Montreal, November 22, 2002 — L’Ensemble instrumental Appassionata, conducted by Daniel Myssyk, is presenting its second benefit concert, at 8 :00 p.m. on Thursday, November 28, in the École de Musique Vincent-D'Indy’s Marie-Stéphane Hall, at 628 Côte Ste-Catherine Road in Outremont.

Internationally renowned violinist Yehonatan Berick is Appassionata’s special guest for the evening. He will be joining the group for works by Bach (Violin Concerto in BWV 1041 minor), De Falla (Spanish dance) and Schubert (Rondo). Mr. Berick, a prizewinner at the 1993 Naumberg competition, was also the recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus. He has rendered solo performances with symphony orchestras in Quebec, Windsor and Jerusalem. He has also performed as a chamber musician at a number of highly acclaimed festivals, including the event in Marlboro. Mr. Berick, who is also an outstanding teacher, recently joined the music faculty at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Other works on the concert program include Ancient Airs and Dances by O. Respighi (rarely performed in concert), B. Bartok’s Romanian Dances, Bachianas Brasileiras no 9 by H. Villa-Lobos (another rarity), and A. Borodin’s famed Nocturne, from his much-celebrated string quartet no. 2.

Daniel Myssyk is the founder and artistic director of l'Ensemble instrumental Appassionata, a predominately string orchestra that debuted in Montreal in July 2000. The orchestra made its first appearance on the Radio-Canada network on January 31, 2002. The network co-produced a second concert with Appassionata in May 2002. Appassionata is planning to launch its first recording on the Eclectra label in 2003. The Canadian Guitar Quartet will accompany the orchestra on the recording.

Community involvement is also a cornerstone for this growingly popular orchestra. In the fall of 2001, it launched the «Passion-Musique» project funded by the City of Montreal’s cultural service, a program that met with public and critical acclaim. In March 2002, the orchestra performed at culture-education sessions, funded by the Ministry of Culture, at École Pierre-Laporte.

Tickets:

Ticket prices $100 (tax deductible benefit contribution includes post-concert reception)
Regular admission : $20
Reservations: (514) 495-7233
Press tickets are available on request

Biographical notes on orchestra conductor, Daniel Myssyk.

Daniel Myssyk has been the conductor of the OSGM (Société de Guitare de Montréal) since May 2000, an organization with which he made seven concert tours as part of the «Jouer dans l'Île» series funded by the Montreal Urban Community Arts Council. In the fall of 2000, he was guest professor in music writing at the University of Montreal’s music faculty. He wrote the string quartet score for Bruno Pelletier’s latest concert (which was taped for future release). A member of l'Orchestre des Jeunes du Québec in 1990, Mr. Myssyk still plays double bass with a number of the major Quebec orchestras. He also writes scripts for children’s musical plays. His work, Dans le ventre de la contrebasse (In the Belly of the Double Bass) has been staged more than 100 times in Quebec and New Brunswick Schools, in addition to being produced by six cultural facilities in Montreal. More than 10,000 children have been able to see his show, widely distributed by Jeunesses musicales du Canada.

Daniel Myssyk has a master’s in musical writing techniques from the University of Montreal (1997). In 1991, he was awarded First Prize in double bass by unanimous vote at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal. He has conducted a number of workshops in orchestra conducting at Conductors Institutes in Hartford (U.S.) and Varna (Bulgaria), as well as the Centre d'Arts Orford (Quebec), where he was awarded a grant. He continued to hone his skills, working with David Zinman at the Aspen Music Festival and School in the summer of 2001, a two-month internship for which he was awarded a full scholarship.

Daniel Myssyk was recently named the conductor of l’Orchestre symphonique de l’Isle, a community orchestra composed of about 60 musicians.