SSO - Saskatoon Symphopny Orchestra

Master Series Concerts & Tickets

Guest Artist Adrian Anatawan
Master Series 8 - May 23, 2009

Born in Canada, twenty-two year old violinist Adrian Anantawan began his violin training at age nine. At sixteen he earned a position with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, ranking second nationally in his audition the next year. His participation in the NYO gave him the opportunity to perform with the National Art Council Orchestra of Canada and tour with conductors Mario Bernardi and Kazuyoshi Akiyama. Adrian was one of seven young musicians from Toronto selected to participate in the National Arts Centre’s 2006 Summer Music Institute – a program that brings together some of the world’s most promising classical performers, composers and conductors.

Adrian has won many music competitions, received numerous awards, and garnered international media attention. In 2002 he won the VSA Rosemary Kennedy International Young Soloist award which included a debut at the Kennedy Center.

Since 2001, he has been studying at the Cutis Institute of Music with a full merit scholarship. In the summer of 2004, Adrian won a scholarship for the Young Artist Program, under Pinchas Zukerman, at the National Art Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. He also represented Canada's Cultural and Art Showcase at the Olympics in Athens. He has performed at the Glenn Gould Studio as part of their Music Around Us -New Generation Series and debuted with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 2005.

Anantawan was born without a right hand. He is an active member and spokesperson for the CHAMP (Child Amputee) Program of The War Amps and Bloorview Kids Rehab Center (Toronto).

As part of Abilities Arts Festival 2005, Adrian Anantawan was a featured performer at the festival’s evening gala held at the Glenn Gould Studio.

In 2006, after enjoying a full merit scholarship, Anantawan graduated from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. While there, he studied under Ida Kavafian and Yumi Ninomiya Scott.

Currently, he divides his time between studying towards a Master's degree in music with a full scholarship at Yale University under Peter Oundjian and performing as soloist throughout Canada and the United States.

Professional achievements

  1. White House appearance in the presence of the First Lady to help launch the Global Cultural Initiative, sponsored by VSA arts, 2006
  2. Juno Nominee for Best Children Album “A Butterfly in Time”, 2006
  3. National broadcast of TSO debut concert by CBC, Jan 1/2006
  4. National broadcast of Glen Gloud Studio recital, Music around Us by CBC, 2006
  5. Nominee for Terry Fox Hall of Fame, 2005
  6. Galaxie Rising Star Award, CBC, 2005
  7. Starling Award for Most Promising Young Soloist