The Event is developed and coordinated by:
Svitlana Remniakova-Ostrovska‘s passion for music began back in Ukraine, where she studied violin at the Music College of Dniepropetrovsk and the Kiev Conservatory (PTchaikovskiy) in the class of Elena Buchinskaya, a pupil of David Oistrakh. After graduation, Svitlana worked at the State Circus Orchestra, the State Television and Radio Orchestra in Kiev, and at the Dniepropetrovsk Philharmonic Orchestra (cond. Gurgen Karapetian) and at the Dniepropetrovsk Chamber Orchestra (cond. Anatoliy Abayev).
In 1996, she moved to Egypt and for 23 years worked at the Cairo Symphony Orchestra in the Cairo Opera House (cond. Ahmed El Saedi). She played under many guest conductors, including Daniel Barenboim, and along various soloists, such as Rostropovitch, Bocelli, Domingo, Rumiand, El Divo. She took part in many successful European and Asian tours.
Since 2019, Svitlana has made Edmonton her home, and works at the Edmonton Music Academy and as principal second violin at the Concordia Symphony Orchestra (cond. Danielle Lisboa). Her main passions are now teaching violin and organizing opportunities for the young musicians to showcase their work. Svitlana is co-founder of the International String Connections festival.
Guillaume Tardif is Associate Professor of Violin and serves as String Area Coordinator at the Department of Music, University of Alberta. His current research explores various aspects of the history and practice of the violin, and often features new or neglected works – such as Gallois-Montbrun’s accompanied version of Paganini’s 24 Caprices, which he presented at Carnegie-Weill Hall.
Guillaume Tardif has appeared widely as a violin soloist and guest professor, collaborating with ensembles and distinguished artists in Canada, the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, and Australasia.
He produced a number of CD recordings, violin arrangements, and cadenzas, and led projects such as the SSHRC-sponsored Genius of the Violin video-documentary and the Dare to Discover Series with the Enterprise Quartet. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester (studio of Oleh Krysa), the Premier Prix from the Conservatoire de Musique du Quebec (studio of Jean Angers), and the MBA from the Alberta School of Business. At the University of Alberta, he regularly teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in violin, viola, chamber music, string literature, string pedagogy, and the business of music.
He has appeared as a presenter at various international conferences and published chapters for Brill, Brepols, Ut Orpheus, and Gottingen University Press. Recognized as ‘Top 40 under 40’ in Edmonton in 2012 for his engagement in music and the community, he also served as President of the Alberta String Association for multiple terms.
International String Connections 