John Dapaah and Kyle Zavitz are the first two Carleton music students to avail themselves of an opportunity to study at the Kunstuniversität, Graz, Austria in accordance with the terms of an exchange agreement signed by Carleton and KUG in 2009. Read “Playing in Graz: Carleton Music Studies in Austria,” by Nick Ward, that appeared in a recent issue of our Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences newsletter: FASSinate – Spring 2012
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JOHN “KOFI” DAPAAH (Classical and Jazz pianist, exchange taken during his 4th-year, B.Mus.)
John Dapaah’s Graz (Austria) blog can be visited at: http://jofi24.blogspot.com/
Music has taken John Kofi Dapaah on a voyage from Ghana to Japan to Canada, and through a range of styles including, jazz, gospel and classical piano. He began his classical piano studies at the age of 7 with Tabuchi Masako in Muroran, Japan, where his father was completing graduate studies. After his family relocated to Ottawa, he enrolled in Carleton’s B.Mus. program in 2007. At Carleton, Dapaah has studied with jazz pianists Steve Boudreau and Mark Ferguson, and classical pianists Verna Jacobson and Nicole Presentey. In November of 2010 John was the featured soloist in a performance of Mozart’s piano concerto no. 23 in A major, KV 488 with the Gatineau Conservatory Orchestra (Kailash Mital Theatre, Carleton University). In 2009 he composed a work for string quartet that was performed with choreography at the National Arts Centre, and he has performed for receptions hosted at Rideau Hall by Governors General Michaëlle Jean and David Johnston. During the 2011-12 academic year, Dapaah is pursuing the final year of his Carleton undergraduate music studies at the Kunstuniversität Graz (“KUG”: Graz University for Music and the Performing Arts) in Graz, Austria, together with Carleton jazz piano student Kyle Zavitz (see below). In Graz, he is studying classical piano with Vice-Rector Univ. Prof. Mag. Eike Straub. Upon graduation from Carleton in the spring of 2012, John Dapaah hopes to continue his studies in Europe at the graduate level as he pursues his dream to become a concert pianist.
A Youtube video of John Dapaah’s recent Mozart Concerto performance (Allegro movement) can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o69lXakz_eY).
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KYLE ZAVITZ (on exchange during his 3rd-year, B.Mus.)
Kyle Zavitz’ Graz (Austria) blog can be visited at: http://kylezavitz.blogspot.com/
Originally from Courtice, Ontario (near Oshawa), Kyle Zavitz is fluent in a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, pop and classical styles. Following his freshman year as a computer science student, Zavitz transferred to Carleton’s Bachelor of Music program in 2008. At Carleton he has pursued studies in jazz piano with Carleton Associate Performance Faculty member Mark Ferguson. He is also an accomplished singer-songwriter, and he has performed frequently in Carleton Jazz Showcase, Carleton Pop Music Showcase and Carleton Singer-songwriter Showcase concerts. In 2010 he composed a work for string quartet (“The Elements”) that was performed with choreography at the National Arts Centre. As a graduation project during his final year in the Bachelor of Music program, Zavitz plans to record a Demo-CD of his work as a jazz pianist and singer-songwriter. He is also well known on campus as a tireless and dedicated Don of the Renfrew residence. Together with Carleton jazz piano student John Dapaah (see above), Kyle Zavitz is pursuing the third year of his Carleton undergraduate music studies at the Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG: Graz University for Music and the Performing Arts) in Graz, Austria, during the 2011-12 academic year. In Graz, he is studying with the renowned jazz pianist Professor Olaf Polziehn. Upon graduation from Carleton (anticipated 2012 or 2013), Kyle hopes to continue to pursue his music studies at the graduate level.
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