May, 2004 - Nr. 5
MAYUMI SEILER
Mayumi Seiler began her musical upbringing in Osaka, Japan, where she was born of Japanese/German parentage. She began playing the violin at the age of three. At the age of six, her family moved to Salzburg, Austria, where she continued her studies. While attending the Salzburg Mozarteum, Ms. Seiler was prominently influenced by her association with the late Sandor Vegh. At a very young age, she was performing with her three sisters in the Seiler String Quartet throughout Japan and Europe. She then moved to London, England, where she forged an international solo career. Strad Magazine said of her, " Mayumi Seiler unites the technical excellence of the Orient with the grand chamber music tradition of Germany."
Ms. Seiler has appeared as soloist with Sir Neville Marriner and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields at the Proms in London, and has also appeared with the Royal Philharmonic, Moscow Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Academica Salzburg, Bournemouth Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony and the Australian Chamber Orchestra, among others. With the support of a private benefactor, Mayumi Seiler plays a circa 1740 J.B. Guadagnini violin.
As a chamber musician, she has been a guest leader with several groups, including the Nash Ensemble, and has made numerous recordings as the leader of the Schubert Ensemble of London. She travels throughout Europe, the Far East, Canada and the US, where she has performed frequently in the Smithsonian Chamber Music series as a member of the Smithsonian’s Axelrod String Quartet. Ms. Seiler also teaches at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music and Glenn Gould Professional School.
Ms. Seiler’s critically acclaimed recordings of the Beethoven, Haydn and Mendelssohn Violin Concerti are available on Virgin Classics. The Mendelssohn concerti were recently released in a new CD ROM format, prompting BBC Music Magazine to say "Her performances are exquisitely beautifully moulded...Seiler’s sound is glorious." Her sonata recordings, with pianist Aleksandar Madzar, are available on JVC Victor. BBC Music Magazine wrote, "she brings to these pieces an exceptional blend of precision with tonal generosity, finesse with enthusiasm". She also performs regularly for the CBC and BBC radio, as well Japanese and European radio and television.
The 2003/2004 season will include a duo concert with legendary violinist Ruggiero Ricci in Washington DC and solo performances in London, England, Halifax and here in Toronto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the new music director, Peter Ounjian.
Ms. Seiler has a daughter Hana and a son Seiji.
