Jean-Sébastien Roy Appointed Concertmaster of Columbus Symphony
By: Christina Mancuso Aug. 01, 2013
The Columbus Symphony today announced the appointment of Jean-Sébastien Roy to the position of concertmaster. The Montrealnative has been contracted to lead the Symphony for one year, and will be responsible for working closely with Music Director Jean-Marie Zeitouni and the conducting staff to enhance the artistic product, provide leadership and expertise within the violin section, and serve as a CSO spokesperson within the Columbus community.
Having previously performed as guest concertmaster for the CSO during the 2012-13 season, Roy was selected following a comprehensive 18-month search. He will reside in Columbus for the length of his tenure with the organization.
"Jean-Sébastien Roy is a remarkable musician that I have known and respected for many years," stated CSO Music Director Jean-Marie Zeitouni. "I look forward to his leadership as we work together to make the 2013-14 season unforgettable."
"On behalf of the board, management, and musicians of the Columbus Symphony, we welcome Jean-Sébastien Roy as our new concertmaster," statEd Martin Inglis, CSO Board Chair. "We were impressed by his musicianship and leadership last season, and are confident he will have a positive impact our organization."
Roy's first performance as official CSO concertmaster will be the 2013-14 season-opening special event, Mahler's "Resurrection," with the Columbus Symphony Chorus and guest vocalists.
The Columbus Symphony presents Mahler's Symphony No. 2 ("Resurrection") at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Saturday, October 5, at 8 pm. Tickets are $25-$68 for adults and $12.50-$34 for children, and can be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000.
About Jean-Sébastien Roy
Hailed as one of the most gifted and captivating musicians of his generation, Jean-Sébastien Roy has established a reputation as a highly esteemed soloist and chamber musician. He was awarded two of the greatest distinctions in Canada-the Prix d'Europe (2006) and the loan of the 1717 Windsor Weinstein Stradivarius (2006-09). He was also a top prize winner at the Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, and was awarded the Joseph Rouleau Award at the 2006 Montreal International Violin Competition.
During the 2009-10 season, he completed a major Canadian tour under the auspices of Prairie Debut. Roy was appointed Artist in Résidence at Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal during the 2010-11 season.
He has been a guest soloist with the most prestigious ensembles in Canada, among them the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Les Violons du Roy, and the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal under Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin. His rendition of Berg's KammerKonzert at the Kulas Hall of Cleveland received exceptional praise by critics. He has also given recitals in the UK, France, Germany, US, New Zealand, and Polynesia.
A formidable chamber musician, he has collaborated with world renowned artists such as Peter Salaff, Éric Lesage, Ida Haendel, Ilya Kaler, Jonhatan Crow, and Andrew Wan. He was the first violinist of the Lloyd Carr-Harris string quartet, winner of the Fischoff International Chamber Music Competition, and toured with that ensemble across three continents.
In 2008, Roy was guest Associate Concertmaster of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio-France in Paris. He was also invited as guest Concertmaster with many orchestras, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (Canada), the Strasbourg Philharmonic Orchestra (France), the Columbus Symphony, and has been recently appointed Concertmaster of the McGill Chamber Orchestra in Montréal.
He was awarded the 'Prix avec Grande Distinction à l'unianimité du jury' of the Montréal Conservatory of Music and went on to study with the renowned professor Paul Kantor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. His other mentors include Johanne Arel, Malcolm Lowe, Rodney Friend and Denise Lupien.
He currently plays a magnificent violin made in 1745 by Carlo Antonio Testore and a Jacob Eury bow made in 1830.
The CSO is grateful for the financial support provided by Franklin County and the City of Columbus. The Ohio Arts Council helped fund this program with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, education excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The CSO also appreciates the support of the Greater Columbus Arts Council, supporting the city's artists and arts organizations since 1973, and the Charlotte R. Haller, James W. Overstreet, Kenneth L. Coe, and Jack Barrow funds of The Columbus Foundation, assisting donors and others in strengthening our community for the benefit of all its citizens.
About the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1951, the Columbus Symphony is the longest-running, professional symphony in central Ohio. Through an array of innovative artistic, educational, and community outreach programming, the Columbus Symphony is reaching an expanding, more diverse audience each year. This season, the Columbus Symphony will share classical music with more than 175,000 people in central Ohio through concerts, radio broadcasts, and special programming. For more information, visit www.columbussymphony.com.
Comments
Videos