March 9, 2015

YOUNG NS PIANIST ANDREW SON WINS 2015 DEBUT ATLANTIC AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE!

HALIFAX, NS – Debut Atlantic is pleased to announce that Nova Scotia pianist Andrew Son is the winner of the 2015 Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence. Quickly emerging as a top artist on both the piano and violin, 15 year old Andrew has been busy climbing the competition ranks. Currently a student at the Halifax Grammar School, he studies piano with Betty Ro from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and violin with Professor Philippe Djokic of Dalhousie University.

Renowned Canadian pianist and past Chair of the Board of Debut Atlantic Robert Kortgaard said of this year’s recipient:

Debut Atlantic congratulates Andrew Son our 2015 Young Artist Award recipient. It is our mandate to encourage and support the next generation of talented young Atlantic Canadians. Andrew’s accomplished performance displayed a strong technique and musical understanding that will become the foundation of what we hope will be a happy artistic journey. There’s no doubt that his teachers, family and friends have been a big factor in his success so far. Debut Atlantic is happy to be part of the support team and we acknowledge the dedication and hard work he has devoted to his musical studies. All the best, Andrew.

Established in 1999, the Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence is awarded annually to an Atlantic Canadian high school music student as chosen by a member of our distinguished alumni. The award recognizes talented youth and is designed to support and encourage the development of young musicians in Atlantic Canada. The Award consists of a $1,000 cash prize and an opportunity for the recipient to perform as a special guest at a Debut Atlantic concert.

Andrew will receive his award and be a featured guest in a Debut Atlantic concert on Friday, March 27^th at the Chester Playhouse in Chester, NS with Debut Atlantic artist, pianist Lucas Porter. He will also be featured at The Indian River Festival in PEI on June 27^th as part of their Youth Legacy Concert.

Please see enclosed for Andrew Son’s full artist biography.

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Full details on Debut Atlantic’s concert seasons and education programs can be found at www.debutatlantic.ca

 

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For further information, please contact:

Mhiran Faraday – Executive Director or

Erin Sparks – Program Officer

Debut Atlantic

902.429.6812

mdfaraday@debutatlantic.ca

erin@debutatlantic.ca

 

Andrew Son, piano

BIOGRAPHY

Halifax native Andrew Son is emerging as a top artist on both the piano and violin and has completed his RCM Grade 10 certificate requirements on both instruments. Currently fifteen years old and attending the Halifax Grammar School, he began his musical studies at the age of five, studying piano with Oksana Zotova and violin lessons at age six. He now studies piano with Betty Ro from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and violin with Professor Philippe Djokic of Dalhousie University.

Already with many accolades, Andrew placed third at the Canadian Music Competition National Final in Montreal in 2009 for violin and in 2010 placed third in the National Final in Edmonton for piano. He has received the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teacher Association trophy from the Kiwanis Music Festival four times in 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. In 2012, he placed second in the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition for piano and was winner of the String Music Atlantic String Student Award for violin. Andrew was the runner-up for the Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival Rose Bowl prize for piano in 2012 and 2013 and the Provincial Finalist for violin in 2012 and 2013.

Also the recipient of many scholarships, from 2009 to 2014 consecutively, Andrew was awarded the Isabella McAlpine Wickwire Music Foundation Scholarship from the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts and in 2014 received a major scholarship from the Nova Scotia Talent Trust.

In 2012, Andrew joined the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra and has been the Concert Master since 2013. Most recently, Andrew participated in the 2014 National Final for the Canadian Music Competition for piano in 2014 in Quebec City. Also, in 2015, he will be a representative of Nova Scotia at the Canadian Federal Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in Vancouver.  In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing tennis and reading.