Chapman University’s Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music has named Kimberly Levin ’16, Chloé Tardif ’16, and Arturo Balmaceda ’18 recipients of the prestigious 2014-15 Temianka Violin Scholarship. These talented string musicians were chosen on the basis of their exceptional artistic merit and each will participate in The Chapman Orchestra and small ensembles throughout the academic year.

Established in 2013, the Temianka Violin Scholarship is awarded annually to Chapman University string students who exemplify the same spirit of creative talent and scholarly passion as its namesake, renowned classical musician and educator Henri Temianka (1906-1992) who was a seminal figure in classical music throughout most of the 20th century.

This major award is made possible through a $2.25 million endowment by Temianka’s son Daniel and daughter-in-law Zeinab Dabbah, M.D., (J.D. ’12). Mr. Temianka and Dr. Dabbah have also donated an Albert Saparoff violin and bow to the University for exclusive use by a designated Temianka Scholar, and established the Temianka Violin Endowment to engage a luthier to annually inspect and maintain the violin to the highest standards.

The 2014-15 Henri Temianka-Albert Saparoff Violin recipient is Chloé Tardif. The cherished instrument is assigned to Chloé as her primary instrument for the duration of her education at Chapman University’s Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music; she will maintain possession throughout the academic year, holidays and breaks to allow for practice, touring and play at festivals, competitions and other performances. “We are so grateful to the Temiankas for their continued generosity to so many different areas of our University,” expressed Robert L. Becker, Director of String Studies at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music. “To be able to support our most accomplished string musicians through the Temianka Scholarship and the Henri Temianka-Albert Saparoff Violin and bow is an important capstone of our string program here at Chapman University. We look forward to enjoying the performances of the wonderful Saparoff Violin and bow in the hands of Chloé this season.”

The luthier who prepared the Henri Temianka-Albert Saparoff Violin and bow for transfer to Chloé this season is Boris de Granda, master violin maker and restorer located in Newport Beach, CA.

Chloé’s first public performance with the Henri Temianka-Albert Saparoff Violin and bow will be with The Chapman Orchestra on November 8, 2014, with Professor Daniel Alfred Wachs conducting in the Chapman University Auditorium located in Memorial Hall. Tickets are available from the Chapman University ticket office by calling (714) 997-6812.

The 2014-15 Temianka Violin Scholars

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Kimberly Levin ’16

Kimberly Levin ‘16:
A junior-year violinist in the College of Performing Arts’ (CoPA) Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music, Kimberly Levin is from Trabuco Canyon, CA where she attended Tesoro High School. In addition to her violin skills in the orchestra, Kimberly chose to participate in the marching band playing the marimba, xylophone, and auxiliary percussion.

Kimberly’s incredible desire to share her love of music with others is reminiscent of Henri Temianka, which is just one of the reasons she was chosen as a recipient this year for the Temianka Scholarship. She is a leader in The Chapman Orchestra and for the last several years has participated in the Chapman String Quartet representing the University on recruiting tours. Her colleagues and faculty alike in the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music appreciate her articulate presence.

“I feel really honored to be recognized by the University,” says Kimberly, “and I’m lucky to be at Chapman where there are people like the Temianka family who are dedicated to supporting the arts and helping students who are pursuing careers in the arts.”

Kimberly enjoys playing in several musical genres from classical to rock, reflecting the forward thinking and broad base that many young artists have today. She has participated in the Viola Workout in Crested Butte, CO for the past two summers with Director Becker and Chapman University’s Temianka Endowed Professor in Violin Studies William Fitzpatrick, and has grown tremendously as a player and teacher as a result. This season, the music faculty has appointed her Assistant Concertmaster for The Chapman Orchestra.

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Chloé Tardif ’16

Chloé Tardif ‘16:
Also a junior-year violinist, Chloé Tardif is a native of the Old Towne community in Orange, CA. She is in Chapman University’s Honors Program and is pursuing a Minor in French Language Studies. Besides winning one of the Temianka Scholarships for 2014-15, she is the University’s very first honored custodian of the Henri Temianka-Albert Saparoff Violin and bow.

