Evelyn Creaser-Rumley, Violin
Evelyn Creaser-Rumley hails from an East Coast family of musicians. She completed a Bachelor of Music Violin Performance degree at the University of Western Ontario, and a Master of Music Performance degree at UBC. She also studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music with David Cerone. Evelyn’s musical mentors have included Gwen Thompson, Joseph Gingold, Sidney Harth and Pinchas Zuckerman .
Since her graduate student days, Evelyn has been a dedicated faculty member of the Vancouver Academy of Music, teaching violin, chamber music, orchestra and technique classes to students of all ages, from Suzuki to graduate level. She originated and taught the Academy’s theory programme for ten years.
Evelyn is one of the original members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. She has served as assistant concertmaster of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, and the Stratford Festival Ensemble. She has performed coast to coast, and toured Korea and China, with groups including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, the National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Vancouver Baroque Strings, Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra, and touring productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and Showboat. Evelyn was a long time member of the CBC Radio Orchestra, remounted presently as the National Broadcast Orchestra. She enjoys playing and recording with a wide variety of artists. Highlights include Cecilia Bartoli, James Ehnes, Ray Charles, Michael Buble, Ben Heppner, Page and Plant, Sarah
McLaughlin and Diana Krall.
Evelyn is active as a music festival adjudicator throughout the province. She performs as a soloist and chamber musician for various organizations, including the Health Arts Society, through which she brings music to a large number of seniors’ and health care facilities, a true labour of love.
She has had many award-winning students, some of whom have received medals for examinations and festivals, performed with the Vancouver Symphony and other orchestras, and gone on to prestigious music schools such as Eastman, McGill and the Cleveland Institute. Having raised a musical daughter at the Academy (presently in England performing with the London Symphony Orchestra), Evelyn appreciates the joys and values that music can bring to a child’s life.
Cicely Nelson, violin
Classically-trained violinist Cicely Nelson has completed extensive teacher training and certification in the Suzuki Method at the School for Strings in New York City, where she studied under Ekaterina Gerson, Allen Lieb, Louise Behrend, and Sasha Yudkovsky, and taught in the Start-Up Program. Before coming to the Vancouver Academy of Music, she was on the faculty at the Music Center of the Northwest in Seattle for two years. Originally from Chicago, she came to New York for college, studying at the Mannes College of Music and obtaining her B.A. from Columbia University. An avid performer and chamber musician, she has participated in the Ameropa (Czech Republic) and Bowdoin Music Festivals (Maine). She is presently pursuing her Master’s of Music in violin performance at the University of British Columbia, where she also serves as a violin instructor to music education students. Both her teaching and performing are informed by her background in movement and her ongoing teaching of pilates and yoga.
Rebecca Rittich, Violin
Rebecca Rittich was born into a musical family and began her musical studies at the age of six on both violin and piano. Her passion and love for the violin led her to continue her studies professionally at the University of Victoria where she studied chamber music extensively with the Lafayette String Quartet. Her principal violin teachers have included Nancy DiNovo, Sharon Stanis, and Ann Elliot-Goldschmidt. Rebecca has had many opportunities to participate and perform in masterclasses led by renown artists such as Pinchas Zuckerman, Amanda Forsyth, Bill Preucil, and Charles Castleman. Aside from performing Rebecca also had the amazing opportunity to study conducting with the late Janos Sandor.
Awarded a Bachelor of Music Degree from University of Victoria, Rebecca traveled to Europe to continue her studies with Hungarian violinist Denes Zsigmundy performing and touring Germany, Czech Republic, Prague and Austria.
Upon her return to B.C. Canada Rebecca performed as a baroque soloist with the Quasi Bene Orchestra under the direction of Adrian Albulescu. Her passion for teaching eventually led her to the east coast where she studied Suzuki pedagogy at Queens University in Kingston Ontario.
A passionate and enthusiastic teacher, Rebecca enjoys teaching and working with all ages and levels of ability. Rebecca’s students have succeeded in R.C.M. exams, Kiwanis Music Festival, and Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra auditions.
