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WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S CHILDRENSeptember’s Child Jonathan CrowMJ BUELLWho isOctober’s Child?Ready to mambo!This Officer of theOrder of Canada wasalready surroundingherself with a diverseconstellation ofcollaborators at thetender age of three.Not your averagesoprano — todayshe blows us away,embracing voicesand spirits of jazz, ofHavana, of old andnew worlds in groovesthat haunt and thrill.Know our MysteryChild’s name? Sendyour best guess tomusicschildren@thewholenote.comby September 21.Win concert ticketsand recordings!1959, Heath Street,Toronto.Violinist Jonathan Crowlives in RoncesvallesVillage, Toronto, with hiswife Molly Read and their twodaughters — Lucy and Sabina.A native of Prince George,British Columbia, Crowattended high school in Victoriaand graduated in HonoursPerformance from McGillUniversity, at which time hejoined the Montreal SymphonyOrchestra as associate principalsecond violin. From 2002 to2006 he was the concertmasterof the Montreal SymphonyOrchestra, at the time theyoungest concertmaster of amajor North American orchestra.The 2011/12 concert seasonmarked Crow’s debut as concertmasterof the TorontoSymphony Orchestra, anappointment which provideshim with the opportunity toplay an Guarneri del Gesù 1738violin — recently restored by RicHeinl, and newly lent to theTSO for the concertmaster’s useby Dr. and Mrs.Edward Pong.An avid chambermusician,Crow is a foundingmember ofthe New Orford String Quartet. A passionateand caring teacher, he jugglesan extraordinary schedule to accommodateit all.Do you remember that childhoodphoto being taken? I don't actuallyremember when that photo wastaken, but I certainly remember thedinner bell in the background — agood away to get kids in from streethockey for supper in Prince George!What is your absolute earliestmemory of hearing music?My sister practicing violin atnight while I was falling asleep.I knew all the Suzuki tunesbefore I played them — my sisteris six years older. She playedviolin and later viola, whilemy brother played trumpetand piano.When did you first play theviolin? I started at the age ofsix — there was a free Suzukiprogram in our school districtat the time. I actually wantedto start on cello, but therewasn't a teacher available. Plus,three kids and a VolkswagenRabbit ... surprised my parentsdidn't have me play the flute!First recollections of makingmusic with others? I performedregularly with a few closefriends at their church in PrinceGeorge. It was a very musicalenvironment, and many ofus continued into the profession.One of the advantages ofplaying a string instrument isgetting the chance to performwith friends basically from dayone. I can't actually remember atime playing the violin where Iwasn't playing in Suzuki groups,string orchestra or ensembles ofsome sort. This is one of the things that kept me goingin music — I didn't want to lose out on hanging out withall my friends!Where does music fit into your family life today? Mywife is a cellist, my eldest daughter plays violin and myyoungest has just started cello. Music is very importantto us. Regardless of what career paths my childrenchoose, I feel that music lessons are so useful in life tohelp with developing creativity and self-esteem.A longer version of Jonathan Crow’s interviewcontinues at thewholenote.com.SIAN RICHARDSCONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! HERE’S WHAT THEY WONGallery 345 presents the New Orford String Quartet (Sept 11, 8pm) playing Haydn, Hétu and Brahms.Stephen Erlichman and a guest will experience this intimate concert setting. Mooredale Concerts’ seasonopener is “Stars of the TSO” (Sept 30, 3:15pm, Walter Hall). Nine first chair principal Toronto Symphonyplayers, including Jonathan Crow, perform Schubert’s Octet and the Nonet by Spohr. Brenda Boyes winsa pair of tickets! Mooredale Concerts presents the New Orford String Quartet (Oct 28, 3:15pm, WalterHall) playing Haydn, Hétu and Beethoven. Two tickets for Brian N. The Toronto Symphony Orchestrawill perform Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello, and Piano in C Major, Op.56 (Nov 14/15, 8pm, RoyThomson Hall) featuring André Laplante, Shauna Rolston and the TSO’s concertmaster, Jonathan Crow.The concert also includes Shostakovich’s Symphony No.12. Ticket winner is Kelleigh Burns. The NewOrford’s debut recording Schubert and Beethoven (Bridge Records 9363) features two quartets both composedin 1826, in Vienna. CDs for Andreea Balandina and Phoebe Cleverley!Music’s Children gratefully acknowledges John and Barbara, Linda, Edward, Laura, Larry, Mary and Bud.September 1 – October 7, 2012 thewholenote.com 59