Congratulations to all!
Ainsley Mercer (BMus 2025) has been awarded the UVic Bishop Travel Award and will attend the Provincial round of the Canadian Music Festival in June.
Ainsley Mercer (BMus 2025) has been selected as a senior competitor in the Provincial round of Festival (held in Ft. St. John, British Columbia this year). She has also been invited to perform the Martin Ballade at the Woodwinds, Brass and Classical guitar “Highlights Concert” on 25 April at 7 pm in PTY recital hall held at UVic) and has received the Senior Outstanding Accompanied solo award.
Spencer Leong (BMus 2027) has been selected as a winner in the UVIc annual concerto competition. He will be performing the Carmen Fantasie by Borne with the UVIc Wind Symphony in the coming season (2024-25).
Ainsley Mercer (BMus 2025) has won the prestigious UVic Musical Arts Award for 2024. This is an annual award given to a third-year student for outstanding musical artistry and determined by a faculty panel adjudicated live performance.
Bella Nguyen (BMus 2026) has been accepted to the 2024 Orford summer music school.
Eva Bradávková (MMus 2024) has been subbing with the Victoria Symphony during their 2023-24 season. She has also been invited to audition for the Victoria Symphony second flute and piccolo position to be held April 2024.
Spencer Cowie Leong (Bmus 2027) has advanced from the semi-finals and has been selected as a finalist for the UVIc annual concerto competition, where he will be performing the Carmen Fantasie in April 2024.
Natalie Zheng (MMus 2023) received the Gold medal in the 10th Macau International Art Open Competition in March 2024.
Eva Bradávková (MMus 2024) has been chosen as a trainee in the Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra Academy in Ostrava CZ for the 2024 season, from spring through July 2024.
Spencer Leong Cowie (BMUS 2027) has been chosen as a finalist for the 2024 Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble concerto competition in Vancouver BC. Spencer will be performing the Carmen Fantasie by Francois Borne.
Eva Bradávková (MMUS 2024) received a $1400 additional in- course bursary from the UVIc School of Music to support her recital collaborative work. Eva presented this graduating recital on 11 December 2023, which was formally assessed as “exceptional” by her supervisory committee.
Bella Nguyen (BMus 2026) was awarded a Frances Druce UVic student travel award ($1500) to support her attendance at the 2023 NFA convention where she performed in the NFA collegiate flute choir (under the direction of Dr. Lisa Garner Santa).
Eva Bradávková (MMus 2024) received the first prize in the “Emerging artist woodwind category” of the 2023 Federation of Canadian Music Festivals National music festival. You can hear her prize winning performance of Griffes Poem (chosen by the competition organisers from a full recital program she recorded and submitted earlier this summer) here: Listen and watch here (Eva performs at 42:32 min. mark): https://youtu.be/xW49ByerXnM
Bella Nguyen (BMus 2026) has received the Senior excellent performance award from the Quail Rock Foundation through GVPAF and has been recommended to advance to the Provincial (PABC) Festival, held in Penticton BC this year.
Eva Bradávková (MMus 2024) has received a National Festival Candidate award in GVPAF, and has been recommended as a competitor in the Emerging Artist stream of National (FCMF) Festival in the local stream qualifying round. She has also been invited to perform Hétu’s Aria at the Woodwind, Brass and Classical guitar highlights concert on 4 May at 7 pm at the Knox Presbyterian Church in Victoria BC.
Bella Nguyen (BMus 2026) has been accepted into the 2023 National Flute Association collegiate flute choir, and will be attending the NFA convention in Phoenix in August 2023.
Bella Nguyen (BMUS 2026) received a VKURA (undergraduate research award of $7500). This award will support a 12 week summer research internship, supervised by Dr. Snizek. Bella will be exploring issues of identity in a newly created multi-movement work for solo flute.
Eva Bradavkova (MMUS 2024) has been selected as a finalist in the 2023 UVIC concerto competition (performing Griffes Poem) held April 2023.
Eva Bradávková (MMus 2024) was recently invited to serve as principal flute in the GVYO (Greater Victoria youth orchestra).
Thomas Law (BMus 2015) was recently selected as one of two finalists for principal in the Okanagan Symphony & will be acting principal flute for half the 2022-23 season. He is also teaching at the Vancouver Academy of music (flute) and Capilano University (flute choir).
Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) joined the military reserves and is on a full time contract teaching flute lessons and masterclasses to military personnel all over Canada. He also maintains a private studio in Victoria BC and frequently subs with the Saskatoon symphony.
Bella Nguyen (BMus 2026) was accepted into the Valhalla summer school of music in New Denver (BC) where she will work with flutists Lauren Eselson and Mary Sullivan.
