{"id":118899,"date":"2025-10-27T15:49:20","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=118899"},"modified":"2025-10-27T15:49:20","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T19:49:20","slug":"feature-canada-virtuoso-ensemble-makes-debut-baroque-program-november-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/10\/27\/feature-canada-virtuoso-ensemble-makes-debut-baroque-program-november-2\/","title":{"rendered":"FEATURE | The Canada Virtuoso Ensemble Makes Its Debut With A Baroque Program On November 2"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"L-R:
L-R: Maestro Carlos Bastidas; oboist Beverly Wang; violinist David Baik (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In partnership with Canada Virtuoso Ensemble<\/h3>\n

Toronto welcomes a brand new professional chamber ensemble with the Canada Virtuoso Ensemble, a group made up of some of Canada\u2019s most talented young musicians. The Ensemble makes its debut with an afternoon of rich Baroque music in Toronto on November 2.<\/p>\n

The program is titled Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons & Handel\u2019s Water Music, and spotlights the talents of two rising Canadian soloists \u2014 violinist David Baik, and oboist Beverly Wang.<\/p>\n

Maestro Carlos Bastidas conducts the newly formed Canada Virtuoso Ensemble, and he\u2019s got ambitious plans for the talented group.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis elite ensemble of musicians will represent Canada\u2019s musical excellence on the international stage, beginning with a tour across Latin America,\u201d Bastidas comments.<\/p>\n

Audiences have the chance to experience some of Canada\u2019s next gen of classical superstars in concert, guided by the experienced Maestro; find more information about the members here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Soloists<\/h2>\n

Both of the concert\u2019s soloists are poised to launch international careers.<\/p>\n

Davie Baik, violin<\/h3>\n

Violinist David Baik is a native of South Korea, and came to Canada as a child. He studied music at the University of Toronto, where he earned his Bachelor\u2019s degree under the mentorship of Jonathan Crow. After graduating, he was awarded a fellowship at the Schulich School of Music in Montr\u00e9al, where he continued his studies with Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al Concertmaster Andrew Wan.<\/p>\n

During 2024\/25, David continued advanced studies as a resident of the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Residency Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music.<\/p>\n

His technical and expressive artistry has been recognized by several awards that include the 2023 Peter-Mendell Award from the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Foundation, and the Grand Prize at the 2021 NAC Bursary Competition. He also took home back to back First Prizes at the 2016 and 2017 Canadian Music Competition, along with other awards that include the Sturdevant Prize, Gerhard Kander Graduating Award, Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Fellowship, and the Gabriella Dory Prize.<\/p>\n

As a performer, he\u2019s collaborated with widely acclaimed artists such as Charles Richard Hamelin, Jennifer Koh, Andrew Wan, Desmond Hoebig, Jonathan Crow, Peter Bruns, Camden Shaw, and Philip Chiu. David has appeared as a soloist with Sinfonia Toronto, the Toronto Summer Music Festival Orchestra, Durham Chamber Orchestra, North York Symphony Orchestra, and the Ottawa Youth Orchestra. He has also appeared as a soloist at the Toronto Summer Music festival, Schiermonnikoog Festival in The Netherlands, Geneva International String Academy, Aspen Music Festival, Netherlands String Quartet Academy, Orford Music Festival, and the Meadowmount School of Music.<\/p>\n

David is a dedicated chamber musician, and his string quartet, the Stelios Quartet has won several awards, including the 2024 Schiermonnikoog Festival Audience Award and the Grand Prize at the 2023 McGill Chamber Music Competition. Founded in 2023 in Montr\u00e9al, the ensemble has performed in the Netherlands and throughout Qu\u00e9bec.<\/p>\n

Baik plays on the 1871 Vuillaume violin (\u2018Messiah\u2019 Strad) as the winner of the 2023 Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank competition.<\/p>\n

Beverly Wang, oboe<\/h3>\n

Beverly has been playing the oboe since the age of eight, and began studying music in Toronto, where she performed as a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra for six years. She went on to study at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where she recently graduated.<\/p>\n

She has performed as the Principal Oboe of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra since 2013, and as a guest soloist for ensembles across North America, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and National Arts Centre Orchestra, and a number of chamber ensembles. Beverly has worked with renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Fabio Luisi, Christoph Eschenbach, Jahja Ling, and Yannick N\u00e9zet-S\u00e9guin, and others, and at prominent music festivals, including the Aspen Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival, Pacific Music Festival, Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Taipei Music Academy & Festival, Artosphere Festival, Domaine Forget International Music Festival, and as part of the Young Artists Program with the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC).<\/p>\n

Alongside her performing career, Beverly is also passionate about music education, and helping the next generation of oboists find their voice.<\/p>\n

Maestro Bastidas<\/h3>\n

Internationally acclaimed conductor and multi-instrumentalist Carlos Bastidas studied bassoon, composition, conducting, and chamber music at the University of Ottawa.<\/p>\n

As a child in his native Colombia, Bastidas was enamoured of Arthur Fiedler and his iconic Boston Pops Orchestra, and on arriving in Canada, he was inspired to found a similar organization \u2014 the Ontario Pops Orchestra (OPO).<\/p>\n

Along with his role as Music Director of the OPO, Maestro Bastidas is Emeritus Conductor of the Durham Chamber Orchestra, and has also guest conducted with the Matanzas Symphony Orchestra in Cuba.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the importance of digital media early, Bastidas has developed a solid online following in addition to his live performing career in order to spread the joy of classical music beyond the region.<\/p>\n

With OPO, Bastidas released the album Breaking Barriers digitally in 2022, followed by a CD release in 2023. The release features music by Bach, Vivaldi, Holst and Mahler, and spotlights three Black women soloists as part of OPO\u2019s commitment to inclusivity and diversity.<\/p>\n

Vivaldi\u2019s Four Seasons & Handel\u2019s Water Music: The Music<\/h2>\n

The program features four works of the Baroque period:<\/p>\n