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
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:
- violin, full-size, made by Carl Krause in 1872
- viola, 16½ inches, made by Peter Mach in 1977
- viola bow, full-size, made by Peter Mach
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:
- be residents of the National Capital Region;
- be no more than 18 years old on 30 June of the year in which the application is made.
The application must include:
- a letter of recommendation from the applicant’s teacher
- a letter indicating the applicant’s intention to follow a program of studies under the supervision of a professional teacher during the period of the loan.
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:
- The instrument will at all times remain the property of the Young String Performers’ Foundation.
- The period of the loan will be one year.
- The loan may be extended for a second year.
-
The family of the recipient of the loan of the instrument must
agree to:
- pay the annual cost of the insurance;
- provide proof of insurance coverage to the YSPF;
- assume the cost of any necessary repairs to the instrument during the period of the loan;
- 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.