Lauren Debeljak (BMus 2025) was accepted into the Greater VIctoria Youth orchestra for their 2022-23 season . She was also recently accepted into the Valhalla summer school (northern BC).
Connie Goetz (BMus 2022) was accepted to UBC’s MLIS (Masters in Library Information Science) graduate program for fall 2023 where she plans to focus on music librarianship.
Ada QIan (BMus 2020 and MMus 2022) won the 2021 Platinum Prize in the Quebec International Music competition in the professional division.
Jen Messelink (BMus 2013) just received an award from McGill University! https://www.mcgill.ca/music/channels/news/2020-2021-teaching-award-winner-jennifer-messelink-331295
Connie Goetz (BMus 2022) has been awarded a 2022 JCURA (Jamie Cassels undergraduate research award)!
Ada Qian (MMus 2022) was awarded an Eric Schwandt memorial graduate scholarship to support her continuing MMus studies.
Ada Qian (MMus 2022) has been accepted into the 2021 Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute, where she will work with members of the Vancouver Symphony as well as with famed pedagogue Leone Buyse.
Keren Xu (BMus 2021) Her 2021 graduating recital was recognised with the rare “pass with distinction” recital mark.
Keren Xu (BMus 2021) has been accepted to both Memorial University graduate program (where she would study with Dr. Michelle Cheramy) and the graduate flute program at University of Ottawa (where Joanna G’froerer will be replacing Camille Churchfield who is retiring).
Keren Xu (BMus performance stream 2021) was awarded a scholarship for early music study at UVIc through a cooperative program with Early Music Vancouver and Victoria Baroque, a pilot program at UVic.
Lynette Lai (BMus Musical Arts 2014) recently completed a Bachelor of Music Therapy program at Capilano University, and will be working as a music therapist at the Victoria Conservatory of Music after completing her current internship there.
Sara Page (BMus in composition and flute performance 2013) continued her studies at Emily Carr University of Art and Design (Bachelor in Media Arts 2020). She recently received multiple awards for her short indie film “Revenge of the Super Mom.” See https://www.saraannepage.com/
Jamie Pambrun (BMUS Musical Arts 2019) was hired by Long and McQuade (White Rock branch) as their new lesson coordinator. She is completing training until late Jan 2020 at the Langley location and then begins her new full time position in White Rock.
Keren Xu (BMus performance 2021) has received a 2019-20 JCURA award (Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research) Award! This prestigious $1500 award will support Keren’s study in the coming year at UVic.
Keren Xu (BMus 2021) has been selected as a flutist with the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra starting Sept 2019.
Jamie Pambrun (BMus 2019) has been hired as interim secretary for the UVic Music School.
Bailey Finley (BMus Musical Arts 2017) has recently been hired by the Victoria Symphony as their box office coordinator.
Jasmine Riseley (BMus Musical Arts 2019) has been hired at the Victoria Conservatory of Music as a Front of house coordinator and manager for their concert events.
Monica Mun (BMus Musicology 2018) has been selected to be a Tanglewood Library Fellow! Under the guidance of BSO principal librarian, fellows work with some of the world’s most important conductors including Andris Nelsons, Stefan Asbury, Tomas Ades, Herbert Blomstedt and Charles Dutoit.
Taya Haldane (BMUS 2019) has been selected (January 2019) as a piccoloist for the celebrated Canadian ‘Ceremonial Guard’ (based in Ottawa, ON) and is excited to be performing as part of that group this coming summer.
Rhiannon Jones (BMUS Musical Arts 2020) was hired to perform with the Okanagan Symphony (Kelowna region, BC) as flute 2 and piccolo in their Yuletide concert series (December 20th, 21st and 22nd) December 2018.
Emily Morse (MMUS 2020) is performing in the annual “BC Composers Symposium” on 25 Jan 2019 in Vancouver BC .
Jasmine Riseley (BMUS 2019) has been hired (2018-19) to teach flute and piano (as well as clarinet and saxophone) at The Music Box music school (Victoria BC).
Jamie Pambrun (BMUS 2019) has been nominated for a national 3M fellowship and has been advanced to the second round of assessment. This award recognises academic excellence and leadership within the larger community.
Monica Mun (BMUS 2018) was hired (Jan 2019) as the new secretary for the UVic School of Music. She now keeps the music school running smoothly AND is simultaneously pursuing a full-time Masters in Library science (online, through U of A).
