Instrument Bank

A major challenge for a promising young string player is to find a suitable instrument. Unfortunately, good instruments are quite expensive today. The Young String Performers Foundation is therefore fortunate that, since December 2007, it has been the recipient of the donation of several instruments.

Instrument Donations

The Pawel Szymczyk-Marjanovic Cello

Stanley and Cello (Click to enlarge)

Stanley and Cello
(Click to enlarge)

The late cellist Pawel Szymczyk-Marjanovic was well known in the National Capital Region, both as a performer and a teacher. This ’cello was made in 1996 by Peter Mach of Alymer QC. Upon Pawel’s death in 2004, his family thought it appropriate that his father’s ’cello should stay in the National Capital Region and be available to talented and promising young musicians. In December 2007, his son, Andrej Marjan, therefore very generously donated the ’cello to the Foundation.

The Foundation assumes the responsibility for lending out the ’cello, which is in keeping with its mandate to “create, provide, promote and subsidize opportunities that will develop the abilities of promising young string performers of the Nation Capital Region.”

As well, the family donated a full-size violin made in Germany in the 19th century.

The Lipsett Donation

In the spring of 2008, Dr. Fred Lipsett donated the following instruments to the YSPF:

Additional Instruments

We also have additional violins available for loan.

Applying for the Loan of an Instrument

The Process

As instruments become available for lending out, the YSPF will invite interested young performers to apply and to audition.

To qualify, an applicant must:

The application must include:

If there is more than one qualified applicant for an instrument, the applicants will then be asked to audition. Each candidate will play for 10 to 15 minutes. The candidate is responsible for choosing the works to play and for providing an accompanist (if required).

The Conditions of the Loan

Any candidate selected for the loan of an instrument must agree to the following conditions:

  1. The instrument will at all times remain the property of the Young String Performers’ Foundation.
  2. The period of the loan will be one year.
  3. The loan may be extended for a second year.
  4. The family of the recipient of the loan of the instrument must agree to:
    1. pay the annual cost of the insurance;
    2. provide proof of insurance coverage to the YSPF;
    3. assume the cost of any necessary repairs to the instrument during the period of the loan;
    4. for the Pawel Szymczyk-Marjanovic ’cello and the Lipsett viola, have any necessary repair work done by Mr. Peter Mach of Aylmer (Gatineau QC), the maker of these instruments.
Note:
All of the above is for information purposes only. The exact conditions will be published at the time a specific instrument is available for loan.

Donating an Instrument

If you would like to help young string players by donating an instrument to the Foundation, please contact the Foundation at (613) 238-3434. As a Registered Charity, the Foundation can issue a tax receipt in the amount of the assessed value of any donated instruments.