s sixth concert of the year featuring Jonathan Adams and the Triad Trio visit Virtuosi’s website.
