Articles by Rosemary Phillips

freelance writer

Daniel Bolshoy - Canadian Guitarist

The Whole Passionate Package

Daniel Bolshoy

This interview article written was in preparation for Daniel Bolshoy’s performance on Thursday, October 21, 2007, when he was being presented at Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver, BC, in their series Concerts@One. Daniel performed at 1 p.m. and then at 2 p.m. host John Kennedy, retired CBC Radio and Television regional head, initiated informal discussion between the audience and Daniel about his instrument, his career and the music. Besides being a magnificent guitarist Daniel is an engaging performer who communicates with his audience – and – he has matinee idol good looks. Eric Friesen of CBC Radio has said, “He's the whole passionate package.”

From rock to classical guitar

Daniel has been a resident of Canada since he was 17. He was born in Moscow and at the age of three he moved with his family to Israel. It was there he first picked up a guitar. “I started my studies on piano, then when I was old enough and noticed that girls liked guys with guitars I made the switch. In middle school I was really into electric guitar and the 80's rock stars, like Jimi Hendrix. I found someone to teach me; he was a classical guitarist and really great.”

Then he attended a very unique high school. “It's a boarding school in Jerusalem that combines visual arts and science with the idea being to create multi-disciplinary students – well informed scientists, mathematicians, musicians. It brought kids from all over the country to study - Palestinian, Muslim, Jew and Christian. I had friends who were really amazing musicians. They would give me inspiration and advice. Some already had incredible careers at the age of 14.”

Guitar becomes his life

But it wasn't until Daniel arrived with his family in Canada that he realised classical music and the guitar were to be his life. “I went to the University of Toronto, then to the University of Denver where I got my Masters in Music. I worked for a year in Arizona then taught while I was working on my doctorate at Indiana University, the biggest music school in the world. Now I teach at Concordia University in Montreal.”

Today Daniel performs solo and chamber music recitals in some of Canada's most prestigious halls, appears as a guest artist with orchestras across North America, and has performed around the world for music festivals and for outreach and educational concerts for the young. “The farthest place I have been to date is Macao, the Portuguese Island now part of China. The far north of Canada also sticks in my mind, with outreach concerts in the North West Territories. I haven't been to Africa or Australia - yet.”

Communicates with audiences

It's not hard to tell that Daniel loves to share his talent and knowledge. “I love to talk with the audience. I think it's part of the concert – a way to introduce the instrument. My goal is to introduce the guitar to people who have not heard it before. Myself I have three guitars. Sometimes they are friends, when things go well. Sometimes we are not on good terms. One guitar is built by a maker from Tatlayoko BC. It may only be one year old but it has small parts on it made from 10-million-year-old mammoth tusk – older than any ancient instrument!”

Besides introducing the guitar he likes to tell stories and jokes about the pieces and the composers, to make them less foreign. “It breaks the formal recital into an informal chat.”

Through ArtStarts in British Columbia, Daniel was able to tour schools throughout the province, and this year he is touring the country with Jeunesse Musicales Canada out of Montreal. “I get a good sense of the population that way. Of course, the big hope is that the young people I see now will go to classical concerts later. No one says you have to be old to like classical music. I come from a school where young people were really passionate about it. They were still kids – there was nothing different about them – they just liked classical music.”

Daniel's passion for reaching the young even extends to giving advice through his web site. “I tell kids that if you really want to do this, it is possible. Go for it! It's amazing how many doors will open.”

When he's not performing or teaching Daniel is getting to know his new home, Montreal. “I try to be with people because so much of what I do is solitary. And Montreal is so into food.” His favourite food? “When I come to Vancouver I try to fill up on Sushi; there's something very artistic about it. But I also like to eat a good steak!”

And his future? “I would love to do a lot more of what I am doing now – and to start a guitar program at a university, with a department focused just on guitar.”

For more information visit Daniel Bolshoy's web site and Richard Paul Concert Artists.

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