Program Information

Canadian violinist Jacques Forestier joins pianist Illia Ovcharenko for a wide-ranging program featuring music by Clara Schumann, Beethoven, Viktor Kosenko, Brahms, and Gershwin-Heifetz. The program includes Clara Schumann’s Three Romances, Beethoven’s Sonata No. 10 in G major, Kosenko’s "Dreams," Brahms’s Sonata No. 3 in D minor, and Heifetz’s selections from Gershwin’s "Porgy and Bess." Winner of the 2024 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition, Forestier has quickly gained international attention and has performed with orchestras including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, and Munich Chamber Orchestra. Ovcharenko’s latest recording is his debut concerto album, "Manu Sinistra," recorded with the MDR Sinfonieorchester.

Clara Schumann (1819–1896)
Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Op. 22
I. Andante molto
II. Allegretto
III. Leidenschaftlich schnell

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Sonata No. 10 in G major for Violin and Piano, Op. 96
I. Allegro moderato
II. Adagio espressivo
III. Scherzo: Allegro
IV. Poco allegretto

Intermission

Viktor Kosenko (1896–1938)
"Dreams"
from Two Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 4bis

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Sonata No. 3 in D minor for Violin and Piano, Op. 108
I. Allegro
II. Adagio
III. Un poco presto e con sentimento
IV. Presto agitato

George Gershwin (1898–1937) / Jascha Heifetz (1901–1987)
Selections from "Porgy and Bess"
Arranged for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz

Artist Biographies

Jacques Forestier, violin

Hailed by The Violin Channel as “a real poet with emotional maturity far beyond his young years”, Canadian violinist Jacques Forestier has quickly garnered international attention after winning the 2024 Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition in Hannover, Germany at age 19. A CBC Music “Top 30 Under 30” and “Violin Channel Artist”, Forestier has performed with orchestras including the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, NDR Radiophilharmonie, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Western Michigan Symphony, among others.

In 2026/2027 he looks forward to his first full season which includes débuts with the philharmonics of Calgary, Bremen, Dresden, and Duisburg. Potsdam, Neuss & Württembergisches Heilbronn chamber orchestras, NFM Leopoldinum Orchestra (Wrocław,), Münchner Symphoniker at Munich’s Isarphilharmonie, Staatskapelle Badisches Karlsruhe, a number of reappearances with the NDR Radiophilharmonie as well as opening the 2025/26 season with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and their new music director. Forestier will make débuts at important venues and festivals such as the Cologne Philharmonie, Heidelberg Fruhling, The Library of Congress (DC), the Musicus Society Hong Kong, Festspiel Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Flagey (Brussels), Ottawa Chamberfest, among others to be announced. He has appeared recently at important festivals including Chamberfest Cleveland and West, the Perlman, Gstaad Menuhin, and Victoria Summer festivals, Edmonton Chamber Music Society, Music Toronto, and Music From Angel Fire.

The Warner Classics label will be releasing Forestier’s début album "Song and Dance" in summer 2026 with pianist Boris Kusnezow, recorded at the Teldex Studio in Berlin.

An Efrem Zimbalist Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Forestier is a student of Shmuel Ashkenasi and Pamela Frank. He has won top prizes at a number of important international competitions including the Stulberg, Klein, Johansen, OSM Manulife, and Shean. Forestier is grateful for the support of the Edmonton Community Foundation and the Anne Burrows Foundation for their generosity in supporting his growth as a musician.

Forestier plays on a G.B. Guadagnini (c. 1765 Parma) violin on generous loan from the Fritz Behrens Foundation and currently mentored by renowned artist manager Sonia Simmenauer under her Zukunfts.musik initiative of Impressariat Simmenauer.

Illia Ovcharenko, piano

When he was 6-years-old and living in Chernihiv, Ukraine, Illia Ovcharenko’s mother took him to hear a performance of Tchaikovsky’s first piano concerto. After the concert, Illia told his mother he wanted to be a pianist when he grew up.

Today, Illia Ovcharenko is one of the world’s most celebrated young pianists. Most recently, he won the Honens International Piano Competition in Calgary, Canada—a competition that seeks to identify the “Complete Artist”—someone who demonstrates technical mastery, perseverance against adversity, and an understanding of musical text that is both intellectual and emotional. Besides winning at the Honens International Piano Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious events of its kind, Ovcharenko has received prizes at more than 20 competitions throughout the world. These include, in the last four years, top prizes at the Kissinger Sommer “Klavierolymp” in Bad Kissingen, Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, New York International Piano Competition, Hilton Head International Piano Competition, “Prix du Piano” Bern, as well as obtaining the “Michelangeli Prize” of the Eppan Piano Academy.

There wasn’t a lot of music in Illia’s household when he was growing up. Mom is a computer engineer, and Dad is an athlete and coach. But, there was an old upright piano in the corner of the living room, and Illia started plunking away as soon as he could reach the keys. He took singing lessons at 6-years-old, began formal piano studies at 9, and gave his first concert at 12 on the stage of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine.

