MAGISTERRA SOLISTS INTERNATIONAL
Magisterra Soloists has become the face of visionary chamber music in Southern Ontario: based out of London, ON, Magisterra Soloists has a current string roster of over 35 international musicians hailing from more than 15 countries, who have performed in over 130 concert performances and 35 school outreach visits, in collaboration with over 35 international special guest artists (piano, winds, voice).
Founded in 2016 by internationallyacclaimed violinist, Artistic Director AnnetteBarbara Vogel, the ensemble is proud to call upon some of the finest chamber musicians worldwide, bringing first rate festivalstyle chamber music concerts to the region through its “Magisterra at the Museum” concert series and annual Christmas concert series, among others. Magisterra Soloists plays a significant role in invigorating and enriching the local artistic experience. Its carefully crafted programs engage timeless masterworks in tandem with countless intriguing new discoveries. Performances showcase the ensemble’s boundless curiosity and total commitment to sharing gems from the string chamber music literature with the community.
The ensemble’s interactive educational “Magisterra in Schools” program has reached already thousands of youth from kindergarten to high school. Magisterra Soloists is particularly passionate about bringing upclose exposure to the arts to underprivileged and rural school communities. The generous support of groups like TD Bank, the Ontario Arts Council, and Canada Life has furthermore allowed the ensemble to bring fully subsidized educational performances in both English and French to over three thousand school aged children.
Magisterra Soloists is committed to providing invaluable professional development to young talent. Its “onthe job” mentorship program, “Magisterra Fellows”, has already provided intensive artistic training to nearly two dozen deserving emerging artists, in support of their future careers as professional musicians.
For developing schoolaged string players, Magisterra also hosts an annual searchlight audition: the Young Performer’s Award. Recipients of the YPA earn a small stipend and the opportunity to perform solo with the ensemble. Join us at this year’s Baroque Christmas program for the chance to hear our three 2023 YPA recipients!
Magisterra Soloists is proud to serve both our local and national artistic community. As champions of Canadian art and artists (with commissioned works by Canadian composers Kevin Morse, Emily Doolittle, Edgar Suski, and Abby Richardson-Schulte), the ensemble has already successfully completed five multicity tours through both Canada and Brazil.
While COVID-19 has forced Magisterra to postpone a number of concerts and tours, the ensemble was able to run its inaugural Magisterra Summer String Institute (MSSI) in July 2021 with great success and booked out registration. Magisterra has built upon its successful first season through its expanded second edition of MSSI in July 2022. It played host to string students of all levels, age 4-25, and was held on location at Museum London and the e Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University. As a part of this expanded second season, a carefully-selected group of young emerging professionals have participated in a one-week intensive professional training academy, which have included daily masterclasses with COC concertmaster, Marie Bérard, and Victor Yampolsky and daily intensive rehearsals under artistic director, A.-B. Vogel. •
