Rosamunde's June Newsletter - Here are our Festival's Musicians to Celebrate 15 Years con Tango!□□□Two more Rosamunde alumni. Check out the details of Rosamunde's Summer Music Festival! □□□
“With the longest day of the year already behind us, the heat is on at Rosamunde! We’re gearing up for what promises to be the most exciting Festival concert series in our 15-year history, kicking off on August 16 at 7:30 p.m. as Pauls & Paul dive headlong into Tango Melancólico.
The energy continues on Sunday evening with Astor Piazzolla’s sultry Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, presented in a transcription perfectly suited to the Festival stage. And here’s a fun connection: our guest bass faculty member, Matt Baker, regularly performs with Argentine bandoneon virtuoso Daniel Binelli, who shared the stage with Piazzolla himself—a direct link to the composer whose music transformed the world of tango.
Rounding out the program is Ralph Vaughan Williams’s magnificent Piano Quintet in C Minor, performed by an all-star ensemble: Mark Fewer, violin; Karl Stobbe, viola; Denise Djokic, cello; Matt Baker, bass; and Paul Williamson, piano.
From the smoky passion of Buenos Aires to the soaring lyricism of Vaughan Williams, this promises to be an unforgettable evening of music, artistry, and Festival magic. We can’t wait to share it with you!”
News & Announcements
Presenting our Festival musicians!
In addition to our 3 guest artists, we are pleased to present Rosamunde faculty members:
Violins: Gwen Hoebig, Elation Pauls, Karl Stobbe
Viola: (Special Guest Alumnus) Alexander Moroz
Cello: Minna Rose Chung, Yuri Hooker
Piano: Paul Williamson
Grab your Festival passes and individual tickets for August 16, 18, and 20!. Be sure to mark these dates in your summer calendar and join us for an unforgettable celebration of music, artistry, and discovery.
“I spent two summers at Rosamunde. The Young Professional program offered an enriching musical experience with a wide range of opportunities, including chamber music coachings, private lessons, masterclasses, and career development workshops. Throughout my time there, I felt inspired and challenged, growing both artistically and professionally. I was especially impacted by the dedication of the faculty and the collaborative spirit of the fellow musicians I had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with. Since attending Rosamunde, I have remained actively involved with the academy by serving on its board, contributing to fundraising efforts and supporting its ongoing initiatives.
I continue to be active as a performer in Winnipeg’s music scene while teaching at Sistema and my private music studio where I work with students to develop strong musical foundations and a lasting appreciation for music. Balancing performance and teaching, I remain committed to both my artistic growth and contributing to a vibrant, supportive musical community.”
Patricia Vanuci
“The Rosamunde Summer Music Academy was a very valuable experience I had as an
emerging artist. While pursuing a master degree at the University of Manitoba, I spent
one of my summers in the pre-professional program and had lessons with world-class
teachers such as Yuri Hooker, Matt Haimovitz, Leanne Zacharias, and Elation Pauls.
Alongside private lessons and masterclasses, this festival included unique classes on
career development and management, which I have continued to find value in as a
working professional. I am grateful for the connections and opportunities I gained from
my time at Rosamunde.
Born in São Paulo, Brazil, Patricia studied at Universidade Estadual Paulista (BMus),
The University of Southern Mississippi (MMus), and the University of Manitoba (MMus).”
Currently, she is a member of Regina Symphony Orchestra, and often plays with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. She also
teaches through the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts, as well as at Sistema
Winnipeg.
Copyright (C) 2026 Rosamunde Summer Music Academy. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is: Rosamunde Summer Music Academy
500 Shaftesbury Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2
Canada
Rosamunde's May Newsletter - Join us in Celebrating 15 Years con Tango!□□□Two more Rosamunde alumni. Check out the details of Rosamunde's Summer Music Festival! □□□
“With warmer weather finally here, we’re already looking ahead to an exciting summer season. There are several noteworthy concerts on the horizon — including a few just around the corner — and we encourage you to explore CMI, a unique initiative created by our two featured alumni this month.
The Rosamunde Summer Music Festival returns this August with a spectacular three-concert series featuring our outstanding faculty alongside internationally acclaimed guest artists Mark Fewer (violin), Denise Djokic (cello), and Matt Baker (bass & baryton).
Celebrating 15 years, con Tango brings the fiery passion of Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires to Winnipeg in a vibrant new arrangement, while also introducing audiences to the rare and fascinating baryton. Resembling the viola da gamba, this unusual instrument features sympathetic strings that can be plucked with the thumb behind the fingerboard. Nikolaus I, Prince Esterházy (1714–1790) was so captivated by the baryton that he commissioned Joseph Haydn to compose extensively for it. Come see and hear this rare instrument for yourself! ”
News & Announcements
Join us in Celebrating 15 years con Tango! Festival passes and individual tickets for August 16, 18, and 20 are now available. Be sure to mark these dates in your summer calendar and join us for an unforgettable celebration of music, artistry, and discovery.
