2010 RBC Stockey Young Artists –

Afiara String Quartet
The all-Canadian Afiara String Quartet (Valerie Li and Yuri Cho, violins; David Samuel, viola; and Adrian Fung, cello) is the graduate resident string quartet at The Juilliard School in New York, where they serve as teaching assistants to the celebrated Juilliard String Quartet. The quartet’s 2009/10 season includes performances at the Library of Congress, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Mooredale Concert Series, the Montreal and Ottawa International Chamber Music Festivals and the Festival of the Sound. Formed in 2006, the Afiara String Quartet takes its name from the Spanish fiar, meaning “to trust”, a basic element vital to the depth and joy of its music-making. The ensemble is committed to education and connecting with diverse audiences. Bringing urban elements into its outreach activities, the ensemble bridges the gap between Haydn and hip-hop.

Adam György
Adam György was accepted to the Béla Bartók Conservatory as a prodigy in 1994, at the age of 12. In 1998 he won the National Youth Piano Competition and, two years later, Hungary's Pianist 2000 award at the age of 18. He was accepted at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest in 2000, graduating in 2006, and is currently doing his doctoral studies there with a state scholarship. In 2005 Adam was invited to the Steinway Artist community, a signal honour that places him in the company of the greatest pianists of all time. Adam György tours the world, delighting audiences with his virtuosity, his charm, and his improvisations on well-known melodies, all of which invite comparisons to the incomparable Franz Liszt. His appearance at the Festival of the Sound marks his Canadian debut.

Charles Stockey loved young artists and often expressed his desire for them to perform in the wonderful acoustics of the concert hall that he helped to build. The Festival of the Sound chooses the RBC Stockey Young Artists each year to honour this wish.

The RBC Foundation supports arts and culture through the RBC Emerging Arts Support Project because of its belief in the power of the arts to enrich lives and enhance communities. Over 30 projects across Canada help young artists bridge the gap from the academic to the professional world. The Festival of the Sound’s RBC Stockey Young Artist program supports exceptional young musicians in their transition to professional careers.