‘Genre-bending’ violinist to give master class, concert

Mark Fewer, a violinist who’s performed around the world and is described as “genre-bending” by The National Post, a major Canadian newspaper, will visit SUNY Fredonia on Wednesday, March 20.

A master class will be held at 5 p.m. in Juliet J. Rosch Recital Hall and a concert at 8 p.m. Both events are free and open to the public.

Assistant Professor Jessica Tong describes Mr. Fewer as “one of those rare violinists who defies any single label or category of music.” He is classically trained, has soloed with orchestras around the world and has held positions as concertmaster of the Vancouver Symphony, violinist in the St Lawrence String Quartet and member of the early music Smithsonian Chamber Players.

In addition to performing a selection of solo violin works that were written for him, Fewer will play a set of duos with Ms. Tong and a jazz set with Associate Professor and Coordinator of Jazz Nick Weiser and bass student Caleb Duden, a senior with majors in Music Education (instrumental concentration) and Music (jazz and string concentration), from Poughkeepsie, NY.

“His ease in the realms of improvisation and jazz make him a truly unique ‘renaissance man,’ with very few musical boundaries he hasn't successfully explored,” adds Tong, who met him while she was a student in the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto pre-college program. He was her first chamber music coach there.

“Even then, his energy and enthusiasm as a teacher and player were infectious, and he brought out the very best in his students,” Tong recalls.

Fewer is an associate professor of violin at the University of Toronto and a Juno and Prix Opus winner.