Wolf’s Career
Born in Frankfurt, Germany in 1964, Wolf Tormann completed studies at the Musikhochschule in Frankfurt with Professor Gerhard Mantel.
He continued advanced studies with two of the worlds most famous cellists and cello teachers, Arto Noras, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, and Janos Starker, Indiana University, Bloomington.
Wolf Tormann has been a member of various orchestras, including the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orchestra Halle, Stuttgart Philharmonic and from 1992-1994, the Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, where he was assistant principal cellist.
While in Lisbon, Mr. Tormann performed more than 100 solo, chamber music and orchestral concerts a season, appeared as guest soloist with the Metropolitan Orchestra and was Professor of Cello at the National Academy for Orchestral Education. He was also a founding member of the Tagide String Quartet.
Wolf Tormann moved to Canada in 1994. He has been the principal cellist of the Kingston Symphony Orchestra since 1996 and has been on the substitution list in the cello section of the National Arts Centre Orchestra since 2001, performing more than 1000 concerts with them. He has also toured with the National Arts Centre Orchestra on several occasions, including tours all over Canada, as well as Great Britain and China.
For 9 years he was Music Director of a series of Chamber Music Soirees in Kingston, performing more than 25 concerts in and around the area, with both local and outside musicians. His duties included organizing, programming and hiring musicians for the concerts.
Wolf Tormann is a member of Queen’s University faculty in the Dan School of Drama and Music. He has taught there for the past 24 years. His responsibilities include teaching of cello students, chamber music coaching and conducting the Queen’s Orchestra. Wolf has also taught through QCM (Queen’s Community Music, Queen’s Conservatory of Music) and has a large private studio of more than 20 students of all ages. For the past 10 years he has conducted a cello orchestra which had at times 24 participants. He is also the founder and cellist of the Isabel Quartet, which is the Quartet in Residence at Queen’s University.
Mr. Tormann has an active concert career, performing frequently as soloist and in chamber music concerts with his colleagues from the National Arts Centre Orchestra and Queen’s University.
He was the cellist of the National Piano Trio, which is the Ensemble in Residence for the National Music Camp of Canada, where Wolf has taught for the past 20 years.
Wolf Tormann is in high demand as an adjudicator for music festivals across the country. Most recent adjudications include the Alberta Provincial Finals, Edmonton Kiwanis, St. John’s Kiwanis, Pickering Kiwanis, London Kiwanis and Toronto Kiwanis Music Festivals.
Wolf has recorded for the Kingston Symphony Association as well as Radio Difusao Portugal and CBC Radio Canada. He plays on a Guy Harrison cello that was built for him in 2018.
EDUCATION
| 1990-1991 | Advanced studies with Janos Starker, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. |
| 1990 | Master’s Degree in Cello Performance, Musikhochschule Frankfurt am Main, Germany. |
| 1897-1989 | Studies with Arto Noras, Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland. |
| 1894-1987 | Studies with Gerhard Mantel, Musikhochschule, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. |
| 1980-1984 | Studies with Susanne Mueller Hornbach, Assistant Professor, Gerhard Mantel. |
| 1970-1980 | Private lessons in both cello and piano. |
STUDIES IN ADVANCED TECHNIQUE AND REPERTOIRE
| 1991 | Masterclasses with Menahem Pressler (Indiana University) and Claus Kanngiesser, Mainz, Germany. |
| 1990-1991 | Chamber music studies with Rostislav Dubinsky (Borodin Quartet), Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. |
| 1989-1991 | Orchestral studies, Daniel Robert Graf, principal cellist of the Opera Orchestra, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. |
| 1989 | Masterclasses with Janos Starker, Villa Musica, Mainz, Germany. |
| 1986-1987 | Masterclasses with Arto Noras, Luzern, Switzerland. |
| 1986 | Masterclasses with Gerhard Mantel, Vaduz, Lichtenstein. |
| 1985-1987 | Chamber Music studies with Rainer Hoffman, Musikhochschule, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. |
| 1985-1987 | Orchestral studies with Daniel Robert Graf, Principal cellist, Opera Orchestra, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. |
| 1985 | Masterclasses with Arto Noras, Luzern, Switzerland. |
| 1986 | Masterclasses with Gerhard Mantel, Vaduz, Lichtenstein. |
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
| 1985-1987 | Cello Teacher at the Musikschule Wetzlar, Germany |
| 1991-1992 | Cello Teacher at the Musikschule Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| 1992-1994 | Professor for Cello at the Academy for Orchestral Education in Lisbon, Portugal |
| 1996-current | Instructor for Cello at Queen’s University School of Music, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2008-2018 | Instructor for Cello at Queen’s Conservatory of Music, Kingston, Ontario |
