Named by the Canadian Broadcast Corporation in 2020 as one of Canada’s 30 top classical musicians under 30, pianist Spencer Klymyshyn is known for his beautiful and nuanced sound. Born in Ottawa, Spencer has won numerous awards and recognitions in national competitions. In 2019, Spencer was the national winner at the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals (FCMF) National Music Competition. He was also, in both 2017 and 2018, a national first place award winner at the Canadian Music Competition.
Spencer is a scholarship student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he completed his Artist Masters in Performance studying with Ronan O’Hora, Martin Roscoe and Charles Owen, graduating with Distinction and the Concert Recital Diploma. He is a graduate of the Schulich School of Music, McGill University, where he completed his BMus in Piano Performance with Distinction, studying with Dr. Ilya Poletaev. While attending McGill, Spencer explored his keen interest in music theory, taking postgraduate courses as his electives in his undergrad degree. Spencer holds an ARCT in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
In 2023, Spencer was a semi-finalist in the Royal Over-Seas League (ROSL) international competition and was selected to compete in the Overseas Awards where he was the winner of a special award and scholarship for an Outstanding Canadian Musician. In addition, Spencer was the grand award winner of the Romantic Piano Prize at the Guildhall School. In 2022, he attended The International Holland Music Sessions (TIHMS) where he studied and performed recitals across the Netherlands.
In April 2022, he completed a tour with the Symphony New Brunswick performing the Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton, New Brunswick under the baton of Holly Mathieson. He is inspired by the many exceptional musicians who call Canada home and is determined to continue to interact with the music community in his home country.
Spencer has participated in masterclasses with many internationally renowned musicians such as Richard Goode, André Laplante, John Perry and Hie-Yon Choi. He also had the pleasure of working with Boris Berman, Robert McDonald, Jacques Rouvier, Boris Slutsky, Anton Nel and more. As a chamber musician and collaborative pianist, he has enjoyed working with coaches Julius Drake, Ralph de Souza (Endellion Quartet), Michael McMahon, Ralph Gothoni, Carole Presland, Matthew Jones, Marie-Ève Scarfone, and Maestro Alexis Hauser.
During Spencer’s time as an Artist Diploma student, he intends to participate in larger competitions and festivals in pursuit of a career in solo and collaborative performance. Upon graduation, Spencer plans to pursue a Doctorate in performance with the end goal of teaching at a university or conservatoire while maintaining a performing career. He strives to develop his tools and relationships to become a respected representative of Canadian musicians in the world.
Spencer was awarded the Dasha Shenkman Award 2023-2024.