Featured in CBC Music’s 2023 top 30 hot classical musicians under 30, River Sawchyn is a violinist and composer from Winnipeg, Canada. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree at the University of Michigan, studying with Danielle Belen. Participating in local festivals and competitions since he was eight, River is a five time trophy winner at the Winnipeg Music Festival, has appeared as a soloist with the Winnipeg Youth Symphony Orchestra, and is a three time scholarship winner from the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg. River is a passionate student of chamber music, working with members of the Cavani, Emerson and Ehnes string quartets and enjoys performing chamber music throughout the year. Also busy writing music, River is studying composition at the University of Michigan with Evan Chambers. Recent projects include his debut EP Cycles and Stars with fellow composer Moa Glimberg, publishing of string quartet music with Alias Press and a premiere by the MusicaNova Orchestra in Phoenix, Arizona.
"Rosamunde was my very first summer festival, and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive and engaging experience. It gave me the strength and exposure to seriously pursue music as a career, launching me into more festivals and performances all over the world. I am currently pursuing my master's degree at the University of Michigan, studying violin with Danielle Belen and composition with Evan Chambers. I'm busy writing and publishing music, as well as co-running a new concert series in Winnipeg, Contemporary Music Interactive, which I co-founded alongside my colleague Sophie Reimer-Epp. I'm looking forward to performing in our 2nd annual season, coming up May 28 and 30!"
Sophie Reimer-Epp
Sophie Reimer-Epp is a graduate of the University of Toronto where she obtained a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance. A passionate performer of orchestral and chamber music, Sophie has had the privilege of performing with ensembles like the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Kindred Spirits Orchestra in Toronto. Additionally, Sophie is a strong advocate for contemporary music, having participated in notable festivals like soundSCAPE Composition and Performance Exchange, Orford Summer Academy (collectif9 ensemble session and the Contemporary Music Exchange session). Sophie is also Executive Director and Co-Founder of Contemporary Music Interactive- a Manitoba concert series that seeks to provide opportunities for up-and-coming Manitoban composers and performers to engage in new music, as well as create a space for audiences to learn and explore more about the genre. Sophie is an active music teacher and has recently completed Suzuki Method Training. Following her move back to Winnipeg this summer she will be opening teaching studios at several locations across Winnipeg.
Sophie had the pleasure of spending two highly developmental summers as a part of the Young Professionals Program at Rosamunde. Highlights of the program for her included getting to perform often in masterclass and recitals, and getting to play in a chamber group with one of the faculty members. Getting to make connections with other fellow young professionals and faculty in Winnipeg has been incredibly impactful on Sophie’s career, and one notable masterclass sparked the idea that lead to her co-founding her concert series Contemporary Music Interactive.
“The applications for August 2026 are in! From our youngest beginner student to our most seasoned Rosamundiade player, every string student deserves the chance to pursue their passion at Rosamunde. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and supporters, this opportunity is made possible—the photo above is from this year’s High Tea Fundraiser where the proceeds provide financial support for Sistema students and those requiring financial assistance to attend. We are deeply grateful for every contribution and for the trust our community places in us. Together, we create a program that gives back through meaningful friendships and enriching educational experiences that last a lifetime. THANK-YOU.”
News & Announcements
The deadline for Rosamunde Summer Music Academy applications has been EXTENDED!
If you thought you missed it, you can still APPLY!
At this special time of year (tax time!), many of us turn our thoughts to our financial, tax, and estate plans. A legacy gift to Rosamunde as part of your estate and tax planning can offer meaningful benefits for both donors and Rosamunde, by aligning your financial strategy with long-term impact. A planned legacy gift can support Rosamunde in a structured and tax-efficient way, through donations, bequests, trusts, or gifts of assets. Please visit our Legacy page HERE to learn how you can help Rosamunde preserve and strengthen our program through a planned gift.
If you are interested in making a gift to Rosamunde, please speak to your tax and legal advisors for more information about wealth preservation and your personal legacy.
Alumni Spotlight
Rebecca Weger
“I spent two summers at the Rosamunde Summer Music Academy, and my time there ended up having an enormous impact on my future as a musician. While there, I formed important friendships, and I ended up meeting my future teacher at McGill, Andrew Wan. It was at Rosamunde that I really felt encouraged to pursue music as my career. Getting to work with the faculty was incredibly inspiring, whether in private lessons, chamber music coachings, masterclasses, or technique classes, and I still make sure to attend some of their concerts every summer!”
