ESCH MUSIC ACADEMY
RCM - National Teacher of Distinction
Steinway - Top Teacher Award
University of Toronto Piano Faculty
We have been blessed with talented, dedicated and hardworking students inspired by supportive families. Below are listed highlights of some of their finest achievements.
Student Performance Distinction…
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Multiple listings in the CBCs top 30 under 30 hottest young musicians in Canada
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Multiple performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, as well as Major GTA recital venues including Koerner Hall, the Glenn Gould Studio, Classical 96.3 FM, Fairchild TV, OMNI TV, and the Richmond Hill Center for the Arts, Markham Theater, Newmarket Theater, Aurora Cultural Center, CBC Radio 2
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Orchestra performances with Canadian Sinfonietta (3), Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra, Kindred Spirits Orchestra (3), The Cathedral Bluffs Symphony (4), the National Youth Orchestra of Holland, North American Chinese Orchestra, Glenn Gould School Orchestra/RCM, Wilfred Laurier Symphony Orchestra
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Professional and Recital series appearances: Young Artist in Residence at the Festival of the Sound, Kitchener Waterloo Chamber Music Society (7),Westben, the Steinway Series /Toronto (8), ORMTA Young Artist Tour (4), the University of Toronto Arts and Letters Club, Tour of Canada for Jeunesses Musicales
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City of Markham Distinguished Artist prize presented by Mayor Frank Scarpitti
Student International Piano Competition success
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Major prize winners in the ARD, Berlin International Amateurs, Boston International Amateurs, Crescendo International Piano Competition, GOACA International Music Competition, Music and Stars International Competition, American Protégé, Sound Espressivo International Piano Competition, Conero International Piano Competition, Vivo International Music Competition, Grand Metropolitan Piano Competition, Classicalia, Steinway Competition, Franz Liszt Center International Piano competition, Young Euegio Piano Award, Malopolska International Music Competition, Stockholm International Piano Competition, Carlos & Sophia International Piano Competition.
Student National and Provincial Competitions success
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Winners of the CMC Grand Prize and the CFMTA National Piano Competition. OMFA Provincial Competitions multiple first prizes in the Open, ARCT/diploma and grade 10 levels. ORMTA Provincial Competitions: multiple first prize winners in the Level A Young Artist category, and the Level B diploma category.
Student Royal Conservatory of Music examinations success
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National Gold Medal winners of the LRCM examination (2)
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National Gold Medal winner of the ARCT examination
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Youngest ever recipient of the LRCM with distinction ranking in the history of RCM exams.
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Dozens of LRCM, ARCT and Grade 10 level examinations completed with Distinction.
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Dozens of level 1-9 examinations completed with Distinction.
Student Scholarships success
Over the past 10 years, our students have earned well over $50,000 in scholarships and bursaries from local competitions and festivals. This does not include the numerous full scholarships and partial scholarships which were awarded to students going on to the University Level. With these factored in, the total would be well over $100,000.
Student Master Classes with Major Artists
Esch Music Academy students have been very fortunate to have been featured in master classes with some of the world's best performers and pedagogues. These include:
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Michelle Cann - Curtis/Manhattan
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Janina Fialkoswka - Intl touring Concert Pianist
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Jon Kimura Parker OC, Rice University, Intl touring Concert Pianist
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Kyu Yeon Kim - Seoul National Conservatory
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Robert Roux - Rice University Chair, Steinway Artist
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Arthur Greene - U. Michigan
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Andre LaPlante - Intl touring Concert Pianist
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Meng Chie Lui - Curtis, NEC
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John Perry - Colburne/USC, GGS
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Enrico Elisi - Texas Christian University
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Kristoph Jablonski - Warsaw Academy,
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Charles Richard Hamelin - Intl Chopin Competition Laureate
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Boris Slutsky - Yale, Peabody
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Catherine Chi - Honens Intl Winner
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Roman Rabinovich - Intl Rubinstein Competition Winner
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John O’Conor - GGS, Dublin Internation Piano competition.
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Gary Graffman - Curtis - Teacher of Lang Lang and Yuja Wang
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James Parker - Chair of the Keyboard dept U of Toronto. Gryphon Trio
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HaeSon Paik - NEC
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Simone Dinnerstein - Intl touring concert pianist
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Sasha Starcevich - International master performer/pedagogue
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Stephen Spooner - Peabody Conservatory - Johns Hopkins University
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Wayne Weng - Steinway Artist
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Carol Wong - Carnegie Hall class Concert Pianist
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Myong Joo Lee - Colburn Institute - USC
Student International and National Music Festivals summer study participation
Full scholarship recipients to festivals including the Morningside Music Bridge, John O’Conor’s Beethoven Boot Camp in Ireland, Orford, Domain Forget, Peter the Great Music Festival in the Netherlands, and the Chautauqua Institute in New York. Vancouver Piano Sessions
Student Local GTA Music Festival success
Multiple Best Senior Pianist Awards from YIPS, Markham Music Festival, Oshawa-Whitby Kiwanis Festival, OYMI, International Music Academy Festival, Pickering GTA, Pickering Rotary, Scarborough Lions, North York Music Festival, Halton Hills Music Festival, Take the Stage Music Festival, Peel Music Festival, Guelph Kiwanis, Newmarket Lions, Barrie Kiwanis, and the Toronto Kiwanis. Dr. Esch is a past Presidents Trophy winner of the Toronto Kiwanis Music festival.