Kenny W. — Online Violin Teacher

Kenny completed his Bachelor of Music (Performance) degree at McGill University in 2012 as a Schulich Scholar and received recognition for his “Outstanding Achievement in Violin Performance.” Since his inaugural year at McGill, Kenny has worked with numerous orchestras in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. This includes the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Appassionata Chamber Orchestra, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, and the Trois-Rivières Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Kenny had the privilege of performing in Cirque du Soleil’s ‘30th Anniversary Concert’, ‘Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses’ twice with the Vancouver Film Orchestra, Michael Buble’s ‘Crazy Love’ album, as well as in concert with Il Divo. As a soloist, Kenny performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the Richmond Orchestra and has performed as a soloist with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra on several occasions. Over the course of his studies, Kenny received the Schulich Scholarship and ‘Valerie Wood Memorial Award in Music’ from McGill University and had the opportunity to perform in master classes with Martin Beaver, Axel Strauss and Rodney Friend (as part of the Montreal International Musical Competition). He also performed as the second violinist of the Duchow String Quartet under the direction of Professor André J. Roy. The quartet participated in the three editions of the McGill International String Quartet Academy, studying with renowned coaches such as Gerhard Schulz, Michael Tree, and Paul Katz. The quartet performed in master classes with Alfred Brendal and the Miro Quartet and was invited to perform at the Lakeshore Chamber Music Society and the St. James United Church Music Series. Kenny has participated in many music festivals and programs including The Banff Centre, Scotia Festival of Music, New York University: Steinhardt’s String Quartet Program, as well as the Toronto Summer Music Academy & Festival. He has also been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including the Richmond Youth Arts Award, World Chinese Entrepreneur Convention ‘Special Talent Award’, and the B.C. Arts Council Scholarship. As a music instructor, Kenny has been teaching the violin for eighteen years to students of all ages and levels. A number of his clients have gone on to study music at CEGEP, place at the Canadian Music Competition and regional concerto competitions, and perform concerts all over Quebec. He has been an instructor at the Montreal Academy of Music for over a decade, as well as on the faculty of Beethoven at Home. Back in Richmond, B.C where he grew up, Kenny was on the faculty of Nuvo Music School, Resound School of Music, and Long & McQuade. He also worked as the string orchestral coach at Matthew McNair Secondary and was invited to teach several master classes at the Richmond Music School and other violin studios in the city. In 2021, Kenny was hired as the violin coach and orchestral consultant on the Hallmark movie, ‘Christmas in my Heart’, starring Heather Hemmen.

Each student is on his or her own journey as a musician and violinist. Everyone is different and unique in experience; body type, skill and etc, therefore teaching methods are based on the individual's needs and not a uniformed idea of teaching. Pieces, provided technical studies and scales will be used to help guide them along this path. Alongside the violin, theory may be taught so that the student will grow as a musician as well as a violinist. In studio and online lessons are available for students in South Shore, Montreal area. Online lessons are available for Vancouver inquiries and rest of Canada.