“Triple Threat” Sawchuk Emerges
Posted on: Apr 1, 2019
Senior Christina Sawchuk has options.
As late as last聽August聽she still wasn鈥檛 sure whether her primary instrument should be voice (with Jolaine Kerley) or piano (with Dr. Ping-Shan Liao), a decision that would govern the shape of her senior recital and, indeed, her whole senior year. In other words, she was equally passionate about鈥攁nd, more impressively, equally advanced in鈥攖he two instruments. On the one hand she聽had聽completed grade 10 piano in the Royal Conservatory system, the benchmark for professional accompanists (and for聽two聽years had accompanied the Richard Eaton Songsters, a subset of the Richard Eaton Singers). On the other hand her interest and聽proficiency聽in voice had developed through private lessons as well as in the Concert Choir and solo opportunities, and last summer especially as a member of the prestigious .
In the end piano won out. A decision influenced, perhaps, by her concurrent emergence as a chamber musician: the last three years she has played with fellow seniors Natalie Tederoff (violin) and Joanna Wittmeier (cello) in the chamber trio Ombra di Musica, mentored by Dr. Danielle Lisboa. But choral music continues to contend for her attention, not only as a singer in the Concert Choir, , and Pro Coro Canada’s youth-mentoring choir, , but聽last year聽as an occasional conductor of a chamber choir spin-off.
Perhaps most impressive? In a blistering three years she will have completed the requirements for the four-year degree鈥攁 tribute to her incredible diligence as well as the flexibility offered by the music program at this 鈥渂outique鈥� university. Over the three years聽Christina took overloads and an array of spring/summer courses, including Inspiration for Teachers, a professional development course for music educators that parallels and engages closely with Concordia鈥檚 annual summer choral camp, Singspiration. And she was able to apply her invaluable experience with the National Youth Choir as partial fulfillment of an independent study option.
Yes, Christina has options. So what does she plan to do after graduating? First: take a brief break from school, for the first time in two years! Then: get married. In late July she plans to marry Aaron聽Debusschere, a recent Concordia grad. And then? She hopes to be back in the fall for Concordia鈥檚 Education program, which first attracted her attention from her native Cold Lake.
In the meantime, catch Christina鈥檚 talents as a pianist聽in her senior recital, , at 7 pm on Saturday, April 6 ().
The full slate of upcoming recitals:
Mar 30聽聽Gerdiene Trautmann profile
Apr 6聽 聽聽聽Christina Sawchuk
Apr 12聽聽聽Kira Dawson
Apr 13聽聽聽Isabela Ramos聽profile
Apr 14聽聽聽Joanna Wittmeier