JASPER WOOD
Violinist Jasper Wood has established himself as one of
Canada’s top violinists. His “thrilling virtuosity”
(The Strad) and “open luminous tones, seamless lines
and impeccable technique” (Toronto Star) have charmed
the ears and captured the hearts of music lovers everywhere.
Wood made his solo orchestral debut in 1987 with Symphony
Nova Scotia under the baton of Georg Tintner. Since then
he has established a flourishing reputation as a soloist
through his frequent performances with many of North America’s
top orchestras including the Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo,
Winnipeg, Victoria, Newfoundland, Bay Atlantic, and the
Canadian Chamber Orchestra. Wood has also garnered acclaim
for his dazzling performances as a recitalist and chamber
musician which have taken him to major cities all over the
world.
Jasper Wood’s debut album of 13 Canadian Caprices
on the Analekta label was released in 1999 to much critical
acclaim. Since then Wood has had a very diverse recording
career which has included the music of Ives, Stravinsky,
Bartok, MacDonald, Morawetz, Eckhardt-Gramatte, Berio and
Saint-Saens under the Endeavour Classics, Analekta, Disques
Pelleas, Centrediscs and Naxos labels.
An avid supporter of new music, Wood has dedicated much
of his recording time to include world premieres and to
promote music that he feels deserves attention. His most
recent CD was released in November 2007 with pianist David
Riley on the Centrediscs label and contains the violin/piano
works of Oskar Morawetz.
Jasper Wood performs regularly with his dynamic piano trio
Triple Forte (with pianist David Jalbert and cellist Yegor
Dyachkov) which was formed to join the forces of Canada’s
top young soloists. Wood can be heard frequently on National
Public Radio in the United States and CBC/SRC Radio in Canada.
No stranger to television, he can be seen and heard regularly
on the CBC, Bravo and the Knowledge Network. In 2007, Wood
was featured in a one hour nationally broadcast documentary/performance
film titled “the Maritime Violin of Jasper Wood”
produced by Mozus Productions and DreamStreet Pictures.
Jasper Wood holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from
the Cleveland Institute of Music. His main teachers have
been David and Linda Cerone, Oleh Krysa, and Philippe Djokic.
An acclaimed competition winner, Wood has won numerous prizes
and awards in the United States, Canada, and Europe. He
has also been awarded both the Sylva Gelber Award and the
Virginia Parker Prize, two of the most distinguished prizes
awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Today he is
in demand as an adjudicator for many prestigous competitions
across the nation.
Currently residing in Vancouver with his wife Grace and
son Ryan, Wood is Assistant Professor of violin and chamber
music at the University of British Columbia. For more information
on Jasper Wood, please visit his website at www.jasperwood.net
