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ADRIAN ANANTAWAN

VIOLINIST I EDUCATOR I SPEAKER

Bio

bio at a glance

Full Bio (.pdf)

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Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada

Education: Curtis Institute of Music (Ida Kavafian), Yale University (Peter Oundjian) and Harvard Graduate School of Education

Teachers: Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman, and Anne-Sophie Mutter; his academic work in education was supervised by Howard Gardner

Memorable Moments: performances at the White House, the Opening Ceremonies of the Athens and Vancouver Olympic Games and the United Nations. He has played for the late Christopher Reeve, Pope John Paul II, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Speaker: TED Talks, Harvard University, Skoll Forum

Disability Advocate: Creator of the Virtual Chamber Music Initiative at the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Centre (Toronto, Canada). Founder of the Music Inclusion Program (Boston, MA). Ambassador for the True Colors Symphony (Hong Kong) and the War Amps of Canada

Educator: In 2012-2016, he was the co-Director of Music at the Conservatory Lab Charter School (K-8). He is the current Chair of Music at Milton Academy and on faculty at Berklee College of Music

Artistic Director of Shelter Music Boston

Awards: Kennedy Center Next50, Juno Award, Diamond Jubilee Medal from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Boston ONEin3 Impact Award, Terry Fox Hall of Fame, VSA International Soloist Winner, Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation

press

press (click for articles)

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Videos

videos

Wieniawski Polonaise (Op. 4)

05:20

Wieniawski Polonaise (Op. 4)

Happy Canada Day, and hoping folks are finding time to take stock of all that is great, and reflect upon all we need to do to make this land of ours better. On a sweaty summer day, I'm reading through this charming Polonaise, a staple of the violin encore rep, and a piece that one of my students has been working on over the last few weeks. Figured it's about time to learn it. Be well, and have a great evening! :)

La Capricieuse (Elgar) For Kids!

04:21

La Capricieuse (Elgar) For Kids!

I hope you all had a great holiday, and a good start to your weekend. Just finished recording a video for kids in the Boston Public Schools, sponsored by Shelter Music Boston. I explain to the kids about this piece about La Capricieuse, and what it means to be capricious, having emotions twist and turn unpredictably. Perhaps the piece expresses the fun spirit of his friend Fred Ward, for whom he dedicated this piece. Whatever the case might be, there are some fun Elgar facts (about moustaches and enigmas), accompanying one of the great encore pieces written for the violin. Please share with your kids if you'd like and be well! P.S. For those who are wondering, I was never great at up bow spicatto, so here's my substitute that works in a pinch! :)

Bach Chaconne (Partita No. 2)

12:05

Bach Chaconne (Partita No. 2)

Good morning all, hoping your day is off to a good start. Here's the final installment of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas, the iconic Chaconne, one of the great movements ever composed for the instrument. Starting to record these works from the beginning of our social distancing, I'm amazed this amount of time that has passed since the middle of March. This is by no means the last of exploring these great works, but hoping the next time will be in person, sharing this music live as it was meant to when Bach first composed these. Be well and take care!

Bach Fuga (Sonata No. 2)

06:07

Bach Fuga (Sonata No. 2)

Hi all, hoping your week is off to a great start, and some more morning Bach, in the form of this brilliant fugue. Be well in whatever you choose to do!

Hebrew Melody (Achron)

05:47

Hebrew Melody (Achron)

Here is a song that I feel is reflective of human suffering, indicative of the times we face currently, but also suffering of generations past. Music is one way humans can give voice to the emotions we experience--the beauty of our existence in all our grace and fallibility. Be well, and hope this piece might feel some resonance with you in this moment.

Salut D'Amour Elgar

03:17

Salut D'Amour Elgar

Quite a day it's been! Here's a song of comfort, recorded for the Mass Cultural Council UP Award this morning. Congrats to Ellice Patterson and Abilities Dance for a well deserved win! The title of this piece, "Salut d'Amour" is all about endings and beginnings, hellos and goodbyes, coexisting at the same time. I reflect upon this as our seniors at Milton Academy graduate today--they will make the world a better place, if we can stay true to our values, and use our talents to lean into discomfort as much as hope. Be well and have a good weekend! #songsofcomfort

Bach Sarabande Memorial

03:12

Bach Sarabande Memorial

Thank you Anthony McGill for galvanizing all us artists to respond to the evil that we as humans are capable of, in the most beautiful way we can, especially in times we feel powerless. As Bernstein would say, for those who call themselves musicians. "This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." It's a call to action, one small thing we can do to use our gifts to shed light on evil, but also the grace we possess as human beings. #TakeTwoKnees

Bach Allemanda (Partita No. 1)

05:31

Bach Allemanda (Partita No. 1)

Good morning all, hoping your day is off to a good start. Here's the final installment to the B minor Partita, and grateful always to have an opportunity to share music with you. Be well as you wrap up your Friday!

Bach Double III (Partita No. 1)

01:22

Bach Double III (Partita No. 1)

Good morning all, hope your Thursday is off to a great start! Continuing along the journey with the B minor Partita, here's another agile, active Double. Be well in all that you pursue today! :)

Photos

photos

Online Lessons

online lessons

As an experienced educator, Mr. Anantawan is available for one-time or multiple lessons from anywhere in the world as his schedule allows. Please use the contact page or chat for details.

Alma mater institutions

Adrian on teaching (video)

Contact

contact

For Booking Inquiries, Consultation, Online Lesson Scheduling

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