Role

:

Conductor  

 

Victor Sawa is a renowned Canadian conductor, clarinetist, and music educator. He was born on August 7, 1957, in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Sawa grew up in a musical family, and his father was a clarinetist in the Regina Symphony Orchestra. He began playing the clarinet at the age of nine and showed exceptional talent from an early age. Sawa received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Regina in 1979, where he studied with renowned clarinetist Robert Riseling. He then went on to pursue his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied with renowned clarinetist Clark Brody. During his time at Northwestern, Sawa also studied conducting with Victor Yampolsky. After completing his studies, Sawa began his career as a clarinetist, performing with various orchestras in Canada and the United States. He was a member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra from 1980 to 1983 and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 1986. In 1986, Sawa was appointed principal clarinetist of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, a position he held until 1991. In addition to his work as a clarinetist, Sawa also began to establish himself as a conductor. He served as the music director of the Regina Symphony Orchestra from 1988 to 1994 and the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra from 1994 to 1997. In 1997, Sawa was appointed music director of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra in British Columbia, a position he held until 2013. During his tenure with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Sawa led the orchestra to new heights of artistic excellence. He expanded the orchestra's repertoire, introduced new works by Canadian composers, and collaborated with renowned soloists such as pianist Jon Kimura Parker and cellist Shauna Rolston. Sawa also established the Prince George Symphony Orchestra's annual Young Artists Competition, which provides young musicians with the opportunity to perform with the orchestra. Sawa's work with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra earned him numerous accolades and awards. In 2002, he was awarded the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in recognition of his contributions to the arts in Canada. In 2007, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Prince George Citizen newspaper. In 2013, he was awarded the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest civilian honors, for his contributions to the arts and music education. In addition to his work with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, Sawa has also conducted numerous other orchestras in Canada and the United States. He has served as a guest conductor with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, among others. Sawa is also a dedicated music educator. He has taught clarinet and conducting at the University of Regina, the University of Manitoba, and the University of British Columbia. He has also conducted numerous youth orchestras and served as a clinician and adjudicator for music festivals and competitions across Canada. In recent years, Sawa has continued to expand his artistic horizons. He has conducted opera productions with the Vancouver Opera and the Manitoba Opera, and he has collaborated with renowned Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Slean on a project that combines classical music and pop music.

More....