Kimi Hamaguchi, Violin
Kimi Hamaguchi was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with David Updegraff. Kimi attended the Vancouver Academy of Music through secondary school, and has also studied with Paul Kling and Renata Artman Knific. She has won scholarships to festivals including the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Le Domaine Forget and Le Centre D’Arts Orford in Quebec, the National Orchestral Institute in Washington DC, the National Repertory Orchestra in Colorado, USA, and the Britten-Pears Festival in Aldeburgh, England. Kimi has been awarded full membership to the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and has played with orchestras such as the Pittsburgh Ballet, Wheeling, Canton and Vancouver Symphonies.
Mark Luchkow, Violin/Viola
Originally a native of Edmonton, Mark Luchkow moved to Vancouver in 1993 to study viola with Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia. He received a Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance. He has been active in the Vancouver music scene, playing in orchestras such as the North Shore’s Sinfonia and the Vancouver Symphony, as well as chamber music with the Pro Nova String Quartet and the Twelfth Night Trio. Mark is an active member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and is dedicated to ongoing teacher training in violin and viola.
DeAnne Eisch, Violin
DeAnne Eisch began playing the violin at the age of 4 after her father attended a concert given by Suzuki’s students on their first North American visit to Chicago. DeAnne received her Bachelor of Music degree from DePaul University in Chicago and continued her studies in New York where she was a member of the National Orchestral Association Orchestra. Since moving to Canada she has played with the Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Radio Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and various chamber ensembles.
She currently performs regularly with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and is a dedicated teacher, fostering young violinists. She is the conductor of the VAM Junior Symphony and has been on the faculty of the Vancouver Academy of Music since 2002.
Jenna O’Connor, Violin
Jenna O’Connor has been a faculty member at the Vancouver Academy of Music since 2009. Ms. O’Connor completed a MMus Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Suzuki Pedagogy at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and a BMus Degree in Violin Performance from the University of Western Ontario where she studied with Robert Skelton and Annette-Barbara Vogel.
Ms. O’Connor’s love and dedication to teaching inspired her to take long-term Suzuki training from Patricia D’Ercole. Since then, Ms. O’Connor has taken further training from Alice-Joy Lewis, Carol Dallinger and Nancy Lokken.
She is committed to ongoing professional development as an active member of the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Suzuki Association of the Americas.
Li-Ling Liao, Violin
Li-Ling Liao was born in Taipei, Taiwan. She attended Ecole d’Humanite in Switzerland at the age of sixteen and also studied violin with Daniel Dodds at the Lucerne Conservatory. She then studied violin with Lynn Chang at the Boston Conservatory before completing a Master’s degree and graduate diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music, studying violin with famed pedagogue Eric Rosenblith and chamber music with James Buswell IV. Ms. Liao completed her studies at the University of Maryland, receiving her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree under the tutelage of Dr. James Stern.
Ms. Liao has appeared as a soloist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the New Westminster Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas American Asian Youth Orchestra, and on several occasions with the Taipei Century Symphony and the Taipei Century Youth Orchestra at the National Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan.
Ms. Liao has been frequently invited to perform as a soloist and chamber player at the International Musical Arts Institute in Fryeburg, Maine. Amongst Ms. Liao’s numerous performances are those in famed concert halls in Boston, Washington D.C., Dallas, Switzerland and Taiwan.
Since moving to the Vancouver area, Ms. Liao has played with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the North Shore Sinfonia, and is currently associate concertmaster of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra and the Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra. She is also the first violinist of the Pacific Rim String Quartet.
Nicholas Wright, Violin
Graduate of the Royal College of Music in London, Nicholas made his solo debut with the York Guildhall Orchestra, playing the Dvorak Romanze, which was recorded for Radio 3. He took up his place as a scholar at the Royal College, studying initially with Prof. Itzhak Rashkovsky and later with Prof. Rodney Friend. He has given recitals throughout the UK and abroad and has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra and the Royal Oman Symphony.
Nicholas has worked extensively with the major chamber and symphony orchestras in London, including the English Chamber and London Philharmonic Orchestras. He performs regularly as guest concertmaster with orchestras such as the Bournmouth Symphony, BBC Concert and Ulster Orchestra. Nicholas is a keen chamber musician and performs frequently with LSO ensemble quartets as first violin.