Taya Haldane (BMus Musical Arts 2019) was interviewed (November 2018) by Soundchek TV on her role in the UVIc Jazz Band Ensemble. She performed with the ensemble (17 November 2018) in a “comprovised” sound score to the classic Russian film “Battleship Potemkin.” It was a wonderful show! See https://www.facebook.com/cheknewssound/videos/vb.1757425844339437/272310233470779/?type=2&theater
Jamie Pambrun (BMUS 2019) has been awarded a 2018-19 JCURA (Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research) Award! Her research will focus on Canadian flute repertoire. This prestigious $1500 award will support Jamie’s study in the coming year at UVic.
The Tetraflute quartet, comprised of recent UVic flute grads (Thomas Bauer, Jillian Broughton, Monica Mun and Gillian Newburn) won first place in 2018 Provincials.
Alum Gillian Newburn (BMus performance 2017) was accepted as a performer in the 2018 Pender Island Flute Retreat, where she performed for William Bennett and Lorna McGhee.
Alum Jillian Broughton (BMUS Musical Arts 2017) has been selected (fall 2018) as principal flute in the University of Ottawa orchestra.
Alum Gillian Newburn has won her class in Provincials (spring 2018) and will be performing the Dutilleux Sonatine in the highlights concert (2 June at 730 in PTY recital hall at UVic).
Jamie Pambrun (anticipated BMus 2019) has been accepted (spring 2018) as one of the three flutists in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, beginning in their 2018-19 season. Jamie has also been hired as the flute instructor in the Canadian Cadets eight week summer program (in Vernon BC).
Taya Haldane (anticipated BMus 2019) has been hired at the Terrace Heritage Museum (Terrace, BC) as an assisting cultural program director. This is her second summer season with the museum.
Jillian Broughton BMus (Musical Arts degree stream) 2018 has been accepted (spring 2018) as a MMus graduate student in flute performance at University of Ottawa where she will study with acclaimed Canadian flutist and pedagogue Camille Churchfield.
Monica Mun BMus (Musicology degree stream) 2018 has been accepted to the highly selective University of Alberta information sciences MA graduate program.
Gillian Newburn BMus (performance degree stream) 2017 has been invited to audition for the prestigious and highly selective Berlin Philharmonic Academie (professional training program) in late February 2018. Gillian has also been a winner in two recent competitions: she was chosen to be a featured soloist in: Young Soloists Concert with the Sidney Classical Orchestra; she will be playing the Mozart Flute Concerto in D major, Mvt I. The concert dates are:
2:30 pm, Sunday, March 4, 2018
2:30 pm, Sunday, March 12, 2017
both at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 10030 Third Street, Sidney, BC AND the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra on 29 April 2018, playing Piazzolla’s, (arr. by Simon Dawkins) Histoire du Tango.
September 2017 Bailey Finley BMus (Musical Arts degree stream) 2017 has been hired (spring 2018) as the new flute teacher at WindStars Music Academy in Victoria. In August 2018, and in collaboration with the Victoria Composer’s Collective, Bailey also gave a successful month-long cross country tour of Canada, presenting new compositions for flute.
August 2017 BOTH Jasmine Riseley (BMus 2019) and Monica Mun (BMus 2018) have been awarded the JCURA (UVic’s most prestigious Undergrad research award)! Their award winning research on Canadian jazz flutists and Canadian new music for flute, respectively, will both be presented at the UVic JCURA fair on 7 March 2018; both will also receive $1500 awards from the University. This is a tremendous and highly unusual accomplishment (in fact, I have never heard of two students from the same studio winning a JCURA in the same year, this might very well be a school record)!
Taya Haldane (BMus 2019) received a music scholarship from the Terrace Arts Council to support her music studies in 2017-18.
Alum Thomas Law (BMus 2015) will be studying with Paula Robison at Orford in the 2017 summer season.
Alum Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) won 1st place at the provincial performing arts festival in the national woodwind category and will be representing B.C. at nationals in Ottawa.
Alanna Kazdan (MMus in Musicology with Flute Performance 2018) has her first published article appearing in Metal Music Studies journal! The 2017 article is called “Textural Applications of Power Chords in Scandinavian Death Metal.”
June 2017 Rhiannon Jones (BMus 2020) Rhiannon is joining Christine Moore (principal flutist of the Okanagan Symphony) and the Okanagan Symphony Wind Ensemble to perform at the 2017 UBC-Okanagan graduation ceremonies.
June 2017 Charmaine Tai (MMUS 2018) is performing in early June with the Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra as part of the Vancouver Children’s Festival on Granville island. Within a mix of world and western classical instruments, VICO will be performing a mix of works featuring Persian and Chinese folk tunes.
