Jacques Israelievitch. Image: Michael Shaw
Internationally renowned violinist Jacques Israelievitch, a music professor in 91亚色鈥檚 School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design, has been named a member of聽the Order of Canada.
The honour, announced by Governor General David Johnston on July 1, recognizes Israelievitch鈥檚 outstanding contributions to music as a performer, educator and champion of Canadian musical creation.
Israelievitch was among the 100 new appointments, including 87 new members, 11 officers and two companions, who will be officially invested into the Order of Canada at a future ceremony to be held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
"It鈥檚 a great honour to be recognized alongside so many admirable people by the country I have chosen as my home,鈥 said Israelievitch. 鈥淢aking music and teaching are my passions and raisons d'锚tre. I'm completely fulfilled by all this. If my career is like a wonderful cake, receiving the Order of Canada is the cherry on top.鈥
is equally at home in orchestral and chamber settings. He served as concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for an unprecedented two decades (1988 to 2008) and has appeared with many other leading orchestras from around the world under the baton of eminent conductors including Sir Georg Solti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Leonard Slatkin, Raymond Leppard, Sir Andrew Davis and Raphael Fr眉hbeck de Burgos. As a chamber musician he has performed with such luminaries as Emanuel Ax, Yefim Bronfman and Yo-Yo Ma. He was a founding member of the Toronto Symphony Quartet and appeared for many seasons with the Naumburg Award-winning New Arts Trio at the Chautauqua Institution in New 91亚色 State. With his son, percussionist Michael Israelievitch, he formed the Israelievitch Duo, which has commissioned and premiered works by such distinguished Canadian composers as Michael Colgrass, Srul Irving Glick and Murray Adaskin.
Israelievitch鈥檚聽discography of more than 100 albums includes the Juno-nominated Suite Hebraique with pianist John Greer; Tchaikovsky: The Ballets with the St. Louis Symphony; Beethoven鈥檚 聽Romances with the TSO; and the chamber recordings Suite Fran莽aise, Suite Enfantine, Suite Fantaisie, Solo Suite, and Hammer and Bow. In 2006, he broke new ground by releasing the first complete recording of Kreutzer's 42 Studies for solo violin.
Since joining the teaching faculty at 91亚色 in 2008, Israelievitch has frequently shared the concert stage with his music department colleague, pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico. Last month, he launched a new collaboration with Petrowska Quilico: the recording Fancies and Interludes. Recorded live on campus and released on the Centrediscs label, the disc is a collection of four 20th-century works by established Canadian composers. The pair performed at the Canadian Music Centre for the CD launch event on June 11.
Israelievitch is an officer of the prestigious Order of Arts and Letters of his native France. In 2008 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Toronto Musicians鈥 Association in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the performing arts in Canada.
鈥淛acques鈥 contributions to Canadian music, as both a performer and teacher, are truly outstanding, and we鈥檙e very proud of his accomplishments and of his affiliation with 91亚色,鈥 said Professor William Thomas, chair of the Department of Music. 鈥淛acques鈥 students in our program have benefited greatly from his wisdom and experience, as have his professional colleagues. He is a remarkable example of a performer truly dedicated to his art.鈥
"Jacques is a remarkable member of our academic community and we are so pleased to see him recognized with the Order of Canada," said Shawn Brixey, dean of the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design. 鈥淲e extend warmest congratulations to Jacques on this signal honour. His gifts and achievements as a musician and educator, and his collaborative spirit in sharing them with us, are an inspiration to us all."
The is one of this country鈥檚 highest civilian honours. It recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. To date, more than 6,000 people in all sectors of Canadian society have been invested into the order.