LEV NESTEROV, VIOLIN; FOUNDER & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, PEAKS + PRAIRIES PRODUCTIONS

A versatile artist, Lev Nesterov is a chamber and orchestral musician, arts administrator, artistic director, arranger, instructor, and concert producer striving to create new artistic initiatives in the community.

As a violinist, Lev has performed throughout Canada at numerous music institutions, festivals and concert series, including Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, Scotia Festival of Music, National Music Centre, and has recently made his solo and chamber recital debuts at National Art Centre’s Fourth Stage in Ottawa.

Lev is a graduate of the universities of Ottawa and Calgary, where his principal music teachers were Yehonatan Berick, Joan Barrett and Edmond Agopian. In post-graduate studies, Lev completed the Arts Administration and Cultural Management program at Toronto’s Humber College.

Lev is the founder and artistic director of Peaks + Prairies Productions in Alberta. Previously, he also spearheaded the Ottawa Winter Music Festival.

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As a violin soloist, Lev has performed with the Edmonton Symphony and the University of Calgary Orchestras, and most recently with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra as the winner of the RBC Concerto Competition. In a concertmaster role, he has led the Calgary Youth, University of Ottawa, University of Calgary, and Theatre Calgary orchestras. Lev is also an alumnus of the Academy of Music for the Gifted Youth at the Mount Royal Conservatory.

Music festival appearances include: Banff Centre Summer Arts Festival, Scotia Festival of Music in Halifax, Morningside Music Bridge in Shanghai, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Young Artists Program, Contrasts Chamber Music Festival, MountainView Festival of Song and Chamber Music, Brott Music Festival, Ottawa Winter Music Festival.

Highlights with local ensembles include the following: University of Calgary String Quartet (Ensemble in Residence), Volante String Quartet, Timepoint Ensemble, Rocky Mountain Chamber Ensemble, Banff Festival Orchestra, Theatre Calgary, Calgary Opera Emerging Artists, Alberta Ballet, Calgary Youth Orchestra, Mercury Opera, Calgary Youth Chorus, Festival Chorus, Calgary Boys Choir.

Concert Series appearances: National Music Centre, Calgary ProArts Society, Calgary Instrumental Society, University of Calgary School of Creative and Performing Arts, Nexus Concert Series, University of Ottawa School of Music.

Professional orchestra appearances include: National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre Symphonique de Drummondville.

As a passionate chamber musician, Lev was also the founder and first violinist of the Volante String Quartet, where since 2009 he has performed a multitude of concerts in towns and cities all across Alberta and British Columbia, as well as at various local community outreach programs.

Lev plays on a 2013 violin by American maker Ryan L. Soltis.