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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday August 15, 2008 - 29 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2008 PHOTOS BY CHRIS KORNACKI / OAKVILLE BEAVER TAKING NOTES: Musicians were busy the past two weeks at the Southern Ontario Chamber Music Institute. From left to right clockwise are Joel Tangjerd, piano trio (left to right) Annie ForemanMackey, Emilee-Mae Feely and Bryan Lu, Monika Panz, and composer Abigail Richardson with husband and conductor Michael Schulte. At bottom, Michael Schulte conducts the chamber orchestra. Up close and personal with chamber music By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF hile many students are spending the last few weeks of their summer holidays sleeping in and lounging around the house, a group of youths has been in school, so to speak, for the past two weeks at Appleby College. The ivy-covered campus has been home to 22 young adults who have converged for the Southern Ontario Chamber Music Institute. The two-week session is for classical musicians who want to improve their skills by focusing on chamber music. Chamber music, defined literally, is room music. It is meant to be played by small ensembles of musicians, generally trios, quartets and quintets. The institute is geared towards ensembles of string players, so it welcomes violinists, violists and cellists. One or two pianists are also invited, permitting the creation of a piano trio. W Admission is by audition only. This year, close to 50 string players and a handful of pianists from across North America sent in audition tapes. James Kim, an Oakville youth who has studied the violin for the past eight years, is one of the talented students who was admitted. This is his second year at the institute. "Last year, it was an amazing experience," said Kim, 19. "I really learned discipline, especially as a musician in a small group. I also made a lot of friends last year, so I wanted to come back." Although Kim is attending McMaster University in the fall for science with the hope of becoming a doctor, he said he will always keep music in his life. "Einstein is my role model because not only was he a great physicist, he was also a violinist," Kim said. "I will always be playing in some form and have music around." The Southern Ontario Chamber Music Institute has grown leaps and bounds since its inception 20 years ago. This year's institute runs August 4 to 17. Organizers of the institute say it is the only one of its kind in Canada. It has attracted many musicians who have gone on to illustrious musical careers over the years. Some of these graduates come back and serve as instructors. Professional ensemble musicians from reputable chamber music groups also work with the young musicians. This year, members of the Penderecki String Quartet and the Afiara String Quartet are sharing their expertise with the youths. Adrian Fung, cellist with the San Francisco-based Afiara String Quartet, attended the institute when he was 15 and is now back as an instructor. It is rewarding coming full circle, he said. "Coming here changed my life," Fung said. "It was central to my decision to become a professional musician. There is such an incredible passion for chamber music here." He attended for two years, saying he experienced extensive musical growth during that time. "I think chamber music is the most essential part of music making," he said. "You are playing in such a small group, so if you play poorly, you let the other musicians down. You have to become the best musician you can be, and that is an invaluable lesson. So many students don't get exposed to chamber music until university, but here they are playing chamber music as young as age 12 and 13." Days are long for students, but neither they nor the instructors seem to mind. A typical day starts just after 9 a.m., with full chamber orchestra rehearsal running for an hour, followed by two individual lessons with members of the professional quartets and two ensemble rehearsals. Lunch and dinner are slotted in, with musicians spending additional hours rehearsing on their own on campus. See Students page 30