Cambrian prof judges international violin competition in China

Cambrian College music instructor Jamie Arrowsmith recently spent a week in China judging the skills of some of the world's best violinists.

He ended up becoming a jury member at the Guang Ya Chengdu International Violin Competition in Chengdu, China because of Cambrian's relationship with the city's Guang Ya elementary and high school.

The man who runs the school is also a patron of the violin competition, and knew about Arrowsmith — the director of Cambrian's strings program — by reputation. After looking at Arrowsmith's resume, he invited him on an all-expenses-paid trip to judge the week-long competition, which took place late last month.

Arrowsmith said he enjoyed the experience, although he didn't really get time to go sightseeing. He spent most of his time listening to the competitors or playing his viola for local schoolchildren.

“It was a fantastic opportunity to hear some really high-level violin playing,” he said.

“The winner is someone who is of an international level. It's extremely high calibre playing. This competition, I would say, is really a stepping stone to an international performing career.

“I got to share the experience with colleagues from all over the world ... Apparently I was the first Canadian they've ever had on that jury.”

@heidi_ulrichsen