Are you a high school student who dreams of spinning your passion for music into a career?
Imagine embarking on a six-month guided tour explaining exactly what it’s like to be a professional musician, with two fun-loving, globe-trotting classical musicians leading the way. This fall, high school students in High River and area can join in a virtual music mentorship program with Michael Bridge and Kornel Wolak, as they share their knowledge and experiences about pursuing a musical career.
• What’s involved in becoming a professional musician?
• Is it worth studying music at university?
• How and where do you apply?
• How much practice is needed?
• What’s it like to tour?
• How do you record and promote yourself?
What’s included in the music mentorship program?
Six months of virtual mentorship, with two activities each month
Activities include a video module and live interactive group coaching session each month
Guidance from professional artists experienced in touring, recording and teaching, and access to a video library with all mentorship content
Safe, inclusive space designed for questions, responses and mutual communication
An exploration of the context and aesthetics of your art
Advice on stage makeup, lighting and wardrobe
About Michael Bridge
“A wizard of the accordion”
– CBC Music
Concert accordionist
- First Canadian to pursue a doctoral degree in accordion performance (University of Toronto)
- At home performing baroque, classical, jazz, contemporary and world music, he gives over 100 concerts each year across Europe and the America
- Named to CBC’s list of 30 Hot Classical Musicians under 30, and winner of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Medal and the Canadian Digital Accordion Championships
- Has performed with orchestras including the Boston Pops, Edmonton Symphony, and Lomza Philharmonia, ad worked extensively with CBC Music, TVO, Soundstreams, Soulpepper, and most classical touring networks in the USA and Canada
- Has previously visited High River as a member of Ladom Ensemble
www.michaelbridgemusic.com
About Kornel Wolak
“Control, and a smooth, elegant expressivity … are what make Wolak shine.”
– The Toronto Star
Adjunct professor of clarinet
- Versatile and innovative clarinet soloist, teacher, and clinician
- Nominee to the “Fryderyk” – Poland’s highest recording award, and winner of the Royal Conservatory Concerto Competition and the Presser Music Award
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of clarinet at the Dan School of Drama & Music, Queen’s University
- Currently pioneering collaborative research in oral articulators with the Department of Speech Language Pathology, University of Toronto
- Regular fixture on the CBC, Classical 96.3 FM, Public Radio International, and on National Public Radio in the US
Learn more about Kornel
www.kornelwolak.com
Learn more about Bridge&Wolak:
www.bridgewolak.com
About Bridge&Wolak
Bridge&Wolak fuse classical, rock and pop, jazz and world music, building their concerts around an arsenal of showstoppers. Together, they have toured Canada and the US, Poland, France and Ecuador, performing their signature mix of classical music, sensitive jazz ballads and fiery folk tunes from around the globe.