Melodie Seto
The Beaux Strings. Photo: Supplied.
Brooke Stewart and Sybil Shanahan formed the musical duo Beaux Strings in 2013. They have been a popular entertainment choice for weddings and other private events ever since they started performing together in 2011. Now, they will be holding their first public concert this Sunday, August 16, right in the violinist’s hometown of Cavan. Beaux Stings’ violinist, Brooke Stewart, and cellist, Sybil Shanahan are passionate about the instruments and music they play and have been looking into ways to present their classical sound with a more natural and fun approach. “Many people hear ‘classical music’ and immediately associate it with a stiff composed atmosphere; we want to loosen that a bit so people can feel comfortable and relaxed when listening to our music,” says Brooke.
Back In her childhood, Stewart remembers her dislike for practice and thoughts of quitting violin, but her grandmother was determined to nurture her grand-daughter’s musical talent. When Brooke matured into her teen years, she came to love the instrument just as much as her grandmother and even went on to complete her music undergraduate studies at Memorial University in Newfoundland. Upon her return to the local community, she met Sybil Shanahan, a talented cellist and music arranger, who was seeking a duet partner. Their harmonious collaboration resulted in the successful Beaux Strings duo that we see and hear today.
Brooke Stewart and Sybil Shanahan. Photo: Supplied.
The ladies’ personal accomplishments however, go far beyond Beaux Strings. Brooke has been playing the violin for well over 20 years and has performed orchestral works in Russia and Poland. She traveled across Canada in 2011 with the Canadian indie-rock band, Hey Rosetta!, and has also recorded with numerous artists including Platinum Blonde. Brooke is now teaching violin in the Durham region and performing works with Euphonia Toronto. Sybil, on the other hand, learned to play the cello at the tender age of three. The Toronto native received her Master’s Degree in Performance from Switzerland’s Conservatoire de Lausanne and her Bachelor of Music Performance from the Amsterdam Conservatorium in the Netherlands. She is now the principal cellist for the NYCO Symphony Orchestra, a member of the chamber group Ensemble Vivant, and teaches cello in the Toronto area. She has won several music competitions in both Canada and Italy, and her performances over the years span across Canada, Europe, and South Africa. Sybil has played in many albums and film scores and recorded for numerous artist. Recently, she even appeared on a national television commercial.
The pair has a large repertoire of classical favourites, jazz, and oldies, but these two ladies have also ventured into arranging modern pop songs into beautifully orchestrated custom-made duet pieces. “It gives a cool twist to our classical instruments,” says Stewart, “showcasing our instruments in a different light may also help others to become interested in learning them.” Creating music covers of popular radio songs with classical instruments is a rising trend that has been generating millions of views on internet sites, such as Youtube. Now, the community has the opportunity to see and hear it live!
The concert will feature a variety of performers, instruments, collaborations, and music arrangements with guest appearances including Saskia Tomkins, a violinist who has worked with 4th Line Theater for many years. Saskia will also give the audience a special treat by playing a song on the nyckelharpa – a Swedish string instrument. At the end of the concert, there will be opportunities to meet and speak with Brooke and Sybil.
Concert goers who wish to purchase tickets after Friday, Aug 14 are directed to email beaux.strings@gmail.com to reserve tickets at the advance ticket price.
