TMA Musician of the Year Award 2009

ANDREW BURASHKO – A member of the TMA since 1990

Since his brilliant début with the Toronto Symphony at the age of seventeen under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis, Andrew Burashko has established himself as one of the most soughtafter soloists in Canada. He has performed extensively around the world collaborating with among others, conductors Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Pinchas Zukerman, Marin Alsop, Peter Oundjian and Bramwell Tovey. Passionately dedicated to the music of our time as well as the great piano master-works of the past, Andrew Burashko has developed a reputation for versatility and brilliantly conceived programmes. He has given numerous Canadian and world premières, including the Canadian première of Schnittke’s Piano Concerto.

His musical dexterity and commitment to building a future audience for classical music brought him in 1998 to the artistic directorship of the Art of Time Ensemble, a chamber music society comprised of the finest classical and jazz players on the Canadian scene. Andrew Burashko began his piano studies with Marina Geringas in Toronto. He went on to study with Kum Sing Lee in Vancouver, Leon Fleisher and Marek Jablonski in Toronto, and Sella Davidovich in New York. He is at present on the faculty of the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Performance Diploma and Artist Diploma (RCM). Studied with Bella Davidovich in New York, with Marek Jablonski, Leon Fleisher and Marina Geringas at The RCM, Toronto and with Kum Sing Lee in Vancouver. Awarded numerous grants from the Canada Council and the Ontario Arts Council. Has given master classes throughout Canada and the United States. Soloist with orchestras including the Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg Symphonies, the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, CBC Vancouver Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Sought after as a recitalist and chamber musician, with performances throughout North America and Europe. Artistic Director of Chamber Music Unlimited. Recorded for Naxos, CBC SM5000, and Opening Day Labels. Regularly broadcast on CBC Radio and American Public Radio. RCM faculty since 1990.

In recognition of the outstanding artistic excellence during the year 2009 and his universally acclaimed stature as one of Canada’s most highly regarded classical pianists, the Toronto Musicians’ Association presents the 2009 Musician of the Year Award to Andrew Burashko.