The University of Calgary’s Department of Music is literally brimming with extraordinary talent. Students often move seamlessly back and forth between their studies and professional engagements in the community. And why not? Such talent is clearly welcome in concert throughout the city’s many music venues.                                                                Such is the case with this wonderful flute, violin and piano trio:

Ashley Na Eun Ko began playing flute at age 9, while attending school in Korea.  She later advanced to private lessons and studied with Ho-young Lee.  Ashley moved to Canada when she was in Grade 9 and started lessons with Lauren Eselson a year later.  She also joined the Academy Program at Mount Royal Conservatory at that time. After completing her diploma at Mount Royal University, she transferred to University of Calgary and started lessons with Gwen Klassen.Ashley has participated in the Calgary KIWANIS Festival for 5 years.  She was recommended to the Provincial Festival in 2006 and 2010, and represented Alberta at the National Festival later that year. In 2010, she won the Most Lyrical Performance Award in Montreal. In 2011, she won the top prize of Calgary Kiwanis Festival, Rose Bowl. She will be performing with Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in January for the final round of University of Calgary Concerto Competition. And in April, she will be playing with CPO once again as one of the awards she is getting with the Rose Bowl prize.

Zoe Ko began learning the violin at the age of 5 in Taipei, Taiwan. When she moved to Calgary in 2002, she started professional training with the Conservatory at Mount Royal University. After her first year studies with Ella Magid, Zoe was referred to her former teacher, Bill van der Sloot. As a graduate of the Academy Program at Mount Royal University, Zoe has accomplished an intensive curriculum of musical studies that includes private lessons, masterclasses with guest artists from around the world, rehearsals, chamber music, and symphonic orchestra. Zoe is also an alumni of Mount Royal Chamber Strings, Conservatory Strings, and Calgary Youth Orchestra. Zoe completed Mount Royal University’s Music Performance Diploma in 2010, and is currently a 4th year music performance student at University of Calgary studying with Edmond Agopian.

Rachel Kreyner started studying piano and theory at the age of 6 with private teachers such as Irina Ginzburg and later Ann Davidson; completing all the practical levels of the ARCM program with distinction. She completed the practical part of her ARCT in 2009, prior to beginning study at University of Calgary. She was also a successful participant in the Calgary Kiwanis festival; winning classes with a variety of repertoire, nearly every year til completion of her ARCT. As a child, she particularly enjoyed attending CASSA (Calgary Arts Summer School Association) summer camp and having masterclasses with distinguished teachers including: Lana Henchell, Janice Dahlberg, Linda Kundert-Stoll, Ingrid Jacobson-Clairfield.  The association inspired her to make music into a career after high school, when she won the Marissa Dawn-Staddon Memorial scholarship. She is currently in her third year of a combined Bachelor in English and Music performance Undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, enjoying study with Professor Marilyn Engle. She has accompanied various student instrumentalists and up-and-coming composers. She regularly participates in masterclasses hosted at the University; for example in masterclasses hosted by the Honens competition. She has earned various awards at University for diligent study, such as: the E.G. Coombe Family Bursaries in Music,  Alice Cobb Scholarship, F.L. Fenwick Scholarship in Music. She also accompanies for Quest Musical Theatre classes on a weekly basis. Rachel hopes to finish her bachelor’s degree, as well as the advanced harmony requirements for her ARCT and possibly do a Master’s in music. In the meantime, she will continue to accompany and teach children how to create and enjoy music.