Andrew Dawes is recognized as one of Canada’s foremost violinists. After obtaining the coveted Prix de Virtuosité at the Conservatoire de Genève in Switzerland, with the highest mark ever awarded by that institution, he founded the Orford String Quartet and remained as first violinist throughout the group’s existence from 1965 to 1991. With this ensemble, he played in more than 25 countries, recorded some 50 CDs and earned three Juno Awards. During the 1995 – 1996 season, he was first violin in the Tokyo String Quartet, playing on a Stradivarius owned by Paganini. Andrew Dawes has appeared as a soloist with major orchestras in Canada, with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and with the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra. He was inducted into the Order of Canada in 1992 and two years later received the prestigious Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award. Mr. Dawes has recently retired from the University of British Columbia.
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