ESO Concertmaster to take leave of absence for 09/10 season

Martin Riseley to take leave of absence in 2009-2010

ESO Concertmaster to share extensive knowledge with new generation of musicians

Edmonton, AB ’Ķ Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) Concertmaster Martin Riseley is taking a leave of absence for the 2009-2010 concert season.

’ÄúMy family and I are travelling to Wellington, New Zealand for one year in order for me to be Head of Strings at the New Zealand School of Music,’Äù Dr. Riseley says. ’ÄúI will see what I can do there to both help the school and its students, and to develop my own solo and chamber music playing. I am excited to take on a class of university-aged students again, as I have enjoyed teaching in the past, and passing on various 'guild secrets' to the new generations of musicians! Also, shaping the developing curriculum of the school is an exciting opportunity, one which does not come along very often. I also look forward to coming back to Edmonton during the year for solo engagements with both our Edmonton Symphony and the Alberta Baroque Society!’Äù

Mr. Riseley has previously served as the Interim Associate Concertmaster of the National Arts Centre Orchestra for the 2002-2003 season, and was Guest Concertmaster of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra during 2003.

A native of New Zealand, Martin Riseley began violin studies at the age of six, and gave his first solo concert when he was ten. After several years of study with the English violinist Carl Pini, he entered the University of Canterbury School of Music in 1986. Upon graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree, he went to the Juilliard School in 1989 where he studied with Dorothy DeLay and Piotr Milewski, and was coached in chamber music by Samuel Rhodes and Joel Smirnoff of the Juilliard Quartet, and by Felix Galimir. Riseley graduated from Juilliard in 1996 with his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree.

Mr. Riseley assisted Dorothy DeLay as a teaching fellow in the Pre-College Division of Juilliard while in New York. He was also Soloist and Concertmaster with the Chamber Players of the Juilliard School in their Merkin Hall debut, and in Alice Tully Hall as part of the Mozart Bicentennial celebrations at Lincoln Centre.

Martin Riseley has been Concertmaster of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra since 1994, giving his first performance on November 30^th of that year. Highlights of Martin’Äôs term as ESO Concertmaster include the North American premiere of the violin concerto ’ÄúThe Bully of Bashan’Äù by Gavin Bryars, and the premiere of a concerto by former ESO Composer in Residence Allan Gilliland in 2002.

Mr. Riseley will return next season to perform with the ESO in both the Classic Landmarks Masters and Lighter Classics series. On September 18 & 19, 2009, he will perform Red Violin Chaconne by John Corigliano. On January 14, 2010, Martin will present some of his favorite ’Äúparty pieces’Äù for violin and orchestra, including music by Tchaikovsky, Gershwin, Saint-Saˆ´ns, Kreisler, Khachaturian, and Wieniawski. Music Director William Eddins will conduct both programs.

The ESO wishes Martin and his family all the best in their new endeavours. In the meantime, the ESO has begun the process of finding a Guest Concertmaster for the 2009-2010 concert season.