The Forza String Quartet, one of British Columbia’s finest youth ensembles, makes its local debut this Saturday, July 5, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Hilda’s Church in Sechelt.
Gifted Sunshine Coast violinist Simon Gidora is the second violin of this wonderful quartet. The concert is a fundraiser to help defray travelling costs for the Forza Quartet’s participation in the 2014 National Music Festival this summer in Kelowna.
Each year, the festival brings together the best students from every province to perform, to have workshop sessions with Canada’s best adjudicators and to compete for the top prizes in Canada. The young musicians performing in the festival are the best young classical musicians in Canada, and many will go on to successful careers in music.
Representing British Columbia at this event is a significant achievement for the Forza String Quartet.
2014 has been an important year for the ensemble. They were the winners of the Vancouver’s Friends of Chamber Music’s Young Chamber Music Players Competition, and won the Audience Choice Award. They also placed first in the Vancouver Academy of Music’s Chamber Group competition.
The quartet is under the coaching guidance of the eminent Canadian violinist Andrew Dawes. Simon has won prizes in the Sunshine Coast Festival of the Performing Arts, and has been the recipient of several scholarships from the Coast Recital Society. He was the runner up in the Solo Junior Strings Category at the 2014 Provincial Music Competition in Penticton.
The other members of the quartet include: Esther Hwang, first violin, Alina Khvatova, viola, and Albert Seo, cello.
The Forza Quartet will perform music by Schubert and Shostakovitch.
Tickets are available at the door, $10 adults/seniors, $5 for students.
