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He is a violinist and teacher born in Toronto, Canada,
who studied at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music.
In 1953 he began a 5-year stint with the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra while also performing with the CBC Symphony Orchestra
between 1956 and 1959.
Moving to Switzerland to take further musical studies
he landed himself the position of soloist, then concertmaster, with the
Lucerne Festival Strings, who he performed and toured with for 9 years from
1960 in the company of acclaimed musicians such as Zino Francescatti, Regis
Pasquier and Eduard Kaufman.
This wasn’t his only job over there though as he was also with
the Lucerne Trio from 1966 to 1969 and First Concertmaster of the Basler
Orchester Gesellschaft from 1967 to 1969.
On his return to Canada in 1969 he became the founding
concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and would
remain with them until his retirement in 2006.
Aside from this work he was also heard in recitals as
a soloist and chamber musician and in 1986 saw him becoming a co-founder of
the Pierrot Ensemble which is known for it’s
performances of contemporary music.
No stranger to the recording studio he can be heard on
many albums including A Baroque Weekend, A Vivaldi Weekend, Vivaldi: The
Four Seasons and The Premium Collection: 75 Classical Masterworks
among others.
As a teacher he taught at the Lucerne Conservatory for
several years before his return to Canada in 1969 and then held teaching
positions at the University of Ottawa and the Conservatoire de Hull.
He has also beena jury member at the Montreal
International Music Competition in 1975 and many other competitions held in
Canada since.
Recognised for his
contribution to music he was honoured by being made a Member of the Order
of Canada in 2000 and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of
Ottawa in 2001.
Lucerne Festival Strings recordings
Adagio in G minor (Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni)
Deutsche Grammophon DG 413 248 2 (CD: Adagio)
Conductor - Rudolf Baumgartner
Sources:
- http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Params=U1ARTU0002883
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=43:5802~T3
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Prystawski
- http://www.uottawa.ca/services/markcom/gazette/010601/010601-art01-6-e.shtml
- http://ottawastart.com/story/2089.php
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http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=41:47155~T3
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