The ABMF is sad to announce that Dr. Jacques Després retired from the ABMF Board of Directors this year. He was a source of humour, wisdom and musical expertise for many years, and the ABMF thanks him for his invaluable contribution.
We are, however, excited to welcome Dr. Viktoria Reiswich-Dapp and John Tessier onto the Board! Viktoria has been lauded for her pianistic skills, which were honed at the University of Music in Karlsruhe, the University of Music Frankfurt/Main, and the University of Alberta from where she holds a Doctor of Music degree in piano performance. She has performed as a soloist, with orchestras, and in various chamber music formations across North America and Europe, and her artistry has won her numerous national and international prizes and scholarships, including the highest Canadian scholarship, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is one of only two winners of the Vanier scholarship studying music, and the only one specializing in performance. Viktoria also has extensive teaching and vocal coaching experience in three languages.
We are, however, excited to welcome Dr. Viktoria Reiswich-Dapp and John Tessier onto the Board! Viktoria has been lauded for her pianistic skills, which were honed at the University of Music in Karlsruhe, the University of Music Frankfurt/Main, and the University of Alberta from where she holds a Doctor of Music degree in piano performance. She has performed as a soloist, with orchestras, and in various chamber music formations across North America and Europe, and her artistry has won her numerous national and international prizes and scholarships, including the highest Canadian scholarship, the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. She is one of only two winners of the Vanier scholarship studying music, and the only one specializing in performance. Viktoria also has extensive teaching and vocal coaching experience in three languages.
John Tessier, a Juno Award winning tenor, has garnered international attention and praise for his refined style and artistic versatility. He has worked with many notable musicians, including Plácido Domingo, Lorin Maazel, Emmanuel Haim, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, and Dame Gwyneth Jones. His performances have graced stages all around the world, including the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Wiener Staatsoper, Carnegie Hall, Oper Frankfurt, Grand Théâtre de Genève, English National Opera, Washington National Opera, and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Equally comfortable in the genres of opera, oratorio, and recital, John is also an award winning professor at the University of Alberta and is in high demand for coaching, master classes, and private consultations.
