Angela Park, Pianist
Pianist Angela Park has established herself as one of Canada’s most sought-after pianists. Praised for her “stunningly beautiful pianism” (Grace Welsh Prize, Chicago), “beautiful tone and sensitivity” (American Record Guide), and for performing “with such brilliant clarity it took your breath away” (Chapala, Mexico), Angela’s versatility as both soloist and chamber musician has led to acclaimed performances across Canada, as well as in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Mexico.
Angela has performed for such series as Montreal’s Pro Musica, Ottawa Chamberfest, Parry Sound’s Festival of the Sound, Winnipeg Virtuosi, Debut Atlantic and Prairie Debut Tours, CBC Onstage, Orchestra London Canada, Sinfonia Toronto, Stratford Symphony, and the Northern Lights Music Festival in Mexico. She is a founding member of the award-winning Ensemble Made In Canada, the Mercer-Park Duo with cellist Rachel Mercer, and the AYR Trio with violinist Yehonatan Berick and cellist Rachel Mercer.
"Highlights from recent and upcoming seasons include concerto performances with Sinfonia Toronto, solo recital for the Piano Bravura series in Toronto, live concert recording of the Suites Hebraiques by Srul Irving Glick with James Campbell, Cameron Crozman, Wallace Halladay, Elissa Lee, Barry Shiffman, and Sharon Wei, tours across Canada with Ensemble Made In Canada, US tours with Lyrica Baroque, performances with Martin Beaver and members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet for the Toronto Summer Music Festival 2017.
Angela’s discography includes solo piano recordings, a recording with oboist Linda Strommen, a debut album as well as all-Canadian recording with cellist Rachel Mercer, and two recordings with Ensemble Made In Canada. She has recorded for such labels as Centrediscs, NAXOS Canadian Classics, and Enharmonic Records.
Angela has won numerous awards and prizes in major competitions both at home and abroad, including the International Grace Welsh Prize for Piano in Chicago, World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, Canadian National Music Festival, Honens International Piano Competition, and the Maria Canals International Piano Competition in Barcelona. Angela earned her MMus at the University of Toronto, and her DMA in Piano Performance from the Université de Montréal. Her main mentors and influential teachers include William Aide, James Anagnoson, Paul Stewart, and Jacob Lateiner.
From 2011-2014, Angela was Visiting Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano-Woodwinds at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. She has given master classes and educational outreach sessions for universities and communities across Canada, as well as at SUNY New Paltz, Stanford, and Indiana University in the United States. Since 2014, Ensemble Made In Canada has been Ensemble in Residence at Western University in London, Ontario. Angela currently resides in Toronto, Canada.
www.angelapark.com
Kaili Maimets, Flutist
Flutist, Kaili Maimets, is in demand as an orchestral performer, chamber musician, and soloist. She is currently Acting Second Flute and Piccolo of the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada (NACO) for 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 seasons, is tenured as the Second Flute & Piccolo of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony since 2016 and holds the Principal Flute position of London Symphonia since 2012. She has performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Ballet of Canada. Kaili has been featured soloist regularly with the Toronto Concert Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Flute and Harp concerto at Georgian Music in 2017. She is looking forward to returning to Georgian Music with Rachel and Angela.
Rachel Mercer, Cellist
Described as a "pure chamber musician" (Globe and Mail) creating "moments of pure magic" (Toronto Star), Canadian cellist Rachel Mercer has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician across five continents. Grand prize winner of the 2001 Vriendenkrans Competition in Amsterdam, Rachel is cellist of Ensemble Made In Canada, the Mercer-Park Duo, the AYR Piano Trio, Artistic Director of the "5 at the First" Chamber Music Series in Hamilton, and Principal Cello of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Rachel has given masterclasses across North America, South Africa and in Israel and is currently Artist-in-Residence at Western University in London ON. An advocate for new Canadian music, Rachel has commissioned and premiered works including a cello concerto by Kevin Lau, as well as solo and chamber work by Vivian Fung, Andrew Downing, Nicole Lizée, Abigail Richardson-Schulte, Sarah Slean, Samy Moussa, John Burge and Omar Daniel. Rachel can be heard on the Naxos, Naxos Canadian Classics, Centrediscs, Dalia Classics and EnT-T record labels, and released a critically acclaimed album of the Bach Suites on Pipistrelle in March 2014, recorded on the 1696 Bonjour Stradivarius Cello from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.