His parents weren’t sure music was a terrific career path, but they encouraged his success. At 13, Illia went to study in Kyiv at a special high school for gifted musicians and later moved to Tel Aviv. He’s currently living in Hannover, Germany, where he’s finishing a master’s program with his longtime mentor, Arie Vardi. At the same time, Illia is a long time recipient at the International Musikakademie Liechtenstein.

For Illia, the piano is a real friend, sometimes filling him with joy, sometimes serving as a painkiller. The piano reveals who he is, to himself and to an audience. He thrives on live performance, feeling as if two souls—his and the composer’s—are united together on stage. He’s most at home playing romantic repertoire. Off the stage, Illia loves athletics (Roger Federer is an idol) and practices origami. In the future, Illia hopes to combine teaching with an international touring career.

He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Deutsche-Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Israel Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, San Antonio Philharmonic, Orchestre National d’Île de France, the Orchestra of La Monnaie, the Toronto Symphony, Sinfonieorchester Liechtenstein, I Pomerrigi Musicali, Calgary Philharmonic, in recital at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Konzerthaus Berlin, Wigmore Hall in London, Salle Bourgie in Montreal, Koerner Hall in Toronto and Salle Cortot in Paris.

Highlights of Ovcharenko’s 2025-26 season include performances at Wigmore Hall in London; Philharmonie de Paris, Klavierfestival “Le Piano Symphonique,” in Lucerne, Switzerland; National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice, Poland; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; Konzerthaus Berlin; Nova Scotia Symphony; and Bravo! Vail Music Festival. He will also perform on tour with the Orchestre National d’Île-de-France and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. The season will also see the release of the debut concerto recording on Pentatone label. His latest recital album, Whispers & Thunder, was released on the Steinway label and was named as ‘’One of the Best Classical Albums of 2025’’ by Gramophone Magazine and acclaimed by International Piano as “splendidly executed and smartly programmed” with Ovcharenko’s playing being described as “iron hands cloaked in mink gloves”. His previous solo album Litany, was released on Discauvers; Classique c’est cool praised Ovcharenko’s “very intelligently constructed program,” and the pianist’s “perfectly mastered technique.” The album also received high praise in Diapason and Pianiste magazines.

“I’m so happy when people hear me play and say I brought something new to their life or let them forget about their current troubles,” he says. “Playing the piano is usually a much better way of communicating since there is something intimate involved in this process.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I receive my tickets?
Electronic tickets are emailed immediately after purchase to the email address used at checkout. Please keep your tickets handy on your smart phone or bring a printed copy with you to the concert so we can scan them at the door. If you do not receive your tickets, please check your spam or junk folder, as ticket emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your order confirmation. If you still cannot find your tickets, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the concert and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you purchased tickets, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert begins at 7:30pm. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to have your ticket scanned, find a seat, and get settled before the performance begins.

Can I arrive late?
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break in the performance, when possible. To avoid disruption to the artists and audience, we recommend arriving before the concert begins.

How long is the concert?
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 40 minutes, including a 15 minute intermission.

What is the seating like?
Tickets are general admission. The Stage at St. Andrew’s has unassigned seating, with chairs on the main floor and pews in the balcony. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Bravo Premium subscription holders have reserved access to seating within the first five rows. Please note that the balcony is accessible by stairs only. Wheelchair-accessible seating and companion seating are available on the main floor. If you have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.

Are children welcome?
Yes, children are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is a full-length concert in a traditional concert setting. Families may wish to choose seats close to a door in case a quick exit is needed during the performance.

What should I know about concert etiquette?
If you are new to classical concerts, you are very welcome. We simply ask that audience members help create a quiet and respectful environment for the artists and those around them. Please silence your phone before the concert begins, avoid talking during the performance, and wait for pauses between pieces to move around when possible.

When should I clap?
It is always fine to clap when a full piece has ended. Some longer works have several movements, with short pauses in between, and audiences usually wait until the entire work is finished before applauding. If you are unsure, it is perfectly okay to wait and follow the rest of the audience.

Can I use my phone during the concert?
Please silence your phone before the concert begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, as they can be distracting to artists and audience members.

Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the concert. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the performance.

What accessibility features are available?
The Stage at St. Andrews is wheelchair accessible and includes accessible washrooms with ramp access. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the concert comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances.

Is there parking or public transit nearby?
The Stage at St. Andrews is located on the corner of Robie Street and Coburg Road. There is no parkade at the venue, but street parking is available in the surrounding area. The venue is also located near major South End Halifax Transit routes.

What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect a performance, ticket holders are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded concert update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.

What happens if a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Concert schedule changes are very rare, but storms or other unexpected circumstances may occasionally require us to make adjustments. If a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled, ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible with available options. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to attend the rescheduled concert, receive a credit toward a future Cecilia Concerts performance, request a refund, or convert the value of your ticket into a charitable donation tax receipt.