MERCEDES CHEUNG

• Violinist

About

12-year old Canadian-Chinese young violinist, Mercedes Cheung, is one of the most gifted violinist to represent Canada, selected by one of the foremost and legendary violinist of our time, Shlomo Mintz, as the youngest among 12 talented young violinists worldwide [up to age 27] to participate in the Crans-Montana Classics Master Classes in Switzerland. On August 16, 2014, Mercedes, who already performed in some of the greatest international scenes including Carnegie Hall where she featured Paganini's 24 Caprices by heart at age 10, was invited to solo with Maestro Mintz along with Dami Kim and Hannah Tarley.  Together, they gave a breathtaking performance of Vivaldi's Concerto for Four Violins with the National Chamber Ensemble "Kiev Soloists" at the closing concert in "Centre de Congres Le Regent" in Switzerland.

Mercedes has also recently won the Silver Medal in the 2014 Teen's Talent Show in "American Youth Talent Arts and Talent Contest" in July.  She has been awarded full scholarships from three major institutes namely the Juilliard School (at age 8), the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston and the Phi and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists of the Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (at age 10).  She has been documentary and interviewed in international and national televisions as well as in radio stations, she has been performed and interviewd in almost all televisions and newspapers in Canada, televisions including Sinovision(New York), “Canada AM” National TV, City TV, Rogers, Fairchild, Omni, Talentvision CTV, Mercedes has been interviewed live on air and has invited to be a guest performer on TVOKids for their special "Music" day which aired om New Year's Day 2013. For radio stations including Toronto Newstalk 1010, Buffalo WNED Classical FM 94.5. Online and local newspapers including Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao, World Journal, Markham Economist and Sun, and Markham Review, Whole Note & "Toronto Life" Magazine, and has recently been featured in full pages of "Le Nouvelliste" and "Sixieme Dimension" newspapers of Crans-Montana, Switzerland.

Mercedes has performed in master classes and taken lessons with Shlomo Mintz, Zakhar Bron, David Cerone and Sungsic Yang. She also took lessons with Robert Lipsett. Joel Smirnoff and Paul Kantor as well as master class with Soovin Kim.  She was invited twice to perform as guest artist at the Banff Centre Summer Music Artists Concerts by the Artistic Director, Barry Shiffman.  Mercedes currently studies with Donald Weilerstein and her father, Ephraim Cheung.

At the age of 2 years and 7 months, Mercedes started to play the violin and 2 years later, she requested her father, to give her formal lessons, and within a brief period of 2 years, she gave her public full two hours solo debut recital with the concert artist standard repertoires at age 6 and later her orchestral debut with the Markham Symphony Orchestra at age 10. She was awarded Markham's most prestigious Achievement of Civic

Recognition Award (ACRA-Culture category) in 2010 and Certificate of "Recognition And Appreciation for Outstanding Musical Ability And Contribution" by Markham Mayor and Members of Council in 2009. Mercedes has been invited by Canadian Idol judge, Farley Flex, to perform as violin soloist at the Durham International Festival, she has frequently been invited to perform at the City of Markham and various government events.

Mercedes is the youngest ever(at age 10) to have recorded Paganini's 24 Caprices on DVD and CD, all in one take, released in May 2012. Mercedes plays on a Josef Guadagnini 1773, on permanent loan to her from an anonymous benefactor. For full biographical information on Mercedes, please visit her website at www.mercedescheung.com.