Jonathan Chan, Friends of Chamber Music, past Young Musicians Competition 2008 winner

YMC Spotlight: Violinist Jonathan Chan

September 28, 2015

The multi-talented musician Jonathan Chan is in this month’s Where Are They Now spotlight following the winners of our Young Musicians Competition.

Chan picked up the violin when he was four years old, after getting an ear for it from his older sister who also played at the time. Ten years later, the FCM started following Chan’s progression as he embraced Chamber Music. As part of a trio, Chan and his fellow musicians were an unbeatable team in competition and eventually found themselves abroad. In London, England Chan furthered his musical education at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

He made a pit stop in Toronto first, auditioning for the prestigious Canada Council’s “Musical Instrument Bank”. The prize: a 1715 Dominicus Montagnana violin valued at around $1 million. Montagnana was one of the greatest Venetian violin makers of the 18th century, though he was known for his cellos; a fact that drew Chan to the Dominicus violin due to his love of the darker melody they exude. With the Dominicus in hand, Chan was under contract with the “Bank” to give six concerts in Canada and he approached the Performing Arts Lodge (PAL), for whom he fundraised as well. PAL Vancouver’s commendable mission is “to provide veterans of Vancouver’s performing arts industry with affordable housing within a vibrant and creative community setting.”

Along with his charity concerts, Chan has played around the world and even for former PM Jean Chretien. He’s a three-time Sylva Gelber Foundation Award winner for the most gifted musician under 30 in Canada, and founded the duo Momento with his childhood friend. Going beyond the classical, the duo forays into jazz and popular classics, as well as contemporary art forms. We expect to be seeing more great things from this gifted musician.