Newfoundland Clarinetist Elizaveta Konstantinova Wins Debut Atlantic’s Award for Musical Excellence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2021
NEWFOUNDLAND CLARINETIST ELIZAVETA KONSTANTINOVA WINS DEBUT ATLANTIC’S AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE
Halifax NS – Debut Atlantic is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 Award for Musical Excellence is 17-year-old clarinetist Elizaveta (Liza) Konstantinova, from St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Established in 1999, the Debut Atlantic Award for Musical Excellence is awarded annually to an Atlantic Canadian high school music student as chosen by a member of our distinguished alumni. The Award recognizes talented youth and is designed to support and encourage the development of young musicians in Atlantic Canada. The Award consists of a cash prize and a featured performance, as well as mentorship opportunities with a Debut Atlantic artist or alum. This year, Debut Atlantic has doubled the cash prize amount to $2,000 in recognition of the difficulties artists have faced this year during the COVID-19 global pandemic. This year’s esteemed juror, pianist Pierre-André Doucet, praised Liza’s beautiful tone. He noted that she has “truly stunning phrasing and knows how to draw in a listener.”
Liza is a 17-year-old grade 12 student at St. Bonaventure’s College in St. John’s, NL. She is a member of St. Bon’s Wind Ensemble, Senior Jazz Band, and a former member of Shallaway Youth Choir and Chamber Music for Youth program. She is now in her eighth year playing with the Calos Youth Orchestra.
Liza is a winner of the 2019 Kiwanis Music festival Junior Instrumental Rose Bowl, the 2020 Senior Instrumental Rose Bowl, and was runner-up in the 2019 Junior Vocal Rose Bowl. Additionally, she passed her RCM grade 10 clarinet practical exam with first-class honours. She has applied to music schools in St. John’s, Vancouver, and Montreal, and keeps classical music a priority in her life. She is honoured to be the recipient for this year’s Award, and stated that she is “incredibly thankful, especially at a time where working towards my goals as a young musician has become so challenging and unpredictable – I’m looking forward to new opportunities coming my way!”
To support more deserving artists this year, Debut Atlantic is pleased to recognize vocalist Joseph Desmond, from Saint John, NB with an Honourable Mention in this year’s Award competition. Joseph is a grade 12 student at Saint Malachy’s Memorial High School. He has received accolades in the New Brunswick Competitive Festival of Music, being awarded the April Mills Junior Star Trophy, and first place in the Provincial Finals for Junior Voice. Debut Atlantic will provide Joseph with a $500 bursary to support his continued musical studies.
Congratulations Liza and Joseph!
Debut Atlantic wishes to recognize the partners and sponsors that come together to bring incredible artists to communities and venues of all sizes across our region. This would not be possible without the generous support of sustaining partners, including Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Province of New Brunswick. Debut would also like to thank its educational partner, the Nova Scotia Department of Education; and its season partners, including the Halifax Regional Municipality, The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, Support4Culture, the Craig Foundation, Pink Larkin, Halcraft Printers, Strategic Arts Management, and InnVest Hotels (Comfort Inn).
One of the most respected music touring organizations in the country, Debut Atlantic’s first season in 1979 featured then-emerging and still-unknown artists, pianist Jon Kimura Parker, tenor Ben Heppner, and Canada’s Baroque orchestra Tafelmusik.
Full details on Debut Atlantic’s concert seasons and education programs can be found at www.debutatlantic.ca
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For further information, please contact:
Erin Sparks – Executive Director or
Elizabeth Upson Perez – Program Officer
Debut Atlantic
902.429.6812