REGINA – Open any door at Westminster United Church this week and the music flows out from young talent literally filling the building.
“I don’t know – it’s in the water?” laughed Catherine Cosbey, the Regina Chamber Music Festival artistic director. “I think there’s just such a care for music here for people. It’s so important for people in Regina.”
This is the first year the Regina Chamber Music Festival has been put on in conjunction with the week-long Regina Summer Strings music camp. So, musicians in the evenings are instructors by day.
“It’s just a great opportunity for these young musicians to get to work with musicians of that caliber that play all over the world,” said Cosbey.
Musicians like the young and renowned Afiara Quartet: “They’re really innovators in the genre.”
“They’re incredible and we get to learn from them, which is just an amazing experience,” said Mayson Sonntag, grade 9 violinist.
These young musicians range in age – from 7 to 15 – and in skill level.
“You work hard, but all the way that you’re working hard it’s just lots of fun because of the way that you’re learning,” explained Virginia Hector, grade 6 violinist. “Playing with your group members and just being able to be with a bunch of other people who like music like you.”
These violinists are still in middle school. This week, they’re in earshot of what it’s like to play professionally.
“I think it’s amazing that not only do we get to learn from these incredible performers, but we get to see them play,” said Sonntag.
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