Since making her solo debut at age 11 with the Calgary Civic Symphony, she’s performed on stages around the world, playing alongside some of the industry’s best ensembles, including the Calidore String Quartet, the Kronos Quartet, and the Schumann Quartet. When Luka enlisted the help of Canmore-based pianist Susanne Ruberg-Gordon to produce a special concert to prepare for an upcoming international competition, artsPlace was there to answer their call.
“She’s unbelievably gifted,” says Susanne, who has been working with Luka for nearly a decade, as faculty, at the Mount Royal University Conservatory. A highly respected collaborative pianist and core member of the Juno Award nominated Land’s End Ensemble, Susanne knows a thing or two about the power of performance.
She’s been producing the Rising Stars concert series for nearly 20 years, helping to give 35 of Canada’s finest young classical musicians a platform to shine. In that time, she’s seen the magic that happens when aspiring artists meet an engaged audience.
“When you can hear a pin drop, and you know someone’s listening—not listening with a red pencil—but really listening, that’s when you play better yourself,” says Susanne. “And when you’re in a nurturing, loving, and acute environment of listening, you can start to open up even more.”
That’s what makes performing at artsPlace so special, says Susanne. The audience is discerning when need be, but incredibly supportive, making it a safe space for young musicians to take risks; to find their voice and sing through their instrument.
Executive Director, Jeremy Elbourne, hopes to see more artists rise up as a result of artsPlace programming. “A priority for us is finding more focused ways to support artists as they pursue their personal and professional goals,” he says. “At this point, artists have been coming to artsPlace for years. For many, it feels like home. We want to support them through the entire arts education ecosystem, from practice to performance and beyond.”
Artists like Anna Stube, the Calgary-based violinist who, at 15 years old, has already enjoyed an extensive international performance career with concerts in Israel, Poland, and the United States. Anna is a student in the Advanced Performance Program at the Mount Royal University Conservatory. She’s performed several times at artsPlace, both as a featured artist in the Rising Stars concert series (alongside her good friend, Luka) and as part of the Peaks + Prairies Ensemble.
“The two have so much passion and power,” says Susanne. “There’s this drive you can’t deny, and when you have that much inner drive, opportunities will present themselves… [Anna and Luka] have a huge future in the field ahead of them.”
Luka, having been named the most promising semi-finalist in the classical category at the 2021 Unisa International Strings Competition in South Africa, is auditioning for undergraduate schools in Germany and is hoping to attend in October. Anna is continuing her studies with William Van der Sloot, one of Canada’s top teachers, after winning first prize at the 2019 Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal (OSM) Competition. She’ll be attending Morningside Music Bridge in Boston this summer.
“They’re ready to fly the coop; to test their wings and find their way,” says Susanne. And when they decide to return home, the artsPlace audience will be there.
