Mosaic Trio loves making music together
By Joan Janzen
Kindersley and area have three very talented musicians in their midst, who will be performing a wide variety of Christmas selections this Christmas season. The Mosaic Trio will be performing their “Home for Christmas” concert on the evening of Monday, December 19th, at the Alliance Church.
The trio consists of Vanessa Klassen on clarinet, Christina Bakanec on cello, and Sindy Yiu on piano. Their last concert in Kindersley was held in 2019, as well as a show in Rosetown. That was three years ago, so these musicians are excited to be back on stage doing what they love!
The Mosaic Trio will be performing at their “Home for Christmas” concert in Kindersley, on the evening of December 19th at the Alliance Church. You won’t want to miss it! SUBMITTED PHOTO
What are the chances of three exceptionally talented, professional musicians who play different instruments joining together in rural Saskatchewan? That’s exactly what happened when Vanessa from Kindersley, Christina from Kerrobert, and Sindy from Fiske connected with each other in 2018.
“It’s so hard to find any opportunity to play with other musicians,” Christina said. “So if you find someone, you play with them.” After the three young women connected, Vanessa reached out to Christina and Sindy, asking if they would like to play something together in 2019. And the rest is history.
Vanessa, who is an avid chamber musician, enjoys creating Music with the Mosaic Trio. She said she takes advantage of every opportunity to perform. “I really miss this. At music school, there are so many musicians, but around here, you have to make the music, or there isn’t anything,” she explained.
She will be doing a lot of arranging for their upcoming concert. “I made a few of my own arrangements because they are not very common. Most were for violin, so I will be playing those parts,” she noted.
“There’s a special magic when you make music together; you feel the chemistry,” Sindy said. “Putting it on as a show is a bonus. Vanessa and Christina are gems and amazing musicians.”
When Sindy moved from Hong Kong to Fiske, Saskatchewan, she said she felt like she had arrived in a different world and experienced pressure in her ears from the silence. But now, as part of the trio, she’s filling the silence with music and is able to continue doing what she loves. “When you’re friends with someone, there’s a special magic when you make music together,” she explained.
Vanessa is a familiar face, as she was born and raised in Kindersley, where her passion for music was influenced by Kindersley’s own Steve Mealey. She completed a music degree at Brandon University before attending graduate school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. There she earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in May 2022. Since September 2022, she has been teaching band at Elizabeth School, in addition to teaching private music lessons. But that’s not all ... “in her spare time,” she creates clarinet arrangements, which are sold worldwide on Sheet Music Plus. Her recordings are featured on her YouTube channel “ClarinetColours.” She is a very busy young woman!
Cellist, Christina Bakanec, is a BC gal who holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Calgary. Since moving to Kerrobert in 2009, she has been with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. She runs a private music studio, teaching cello and piano. Christina resides on a fourth-generation grain farm with her husband and four children. This busy lady’s other ventures include homeschooling, gardening and homebirth support.
Sindy Yiu was born and raised in Hong Kong and holds an Associate and a Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance from Trinity College London. A graduate of the University of Hong Kong, she received a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Business administration with a minor in music.
She moved to Saskatchewan six years ago, and runs a full piano studio and is President of the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers West Central Branch. Earlier this year, she organized a Benefit Concert for Ukraine at Rosetown, where more than $8,000 was raised for Ukrainian refugees resettling in Saskatchewan.
The trio’s upcoming concert will be filled with Christmas music. “We all love Christmas music; not all musicians do,” Christina said, which is yet another mini miracle. The concert will be a mosaic of classics, hymns, and even Charlie Brown’s Christmas.
“Being able to hear live music is an opportunity for the audience,” Vanessa said. Although no further incentive is necessary, cookies will be served after the concert for those with a sweet tooth.
Admission is by donation only. Sindy spoke for herself, as well as Vanessa and Christina, saying, “We love music, and we just want to share what we love.”