Yamaha Canada Music recently awarded Brian Rapanos with the 2009 Kando Award at MusicFest Canada on May 16 in Markham, ON.  Rapanos, a saxophone player from North Vancouver, BC, was chosen from among the many young musicians in attendance at the festival, the largest of its kind in North America.

“Winning the Yamaha Kando Award is a great honour for me,” says Rapanos.  “Looking at the past winners, I feel privileged to be included in this select group of fantastic musicians.”

Brian Rapanos was born and raised in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He attended Handsworth Secondary School, graduating in June 2009.  Brian participated in the school band program for 5 years, winning numerous awards.   Notable among them was the Dal Richards Scholarship and the BCMEA Scholarship.   Brian has performed at the Jazz Cellar in Vancouver and at the 2008 and 2009 Vancouver Jazz Festivals.  He recently played with the Yamaha All-Star Band in Toronto and has been selected as one of the top young musicians in Canada to play at the Port Hope Jazz Festival this September.  

Yamaha Canada is the lead sponsor of MusicFest Canada, which brings 10,000 students together every year in May.  400,000 young musicians participated in regional festivals across the country, and those who are invited to perform at MusicFest enjoy a week of clinics, workshops and masterclasses by leading Yamaha Artists.

“Kando” is a Japanese word that evokes inspiration and an emotional attachment between musicians and their instruments.  By “Creating Kando Together”, Yamaha leads the world in bringing together people and our products in a personal and insightful way.  Every year, Yamaha Canada provides the Kando Award at MusicFest to the “special individual, who, in the opinion of the adjudicators, has demonstrated outstanding musicianship, past musical achievements and solo performances.”  The winner receives $4,000 of products from Yamaha.  

“Through the generosity of Yamaha I have now been provided with a Yamaha soprano saxophone and flute.  These instruments are greatly appreciated,” says Brian.  

Brian has studied alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, and clarinet for nine years, most recently with Yamaha Artist Campbell Ryga.  He will be attending Humber College in Toronto this September, taking the four-year degree program in Contemporary Music.   

Yamaha would like to congratulate Brian on this honour and wishes him the best of luck in his musical studies and future career.