Rebecca grew up in Regina, Saskatchewan, and became a member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra while in high school. She completed her undergraduate degree studying with Andrew Wan at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, and obtained her Master’s degree at the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Hyo Kang and Tai Murray. She has played with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra since 2022, and became their Assistant Concertmaster this past fall.
Ethan Allers
“Rosamunde Summer Music Academy was one of the very first summer music programs I attended. It really made an impact on the musician I am today. Working with the incredible faculty and meeting so many other young artists was such a gift and it helped lay the groundwork for my continued love of music. I am now a member of the cello section in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and this is in no small part due to the inspiration I received at Rosamunde from incredible artists like, the former principal cellist of the WSO, Yuri Hooker.”
Born in Calgary and later living in Victoria, Ethan Allers has shaped his musical identity through his studies and musical experiences across Canada. He completed an undergraduate and Master’s degree at the University of Ottawa, and additional doctoral studies at the University of Western Ontario. Ethan enjoys performing as both a chamber musician and a soloist. Having played in orchestras since he was eight years old, Ethan has always enjoyed the community the orchestral experience brings. He participated in various orchestral training institutes throughout his post-secondary studies, including PRISMA and NYOC. Most recently, he participated in the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, where he was one of seven performing cellists from across Canada.
Copyright (C) 2026 Rosamunde Summer Music Academy. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.
Our mailing address is: Rosamunde Summer Music Academy
500 Shaftesbury Blvd.
Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2
Canada
Rosamunde's March Newsletter - Last chance at tickets to see a performance by Karl, Elation, Elise & Elie □We present two more Rosamunde alumni, and details of what to expect at the High Tea with Rosamunde fundraiser!
“With the first day of spring this Friday, anticipation is building for summer and all that it will bring. At Rosamunde, the work continues throughout the seasons. Behind the scenes, there is always a full to-do list: writing and submitting grants, planning fundraising activities, curating inspiring concert programs and promoting the academy at every opportunity. Each step brings us closer to those magical 10 days in August when everything comes together — when artists, students and audiences meet in unforgettable ways. Seeing the festival come to life after months of preparation is incredibly rewarding and reminds us why all the hard work is worthwhile. We can’t wait to share this summer with you! ”
News & Announcements
The deadline for Rosamunde Summer Music Academy applications is coming up on April 10!
I spent three formative summers at Rosamunde and I still remember how I grew as a musician during those intensive few weeks. I'm grateful that Rosamunde gave me the opportunity to study with world-class teachers right in my hometown of Winnipeg. The wonderful faculty, the fun and well-organized schedule of chamber music, masterclasses, lessons and more, makes Rosamunde a fantastic place for young aspiring musicians to experience a period of accelerated progress.
Currently, David Liam is based in Basel, Switzerland, where he’s studying at the Basel Academy of Music and doing an internship with the Sinfonieorchester Basel. He is also in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium as a member of the Rilian Trio, studying with Corina Belcea and Miguel da Silva. Previous 1st prize winners at the 12th Trondheim International Chamber Music Competition, they just recently won the 1st Prize at the Illmari Hannikainen Piano Chamber Music Competition. Congratulations Rilian Trio!
David Liam plays on the 1690 Francesco Rugeri cello, on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank, and a Hill&Sons bow generously loaned by CANIMEX, Inc.
Solana Frebold
Rosamunde was a formative experience for me as a high school student. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such encouraging faculty that propelled my decision to study music. Since attending, I have gone on to complete an undergraduate degree at McGill University, Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School of Music, and am currently pursuing my masters degree at the University of Toronto. I actually met my current teacher, Erika Raum, at Rosamunde. Little did I know she would be my teacher all these years later!
Upcoming Event
Just a few more days to get your tickets for our High Tea with Rosamunde fundraiser!
Immerse yourself in Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” and Grieg’s dramatic String Quartet in G minor, performed by our beloved WSO musicians, Karl Stobbe, Elation Pauls, Élise Lavallée & WSO’s new Principal Cellist, Elie Boissinot! Rosamunde students, Chloe Strain (violin), and Leanna Wang (cello) will share their musical talents as well.
For your visual senses, come and see an incredible piece of artwork, “Discovery” by Shirley Elias which will be the highlight of our silent-auction. Savor it all in person at our upcoming fundraiser at the historic Ralph Connor House.
THANK-YOU.
Saturday, March 21, 2026
2:00pm
Ralph Connor House, 54 W Gate, Winnipeg
$75
