|
Maya Fraser
|
Maya began the violin at age three, and later entered the Toho School of Music High School to study under Professor Koichiro Harada, founding member of the Tokyo Quartet. Maya then studied at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto as a student of the late Professor Lorand Fenyves, earning her Performance Diploma, and the following year she received the Advanced Certificate in Performance from the University of Toronto Faculty of Music.
In her first year at Toho, Maya won the high school division of the All-Japan Student Music Competition, and subsequently held her first recital at the age of 16. Since then she has won prizes at several competitions, including the silver medal at the 1999 Orford International Music Competition, the silver medal at the CMC International Steppingstone Competition in 2000, and second prize at the 11th Japan Mozart Competition in 2003. In 2002 Maya advanced to the 2nd round of the International Mozart Music Competition in Salzburg. Her performance at the Steppingstone Competition was singled out by the jury: “A performance on a very high level throughout. Very artistic, dignified music making. Bravo!”
Since her debut, Maya has given many solo recitals in Japan and Canada, and has been soloist with a number of orchestras. Her performance with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in 2002 was praised by the concertmaster, Pavel Prantl. She performs regularly at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, and went on a Canadian tour in November, 2006, ending with a recording for CBC Radio at the Glen Gould Studio. Maya released her first album “Angel Plays Soul” with the major record company, Avex Japan, in 2003, and the following year played the national anthem at a regular season baseball game at Chiba Lotte Marine Stadium before 30,000 fans.
Again in 2008, Maya returned to Canada to perform with the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Music Society, at Colours of Music (Barrie) and at the Beaver Valley Chamber Music Festival.
Maya has participated in the Aspen Music Festival, the Orford International Music Festival, the Banff Music Festival, and the Kirishima International Music Festival. For the past eleven years, Maya has received a grant from the Messena Association for Support of the Arts in Japan, and is also a recipient of a Canada Council for the Arts grant. While living in Toronto, Maya was a regular member of Sinfonia Toronto. Since 2006, she has taken part in regular concerts by the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. Besides performing, Maya enjoys teaching violin in Tokyo.
|
|