Keith Hamm, violist, is a native of Rosebud, Alberta. While still a student, he was appointed Principal Violist of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, a position he held for eight seasons. In the fall of 2019, he assumed the same role with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, where he is regularly featured as a concerto soloist, chamber musician, and narrator for educational and family programs.

Keith received his training at the The Glenn Gould School under the guidance of Steven Dann, and at the Mount Royal Conservatory with Nicholas Pulos. Additional artistic influences include Pinchas Zukerman, Mark Fewer, Richard Lester, and the London Haydn Quartet, as well as formative summers at Le Domaine Forget.

In 2013, Keith founded the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival and the Rosebud String Quartet in his hometown. The quartet’s debut recording of Haydn and Mozart has received critical acclaim, including a five-star review in La Scena Musicale. A passionate chamber musician, he performs regularly at festivals across Canada, including Sweetwater Music Festival, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Stratford Summer Music, and Ottawa Chamberfest. He has also appeared as a guest artist with the ARC Ensemble and the Amici Ensemble.

Keith is frequently featured on CBC Radio, where he has been described as “Canada’s next viola superstar.” He has also been heard on Classical 96.3, CKUA Radio, and Minnesota Public Radio. His recording catalogue includes releases on the Leaf Music, Stone Records, and Centaur Records labels.

He teaches viola and violin at the University of Alberta and chamber music at the Winspear Centre’s Chamber Music Academy, where he is a member of the Garneau String Quartet. With the quartet, he has collaborated with artists including Angela Cheng, Desmond Hoebig, and the New Orford String Quartet.

Keith has also given classes at the The Glenn Gould School, Dalhousie University, and Mount Royal University, and during the summers at PRISMA Festival and Music at Port Milford.

From 2000 to 2002, he served as fiddler for the Calgary Flames.

He performs on a viola by Samuel Zygmuntowicz, made in 1981.