Private concerto with Shirley Wu, Thomas Leslie, Jean-Willy Kunz of the OSM

Jean-Willy Kunz is the first Organist-in-Residence of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. In addition to performances with the Orchestra and as a soloist in recital, he supervises the development and showcasing of the OSM’s Grand Orgue Pierre-Béique at the Maison symphonique de Montréal. His most recent performances include concerts with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Violons du Roy, with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and with singer-songwriters Pierre Lapointe, Rufus Wainwright and Martha Wainwright. A significant portion of his discography reflects multiple musical influences: Symphonie et créations pour orgue et orchestre, with the OSM (2016 Juno Award-winning album) ; Impressions for organ, clarinet, saxophone, trombone, double bass and percussions; Punkt, with Pierre Lapointe and André Gagnon Baroque, for harpsichord and symphony orchestra. Jean-Willy Kunz is Professor of Organ at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and Artistic Director of the Canadian International Organ Competition.

Originaire de Halifax, Nouvelle-Écosse, le ténor Thomas Leslie offre régulièrement des représentations à travers le Québec, les Maritimes, l’Ontario et les États-Unis.

Il a récemment interprété le Messie de Handel et La flûte enchantée avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil, les oratorios Dixit Dominus de Handel, la Credomesse de Mozart et Lord Nelson Mass de Haydn avec la Société chorale de St-Lambert, Elijah de Mendelssohn lors du festival de la musique chorale des Berkshires, dans le Massachusetts, les oeuvres de Nico Muhly à New York, Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott de J.S. Bach à Kitchener, en Ontario et le Requiem de Mozart avec l’Orchestre symphonique de l’Estuaire. Par ailleurs, on a pu entendre Thomas alors qu’il prenait part à l’émission Opera Quiz sur les ondes de la CBC, et il a également fait une apparition télévisuelle dans la série documentaire The Classical Now sur la chaîne Bravo Network.

Thomas est également directeur général du Concours international d’orgue du Canada et est diplômé de l’UQAM et des universités McGill et Wilfrid Laurier et du Collège royal canadien des organistes.

Canadian pianist Shirley Wu has accomplished her studies at Royal College of Music, London, UK. Between 2009 and 2013, Shirley completed her studies of Physiology and Piano Performance at University McGill, where she obtained her bachelor diploma in 2013. Before McGill, Shirley studied at Vanier College and obtained a Double D.E.C. in Science (Pure Science) and Music (Piano Performance).

In 2012, Shirley was hired as the pianist / assistant at Steinway Montreal, showcasing Vladimir Horowitz’ wedding gift piano while it was on exhibition. Shirley has performed extensively across Canada, United States, as well as in Europe, at venues such as Pollack hall in Montreal, Koerner Hall in Toronto, Seattle Art Museum and London St Mary’s Battersea church in London UK.

Shirley enjoys performing solo repertoire and also playing chamber music. Shirley played at San Francisco’s Classical Revolution Cafe, and Groupmuse in the U.S. In 2014, Shirley founded a company Opus One Music to promote the social function of chamber music by producing events with her musician friends. Shirley joined Seattle Ladies Musical club in 2015 in order to deepen her understanding of Western music within Western culture.

Upon graduation in 2017 from Royal College of Music, Shirley participated in Banff Arts Centre’ Fall Musician Residency. In 2019, Shirley was selected to participate in the Budapest Concerto Competition where she had the opportunity to perform excerpts from Chopin’s E minor piano concerto with Budapest State Symphony Orchestra at the prestigious Danube Palace.

As an academic researcher, Shirley did research on the level of understanding of Performance Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (PRMDs) among music students in Canada. Currently Shirley offers group or individual meetings to help musicians' mental preparation for concerts and exams. Shirley became a guest lecturer at McGill University Schulich School of Music in March 2019.