Philippe Djokic
Encyclopedia
Philippe Djokic is a Canadian violin
ist, conductor
, and music educator of French birth. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1990.
Born in Nancy, France
, Djokic was the son of a Serbian
father and French
mother. His father had been a prisoner in a concentration camp during World War II
and after the war he was put in charge of organizing displaced Serbian soldiers and immigrants by the United States Army. The Djokic clan's roots are from Požega, Serbia
.
In 1952, the Djokics settled in Trenton, New Jersey
. Here, all seven children would study classical music; learning to play a variety of instruments such as the piano, cello and violin. Philippe attended the acclaimed Juilliard School
in New York City
where he was a pupil of Christine Dethier and Ivan Galamian
. He would meet his bride-to-be, Lynn Stodola, there. She was a pianist. Both would eventually move to Halifax, Nova Scotia
in 1975 to teach at Dalhousie University
. Mr. Djokic is now the Professor of Violin. He has also conducted the Dalhousie Orchestra.
In 1977, he won first prize in the CBC
Talent Festival. Two years earlier, Djokic won the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibualt competition in Paris, France. Along with the Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Upon obtaining his Master of Music degree as a student at the Juilliard School, Djokic also won the school's Fritz Kreisler Prize. In 1989 he formed the "De Sève Quartet" with Marcelle Mallette (2nd violin), Douglas McNabney (viola), and Pierre Djokic (cello) in Toronto. Named in honour of violinist Alfred De Sève
, the ensmeble made its debut at the 1989 Festival superphonique in Lachine. He and his wife's musical talents were passed down to their children Marc and Denise Djokic
.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist, conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, and music educator of French birth. He became a naturalized Canadian citizen in 1990.
Born in Nancy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Djokic was the son of a Serbian
Serbs
The Serbs are a South Slavic ethnic group of the Balkans and southern Central Europe. Serbs are located mainly in Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and form a sizable minority in Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia and Slovenia. Likewise, Serbs are an officially recognized minority in...
father and French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
mother. His father had been a prisoner in a concentration camp during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and after the war he was put in charge of organizing displaced Serbian soldiers and immigrants by the United States Army. The Djokic clan's roots are from Požega, Serbia
Požega, Serbia
Požega is a town and municipality located in the Zlatibor District of Serbia. In 2011, the population of the town is 12,957, while population of the municipality is 29,488.-Municipality:...
.
In 1952, the Djokics settled in Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
. Here, all seven children would study classical music; learning to play a variety of instruments such as the piano, cello and violin. Philippe attended the acclaimed Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he was a pupil of Christine Dethier and Ivan Galamian
Ivan Galamian
Ivan Alexander Galamian was an influential Armenian violin teacher of the twentieth century.He was born in Tabriz, Iran, but his family soon emigrated to Moscow, Russia. Galamian studied violin at the School of the Philharmonic Society there with Konstantin Mostras until his graduation in 1919...
. He would meet his bride-to-be, Lynn Stodola, there. She was a pianist. Both would eventually move to Halifax, Nova Scotia
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
in 1975 to teach at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. Mr. Djokic is now the Professor of Violin. He has also conducted the Dalhousie Orchestra.
In 1977, he won first prize in the CBC
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
Talent Festival. Two years earlier, Djokic won the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibualt competition in Paris, France. Along with the Sibelius Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Upon obtaining his Master of Music degree as a student at the Juilliard School, Djokic also won the school's Fritz Kreisler Prize. In 1989 he formed the "De Sève Quartet" with Marcelle Mallette (2nd violin), Douglas McNabney (viola), and Pierre Djokic (cello) in Toronto. Named in honour of violinist Alfred De Sève
Alfred De Sève
Alfred De Sève was a Canadian violinist, composer, and music educator. His compositional output includes works for violin and piano, solo piano, and orchestra; many of which were published by Arthur P. Schmidt and Charles H...
, the ensmeble made its debut at the 1989 Festival superphonique in Lachine. He and his wife's musical talents were passed down to their children Marc and Denise Djokic
Denise Djokic
Denise Djokic is a gifted cellist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of Lynn Stodola and Philippe Djokic.Cellist Denise Djokic has been praised worldwide for her sincere, powerful interpretations, and her bold command of the instrument. Instantly recognized by her "arrestingly...
.