Erika Raum

Erika Raum is a Canadian violinist who began playing professionally at age 12. She took first place at the 1992 Joseph Szigeti International Violin Competition in Budapest as well as the award for best interpretation of a Mozart concerto. She has returned on many occasions to perform in Hungary, Portugal, Sweden, Austria, Germany, England, Italy and France. She has appeared as guest artist with such orchestras as the Budapest Radio Orchestra, the Szombathely Symphony Orchestra, the Austro-Hungarian Orchestra, and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra.

A distinguished musician abroad, Raum performs frequently throughout her homeland with orchestral appearances in cities such as Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax, and Edmonton. Both a recitalist and chamber musician, some of her recent international highlights include the Festival Pablo Casals in Prades, France, Beethoven Festival in Warsaw, the BargeMusic Festival in New York, and the Seattle Chamber Music Festival. Her performances are heard on an array of radio networks, including the CBC across Canada and National Public Radio in the US.

As a recording artist, Erika joined renowned pianist Anton Kuerti in releasing the world premiere recording of Carl Czerny's piano and violin works. Recorded on Musica Viva of CBC Records, this recording highlights the works by this composer during his teen years. Her most recent release for the Arktos label consisted of the Brahms Horn Trio and another recording premiere of Pantheon, by her mother, the composer Elizabeth Raum. With pianist Lydia Wong, they will soon record the complete violin and piano works of Krzysztof Penderecki.

In 1993, Elizabeth Raum wrote her a violin concerto entitled Faces of Woman. The work was commissioned by the Regina Symphony Orchestra and broadcast nationally by the CBC. Erika's sister, Jessica Raum, produced and directed the award-winning documentary Like Mother, Like Daughter which recorded the event.

Erika is a graduate of the University of Toronto where she studied with the late Lorand Fenyves and was awarded the prestigious Eaton Scholarship upon her graduation. She is also a recipient of The Canada Council for the Arts - Career Development Grant. Raum is currently on the faculties of the Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto and the University of Toronto. She continues her presence on the summer faculty of The Banff Centre for the Arts and has been a guest teacher at the Orford Arts Centre this summer.