Carleton Pianist Featured in Ottawa Chamber Society Series

By Nick Ward

Being in the spotlight is nothing new for 4th year Music student and Classical Pianist Suren Barry.  Barry was only 11 years old when he was first introduced to the Ottawa community as a burgeoning piano prodigy.  In a feature that appeared in an April 2001 edition of the Ottawa Citizen, a pre-teen Barry was praised for a brilliant performance at the annual Kiwanis Music Festival.

Fast forward a decade and many awards and achievements later, and all eyes remain focused on Barry.�
On November 20th, he will become the first Carleton Music student to perform on the internationally renowned Ottawa Chamber Music Society Series.

“This is a really great opportunity.  To do this through such a reputable and well known organization; I’m very proud.  It means a lot to me to be Carleton’s first representative at OCMS” explained an enthusiastic Barry.

Performing on OCMS is no small feat.  Its series has featured some of the greatest performing artists of our time.  Most recently, fellow classical pianists Anton Kuerti, Officer of the Order of Canada, serenaded a Chamberfest audience with a recital of Beethoven’s Appasionata Piano Sonata and 33 variations on a Waltz by Anton Diabelli.  For Barry, being featured alongside Kuerti is an absolute thrill.
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“To see my name next to Anton Kuerti’s, a performer I grew up listening to, was amazing; eye opening.”

Though this may have been a jaw dropping moment for Barry, his inclusion at OCMS came as little surprise to those who have witnessed him perform.  Critics have described Barry’s art as “musical with an innate sense of sonority”, and “displaying artistry, impressive maturity, depth and mastery for one so young.”

Coming from a purely classical background, Barry has refined his art at Carleton University.  He credits Carleton with helping him to broaden his understanding and appreciation of music of all forms.

“I’m very glad to be at Carleton University.  The music program is so diverse.  Everyday I’m dealing with students and faculty who have unique backgrounds and musical interests.  From a musical standpoint, it helps you realize that there is always a lot to learn.  Just recently, another student did a dub step piece for an assignment.  I thought that was great.”

The product of an artistically inclined family (his brother is an actor and his mother has a degree in Visual Arts), Barry sees performing as a tremendously personal endeavor.  To him, performing should be an intimate and authentic experience.  One where the performers true self should shine through every note.  Suitably, he references Johann Sebastian Bach as one of his favourite composers.  Barry explains that despite being confined by an abundance of parameters, Bach possessed an inherent ability to exhibit his exact and distinct personal traits and musical style.

“There’s a misconception about Bach that he is stiff or rigid.  Though he wrote in a time period that had many rules, he always got across exactly what he was trying to convey; his intentions were always discernible.  In a lot of ways Bach broke more rules than he followed“

Similar to Bach, Barry’s own unique personality and style is always reflected in his performances.  Chamberfest is the perfect platform to demonstrate his art on a grand stage; an opportunity that he is taking very seriously.

“My performance at Chamberfest is a longtime in the making, a lot of practice, hard work and repetition went into this.”

As far as where this accomplishment ranks for Barry, he says that representing Carleton University on OCMS lands right near the top.  In fact, he says he can hardly wait to sit down and play.

For anyone who appreciates music, November 20th should be circled on your calendar.

To see Suren Barry in Recital:

Sunday, November 20, 11:00 am
Beechwood, the National Cemetery of Canada
Piano works by Brahms, Bach, Rachmaninov, and Schumann
Works
-Ballades, Op. 10 by Johannes Brahms
-Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828 by Johann Sebastian Bach
-Études-Tableaux in F-sharp minor, Op. 39 No. 3 by Sergei Rachmaninov
-Études-Tableaux in B minor, Op. 39 No. 4 by Sergei Rachmaninov
-Symphonic Studies, Op. 13 by Robert Schumann
More Information:  http://chamberfest.com/