Strings Jury

Violinist, Andrew Dawes was born in High River, Alberta. He has been acclaimed as recitalist, chamber musician and soloist throughout North and South America, Europe and the Orient and been celebrated as “one of the most distinguished violinists Canada has ever produced” (Ottawa Citizen). After receiving the Prix de Virtuosite from the Conservatoire in Geneva, Switzerland with the highest marks ever awarded, he became a founding member and first violinist of the Orford String Quartet for 26 years (1965-1991). He gave nearly 3,000 concerts on 6 continents and made more than 60 recordings. In 1992 Professor Dawes was appointed to the faculty of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to teach violin and chamber music. Previously he taught at the University of Toronto for over 20 years. In 1995-96, he took a leave of absence from UBC to perform as first violinist of the Tokyo String Quartet playing on a Stradivarius violin that was made in 1727 and belonged to Nicolo Paganini. Professor Dawes has served as jury member for the London International String Quartet Competition, the Coleman Chamber Music competition, the Fischoff Chamber Music competition and was the Chairman of the Banff String Quartet Competition (1989 – 2004).

Andrew has won many awards of distinction – including the ORDER OF CANADA, the

Chalmers National Music Award, The Canada Council’s Molson Prize and 3 Juno

Awards. In 2000, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named the Orford String Quartet as one of “The Great Canadian Performers of the Twentieth Century”. In 2002 he awarded the Jubilee Medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II for exceptional qualities and service to Canada. In 2013 Mr. Dawes was given the Governor General’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is presently director of the Chamber Music Institute at the Vancouver Academy of Music.