Most recently, Chloé and Chapman senior violist Nickolas Kaynor ‘15 were awarded First Prize in the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle’s Francis Walton Competition for chamber music as part of the violin and viola Chapman Duo. Touring and performing to critical acclaim in the Seattle area during the middle of September 2014, they were heard on live radio broadcasts and may also be heard in the
online archive
(
NW Focus Live
, September 12, 2014: Ladies Musical Club Winners: Chapman Duo) of Seattle classical station KING FM 98.1. Earlier in the summer of 2014, Chloé attended the Aspen Music Festival and School in Aspen, CO. Her duo was selected from all the students in the festival to perform on the Aspen Spotlight Concert.

“This award is both a great opportunity and huge responsibility,” Chloé said. “I feel so privileged and want to sincerely thank the Temiankas for allowing me to make music at such a great level, which wouldn’t be possible without their support.”

Chloé has studied violin with Temianka Professor William Fitzpatrick since her high school sophomore year at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA). In 2008, she toured southeastern Australia with the OCSA Symphony Orchestra and performed in the Sydney Opera House. In 2012, she toured England as concertmaster of the orchestra.

Professor Fitzpatrick and Director Becker have coached Chloé in various small ensembles, including the Ravel Piano Trio, which won First Place in the California Association of Professional Music Teachers competition in 2010. Tardif spent the past two summers studying with Cornelia Heard at the Aspen Summer Music Festival, where her quartet studied Shostakovich Quartet No. 8, and was coached by James Dunham and Sylvia Rosenberg. For two years she has been a member of the Chapman String Quartet and has been Concertmaster/ Assistant-Concertmaster of The Chapman Orchestra. In the spring of 2014, Chloé won the Chapman Concerto Competition and will be performing the Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Chapman Orchestra on November 8, 2014.

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Arturo Balmaceda ’18

Arturo Balmaceda ’18:
This is Arturo Balmaceda’s freshman year at Chapman University. He is from Poway, CA and is the first in his family to attend college. He began the violin comparatively late for someone with his degree of skill, and only began private study in the second half of his high school freshman year. His teachers quickly recognized his leadership skills and personality as he advanced to concertmaster of his orchestra. His academic achievements were significant and as result he was awarded a Chancellor’s Award from Chapman University to assist his study here. In recognition of his considerable musical abilities and aptitude, the faculty of the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music selected Arturo to receive a four-year Temianka Violin Scholarship beginning in 2014.

“After reading about Henri Temianka’s life story, I am astounded at all he accomplished in both his personal and professional life,” said Arturo. “He had such great impact on music. It is my sincere pleasure to be part of his legacy here at Chapman.”

Arturo also holds a black belt in karate (his fellow quartet participants have been warned)! He has shared with Professor Becker that one of the hardest adjustments to college life is the increased expectation for practice time and the higher standards imposed by the Conservatory. Most enjoyable for him have been the engaging orchestra rehearsals led by Professor Daniel Wachs. The challenges of violin study with Temianka Professor of Violin, William Fitzpatrick will be an exciting change in his violin playing.

Prior to arrival at Chapman, Arturo had only learned etudes for auditions — not as a regular course of study. His technique development was learned through concerto and sonata study. During his high school career, he participated in the Italian-American Opera Festival at Soka University under the baton of Maestro Stephano Vignati.

Temianka’s Lasting Legacy

“The Temianka endowed scholarship fund has established a legacy for generations of Chapman students — providing quality educational experiences that are also financially feasible,” says Dale A. Merrill, Dean of the College of Performing Arts. “Our Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music is committed to providing personalized education of distinction, much like Henri Temianka’s teaching philosophy of in-depth training on a personal level.”

The final piece in Chapman’s Temianka triumvirate is the Temianka Endowed Professorship, established to enhance the acclaimed string studies program for violin majors at the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music. String faculty member Professor William Fitzpatrick was announced in 2013 as the inaugural holder of this important post.

A bronze portrait bust of Henri Temianka was dedicated at Chapman in 2013, and can be found adjacent to Bertea Hall. Upon completion of the 1,050-seat Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts in late 2015, Temianka’s bust will be placed in the Bette and Wylie Aitken Arts Plaza adjacent to the Center, between the busts of Mozart and Puccini.

One of the 20
th
century’s foremost and prolific concert violinists, and whose talents made him a global favorite as well as a hero of the Southern California music scene — Temianka was also a prominent conductor, educator and author, and founder of the renowned Paganini Quartet and California Chamber Symphony.

The 2014-15 schedule of performance events planned for the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music can be found on the University website:
chapman.edu/copa