Bridge & Wolak
February 4, 2022 | Polsky Theatre
Past Event
Performing uniquely reimagined classical, world and jazz fusions with deft virtuosity and endless wit, this fun-loving duo are globe-trotting musicians and educators.
Melding traditional acoustic instruments with 21st century digital technology – watch and be amazed!
Classically trained international soloists Kornel Wolak (clarinet) and Michael Bridge (accordion and piano) use virtuosity, comedy and musical sensitivity to bring their custom repertoire to life. Playing classical showpieces, jazz ballads and fiery folk music, Wolak and Bridge began collaborating in 2012 and since have toured Canada, Poland, France and Ecuador as both performers and educators.
Wolak is on the faculty at Queen’s University and is pioneering collaborative research in oral articulators with the Speech Language Pathology department at the University of Toronto. His 2018 book, “Articulation Types for Clarinet,” quickly became the new must-have book for clarinetists and saxophonists.
Bridge is a winner of the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Emerging Artist Medal and named one of CBC Radio-Canada’s “30 Hot Classical Musicians Under 30.” Active in new music, he has more than 50 world premieres to his credit and is a doctoral candidate on accordion (studying with Joseph Macerollo) at the University of Toronto.
Following the reception of their first album “Rock Bach,” their second album, “Tales from the Dinarides,” was commissioned by the University of Alberta in collaboration with Professor Guillaume Tardif (violin). The duo can regularly be heard on CBC Radio-Canada.
Supported in part by Mark and Nancy Gilman.