Kirsten Berke

Hi! I live in Ottawa during autumn and winter, but I grew up in Spruce Grove, AB. If you are in the Edmonton area and would like a string quartet or soloist at your wedding / reception / company function / etcetera during the spring or summer months, PLEASE contact me :) Kirsten has studied music since she was 3 years old, when she began taking piano lessons. She has since accompanied instruments and vocals, and has dabbled in jazz piano. She received First Class Honours on her Grade 9 RCM exam. When Kirsten was 9 years old, she began taking viola lessons. She played in summer chamber ensembles and, during the school year, played in various of EPSA's orchestras for 3 years. She has spent 6 years in Edmonton Youth Orchestra, and has been the principal violist of the senior orchestra for two years. Through the International Bacchalaureate Higher Level music program at Ross Sheppard High School, Kirsten has done recorded performances and several compositions that have been evaluated overseas. Performance venues for said performances include the Francis Winspear Centre for Music. In May of 2007, Kirsten was principal violist and soloist with the Vytis Orchestra in a recording project intended to bring the music of Lithuanian composer Ciurlionis out into the open (CD to be released approx. December 2007, Arktos Recordings Ltd.). Viola is Kirsten's main instrument of study. While her focus is classical music, she also has explored the viola's possibilities in celtic music, and has experimented with jazz and rock viola. She has studied for eight years with Stefan Jungkind, principal violist of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Kirsten currently studies with Rennie Regehr at the University of Ottawa. She has recently taken her Grade 10 RCM exam. Kirsten has studied oboe for 6 years. She has studied with Beth Levia, casual performer with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. She has extended concert band experience on the oboe, and has also experimented with jazz oboe. Kirsten has also played trombone for three years. Her focus on the trombone is jazz, and she has performed solo roles in music festivals both in the jazz band and the concert band settings. For about a year she played in and co-led a brass choir. She has also participated in the Summer Jazz program at the University of Alberta on trombone. In her last year of high school, Kirsten directed a funk band, in which she played first trumpet, and transcribed music. Kirsten has participated in various choral groups since the age of 9. She has conducted her church choir for several years. The choir sings in 4+ part harmony.