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ADA BRONSTEIN Sadly our mother passed away on February 8, 2011 after a long and well lived life. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Gregor Bronstein in 1983. Mom is survived by her two sons Ely, Daniel and her daughter Pauline and other relatives in Australia, Israel and Toronto. Ada was born in Harbin, China where she received her early musical training, graduating with honours in piano performance from the Conservatory of Music in Harbin (1931). Next year Ada's family left for Shanghai where she continued her musical studies with Professor Boris Lazareff who had a profound influence on her musical development. From 1936 to 1952 she performed on many occasions with the Shanghai Municipal Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Mario Paci. From 1948 to 1952 Ada participated in chamber music recitals sponsored by British Council Centre and Alliance Francaise. From 1950 to 1952 she taught piano at the Faculty of the Shanghai National Conservatory. Among her pupils is the world renowned Chinese pianist Fou Ts'ong. Following the change of political regime in 1949 Ada and her husband Dr. Gregor Bronstein immigrated to Canada where mom's professional career flourished. After settling in Winnipeg in 1954 she was a frequent performer on CBC Radio and TV as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist for local and international artists. From 1969 to 1994 Ada was accompanist at the Banff Centre (summer session), for master classes in the strings division led by internationally renowned distinguished artists. From 1978 to 1996 Mom was a active member of the chamber music group Aurora Musicale . She was a sessional instructor (Piano Accompaniment) at the University of Manitoba School of Music 1984 to 1991. Ada retired from performing professionally in 1999. After her retirement mom and her friends gave recitals in personal care homes. Mom had many interests including reading, yoga, tai chi, social issues and travels to U.S.A., England, Israel and Australia. Mom's many friends will miss her always ready hospitality and generous nature. She had a vibrant personality with a passion for people, music and the arts. As a distinguished artist Ada was honoured in 2002 with the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal. A special thank you to Mom's friends and neighbours, Home Care workers and the staff of St. Boniface Hospital and Riverview Centre Palliative Care Unit for their kind and compassionate care. The funeral service was held at the Chesed Shel Emes Chapel on February 9, 2011. Donations can be made in Ada's memory to Jewish Child and Family Services, Winnipeg. Mom we love you and you will be missed. Rest in Peace A mother's love in a blessing No matter where you roam, Keep her while she's living, You'll miss her when she's gone. - Frank McCourt, Tis
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 26, 2011
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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Though I knew of Ada's passing long before this, I only now found this site 10 years later .... Though I come from Winnipeg I knew Ada mostly in Banff, where I went for many summers with my dear one George Brough who, like Ada, was a collaborative pianist at the Banff School of Fine Arts (now The Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity). They were dear musical friends and gave several 2-piano recitals during the summers there. Listening to a tape of one of these recently has brought to my mind what a warm and generous person and absolutely wonderful musician she was. She’ll always be one of the very special people in my life and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to know her. - Posted by: Simone Desilets (friend) on: May 17, 2021
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So sad to hear of Mrs Bronstein's passing I know only too well what the children are going through having lost my beloved mother recently. I came upon the obituary when trying to find Daniel recently after losing touch with the family more than 50 years ago. I am in Calgary and would appreciate hearing from Daniel or his siblings after trying with no success these past weeks. - Posted by: MORLEY MINUK (fanily friend) on: Dec 03, 2013
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Mrs. Bronstein taught me piano, and was the first one to introduce me to Russian romantic musicians and their music. I will always miss our conversation over the phone, and her great hospitality whenever I visited her in Winnipeg. - Posted by: Yuen Cheng (Student and Friend) on: Mar 19, 2013
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Mrs. Bronstein accompanied me in the Donald McInnes/William Primrose viola master classes in Banff in 1976, and while we were all astonished by her apparent mastery of the entire chamber music literature for piano and ____ (fill in the blank!), it was her kindness and encouragement of us young performers that I remember most. I was not the most confident player in the world, often getting what Tom Rolston referred to as "the pearlies" (i.e., a trembling bow arm when nerves took over), but Mrs. Bronstein had the most marvellous way of diverting me from my own youthful self-obsessions and refocusing my attention on the music and the task at hand. Some years later, when Pauline and I were both in the Edmonton Symphony together, Mrs. Bronstein stopped in Edmonton and a group of us went for dim sum together with her--quite an education for most of us, since she had of course grown up in China. Her passage is a great loss to Canadian music, and I hope Pauline and her siblings take comfort in knowing how very much some of us appreciated her public gifts. - Posted by: Neil Hughes (Friend and former student) on: May 31, 2012
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Ada Bronstein accompanied me in Winnipeg and at the Banff School of Fine Arts. She was a fine musician and she was very friendly, encouraging and fun. It was inspiring to work with her. Pauline, Eli and Danny, I am very sorry for your loss and I remember our times together at Orchestra London and at John Waterhouse's studio. With sympathy, Louise (Budnick) Bellhouse - Posted by: Louise Bellhouse (Friend) on: Mar 15, 2011