| 1997-2018 | Faculty member of the National Music Camp of Canada, Orillia, Ontario |
PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE
Orchestral
| 1995-current | Principal Cellist, Kingston Symphony, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2000-2016 | First call, sub list, (1120 concerts) cello section, National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa, Ontario. |
| 1992-1994 | Assistant Principal Cellist, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Lisbon, Portugal. |
| 1991-1992 | Principal Cellist, Opera Orchestra Halle, Germany. |
| 1991-1992 | Sublist, Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt, Germany. |
| 1990-1991 | Principal Cellist, Symphony Orchestra, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. |
| 1983-1984 | Principal Cellist, Chamber Orchestra Siegburg, Germany. |
Solo Performances
| 2020 | Tschaikovsky Pezzo Capriccioso, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2016 | Boccherini cello concerto in B flat major, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2014 | Tchaikovsky Rococco Variations, Huronia Symphony, Barrie, Ontario. |
| 2012 | Beethoven Triple Concerto, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2010 | Haydn Concerto in C Major for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2006 | Tchaikovsky Rococco Variations, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2006 | CD Recording: A Symphonic Tapestry, Bruch Kol Nidrei, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2004 | Haydn Concerto in D Major for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2003 | Dvorak Concerto in b minor for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2002 | Elgar Concerto in e minor for Cello and Orchestra, Sarnia Symphony, Sarnia, Ontario. |
| 2001 | Elgar Concerto in e minor for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 1999 | Schumann Concerto in a minor for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 1997 | Clifford Crawley: Serenade for Cello and Orchestra, Eastern Ontario Concert Orchestra. Belleville, Ontario. |
| 1997 | Saint-Saens Concerto in a minor for Cello and Orchestra, Chebucto Symphony Orchestra, Halifax, Nova Scotia. |
| 1996 | Saint-Saens Concerto in a minor for Cello and Orchestra, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 1994 | Haydn Concerto in D Major, Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra, Lisbon, Portugal. |
Chamber Music Performances
| 2016-current | Three annual faculty recitals with the Isabel Quartet at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2014 | Faculty Recital with the Penderecki Quartet: Schubert: String Quintet in C Major, Op. post.163, D. 956, Chalmers Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2014 | National Piano Trio: Mendelssohn: Trio in d minor, Op. 47; Brahms: Trio No. 2 in C Major, Op. 87, Toronto, Ontario. |
| 2013 | Faculty Recital, Piano Trio: Beethoven Op. 70 No. 2; Faure: Elegie; Gliere: Duos for Violin and Cello, Chalmers Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2012 | Faculty Recital, Cello and Piano: Martinu:Variations; Schnittke: Sonata for Cello and Piano; Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Cello and Piano, Chalmers Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2011 | National Piano Trio: Brahms: Piano Trio No 1 in B Major, Op. 8; Shostakovich: Piano Trio in e minor, Chalmers Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2011 | National Piano Trio: Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8; Shostakovich Piano Trio in e minor, Haliconian Hall, Toronto, Ontario. |
| 2011 | National Piano Trio: Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8; Shostakovich Piano Trio in e minor, St. John’s Anglican Church, Stradford, Ontario. |
| 2011 | Faculty Recital, Piano Trio: Boccherini: Sonata in A Major; Shostakovich: Piano Trio in e minor, Chalmers Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2011 | Chamber Music Soiree: Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 18, No, 2; Debussy: String Quartet in g minor; Vaughn Williams String Quartet, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2010 | Chamber Music Soiree: Schumann: Piano Quintet; Shostakovich: Piano Quintet, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2010 | Chamber Music Soiree: Mozart: Piano Quartet in g minor, Op. 478; Schumann Piano Quartet, Op. 47, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2010 | Chamber Music Soiree: Albrechtsberger: Divertimento in F Major for Violin, Cello and Double Bass; Ravel: Sonata for Violin and Cello; Rossini: Duet for Cello and Double Bass; Johann Michael Haydn: Divertimento in D Major for Violin, Cello and Double Bass, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2009 | Chamber Music Soiree: Schubert: Trout Quintet; Burge: Liebesleid for Cello and Piano, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2009 | Chamber Music Soiree: Brahms: Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano; Marko Tajcevic: Seven Balcan Dances, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2009 | Chamber Music