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Caribbean Classical Pop Sensation

ALTERNATIVE QUARTET

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Formed in 2005 as thebrainchild of foundingmember AndreDonawa, AlternativeQuartet is arevolutionary stringensemble that offers adistinctively uniquemusical experience tothe Caribbean region and beyond. Having played the stages of Trinidad & Tobago torapturous applause, this exquisitely talented, classically trained and pioneering groupshare a vision to not only be the premier string quartet in Trinidad & Tobago, butthroughout the world, and to do so in a new and exciting way.

Members:

Andre Donawa­Founding member of the Alternative Quartet, Andre Donawa is anextraordinarily accomplished and talented violinist. Recipient of a Grade 8 diploma fromTrinity School of Music for his excellence in practical violin, he has demonstrated the artof talent and musical innovation. Under his directorial guidance, the Alternative Quartetexplores the realms of contemporary string arrangements, fusing popular modern daypieces with more traditional and time­honored classics. In addition, Andre is a giftedcomposer and producer with the wondrous ability to craft electrifying and movingmusical delights that the Alternative Quartet as a whole then brings to life. His works canbe heard on their upcoming album.

Andre Comeau­While the violin may be the smallest of the stringed instruments in theAlternative Quartet, its size does not compare to the magnitude of second violinistAndre Comeau’s talent and mastery. Like many of the greats, Andre began his musicaljourney at the tender age of 7, having won the National Music Festival in the DuetCategory in 1999. He went on to become a member of the National Youth Orchestraand the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra. Later, Andre pursued a career in sharing hisexpertise through the teaching of music, both privately and through workshops in orderto enthuse, engage and inspire young musical hopefuls. Having completed grades 1­8 inthe violin, Andre has now completed his Art Degree at the University of the West Indies.

Vanessa Emperatiz, violinist and singer. She was born in the city of Polamar, on the island of Margarita, just off the northeastcoast of Venezuela, on the 12th. May, 1996. At the tender age of 2 years, shedemonstrated an obvious artistic vocation which was duly nurtured by her parents whoguided her to commence classical ballet at The Adriana Molinar School of dance; ashort while later, she pursued studies in the violin at The Luis Manuel Guitierrez Schoolof Music. Both of these institutions, located in Juan Griego, on the island of Margarita. Subsequently, she continued her musical pursuance under the tutorship of Maestro

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Pedro Rosales, until her induction with the infant and youth league of The VenezuelanSymphony Orchestra based in Asuncion, on the island of Margarita. Since then, thisyoung musical prodigy, without even having attained the age of 18, has not ceased inreaching musical heights by achieving phenomenal success on numerous musical stages,both in Venezuela and internationally. She was a member of The Symphony Orchestraof Nueva Esparta, in Venezuela, under the baton of Maestro Felipe Izcaray. Of notablesignificance, this young prodigy together with her father, Maestro Raul Landaeta,founded The Latin American Trio which has continuously encouraged her to attain hermusical development and indeed the implementation of Venezuelan music.

Within the sphere of her professional training, she was under the professorship andguidance of renowned violinist Maestro Edgard Aponte of The Simon BolivarConservatory in Caracas. Among her Maestros were, Willie Bolivar, Rebeca Sanchez,Virginie Robilliard, Efrain Lara, Santiago Garmendia, Richard Biaggini, Celia Gomez,Lenuta Ciulei (Italy), Antonio Nunez, (Switzerland), Pedro Moya, Kevin Lorem,(USA), Alberto Valderrama Patino, and Karem Cueva, her current tutor at The JulliardSchool of Music in Manhattan, New York.

In her brief but productive musical trajectory, she has appeared in concert on some pfthe most renowned stages both in Venezuela and internationally. In August 2009, sheparticipated in the XI Edition of The Orvieto International Festival of Strings which washeld in Italy, invited by the world famous Maestro, cellist Nicolae Sarpe, where herperformance was deemed extraordinarily exceptional. In that same year; 2009, she alsoparticipated in the XVII Juan Bautista violin contest, organized by The Emil FriedmanCollege in Caracas, where she obtained third place; having registered just only a fewdays prior to the actual competition.

Once again in 2009, she made her debut as a soloist with The Symphony Orchestra ofNueva Esparta, on the island of Margarita, where she interpreted concert No.2 forviolin, Opus No.22 in re menor, by the Polish­French composer Henri Wieniawski andconcert No. 5 for violin by French composer, Henri Vieuxtemps directed by MaestrosFelipe Izcaray and Alvaro Larez. And at the next years she interpreted concertos forviolin and orchestra by Glazunov, by P. Tchaikovsky in D major and by Jean Sibelius theconcerto in D minor. We can unmistakably say that Vanessa Emperatiz is indeed amusical prodigy.

Wasia Ward­is a dedicated and diligent cellist. She has been involved in music for mostof her life as a pannist, singer and pianist. She started playing the cello at the age of 16but quickly became the best in her field and the principal cellist of the Trinidad andTobago Youth Philharmonic and the St. Augustine Chamber Orchestra. Advancing at afast rate, Wasia completed her ABRSM grade 8 practical exam less than 3 years afterbeginning the instrument, receiving a certificate of merit in the process. Wasia has alsowon first place of the open cello solo for 2010’s Music Festival. She has attendedworkshops in Venezuela, receiving master classes from some of the best cellists whereher skill was even more enhanced. Apart from being an outstanding player, Wasiamentors younger musicians. She and her sister have founded a music school where they

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teach quality music education. Wasia is also a budding artist, placing in a number of artcompetitions in Trinidad and Tobago. Wasia is currently pursuing a B.Sc.Art at theUniversity of the West Indies.

INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENTAMG

MARK BERRY ­ Chairman DUANE FARLEY ­ Executive Vice President ALANA YIP­HOI ­ Executive Production/AMG

141 Spadina Avenue, Suite 204, Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K8 Canada T: +1­416­340­9111 M: +1­416­824­7867 SKYPE: sonicgroup

EMAIL: info@theamgcorp.com WEBSITE: WWW.THEAMGCORP.COM

AMG ­ Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Seoul, Beijing

INTERNATIONAL BOOKINGMaggie Kalomvosaki Maggie's Talent Agency Website: www.maggie­kalomvosaki.com/contact Email: maggiesmusic@fastmail.com Skype: maggies_music

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