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Andrew Dawes (violin) was born in High River, Alberta, and is celebrated as “one of the most distinguished violinists Canada has ever produced” (Ottawa Citizen). He has performed throughout North and South America, Europe and the Orient. He was a founding member of the Orford String Quartet aas well as its first violinist from 1965-1991. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation named the Orford String Quartet as one of “the Great Canadian Performers of the Twentieth Century." In 1992 Professor Dawes was appointed to the faculty of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver to teach violin and chamber music, which followed his 20-year tenure at the University of Toronto. In 1995-96 he took a leave of absence from UBC to perform as first violinist of the Tokyo String Quartet playing on a Stradivarius violin that was made in 1727 and belonged to Nicolo Paganini. He recorded frequently throughout his career, most recently for CBC records and, with Jane Coop, the Beethoven sonatas for piano and violin on the Skylark label, a recording that was nominated for a Juno Award.

Andrew has won many awards, among them the ORDER OF CANADA and the Jubilee Medal awarded by Queen Elizabeth II for exceptional qualities and service to Canada.  

Professor Dawes plays on a violin made by J.B.Guadagnini in Parma in 1770.