Young Artist Series

The Young Artist Series had it’s beginnings in 1941 when Lyell Gustin (1895-1988), a prominent Saskatoon music teacher, implemented his idea of a concert tour to provide performance experience for promising young musicians in Western Canada. In that year, an exchange was arranged between his studio and that of Myrtle Ruttan Patterson of Winnipeg. Neil Chotem, who was to become a leading Canadian music personality, represented the Gustin studio and Gordon Kushner, well-known for his association with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, represented the Winnipeg studio of Myrtle Ruttan Patterson.

In 1942 Lyell Gustin approached the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Associations and the series was launched, eventually taking in all four Western provinces. For a number of years, there were two recital tours; one in the spring and the other in the fall. The tour included Ontario for a time, with one set of artists representing the West and, on the following tour, the East being represented. In 1980, Ontario began its own tour and in 1985, the Atlantic region joined the program. For some years, the Western tour continued in Saskatchewan and Manitoba only. Presently, tours are held in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba combined, Ontario and the Atlantic region, thereby expanding Lyell Gustin’s original vision into a national concept.

Throughout the years, many Young Artists have entered the music field as professional performers or have gone on to become leaders in music education in private studios, music schools and universities. Though the list is too long to mention each name, former Young Artists have included Angela Cheng, Andrew Dawes, Marylou Dawes, Valdine Anderson, Margot Sim and Jamie Syer.