30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30, 2023 edition

It's a beloved summer tradition here at CBC Music, marking its 10th anniversary this year: our classical "30 under 30" list, celebrating the accomplishments of Canada's hottest young classical musicians.

They're highly skilled, creative, disciplined, determined to make their mark in the world of classical music — and we think they're amazing.

Scroll down to meet this year's inductees into our classical "30 under 30" family, from oldest to youngest. And if there's a rising classical music star you'd like us to know about, tell us about them in the comments, below, or on X, formerly known as Twitter, via @CBCMusic using the hashtag #CBC30under30.

Age: 29From: Toronto via Montreal

"My mother played keyboard in a Klezmer band," recalls Eric Abramovitz. "When my dad took me and my three siblings to see one of their shows for the first time, I instantly fell in love with the clarinet and became obsessed." That obsession has led Abramovitz to the principal clarinet chair of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, which he has occupied since 2021. In February, they performed at Carnegie Hall ("the holy grail of concert halls," he says) and while in New York, Abramovitz gave a masterclass at the Manhattan School of Music. In October, he'll step in front of the TSO to play Aaron Copland's Clarinet Concerto — "my all-time favourite." Not bad for a guy who was kicked out of his high school music program. ("I was something of a rebel back in the day," he concedes.)

Abramovitz's clarinet hero is Martin Fröst. "[It's] as if the clarinet had no technical or musical limitations in his hands," he says. "As far as I'm concerned, he will always be the GOAT." Abramovitz's use of sports terminology is no coincidence: he says his dream is to "sign a lifelong contract to play the national anthem at Montreal Canadiens games so I could attend every game for free." A year ago, he fulfilled another dream. "It was a scorching August day in the Old Port in Montreal, and my wife, Iris, and I finally tied the knot after postponing the wedding for two years due to the pandemic." We invited Abramovitz to Enoch Turner Schoolhouse in Toronto to play a Bach transcription:

Age: 29From: Ottawa

Juilliard and Eastman alum Thea Humphries recently wrapped up her four-year tenure as a fellow at the New World Symphony in Miami. Their final concert was a collaboration with Miami City Ballet, conducted by the NWS's music director laureate, Michael Tilson Thomas. "I was really happy to work with him one more time after so many of my most memorable concerts there have been under his direction," she enthuses. Humphries also had the distinction of winning this year's NWS fantasy football league. ("I was also runner-up for our March Madness bracket," she boasts.)

She loves the "beautiful warm sound, and really lovely horn lines" in Brahms symphonies, and (like all good musicians) knows there's always work to do. "Some of the most beautiful phrases in horn literature are the softest ones," she notes, "so, expanding the limits of my ability to play super softly is always something I'm striving to do better." Another preoccupation for Humphries is "concerts that consider audiences first," and to that end, she recently launched AudienSync, a website that helps musicians engage with their audiences. She was named one of the 2022 Knight Arts Champions in recognition of this initiative.

Like Abramovitz, above, Humphries recently got married. She and her husband, L.A. Phil trombonist Paul Radke, bonded not only over music, but also beer and board games. "My favourite things to do in a new city are to walk and explore the craft beer scene. I especially love a good sour," she says. "My husband and I recently discovered Dots pretzels, which pair excellently with our favourite board game, Wingspan."

Age: 28From: Scarborough, Ont.

Classical music presents myriad career opportunities and lately, baritone Andrew Adridge has been making his mark offstage. He's the newly appointed executive director of the Toronto Consort, a prominent early music collective. Last fall, he got his first contract with the Canadian Opera Company as assistant director for its production of Bizet's Carmen. He returned to the company in April as assistant director for Verdi's Macbeth. "As a young singer with a sort of dramatic voice, I always thought of Verdi as that motivator to keep going," he reflects. "It's the music they tell you you'll sing eventually if you stick it out, so I've always had a soft spot for his work."

He also has a soft spot for the cello. "The Elgar Cello Concerto is one of the most spectacular pieces of music ever composed. Wouldn't it be a dream to be able to play that?" Outside classical music, Adridge says Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly changed his life ("an integral part of my awakening as a Black man") and admires jazz singer Cécile McLorin Salvant "because she is so unabashedly, unapologetically her." In October, he'll do some singing of his own, performing in Wound Turned to Light, a recital of new songs by James Rolfe, presented by Confluence Concerts.

Yet another newlywed ("Marie is amazing," he beams, "the right person to have by my side"), Adridge has recently become a suburbanite and revels in the lifestyle. "Taking care of the lawn, barbecuing in all seasons, golfing whenever possible — this is my life now and I accept it with open arms!"