UPCOMING APPEARANCES
All upcoming appearances are postponed due to COVID-19. Please check regularly for updates and stay safe.
ABOUT
Cellist. Performer. Conductor. Composer. Musical Director. Artistic Director. Teacher. Producer. Audio Engineer. Multi-Instrumentalist. Andrew Ascenzo is redefining what it means to be a professional musician in the 21st Century.
As one of Toronto's most versatile musicians, Andrew embodies a passion for presenting a myriad of musical styles to diverse audiences across Canada. He performs regularly as a soloist and is a member of the Bedford Trio, currently the Irene R. Miller Piano Trio in Residence at the University of Toronto and finalists of the Anton Rubinstein International Chamber Music Competition. In August 2019, Andrew recorded, designed, and performed the electronic component for the world premiere of Rob Kapilow's recent composition Aprés Maman at Ottawa Chamberfest. As a conductor, Andrew has worked with orchestras and musical theatre groups including York University and Etobicoke Musical Productions, and most recently was the Musical Director and Keyboard/Conductor for Brampton Music Theatre's Fall 2019 production of Mamma Mia! Andrew is the Artistic Director of Music in the Atrium, a weekly concert series, now in its 23rd season, at Toronto's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Andrew is designing a new genre of concert with renowned music therapist SarahRose Black, combining live performance with narratives of the power of music in health and well-being.
Andrew is a graduate of the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Toronto and winner of the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award, the highest honour awarded to a graduate of the Faculty of Music. He studied with Professor Shauna Rolston, and had a research interest in repertoire for solo cello and electronics. His dissertation Digital Landscape: an annotated list of works for solo cello and electronics is being developed into an online resource that can be found at www.theelectroniccellist.weebly.com. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from U of T. He has also studied privately with David Hetherington and Joseph Johnson, as well as studying jazz and improvisation with Matt Brubeck. Andrew has attended the Banff Summer Music program and had the privilege to study with some of the great cello masters, including Aldo Parisot, Janos Starker, and Raphael Wallfisch.
Andrew is a graduate of the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the University of Toronto and winner of the Tecumseh Sherman Rogers Graduating Award, the highest honour awarded to a graduate of the Faculty of Music. He studied with Professor Shauna Rolston, and had a research interest in repertoire for solo cello and electronics. His dissertation Digital Landscape: an annotated list of works for solo cello and electronics is being developed into an online resource that can be found at www.theelectroniccellist.weebly.com. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from U of T. He has also studied privately with David Hetherington and Joseph Johnson, as well as studying jazz and improvisation with Matt Brubeck. Andrew has attended the Banff Summer Music program and had the privilege to study with some of the great cello masters, including Aldo Parisot, Janos Starker, and Raphael Wallfisch.
"I know Andrew's playing and he is a beautiful musician."
-Ashley MacIsaac
-Ashley MacIsaac
"Andrew Ascenzo’s orchestra is rich and lively. The live music makes for an essential and incredible focal point around which the rest of the show revolves."
-Arielle Makela-Groome, The Bramponist
-Arielle Makela-Groome, The Bramponist
"The orchestral accompaniment under Andrew Ascenzo never overpowers and both performed-overtures are balanced and faultless."
-Danny Gaisan, Ontario Arts Review
-Danny Gaisan, Ontario Arts Review
"The Bedford Trio is made up of our kind of artists. Of course, as I listened to them, I recognized their superb musicianship."
-George Zukerman
-George Zukerman
