Led by two of Canada's most active cellists
Guillaume Artus and Daniel Hamin Go,
SCI’s curriculum goes beyond the practice room to develop complete young artists.

SUMMER
CELLO
INSTITUTE

Led by two of Canada's most active cellists Guillaume Artus and
Daniel Hamin Go, SCI’s curriculum goes beyond the practice room to develop complete young artists.

PHILOSOPHY

TECHNIQUE

Refining the fundamental mechanics through
high-level technical analysis.

ARTISTRY

Developing a unique musical voice through structure, narrative, and historical context.

BODY AWARENESS

Prioritizing injury prevention, body awareness,
and physical wellness.

COMMUNICATION

Empowering artists to articulate their vision through public speaking.

CURRICULUM

Private Lessons

Personalized instruction to refine technique, repertoire, and artistry.

One private lessons with each faculty cellist.

Technique Classes

Daily afternoon sessions on bow arm, shifting, intonation, and performance mindset.

New concepts to take home and practice.

Cello Ensemble

Daily collaborative rehearsals, performing together at the final concert.

Cello ensemble repertoire will be announced by June 20th, 2026.

Body Awareness

Daily sessions exploring the kinaesthetic understanding of how our body moves and balances while playing through the foundations of yoga, pilates, stretching, and ballet fundamentals.

Instructed by Agnes Su:
Principal at National Ballet of Canada.

The Artist's Voice

A multi-day project where communication meets artistry: Research your composer,
find personal meaning in the music,
and craft a 2-minute spoken introduction
for your concert performance.

Instructed by Michelle Jia:
Founder of Institute for Relational Intelligence in Design (IRID).

Final Concert

Perform in a public final showcase with professional piano accompaniment.

Professional audio & video recordings provided for every participant.

FACULTY

GUILLAUME ARTUS

  • The French cellist Guillaume Artus has made his debut in some of the world's most prestigious concert halls: the Berlin Philharmonie, the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, the Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai, Victoria Hall in Geneva, the Salzburg Festival Hall, and the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing.

    His latest CD release, "Fräulein Else" featuring chamber music by Graciane Finzi, received the highest rating from the French magazine Diapason.

    He is also a prize winner of international competitions, including the Raynaud Zurfluh Competition and the Liezen Cello Competition.

    Guillaume has been the principal cellist of the Canadian Opera Company since 2024. Before this appointment he was associate principal in the Stuttgart State Orchestra since 2017 and is a member of the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra since 2016.
    Constantly seeking new experiences and musical encounters, he has been a guest principal cellist with the SWR Stuttgart, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva.

    Since 2026, he is the new member of the “Ensemble Made in Canada”, a JUNO award recipient piano quartet.

    He studied in Lyon with Yvan Chiffoleau and in Berlin at the Hanns Eisler School of Music with Claudio Bohorquez.

DANIEL HAMIN GO

  • The first time Daniel Hamin Go picked up the cello, he was 12.

    As he drew the bow across the open C string, the cello’s vibrations resonated throughout his entire body. He remembers being moved and filled with light - a light that has guided his desire to explore the truth that lies in life, in music, and in himself. It’s the light that fuels his need to connect with audiences and to share interpretations that demand a full commitment to emotional expression - and it’s what’s propelling his international career as a soloist and chamber musician.

    Go has performed across three continents, making appearances at the Berliner Philharmonie, Cadogan, Carnegie Hall, Flagey Studios, and Konzerthaus Berlin. As an avid chamber musician, Go has received invitations to festivals including the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival, IMS Prussia Cove, Kronberg Academy, Krzyzowa Music, Mendelssohn on Mull, Music Academy of the West, Ravinia's Steans Institute of Music, Tsinandali Festival, and Yellow Barn, and his chamber partners include Jonathan Biss, Glenn Dicterow, Miriam Fried, David Geber, Ida Kavafian, Richard O’Neill, Daniel Philips, Rachel Podger, Wolfgang Redik, Fazil Say, Barry Shiffman, and Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden. 

    Go’s education took place in six institutions across five countries, regularly participating in masterclasses with Steven Isserlis, Ferenc Rados, and Rita Wagner. Go received a Bachelor of Music from the Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Julia Lichten and David Geber, a Master of Music at the Hochschule für Musik 'Hanns Eisler' Berlin in the class of Nicolas Altstaedt, and as a recipient of the prestigious Bicentenary Award and the Drake Calleja Trust Award, Go completed an Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy of Music. During the 2021-22 season, Go was an artist-in-residence at the coveted Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel working closely with Gary Hoffman. During the 2022-23 season, Go held a fellowship position at the Royal Conservatory of Music’s Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Residency Program. 

    In 2025, Go released his debut album, ARIRANG, on Orchid Classics with the generous support of Canada Council for the Arts and Ontario Arts Council. He performs on a cello made by Antonio & Rafaelle Gagliano, Naples ca. 1830, generously on loan by CANIMEX INC., from Drummondville (Quebec), Canada.

AGNES SU

  • Agnes Su was born in Newport Beach, California and trained at the Pacific Coast Academy of Dance and the Southland Ballet Academy.

    She joined The Stuttgart Ballet in 2013 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2021. Agnes joined The National Ballet of Canada as a Principal Dancer in 2025.  

    Agnes’ repertoire with The National Ballet of Canada includes Hermione in The Winter’s Tale and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker.

    Agnes has danced leading roles in Swan Lake,The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, Mayerling, The Taming of the Shrew, Firebird, The Lady of the Camellias, Blake Works I, The Second Detail and more. She has also performed contemporary works by renowned choreographers Jiří Kylián, Hans van Manen, Akram Khan and Roland Petit, as well as created roles in works by Christian Spuck, Marco Goecke, Demis Volpi and Johan Inger.  

    As a choreographer, Agnes has created two works, White Light in 2019 and Resonanz in 2020, for The Stuttgart Ballet. She has performed extensively in international galas all over the world, especially in Europe, Asia and North America. 

    As a student, Agnes took part in the Youth American Grand Prix, and along with winning the Hope Award in 2009 and the Junior Grand Prix in 2011 at the regional level, she received full scholarships to the Princess Grace Dance Academy in Monaco and the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany.  

MICHELLE JIA

  • Coming soon!

ENROLMENT & FAQS

I. Dates & Tuition

Intensive Dates:
July 20th - July 24th, 2026 (9:30am - 4:30pm)

Location:
Grace Church on the Hill
300 Lonsdale Rd, Toronto, ON M4V 1X4

Application Fee: $60 CAD (non-refundable)

Tuition: $1,250 CAD
Early Bird: $75 discount for applications received by June 15th.

Deposit: 50% non-refundable tuition deposit due within 7 days of acceptance to secure your spot.

II. Application

Complete the application form below:

Applications must include two video recordings:

Recording 1: A solo work of choice ‍
‍ ‍(within the last 6 months • iPhone recordings accepted)

Recording 2: A contrasting piece
‍ ‍(within the last 12 months • iPhone recordings accepted)

We will be accepting 10 cellists for 2026 Summer Cello Intensive.

NB. While we encourage applicants to be ages 14+, applicants ages 12–13 will be considered on an exceptional basis.

III. What to Bring

Your instrument, sheet music (including piano scores), daily packed lunch daily, and an iPad or laptop for The Artist’s Voice project research.
Daily nut-free snacks and bottled water will be provided.

IV. Our Commitment to Safety

All faculty and staff are required to hold a current Toronto Police Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC). The program is covered by event liability insurance. Detailed policies on supervision, media consent, and code of conduct are provided upon acceptance.

For inquiries or assistance with your application, please reach out to us at: