SVOBODA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-01-13 published
Andrew Yin
SVOBODA
By Joseph SINASAC,
Thursday,
January 13, 2005 - Page A20
Classical music composer, son, friend. Born February 4, 1977.
Died December 29, 2004, in Burlington, Ontario, of a heart attack,
aged 27.
In his 1996 Assumption High School yearbook, Andrew Yin
SVOBODA
left this inscription. "To all: One day when space and time collide,
I'll meet you on the other side." A little deeper than usual
for a high school graduate, perhaps, but not for Andrew. To those
who knew him, the words were typical of this older man in a young
man's body. Throughout his short life, he was always a little
more mature, thoughtful and wiser than his years would suggest.
Andrew's sudden death cut short the life of one of Canada's most
promising young classical composers. He was attending Columbia
University's esteemed music program on a full scholarship. His
works -- musicals, choral music, symphonies -- had been performed
in Montreal, New York and Paris.
Music had become Andrew's calling, but there was nothing preordained
about that. As a high-school student he was a top scholar and
was often advised that he should pursue studies in mathematics
and science. But from the age of 7 he had been studying piano,
sometimes reluctantly, at the insistence of his father, Josef.
Though obviously talented, he had not considered a future in
music until he was asked in 1995 to write a musical for his high
school. The result was Earth Angels, a musical on the 1917 Halifax
explosion, for which he earned a special scholarship. It awakened
new possibilities for his future.
After high school, Andrew went to McGill University in Montreal,
where he obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in music, finishing
in 2003. McGill was followed by a year of studies at l'Ecole
Normale Superieur de Musique in Paris and then Columbia last
fall.
Andrew came from an atypical Canadian family, though not a particularly
musical one. His Czech father had emigrated to Canada after spending
years in a Communist prison camp; in Canada he became an environmentalist
and professor at the University of Toronto. Andrew's mother,
Lewina, was of Chinese background from Hong Kong. Both took their
Catholic faith seriously and kept their two sons deeply involved
in their local parish. In the summers during their teens, Andrew
and his older brother, Michael, would sometimes accompany their
father on his field expeditions in the high Arctic. Josef talks
about how he always hoped to instill two things into his son:
a love of music and the ability to speak French. Years of piano
lessons and French immersion paid off in the fluently bilingual
musician.
Though single-minded about his music, Andrew wasn't one-dimensional.
Following his funeral, old Friends talked about his other sides
his deep faith, unquenchable humour, love of cooking, fondness
for popular musicals, prowess at sports (especially volleyball)
and, most notably, his ability to be a friend.
Matt HUCULAK, who studied English literature at McGill when Andrew
was there, recalled the many times he and Andrew were joined
by a group of Friends for serious discussions on literature and
music. But sometimes things were not so sublime, such as the
time Andrew taught Matt, a California native unfamiliar with
Montreal winters, that fresh snow makes a most satisfying material
for snowballs and dumping down someone's pants. "He was a very
profound, spiritual person, a true artist," Matt said. "But there
was still that childlike wonder he had."
On the night before his death, one of his best high-school Friends,
Lisa MOODY, went with Andrew to see the new movie version of
Phantom of the Opera, which he enjoyed. After recounting how
he could liven up a room with both music and fun, she said, "I
really believe in my heart he will be forever our angel of music."
Joseph is a friend of the
SVOBODA family.
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SVOBODA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-01-17 published
Andrew SVOBODA
By May Ebbitt
CUTLER,
Monday,
January 17, 2005 - Page S6
May Ebbitt
CUTLER, a former publisher of Tundra Books, writes
about Andrew
SVOBODA who was featured in Lives Lived on January
In 1997, I was looking for a composer for a family musical I
had written called Aah-pootee! That's Snow! and phoned Marina
Mdvani, a prominent Russian pianist who had come to teach at
McGill. She recommended Andrew. He was not yet 20 years old so
I had to be reminded that musical talent can emerge very early.
"But can he write an original tune?" I asked. "Absolutely," she
answered.
And he did -- for 12 songs and dances.
When we performed Aah-pootee! at McGill in 1998, The Montreal
Gazette referred to the "very good music by McGill's young, obviously
gifted, Andrew
SVOBODA."
Two years later, we produced Aah-pootee! at the New York Family
Arts Festival. The New York Times reviewer said the music "ranges
delightfully from lullaby-like melodies to jazzy tunes," and
the Off-Off Broadway Review gave it top rating, noting that Andrew's
"jaunty tuneful score gives just the right light tone... to the
wise and wonderful show."
Andrew had extraordinary musical talent.
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SVOBODA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-02-06 published
SVOBODA,
Mary (1920-2005)
Suddenly, on Thursday, February 3, 2005, at her residence in
Lanark Heights in Kitchener. She was in her 85th year. Beloved
wife of the late Frank
SVOBODA who predeceased her in 1992. She
is survived by her loving and caring daughter Lydia. Lydia and
her husband Richard
WILSON blessed Mary with two grandchildren,
James Russell
WILSON (2 1/2 years) and Ryan Francis
WILSON (5
months). Her grandchildren brought much happiness and love into
her life. She is also survived by her brother Demeter
PETRICKO
of the Czech Republic. She was very much loved in life and will
be truly missed by all who knew her. The funeral service to celebrate
Mary's life and faith will be held at the Edward R. Good Funeral
Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo, on Monday, February 7, 2005
at 1: 00 p.m. A reception will follow the service in the Historic
Kuntz House of the funeral home. Private family interment in
Beechwood Cemetery, Toronto. As expressions of sympathy, memorial
donations to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children would be
greatly appreciated by the family. Donations can be made online
at www.sickkids.on.ca/Foundation. Condolences/Donations/Flowers
www.edwardrgood.com 519-745-8445
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