In addition to winning prizes at the Royal College, Nicholas has been generously supported by the Martin Musical and Craxton Memorial Funds. This has enabled him to study abroad with many eminent musicians including Ruggiero Ricci.
In 2003, he was made a member of the first violin section of the London Symphony Orchestra, where he holds the sub-principal post. Mr. Wright is currently Acting Principal Second Violin of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Rosalind O’Keefe, Head of Suzuki Violin
Rosalind O’Keefe, LRAM Royal Academy of Music (London, England) has been Head of the Suzuki Violin program at VAM and also a member of the Teacher Trainer Suzuki Association of the Americas since 1970.
Ms. O’Keefe first encountered the Suzuki method observing Yasuko Eastman in a program established in Edmonton, Alberta in the mid 1960′s.
In 1970, Rosalind, along with Marian Schreiber, set up the Suzuki Program for the then Community Music School, later to become the Vancouver Academy of Music. This was an exciting time as the Suzuki Method took hold of music education in North America, with many opportunities to observe Dr. Suzuki and other distinguished teachers.
In addition to her position at VAM, Ms. O’Keefe has taught summer workshops in Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Texas, Washington and, in Canada, the Langley Community Music School, and the Okanagan Summer School of the Arts.
Nicki Stieda, Violin
Nicki Stieda grew up in Vancouver, BC. After graduating in Violin performance from the University of British Columbia she moved to the Netherlands to continue her studies in Amsterdam with the renowned teacher Herman Krebbers. She played full time in the Netherlands Radio Orchestra for fifteen years prior to returning to Vancouver. In Canada Nicki has had an active career, playing regularly with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet touring Orchestra, as well as other freelance work and chamber music. A dedicated teacher, Nicki also enjoys coaching chamber music and being actively involved with the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra. She has adjudicated at various festivals in the lower mainland since 1995.
Paul Meister, Violin
Paul Meister began his violin studies at the age of nine with John Conrad in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He obtained a BMA at the University of Western Ontario where his teachers included Bob Skelton and Gwen Thompson. He later earned a graduate diploma in Suzuki Methodology with John Kendall.
His performance career includes playing in the Banff Centre Opera Orchestra, Symphony London, the Prince George Symphony, and the Victoria Symphony.
Paul served as District String Advisor for School District No. 57 where he spearheaded the district string program. During his years in Prince George he performed regularly in the “Friends of Chamber Music” which he founded.
Paul now divides his time between serving as a faculty member at VAM, his Port Moody Studio and watching his son play soccer.
Robert Rozek, Head of Violin
Robert Rozek graduated from the Juilliard School of Music where he studied with Ivan Galamian. Later he continued his studies at the Academia Chigiana as a violin student of Franco Gulli and Nathan Milstein, and a conducting student of Sergiu Celibidache.
Mr. Rozek’s performance career includes, leader of The Zurich Chamber Orchestra, leader of the Luzerner Kammersolisten, concertmaster – conductor of The Toscanini Orchestra of Parma, Italy, conductor and soloist at the Luzern Music Festival and solo concerts and recitals in many European and American cities.
Mr. Rozek is head of the violin department at the Vancouver Academy of Music. He also gives regular classes in Bergen and Oslo, Norway as well as in Zug, Switzerland at Astona International.
Lawrie Hill, Violin
Lawrie Hill has been a faculty member of VAM since 1981. Her former teachers include: Gwen Thompson, Tom Rolston, Ronald Sheen, and Yasuko Eastman.
Ms. Hill has been a member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra since 1985, and was a long standing member of the former CBC Radio Orchestra, now the National Broadcasting Orchestra.
Lawrie has toured many times with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and with several international shows, including: Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Showboat, and The Music of the Night Tour. Other artists that Lawrie has performed with and for include: Pavarotti, Cecilia Bartoli, Natalie Cole, John Denver, Lyle Lovett, Sarah McLaughlin, Diana Krall, Ray Charles, Led Zepplin, Michael Buble, The Rankin Family, and many others.
Ms. Hill was a devoted member of the former jazz string quartet, Babayaga for ten years.
