{"id":125426,"date":"2026-06-25T10:45:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:45:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=125426"},"modified":"2026-06-25T10:45:55","modified_gmt":"2026-06-25T14:45:55","slug":"interview-passing-the-torch-a-chat-with-the-incoming-tsm-artistic-director-william-fedkenheuer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/06\/25\/interview-passing-the-torch-a-chat-with-the-incoming-tsm-artistic-director-william-fedkenheuer\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW Passing the Torch: A Chat with the Incoming TSM Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Violinist,
Violinist, fiddler, and Toronto Summer Music Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Calling all Toronto music fans: July is almost here! Can Toronto Summer Music (TSM) be far behind?<\/p>\n

If you are both a music fan and a Jays fan, or a backyard BBQ devotee, or someone yearning to escape to your cottage in the country, don\u2019t neglect your summer classical music fix.<\/p>\n

Thanks to Toronto Summer Music, we have great music right in town. Its history can be traced back to the summers of 2004 and 2005, when the Silver Creek Music Foundation presented chamber music workshops and mini-series of public concerts featuring the likes of the Gryphon Trio, Scott St. John, and Shauna Rolston, to name a few.<\/p>\n

TSM History<\/h2>\n

Now it\u2019s 2026, and we\u2019ve enjoyed two decades \u2014 minus two COVID summers \u2014 of beautiful music in our fair city, since its inaugural season of 2006 under the visionary stewardship of its founding Artistic Director Agnes Grossmann. Many great artists have come to TO in July, not just to perform but also to give masterclasses and to mentor aspiring young musicians.<\/p>\n

In 2010, Grossmann bade farewell to the Festival, and her successor, Douglas McNabney, violist and former Artistic Director of Montr\u00e9al\u2019s Domaine Forget, continued her tradition of excellence. During McNabney\u2019s tenure, he spearheaded the development of the Academy arm of the Festival into a full-fledge fellowship program for the many gifted chamber musicians, singers, and collaborative pianists.<\/p>\n

From its modest beginnings, the Academy transformed into a premiere training ground for young artists, a program that is recognized internationally. The popularity of Festival arm continued to grow, evidenced by rising attendance and critical acclaim from the media and audiences.<\/p>\n

In 2016, McNabney passed the torch of leadership to Jonathan Crow, the concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. TSM continued to grow and flourish under Crow\u2019s leadership in public visibility, in attracting big-name artists, and in innovative programming.<\/p>\n

Selling summer music is never easy, as Torontonians love their escape to cottage country or firing up the backyard barbecue. But, TSM has managed to get bums in the seats, by offering attractive programs that music lovers want.<\/p>\n

Last September, upon the conclusion of the 2025 Festival, the TSM artistic leadership was passed onto violinist William Fedkenheuer. A Calgary native and a member of the celebrated Mir\u00f3 Quartet, Will, as he\u2019s affectionately called by his friends, wears multiple hats: as a violinist, fiddler, teacher, coach, consultant, artistic director, and family man \u2014 to two boys, two dogs, and wife, Leah.<\/p>\n

\"Violinist,
Violinist, fiddler, and Toronto Summer Music Artistic Director William Fedkenheuer (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

William Fedkenheuer<\/h2>\n

It was the fiddler on his CV that caught my eye \u2014 here\u2019s a classical musician who crosses musical boundaries.<\/p>\n

In fact, the fiddler part goes back to his childhood days. He was named Canadian National Fiddle Champion way back in 1989. He made his solo debut with the Calgary Philharmonic at the tender age of 17. He received his classical music training from the top, having attended Rice and Indiana Universities, plus Music Academy of the West, Tanglewood and the Steans Music Institute at Ravinia.<\/p>\n

Fedkenheuer is Professor of Practice in Violin and Chamber Music at the University of Texas at Austin\u2019s Butler School of Music, where he co-directs the Young Professional String Quartet Program and mentors emerging artists. In addition to his teaching duties, he is also a well-known consultant and coach, working with aspiring artists.<\/p>\n

In preparation for this year\u2019s Festival, I interviewed Will by Zoom recently, and although it was only a virtual encounter, his personal warmth came through the cyberspace in abundance. His affable personality and charismatic persona tell me that he teaches by inspiration and passion, making him the ideal mentor in a summer program like TSM\u2019s Academy.<\/p>\n

The Mir\u00f3 Quartet (Daniel Ching, violin; William Fedkenheuer, violin; John Largess, viola; Joshua Gindele, cello) perform Mozart: String Quartet in B-flat Major, K 458, \u201cHunt\u201d, movement i.:<\/p>\n