Kai Gleusteen, violin and Catherine Ordronneau, piano

We are happy to welcome back Kai and Catherine for their third concert at Wentworth Villa. Based in Barcelona where Kai is the concert master of the Orchestra Del Gran Teatre del Liceu, the duo has performed together for more than 20 years. Their last performance for us in 2023 included music by Dvorak, Kreisler, R. Strauss and Morricone. This time they will present a program of works by Elgar, Franck, and Enescu.

Canadian born violinist, Kai Gleusteen started at the age of five years old in his native city, Calgary. Already at a young age, he had the opportunity to study with the most renowned violinists and teachers of his time, including Nathan Milstein, Ivan Galamian, Josef Gingold, Dorothy Delay, and Zakhar Bron. By the age of seventeen, Kai was awarded the top prize in the Commonwealth Concerto Competition in Australia, he had received the prestigious Skene Award in Scotland and had formed his first chamber orchestra: The Group of Twelve.

A strong believer in the musician as a multi-dimensional human being, Kai chose to combine his musical studies with academic pursuits. At the University of Michigan, he studied anthropology, geophysics, and philosophy. He received a Master's Degree from Rice University under the tutelage of the violinist Camilla Wicks.

In 1991, Kai moved to Europe. Paris and Prague were his bases for nine years, allowing him to develop and perform both as a soloist and concertmaster. In the year 2000, he won the concertmaster position of the Orchestra 'del Gran Teatre del Liceu' and subsequently moved to Barcelona. Since 2003, he was appointed professor at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Catalunya and founded the chamber music series called Kaimerata Concerts. He continues to perform extensively as a soloist and a recitalist and has released numerous critically acclaimed recordings.

Although Catherine Ordronneau performed her first solo concert at age 12, it is only when she turned 18 that she decided to devote herself entirely to music, receiving guidance from French pianist François-Rene Duchable and the pedagogue Monique Deschaussees, herself a student of the great Alfred Cortot. After receiving the highest distinction in academics, and the prize of the Foundation Lefebure, she chose to avoid international competitions in order to develop and grow as a well-rounded musician.

Catherine performs extensively in North America, Europe and China. She was invited to play as a soloist with the various orchestras throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. Since 2008, she regularly goes to China and has played in the most prestigious halls, including the Oriental Art Center in Shanghai and the Performing Arts Center in Tianjin. She recorded live for CBC Radio, Bravo, TV2 in Spain, Radio France.

Catherine has a great passion for chamber music and has taken part in many international chamber music festivals. She has worked and performed with her partner Kai Gleusteen for more than 20 years and their discography includes award winning recordings. Catherine is professor of piano and chamber music in the Liceu Conservatorio Superior de Musica in Barcelona.

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