Victor Schultz

Victor Schultz. Violinist, b Winnipeg 3 Jun 1959. He began his musical studies in Winnipeg at seven with Jeanette and Marilyn Slipetz, and was a pupil of Francis Chaplin 1969-71. Assisted by Canada Council grants he worked with Ivan Galamian 1971-5, first at the Meadowmount Summer School, then at the Juilliard School; he studied 1976-80 with Dorothy Delay at Juilliard and at Aspen. Schultz won many awards, among them the Aikins Memorial Trophy in the Manitoba (Winnipeg) Music Competition Festival (1971), first prize in the Canadian Music Competitions (1973), the Floyd S. Chalmers Award in the Young Canadian Performers Series (1974), and the Aspen Music School Violin Competition (1979). As part of Carnegie Hall's centennial celebrations Schultz, second prize-winner (1989) in the Carnegie International American Music Competition for Violinists, appeared at Weill Recital Hall 9 Nov 1990.

Finjan selections. From YouTube.

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Performances and Recordings
Schultz performed as a soloist and recitalist in Canada and abroad in programs consisting of standard, contemporary, and virtuoso fare. He commissioned and premiered Papineau-Couture's sonata Thrène (1988), and recorded works by members of the Manitoba Composers Association, including Sid Robinovitch's Di Mezinke. He performed in recital with his pianist sister Erica (b Winnipeg 1955). In 1995 with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra he performed the violin solo for the world premiere of Allan Gordon Bell's Arche III. With the Klezmer group Finjan (formed in Winnipeg 1982), Schultz made recordings and appeared in the film The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (Outside Chance Productions 1988). Schultz continued to perform and record with Finjan on both violin and mandolin. Of the group's Drawing on Water, the Canadian Jewish News (31 Aug 2000) stated "The highlight of the CD is undoubtedly violinist Victor Schultz's poignant rendering of Haneros Halelu, based on a haunting Jewish violin solo ... ." Schultz made a recording, Jété, for the Canadian Music Centre featuring Canadian composers Patrick Carrabré, Michael Matthews, Bruce Shavers, Gerhard Ginader, James Hiscott, and Sid Robinovitch.

With his brother Myron Schultz (clarinet), and Daniel Koulack (bass) both original Finjan members, Victor Schultz initiated the North End Klezmer Project aiming to expand and develop their musical ideas. This led to a new group with Ben Mink (violin) and Nikolai Prisacar (accordion), The Black Sea Station still with klezmer music at its core and self-described as ..."an invigorating blend of old and new that respects the roots of different traditions, while landing squarely in the 21st century."

Victor Schultz has remained an active freelancer, performing and recording classical, Broadway, pop, and jazz in addition to The Black Sea Station's recording and touring activities. The group has appeared at Toronto's Ashkenaz Festival (2010) and the Winnipeg Jazz Festival (2011), as well as in California. Finjan, which had been inactive for a number of years, performed at the Ashkenaz Festival in Toronto in the summer of 2012, the group's first reunion appearance since 2005.

See also Jewish Music and Musicians; World Music.

Discography
From Ship to Shore. Finjan. (1988). Fat Uncle FUR-001

Hiscott Spirit Reel (1988, Hiscott accordion); Métis Dance Variations (1986, Hiscott accordion, Black percussion, Riske piano). Magnitape MAG-1590 (cass)

Jeté: Carrabré - Mathews - Shavers - Ginader - Hiscott - Robinovitch. Szczesniak, Carrabré piano, Epperson violoncello, Hiscott accordion. (1989). Manitoba Composers Association MCVS-5001 (CD)

Leclair - Moszkowski - Saint-Saëns - et al. E. Schultz piano. 1975. Aquitaine MS-90355

Pura Sonata for Solo Violin; Black Water. A. Enns piano. (1989). Augmented Forth WRC1-5922

Where Were You Before Prohibition. Finjan. (1985). Fat Uncle unnumbered

Transylvania Avenue (2010). Black Sea Station. Rounder Records

Author Susan Spier

Links to Other Sites
Black Sea Station
The website for the Klezmer band Black Sea Station, which performs a combination of original material influenced by both traditional and contemporary styles. Check their site for band bios, music clips from their CD, and more.

A Violinist From Canada Makes Debut
A 1990 review of a recital featuring Canadian violinist Victor Schultz from the New York Times.