Beth & Sabina Sandvoss

Description

What is better than a cello?  Two cellos!  Cellist’s, Beth and Sabina Sandvoss (mother & daughter) join forces to present a selection of spirited & soulful duets and solos from baroque to contemporary classical music.

Cellist Beth Root Sandvoss is known for her intensely committed performances and interpretations. She has a notably varied career as a recitalist, chamber musician and pedagogue. Beth lives in Bragg Creek, Alberta, and enjoys an active performance career in Canada and abroad. She has recorded for WERN Madison public radio, RTHK Radio Hong Kong, and CBC Radio. Beth has recorded six commercial CDs and has premiered more than 100 new works for solo cello, cello/piano and chamber ensemble. Beth has an intense interest in new music and is a founding member of the acclaimed Juno nominated Land’s End Ensemble. Beth is also a member of the UCalgary String Quartet in residence at the University of Calgary. Nominated as Instrumental Group of the Year, the UCalgary String Quartet has completed live recordings of all the Beethoven String Quartets as well as the CD Far Behind I left My Country which features Klezmer and East European Folk Music. Beth has the great pleasure and privilege to perform on an award – winning cello made by her husband, Luthier, Christopher Sandvoss.

“The performance brought out its depth of passion…. Beth Root Sandvoss has a beautiful sound, coupled with an excellent sense of  harmony—“ Gordon Rumson, Music and Vision

Cellist Sabina Sandvoss, was born into a musical family and received a cello for her fourth birthday. Since then she has enjoyed a musical life attending countless concerts and receiving many diverse artistic influences.

Sabina is in the Advanced Performance Program at Mount Royal University Conservatory where she has had the privilege to perform in masterclasses with cellists such as Alan Harris, Melissa Kraut, Estelle Choi, Tanja Tetzlaff, Colin Carr, and Johannes Moser. Sabina has successfully participated in numerous competitions including the Rotary C3 Concerto Competition, Calgary Performing Arts Festival, Canadian Music Competition and Contemporary Showcase. She has advanced to the Provincial and National levels in both the Calgary Performing Arts Festival and the Canadian Music Competition on numerous occasions. Sabina receives her mentoring from her mother, cellist Beth Root Sandvoss and performs on a cello handcrafted by her father, Christopher Tilman Sandvoss.

Sabina has a keen interest in musical outreach and is pursuing it this year as part of the Young Artists Development Program sponsored by Calgary Pro Musica. As a fellow of the program she has the opportunity to not only play for distinguished guest artists but also is in the process of developing “body-break” videos for elementary age students. These videos are both physical and fun in nature while introducing the cello and classical music in general. She has the privilege of working with renowned story-teller and educational guru, Samantha Whelan Kotkas on this project.

When not playing the cello, Sabina enjoys singing, reading, drawing, hiking, cross-country skiing and spending time with friends. She lives in Bragg Creek, Alberta enjoying the outdoors with her parents, her brother Tilman and their dog Gromit.