Research in Action: Public - University of Calgary

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For the love of art: Reintroducing classical music education in China. It is said that music is the soul of society. Yet, a whole generation of musicians was lost due to China’s Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and ’70s when music teachers were imprisoned and all instruments and classical sheet music were destroyed. For the past 10 years, University of Calgary professor Edmond Agopian has been instrumental in restoring the soul of the world’s largest and most populous country by reintroducing classical music education to China’s most talented young musicians. An increasing economic and cultural openness has allowed the Chinese government to recognize music as enriching. When Agopian lifted his baton as guest conductor with the pre-eminent Shanghai Opera Orchestra in the summer of 2006, he led young musicians in their twenties and early thirties. No mature Chinese virtuosos exist in the city of 17 million people. With Agopian’s help, the future for Chinese instrumentalists looks positive. “It is immensely rewarding to help expand the knowledge, understanding and skill of these talented young musicians who then return to perform and teach in China,” says Agopian. “Some students return to assist as translators in our program and many choose to continue their studies in North America. One such student recently graduated from U of C with a master in violin performance.” Bridging the musical gap For a month each summer, selected and sponsored students aged 12 to 18 come to Canada to study at the Mount Royal College Conservatory. They participate in private lessons, master classes and performance through the Morningside Music Bridge program initiated by the Conservatory with the support of the Hong Kong-based Morningside Group, in collaboration with the music conservatories of Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. Agopian participates as violinist, violin and chamber music instructor and conductor. While in Canada, the Chinese students often perform music by Chinese composers based on Chinese folk idioms, providing an enriching cultural exchange for both students and faculty. “Since the violin is a Western instrument, I wanted to study the instrument abroad and learn how to play more musically. In my studies with professor Agopian at U of C, I learned how to think about a musical work in terms of style, historical context and form. He has taught me not only how to play a piece but also how to teach it. It helps me resolve students’ skill problems as well as teach them how to study music and think musically rather than just copy.” Yan Tao — past student in the Morningside Music Bridge program, U of C graduate, now violin and chamber music instructor, Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, China. University of Calgary Research in Action 4
Research in Action: Education Reintroducing classical music education to China’s most talented young musicians: Professor Edmond Agopian teaches and inspires young Chinese musicians to become teachers and performers. At the Mount Royal College Conservatory, Agopian is music director of the Calgary Youth Orchestra. At the U of C he is professor of violin and chamber music, chair of the performance area, conducts the U of C orchestra and is first violin in the university’s string quartet. Supported by the John P. L. Roberts Distinguished Professorship in Fine Arts and by the John Lefebvre donation, Agopian is currently arranging and composing music based on Klezmer and other East European folk music, intended to bridge the gap between classical and folk music. http://music.ffa.ucalgary.ca www.mtroyal.ab.ca/conservatory 5
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Research in Action: Public - University of Calgary

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