Music by the Sea
Mentorship Programme

In 2012 MBTS launched the MBTS Fellowship Artist Mentorship School. It is one of Canada’s best focused and detailed chamber music opportunities available.
The programme is open to young professionals on full scholarship. Each year a small group of Fellowship Artists and faculty members led by Steven Dann, viola (Toronto) to work together on major repertoire for an intense week-long session — an amazing opportunity for the Fellowship Artists who are selected by invitation.

Following their week of focused work, they stay in Bamfield for the opening weekend of the Festival and the works they have been preparing are programmed as part of the opening concerts. They also have the opportunity to perform with some of the Festival’s Company members. In 2020 all was cancelled because of the pandemic and this year we were still uncertain as to whether or not the program could happen. But at the last minute in mid-June we were able to launch a slightly smaller version of the program in Bamfield for four Fellowship Artists from across Canada led by Steven Dann.  Although they were unable to perform in the Rix Centre they performed outside on a stage at Brady’s Beach to the delight of Bamfielders.  On returning to Victoria they stayed at the Fairmont Empress and performed at the Fairmont Empress Afternoon Tea and in the evening presented a full program at the new Victoria International Marina.

We believe these sessions are having a profound transformative effect on these young musicians’ musical and career development—and is one of the most focused and beneficial mentoring programmes available.

(click to see past Fellowship Artists below).

Sponsors:

Farmont Empress sponsor
Magnolia Hotel & Spa

Fellowship Artist Programme Faculty

2021 Fellowship Artists

Isabel Lago – Violin

Filipino-Canadian violinist Isabel Lago is an active and passionate soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. She has performed as concerto soloist with the Fraser Valley Symphony, the Richmond [...]

Madeline Hocking – Violin

Originally from Powell River, Canada, Madeline Hocking is emerging as a dynamic performer and collaborator based in New York City. She has a passion for exploring all sounds, colours and effects [...]

Kendra Grittani – Cello

Kendra Grittani is an experienced young cellist, having started playing at four years old. Kendra has completed her Masters in cello performance at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, [...]

Julien Altmann – Viola

Born in 1995, Julien Altmann is a Toronto-based, French-American violist. Julien spent the early part of his life in California studying viola at the Crowden School of Music in Berkeley, CA as [...]