It may be a bit after Valentine’s on February 21, but there’s still romance in the air as presented by Music Around The Corner in their event Be My Violin-tine. The afternoon concert celebrates love in its myriad forms — friends, family, and of course, romantic love.
Music Around The Corner was founded by Canadian violinist Emma Meinrenken and violist Lynn Sue-A-Quan in 2023. It’s a concert series that takes place every few months or so, and features Toronto-born and based classical musicians. Their concerts showcase masterworks from the Western classical repertoire, along with diverse classical and contemporary Canadian composers and arrangers.
Their goal is also to highlight local Toronto businesses, and live music venues that offer an intimate and welcoming atmosphere.
The February 21 concert takes place at Glad Day Lit, and features a program of:
- William Grant Still: ‘Lyric’ Quartet
- Aliayta Foon-Dancoes: 12th and Fraser
- Felix Mendelssohn: Quartet in A minor
Princeton based, Vancouver born composer and violinist Aliayta Foon-Dancoes has created music and other projects for concert halls, festivals, galleries, homes, close friends, and the internet. She operates at the intersection between disciplines, including visual arts, music, and more.
Performers
Four performers will bring the music to life.
Astrid Nakamura, violin
Astrid Nakamura has a busy career as a chamber, solo, and orchestral violinist. She completed her Master’s degree at Rice University, and her undergraduate degree at McGill University. Astrid is currently a Rebanks Fellow at the Glenn Gould School. She has performed with the Houston Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Musiqa Houston, Kinetic Ensemble and Ensemble Urbain, and as a chamber musician, at summer fellowships at Yellow Barn, Music Academy of the West, and the McGill International String Quartet Association. Alongside her performing career, Astrid is devoted to outreach, and teaches at public elementary schools in Houston as a DACAMERA member. She performs on the c.1830-1850 ’Eckhardt-Gramatte’ Chanot I violin, on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.
Diane Kim, violin
Korean-Canadian violinist Diane Dahyeon Kim has an international career as a musician. She was part of the National Youth Orchestra in 2022 and 2023, where she served as Co-Concertmaster, and received the Stephen Sitarski Leadership Award. Diane made her debut with Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto, and has performed as a member of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. She was also a substitute violinist at the Millenium Symphony in Seoul, South Korea, the SFK Euro Symphony and the Kärnten Symphony Orchester in Klagenfurt, Austria. Diane graduated from the Glenn Gould School’s Bachelor of Music program, followed by a Master’s degree at the Gustav Mahler Privat Universität. Diane is currently working towards an Artist Diploma program at the Glenn Gould School.
Shyler Macaggi, viola
Italian American violist Shyler Macaggi is a versatile musician with a background in orchestral, chamber, and solo performance. He began his studies at the age of 11 at the Thurman White Academy of the Performing Arts, and later with violist Dmitri Kourka of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Currently, Shyler is studying at the Glenn Gould School. Shyler was chosen as a semifinalist for the Johansen International String Competition, among several successful competition appearances internationally. Shyler Macaggi has served as principal violist of the Nevada All State Orchestra, CCSD Honor Orchestra, Las Vegas Young Artists Orchestra, and the Green Valley High School Symphony Orchestra. He performs on a viola made in 2021 by luthier Patrick Higgins.
Amanda Chi, cello
Taiwanese-Canadian cellist Amanda Chi has been performing since the age of seven. She began studying in Taipei, Taiwan, and at the age of 11, received a scholarship to the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists, and relocated to Toronto. Amanda earned a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance from New England Conservatory and a Master of Music from The Juilliard School, where she was a recipient of the Irene Diamond Graduate Fellowship and the Stonzek Memorial Fellowship. She also earned a Master of Musical Arts from Yale University, and is currently studying towards an Artist Diploma at The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music. Amanda has performed at concert venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, including Carnegie Hall, Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, and the National Concert Hall in Taipei, and she is a frequent substitute musician with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company.
The Concert
The concert takes place at Glad Day Lit at their new location at 32 Lisgar.
- Find tickets and other details [HERE].
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