Currently, apart from her professional engagements, Lawrie continues to teach young children with exceptional musical talent, guiding and nurturing the process to allow them to reach the height of their potential. Many former students have won international competitions and have performed as soloist with several professional orchestras across North America and the United Kingdom.
Jason Ho, Violin
A native of Vancouver, Jason Ho is a graduate of the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music where he studied with David Updegraff. Jason began his musical studies at the age of four with Don Lum and also with Professor Andrew Dawes at the University of British Columbia.
Jason Ho was a grand prize winner at the Canadian Music Competition, BC Festival of the Arts, UBC Concerto Competition, and Burnaby Clef Concerto Competition. Mr. Ho made his orchestral debut at the age of fourteen, and has served as concertmaster of the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra.
Jason is currently a member of the First Violin section of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Leanne Drewlo, Violin
Violinist and Violist, Leanne Drewlo has performed with many orchestras across Canada including the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestra, and the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, where she served as Principal Second Violin.
Leanne began violin studies at the age of four using the Suzuki Method. Ms. Drewlo earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria where she studied with Nancy DiNovo and the Lafayette String Quartet.
Since 2002, Ms. Drewlo has been an active violin and viola instructor with a passion for teaching the Suzuki Method.
Toni Stanick, Violin
Toni Stanick violinist, Bachelor of Music from University of Toronto and UBC, completed her post-graduate work with Jean-Jacques Kantorow at the Rotterdam Conservatorium.
Her early career focused on early childhood education, conducting the Surrey Junior Strings, and founding the Pacific Chamber Music Society – an intensive summer program for gifted youth.
Ms. Stanick is currently immersed in Vancouver’s new music scene, premiering numerous works for Sonic Boom, Hear and Now, and Vancouver Pro Musica. Toni’s own compositions have been heard on stages across Canada and Europe.
A member of the Vancouver Opera and Vancouver Film Orchestras, she is the founder and director of VIOLINPOWER! showcasing talent from across Canada and the U.S.
In 2010 she founded the JOY OF MUSIC, an annual benefit concert for the betterment of youth in our community. Ms. Stanick is on faculty at Vancouver Community College.
Joan Blackman, Violin
Joan Blackman, Associate Concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO), enjoys a vibrant musical life in our community. Besides playing in the VSO, she is sought after as a first class chamber musician in Canada.
Joan is an active teacher, giving master classes throughout B.C., and was on faculty for four years at SOAP, a BC orchestral training program. Joan has performed and recorded as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony, Victoria Symphony, CBC Radio Orchestra, and the Banff Festival Orchestra.
As Artistic Director of the Vetta Chamber Music and Recital Society, she programs and performs in a first class concert series which features the best of BC talent along with invited guests from afar.
Joan has also performed chamber music with premier groups such as the Penderecki String Quartet, Purcell String Quartet, Curio, Music in the Morning, Vancouver New Music, Turning Point Ensemble, and in recital broadcasts on CBC Radio.
She is a member of the acclaimed American String Project, which brings together concertmasters and soloists throughout North America, and has appeared in the Pender Harbour Chamber Music, Victoria Chamber Music, MusicFest Vancouver, and Hornby Festival.
Andrew Dawes, Violin and CMI Director
Professor Dawes was first violinist of the Orford String Quartet from 1965 to 1991 and first violinist of the Tokyo String Quartet from 1995 to 1996.
During his career he performed over three thousand concerts on six continents and made 60 recordings.
Professor Dawes has been awarded the Order of Canada, The Chalmers National Music Prize, and the Canada Council’s Molson Prize. He is Professor Emeritus of UBC and a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of McGill University.
Robin Wenham, Violin
Robin Wenham has over thirty years experience teaching violin in the Suzuki Method. She studied with Lorand Fenyves at the University of Toronto after receiving a Bachelor of Music and Teaching Certificate from UBC.
Ms. Wenham received teacher training in the Suzuki Method from John Kendall, Ronda Cole, Yuki Mori, James Maurer, and Mark Bjork. Robin has attended teaching symposiums at Indiana University and the Juilliard School.
Ms. Wenham has played in several orchestras including Symphony Canadiana, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, and the Atlantic Symphony.
Robin’s students have been award winners at the Canadian Music Competition, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Provincial Music finals.
