Ilana Waniuk is a Canadian violinist and contemporary music specialist. She was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1983, and grew up in a musical family. Her mother was a pianist, and her father was a composer and conductor. Waniuk began playing the violin at the age of three, and by the time she was six, she was already performing in public. Waniuk studied at the University of Alberta, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance. She then went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the University of British Columbia, where she focused on contemporary music. During her studies, Waniuk was a member of the UBC Contemporary Players, a group dedicated to performing new music by Canadian and international composers. After completing her studies, Waniuk moved to Montreal, where she became a member of the Quatuor Bozzini, a string quartet specializing in contemporary music. With the quartet, Waniuk has performed extensively throughout Canada, the United States, and Europe, and has premiered numerous works by Canadian and international composers. In addition to her work with the Quatuor Bozzini, Waniuk is also a member of the Thin Edge New Music Collective, a Toronto-based ensemble dedicated to performing new music by emerging composers. With the collective, Waniuk has performed at numerous festivals and venues throughout Canada, including the Music Gallery, the Aga Khan Museum, and the Open Ears Festival. Waniuk is also an active soloist and chamber musician. She has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. As a chamber musician, Waniuk has collaborated with many of Canada's leading musicians, including pianist Eve Egoyan, cellist Rachel Mercer, and clarinetist François Houle. Waniuk has received numerous awards and accolades for her work as a musician. In 2009, she was awarded the Prix d'Europe, one of Canada's most prestigious music awards, which allowed her to study contemporary music in Europe. In 2012, she was awarded the Canada Council for the Arts' Virginia Parker Prize, which recognizes outstanding young Canadian musicians. In 2016, she was named one of CBC Music's "30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30." Waniuk is also a dedicated educator. She has taught at the University of Alberta, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto, and has given masterclasses and workshops throughout Canada and the United States. She is currently on faculty at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where she teaches contemporary violin and chamber music. In addition to her work as a musician and educator, Waniuk is also a passionate advocate for new music. She has commissioned and premiered numerous works by Canadian and international composers, and has worked closely with many composers to develop new works for the violin. She is also a founding member of the Canadian New Music Network, an organization dedicated to promoting new music in Canada. Ilana Waniuk is a dynamic and versatile musician who has made significant contributions to the Canadian music scene. Her dedication to contemporary music and her commitment to education and advocacy have made her a respected and influential figure in the Canadian music community.

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