News from May 2017: Charmaine Tai (MMus 2018), Jillian Broughton (BMus 2017) and Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) were accepted by audition as the three members of the flute section of the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra for the 2017-18 season. Fantastic accomplishment for the UVic flute studio!
May 2017: Gillian Newburn (BMUs 2017) won the “Adjudicators Award” in the senior division of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival.
March 2017: Jillian Broughton (BMus 2017) has been accepted to and will attend 2017 Tafelmusik summer programme in Toronto where she will be studying with internationally renown Early flute specialist Jed Wentz.
April 2017: Here’s a link to the youtube video of Gillian Newburn’s (BMus 2017) excellent Sooke Philharmonic concerto competition performance of the Nielsen Concerto:
And a post on the orchestra’s blog about the competition, with some nice photos here: https://sookephil.wordpress.com/2017/04/24/sophie-van-der-sloot-concerto-competition-as-well-as-audience-choice-winner/
April 2017 Jamie Pambrun (BMus 2019) will be attending the 2017 Pender Island Flute retreat this summer where she will attend classes led by Gwen Klassen (Calgary Symphony), Lorna McGhee (Pittsburgh Symphony) and William Bennett (legendary British flutist).
April 2017 Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017 ) has been accepted to the 2017 Vancouver Symphony Orchestral Institute at Whistler (VSOIW). This will be her second year performing in this prestigious orchestral training institute.
The filmmaking and storytelling talents of fourth-year Writing student Ellery Lam are showcased in this remarkable new thank-you video for UVic’s Donor Relations, which also features a score created and performed by fourth-year School of Music student Jillian Broughton. It’s the story of the connection between a UVic donor, Anna, and a UVic student, Alysha — but it’s also a story about a little boy whose life was forever changed by Alysha, when she applied her learning from UVic to her work in the community.
March 2017: Graduate flute student (Musicology with performance degree candidate) Alanna Kazdan has had her paper on Elliot Carter (“That Being So-Called Human” from Elliott Carter’s song cycle What Are Years?, on poetry by Marianne Moore) accepted for publication by and presentation at the 2017 Graduate Student Conference hosted by the University of Calgary. See https://scpa.ucalgary.ca/music/gradconference for details.
March 2017: alum Thomas Law (BMus performance 2015) Thomas has been accepted to both Domaine Forget and Orford 2017 summer flute programmes.
February 2017: Gillian Newburn (BMUS 2017) was selected as a finalist in the Don Chrysler Concerto Competition, in conjunction with the Sooke Philharmonic (BC) Orchestra. She will be performing the entire Nielsen Concerto in the finalist round held on 22 April 2017 in PTY recital hall at UVic. Congratulations and best of luck, Gillian!
February 2017: Monica Mun (BMus 2018) won first place in the 2017 Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra Concerto Competition! She performed the Doppler Fantasie Pastorale Hongroise with fellow flute student and pianist Alanna Kazdan (thank you Alana, for stepping in to play for Monica!). The concerto performances are June 3rd at Vancouver Island University Theater Building 310, 900 Fifth St. Nanaimo BC at 7:30 pm, AND June 4th, at St. Mark’s Anglican Church 138 Hoylake Rd. W. Qualicum Beach at 2:30 pm! Please see their website: http://www.nanaimochamberorchestra.com/ for further information too!
Alum Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) and current student Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) tied for first place in the 2017 Cowichan Consort Orchestra Concerto competition. Thomas entered the competition with the Khachaturian Concerto and Gillian presented the Nielsen Concerto. They will be performing together as co-winners on a Concerto for two flutes in spring 2017. Terrific news for the UVic flute studio!
Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) received a Fine Arts achievement bursary for her UVic music studies 2016-17. Gillian was also named Oak Bay High (BC) Schools “Artist-in-Residence” for the 2016-17 school year, where she will be teaching a masterclass 3 times a month, performing in their concerts and organizing a chamber group programme for the school.
Bailey Finley (BMus 2017) received a generous grant from the BC Arts Council that will support her musical studies at UVic during 2016-17.
Cooper Reed (BMus 2017), Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) and Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) were selected by audition to be the flute section in the 2016-17 Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, conducted by Yariv Aloni.
Taya Haldane (BMus 2019) was hired at the summer music programme (Pacific Northwest Music Festival) in Terrace, BC. A multi-faceted talent, Taya will be helping with the camp participants and performing on violin (!) in the camp opera production of Carmen.
Jillian Broughton (BMUS 2017) was chosen to be a performer in the 2016 Philadelphia International Music Festival, a summer training programme featuring members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Jillian studied with Loren Lind (flutist with the Philadelphia Orchestra), performed in the Festival orchestra and studied chamber music.
