This is Canadian cellist Tate’s fifth year at Morningside Music Bridge.

Along the way, he’s learned from the best. Here he is in cellist Tian Bonian’s master class.

Tate started playing cello at the age of three. By the time he reached 12, he’d made his debut as a soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he is principal cellist of the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra.  The award-winning musician continues taking top prizes at the Canadian Music Competition for strings.

Tate is a familiar face at the Conservatory. Throughout the year, he flies to Calgary every month training with our John Kadz.

We caught up with Tate as he was en route to — you guessed it — more practice.

Question: This is your fifth year coming to study at MMB. What keeps you coming back?

Tate: Just in general all over, it’s fun. It’s good to make connections with other students.

Question: What do you like about MMB?

Tate: It’s a great program. There’s other things out there but this is full scholarship and it’s well-rounded. You get chamber music, orchestra, master classes, lessons every day. It’s great.

By Sherri Zickefoose, July 23, 2014.