Louis Sherman Concerto Competition for young string players
February 11, 2020, 7:00 PM,
First Metropolitan United Church Chapel, 932 Balmoral Road, Victoria
Known for his kindness and generosity toward young musicians, was born in 1907, the eldest of five brothers and himself a twin. He passed away in October of 1999.
He was trained as a violinist, studying with Vaughn Kunitz, a former conductor of the Toronto Symphony. As a student, Louis played violin in the theatre orchestra for silent movies. He later became a violinist in the Toronto Symphony, a post he held for 20 years.
After that, he moved to Los Angeles where he played for 20 years in the Freddie Martin Band and the Percy Faith Orchestra. He then played in Las Vegas for 10 years.
In 1979, he retired to Victoria where he played in the Leighton Noble Orchestra, and became the Concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra.
As a benefactor, he has helped to establish the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and has helped many other musicians. He has been particularly supportive of young people, and even gave the young Victoria violinist, Tim Haig, his first set of tails.
The Victoria Chamber Orchestra, with the help of Louis' daughter, Claudia Chance, agreed to establish a living memorial by offering an annual Concerto Competition for young string players to perform with the Victoria Chamber Orchestra.
Application Procedure: All students of bowed instruments, age 18 years and younger as of January 1, 2020, who live on Vancouver Island, or the Gulf Islands, are eligible to apply. Previous first prize winners are ineligible.
The first round of the competition will be by recording. Competitors should record one movement of their chosen concerto on cassette tape or CD, using as high quality recording equipment as is available to them. Recorded performance must be accompanied. Label only the case with name, instrument and piece, to assure anonymity during judging.
The final round of competition is open to the public. Admission is free or by donation.
He was trained as a violinist, studying with Vaughn Kunitz, a former conductor of the Toronto Symphony. As a student, Louis played violin in the theatre orchestra for silent movies. He later became a violinist in the Toronto Symphony, a post he held for 20 years.
After that, he moved to Los Angeles where he played for 20 years in the Freddie Martin Band and the Percy Faith Orchestra. He then played in Las Vegas for 10 years.
In 1979, he retired to Victoria where he played in the Leighton Noble Orchestra, and became the Concertmaster of the Civic Orchestra.
As a benefactor, he has helped to establish the Victoria Chamber Orchestra and has helped many other musicians. He has been particularly supportive of young people, and even gave the young Victoria violinist, Tim Haig, his first set of tails.
The Victoria Chamber Orchestra, with the help of Louis' daughter, Claudia Chance, agreed to establish a living memorial by offering an annual Concerto Competition for young string players to perform with the Victoria Chamber Orchestra.
Application Procedure: All students of bowed instruments, age 18 years and younger as of January 1, 2020, who live on Vancouver Island, or the Gulf Islands, are eligible to apply. Previous first prize winners are ineligible.
The first round of the competition will be by recording. Competitors should record one movement of their chosen concerto on cassette tape or CD, using as high quality recording equipment as is available to them. Recorded performance must be accompanied. Label only the case with name, instrument and piece, to assure anonymity during judging.
The final round of competition is open to the public. Admission is free or by donation.