Gillian Newburn (BMUS 2017) was a performer in the 2016 Vancouver Symphony summer orchestral institute at Whistler (BC). She will be performing Rite of Spring, taking lessons with Nadia Kyne and Christie Reside (both flutists with the VSO) and studying chamber music as well as orchestral repertoire.
Lynette Lai (BMUS 2014) was accepted to the highly selective music therapy programme at Capilano University. She is excited to begin her studies there in September 2016.
Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) was nominated for 3 awards from the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival:1. The Outstanding Senior award ($150) – donated by the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association – Victoria branch (in memory of Elise LeGresley) 2. The Adjudicator’s Award – Senior ($75) – donated by the Quail Rock Foundation and 3. Outstanding Ensemble Award ($200), donated by the Victoria Symphony Foundation – to be split amongst the 3 players of the Trio (with Thomas Bauer and Bailey Finley).
Alum Thomas Bauer (Bmus 2015) Honours received from Greater Victoria Performing Arts competitions April 2016: Named as a candidate to the Provincial Festival in the Woodwinds section at the National Level. Received the Most Outstanding Senior Award ($200), donated by the James and Noreen Bradshaw Memorial Fund, in memory of Noreen Bradshaw;
Received “For the Love of Playing the Flute” Award ($200), donated by the Victoria Symphony Foundation, and in memory of Austin Scott
– and received 1/3 of the Outstanding Ensemble Award ($200), donated by the Victoria Symphony Foundation (the other members of the winning ensemble were Bailey Finley, current fourth yr UVic flute student and Gillian Newburn, also a current fourth yr UVic flute student).
Jennifer Messelink (BMus 2013) In June 2016 Jen presented a paper at the 2016 Canadian University Music Society Annual Conference in coordination with the Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary.
In Feb 2016 Jennifer was accepted to the prestigious Phd programme in musicology at McGill, where she will be supervised by David Brackett.
Thomas Law (BMUS 2014) Thomas competed in the national class at the BC Provincials Festival (placing 2nd in the National class 2015 and was first place in the Senior class 2014).Thomas took some time freelancing, teaching and pursuing hobbies in Victoria before relocating to Vancouver in June 2015. Since returning to his home town, Thomas has been actively performing with local orchestras and chamber ensembles, teaching privately and at Long and McQuade and administrative duties at the VSO School of Music. Additionally, Thomas has been keeping in tip-top flute shape through regular studies, mentored by Christie Reside; and has been taking various professional auditions.
Jen Messelink (BMUs 2013) put her stage management work study experience at UVic to good use when she was hired as a stage manager at the Banff Music Centre immediately following her graduation from UVIc in 2013. Jen is now completing her MMus in musicology at the University of Alberta where she recently taught 150 students (!) in MUS 103 ‘Introduction to Popular Music.’ She has completed all the coursework for her degree and expects to be defending her thesis shortly.
Cooper Reed (BMus 2017), alum Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) and Gillian Newburn (BMus 2017) were selected by audition to be the 2015-16 flute section in the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra, conducted by Yariv Aloni. The 2015-16 season includes Pictures at an Exhibition with the Victoria Symphony and a tour of BC.
Christie Reside (principal flute- Vancouver Symphony), 2015 adjudicator for the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival, nominated Thomas Bauer (BMus 2015) to attend the Provincial Festival as the Woodwinds Senior competitor. The Provincial Festival is in Powell River this year from May 26th to 30th.This designation also carries with it an ‘Outstanding Senior Performer’ award of $150.00. Ms. Reside also selected Thomas for the Promising Flute Player Award of $50.00, and the Technicolour Ensemble received the Most Promising Ensemble Award of $100.00.Thomas will perform the 4th movement of the Prokofiev Sonata at the Brass, Classical Guitar, Composition and Woodwinds Honours Concert April 30th at 7:00 pm held in the Philip T Young Hall at UVic.
Sabrina Sun, MMus 2014 completed her Masters in Flute Performance from the University of Victoria, where she was awarded the Audrey St. Denys & M. E. Johnson
Scholarship. Her Artist Diploma was completed at Vancouver Music Academy where she studied with Brenda Fedoruk. Sabrina is currently teaching flute at the Manotick School of Music in Ottawa and the Ottawa Conservatory of Music. She was a UVic Concerto Competition Winner in 2013 and performed the Frank Martin Ballade for flute and orchestra. About her performance, critic Deryk Barker wrote, “..the performance of Sabrina Sun (…) was full of life and character.The flute is an instrument which, in the wrong hands, can sound bland; Sun’s were manifestly the right hands… “