APRIL CONCERT

April 11, 2018 | 11AM

Unitarian Church of Vancouver
949 West 49th Avenue, Vancouver

The April concert features the 2017 Junior Piano Division Scholarship Winner, Markus Masaites, performing a recital featuring solo and chamber works by Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Bruch, and Marc-André Hamelin. Markus will be joined on stage by clarinetist Jonathan Lopez and violist Nina Weber. 

PROGRAMME

Beethoven - Piano Trio in B-flat major "Gassenhauer", Op. 11, I: Allegro con brio & II: Adagio
Brahms - Intermezzo, Op. 118, No. 2
Brahms - Ballade, Op. 118, No. 3
Chopin - Ballade No. 2, Op. 38
Marc-André Hamelin - Étude No. 5 "Tocatta grottesca"
Bruch - Nachtgesang from Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83, No.6
Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major "Grand Sonata", Op. 7, I:  Allegro molto e con brio

BIOGRAPHY

Hi! I’m Markus, I play the piano.

It all began when I was 6 years old; my mom asked if I wanted to try the piano, and I said “Sure!” However, it wasn’t until 5 years later when I began studying under the tutelage of Jean Brown that my musicianship truly began to grow. She recognized I had a special talent, but my technique was sloppy and my theory was non-existent (I didn’t know the difference between a half and a quarter note!) After a couple years of essentially relearning how to the play the piano, my work with Ms. Brown was finally paying off; I would receive almost always first or second prizes in all my competitions and for my grade 9 and 10 RCM exams I received 95% on each. Some of my bigger winnings include placing 1st twice at the Provincial Festival of the Arts (2014 and 2015), placing 1st at the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association Provincial Competition (2016), and most notably, receiving the Gold Medal for the highest ARCT exam mark in Canada for the year 2016 with a mark of 96%.

During the summers, I have attended music camps such as Morningside Music Bridge, Valhalla Summer School of Music, and Alberta PianoFest where I was able to work with esteemed teachers such as John Perry, Stéphane Lemelin, Murray McLachlan and Stéphan Sylvestre. Some of my favourite performances include the Young Artist’s Tour in 2016 where I toured 5 different cities in BC with solo concerts, my first solo charity concert in 2012 where I raised over $300 for Free the Children and in February 2018 I featured in a fundraiser concert for a local music scholarship association raising $1200 for local musicians.

Today, I am working through the final stages of my first year for a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at UBC. I’m working with the truly amazing Dr. Corey Hamm as my primary teacher and I have been growing more than ever as a musician under his tutelage. Additionally, I have co-founded the amazing (name in progress) Trio with violist Nina Weber and clarinetist Jonathan Lopez, two of my very best friends. We will be competing this Spring 2018 and I know we will be making a name for ourselves (even though we’re nameless).

Just a tiny bit about my performance style, because it’s better to hear for yourself ;). Just like I decided to write this bio in 1st person, my performance can be considered very 1st person: personal, immersive and passionate. What better way to share music than from me, to you.