Celebrate the versatility and warmth of classical strings with an intimate concert by two principal string players of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Concertmaster Robert Uchida has been applauded for his “ravishing sound, eloquence and hypnotic intensity” by Strings Magazine, while Rafael Hoekman is lauded as a ”rock star of the cello.” Their crowd-pleasing program journeys from traditional favorites through to brilliant contemporary selections inspired by world and folk music, and concludes with a Maritime medley sure to set toes tapping.
Robert Uchida | Violin - Robert joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as Concertmaster in 2013. Previously he held the same position with Symphony Nova Scotia, and was invited to perform as Associate Concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in the 2005–2006 season. Engagements as a guest leader have included projects with the Netherlands Radio Chamber Philharmonic, Royal Flemish Philharmonic and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
A passionate teacher, Robert serves on the faculty at the University of Alberta and has also taught at Acadia University, the Manhattan School of Music and the National Arts Centre of Canada’s Young Artists Program.
Robert holds a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in New York and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Ottawa. He performs on a rare 1770 Guadagnini violin with Vision Solo Titanium strings by Thomastik-Infeld Vienna.
Rafael Hoekman | Cello - Noted for his “spirited and fiery performances,” Rafael Hoekman’s varied career as a soloist, teacher, chamber musician and orchestral cellist has taken him across Canada. Currently Principal Cellist of the Edmonton Symphony and Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, he has been a featured soloist with orchestras including the Edmonton Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, I Musici de Montréal and the Newfoundland Symphony.
Hoekman is both a passionate soloist and a dedicated chamber musician. He was a founding member of the Tokai String Quartet which was a prize winner at the prestigious Banff International String Quartet Competition. Devoted to mentoring the next generation of cellists, Rafael is on faculty at the University of Alberta. He studied with Yuli Turovsky, Shauna Rolston, and Theo Weber.