Soiree: Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 6 in f minor, Op. 80; Borodin: Quartet No. 2 in D Major, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2008 | Chamber Music Soiree: Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Cello and Piano in g minor, Op. 19; Beethoven:Sonata in A Major Op. 69, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2008 | Chamber Music Soiree: Grieg: Sonata for Cello and Piano in a minor, Op. 36; Schubert: Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 100, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2008 | Chamber Music Soiree: Bach: Two-part Inventions arranged for two cellos (Alexander Zlotkin); Gliere: Duets for Two Cellos, Op. 53; Popper: Suite for Two Cellos; Bach: Chaconne arranged for two cellos (Claudio Jaffe), Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2007 | Chamber Music Soiree: Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F Major, K. 370; Gordon Jacob: Quartet for Oboe and Strings; Beethoven: String Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 3, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2007 | Chamber Music Soiree: Beethoven: Piano Quartet in E-flat Major; Faure: Piano Quartet in c minor, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2007 | Chamber Music Soiree: Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 8; Beethoven: String Quartet Op. 18, No. 6, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2007 | Zukerman Chamber Players: Gliere: Duets for Two Cellos, Op. 53; Boccherini: String Quintet in C Major, Sydenham Street United Church, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2006 | Chamber Music Soiree: Haendel: Passacaglia for Violin and Cello; Brahms Piano Trio No. 1 in B Major, Op. 8, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2006 | Chamber Music Soiree: Dvorak Piano Trio (Dumky); Chopin: Polonaise Brillante Op. 3; Kodaly: Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2005 | Chamber Music Soiree: Shostakovich: Piano Trio in e minor; Granados: Spanish DancesNo. 2. Orientale; De Falla: Ritual Fire Dance, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2005 | Chamber Music Soiree: Schubert: Death and The Maiden; Mozart: String Quartet in C Major, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 2004 | Celebration for the installation of the new principal of Queen’s University, Dr. Karen Hitchcock, Grant Hall Kingston, Ontario Messiaen, Quartet for the End of Time |
| 2004 | Chamber Music Soiree: Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano; Mendelssohn Konzertpiece No.2; Brahms Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in a minor opus 119, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2004 | Chamber Music Soiree: Schubert Arpeggione foer Cello and Piano; Chopin Sonata in g minor opus 65 for Cello and Piano, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2003 | Chamber Music Soiree: Mozart Trio for Violin, Cello and Piano; Tschaikovsky Trio in a minor for Violin, Cello and Piano, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2003 | Chamber Music Soiree: Bach Sonata for Cello and Piano in g-minor; Boccherini Sonata No.6 in A-major; Brahms Sonata in F-major opus 99 for Cello and Piano, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2002 | Chamber Music Soiree: Beethoven: Trio in B-Flat Major, Op. 97 (Archduke), Mendelssohn: Trio in d minor, Op. 49, Kingston, Ontario |
| 2001 | Benefit Concert for the Canadian Red Cross, (support for 9/11 victims): Martinu: Variations on a Slovakian Theme; Bruch: Kol Nidrei; Frescobaldi: Toccata; Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Cello and Piano in g minor, Op. 19, Grant Hall, Kingston, Ontario |
| 1999 | Trio concert, Performing Arts Office, Grant Hall, Kingston, Ontario Beethoven Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano; Glinka Trio Pathetique in d-minor; Brahms Trio in a minor for Clarinet, Cello and Piano; Mendelssohn Concertpiece No.2 opus 114 |
| 1999 | Music in Your Eyes, Edward Day Gallery, Kingston, Ontario Bach Suite No.3 in C major for Cello Solo; Beethoven Sonata No.4,C major, opus 102; Schnittke Sonata for cello and Piano |
| 1997 | Performing Arts Office, Queen’s University, Dunning Auditorium, Kingston, Ontario Beethoven Sonata A-major, opus 69; Glick Prayer and Dance, Schumann Fantasie pieces; Rachmaninoff Sonata g minor opus 19 |
| 1996 | Trio Concert: Ernest Dainty: Piano Trio; Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in d minor, Op. 49, Dunning Auditorium, Kingston, Ontario. |
| 1995 | Recital for Cello and Piano, Hamilton, Ontario Beethoven Sonata opus 5 Nr.2; Brahms Sonata F-major; Schnittke Sonata |
| 1992-1994 | 60 Concerts with the Tagide String Quartet, Portugal. |
AWARDS AND HONOURS
| 1990-91 | Government Grant from the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes |
| 1990-91 | scholarship from the Hans Krueger Stiftung, Berlin, Germany |
| 1990-91 | scholarship from the Porse Stiftung, Berlin, Germany |
| 1987-88 | scholarship from the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland |
| 1987-88 | scholarship from the Rotary Foundation, Germany |