Volume 23 Issue 2 - October 2017
In this issue: several local artists reflect on the memory of composer Claude Vivier, as they prepare to perform his music; Vancouver gets ready to host international festival ISCM World New Music Days, which is coming to Canada for the second time since its inception in 1923; one of the founders of Artword Artbar, one of Hamilton’s staple music venues, on the eve of the 5th annual Steel City Jazz Festival, muses on keeping urban music venues alive; and a conversation with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, as he prepares for an ambitious recital in Toronto. These and other stories, in our October 2017 issue of the magazine.
In this issue: several local artists reflect on the memory of composer Claude Vivier, as they prepare to perform his music; Vancouver gets ready to host international festival ISCM World New Music Days, which is coming to Canada for the second time since its inception in 1923; one of the founders of Artword Artbar, one of Hamilton’s staple music venues, on the eve of the 5th annual Steel City Jazz Festival, muses on keeping urban music venues alive; and a conversation with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, as he prepares for an ambitious recital in Toronto. These and other stories, in our October 2017 issue of the magazine.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
BLUE PAGES <strong>2017</strong>/18<br />
for Canada’s 150th celebration. Included within<br />
350+ performances each year are traditional student<br />
ensemble performances (from choirs and<br />
opera to orchestra, band, jazz, percussion, contemporary<br />
and early music), plus our signature<br />
Fridays@12:30 concert series. Our Faculty Concert<br />
Series returns in <strong>2017</strong>/18 plus extraordinary<br />
guest artists from around the world, including<br />
the Canadian Brass and Berlin Philharmonic<br />
Wind Quintet.<br />
Rachel Condie<br />
519-661-3767<br />
musicevents@uwo.ca<br />
www.music.uwo.ca<br />
●●Durham Chamber Orchestra<br />
Durham Chamber Orchestra has been performing<br />
in Durham region for the past 21 years,<br />
featuring talented amateur and professional<br />
musicians, guest soloists and ensembles. We are<br />
excited to move to a new larger concert venue in<br />
Ajax this season after selling out all performances<br />
last year. Conducted by dynamic music director<br />
Carlos Bastidas in his second season with the<br />
DCO, the orchestra will present three concerts<br />
in <strong>2017</strong>/18. Highlights include “It’s Christmas” with<br />
audience sing-along, “A Musical Journey” with<br />
Shout Sister choir and soloists from the Oshawa<br />
Opera company and “A Salute to our Youth” with<br />
international violin virtuoso Andrew Sords. The<br />
DCO is also performing a joint concert with the<br />
Ontario Pops Orchestra to celebrate Canada 150,<br />
with the generous sponsorship of the Toronto<br />
Symphony Orchestra. Details of these events are<br />
available on the website. New playing members<br />
are always welcome.<br />
Sandra Weeks, president<br />
905-852-1141<br />
info@durhamchamberorchestra.com<br />
www.durhamchamberorchestra.com<br />
●●Eglinton St. George’s<br />
United Church<br />
Our non-auditioned 45-voice choir meets Thursday<br />
evenings for two hours and Sunday mornings<br />
for worship, preparing music ranging from Renaissance<br />
to jazz and from chant to oratorio.<br />
Prior experience in choral singing is a requirement.<br />
Outreach and benefit concerts are regular<br />
fare with support from our wonderful and talented<br />
eight section leads. This year we feature<br />
our <strong>2017</strong>/18 Concert Series with special guests<br />
the Elmer Iseler Singers and Amadeus Choir of<br />
Toronto, our annual Christmas concert “All Bells<br />
in Paradise” with the Trillium Brass and finally,<br />
“Darkness to Light,” with the ESG Choir, Cellar<br />
Singers and Orchestra featuring the hauntingly<br />
beautiful Darkness to Light by Ruth Watson Henderson<br />
and Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna.<br />
Shawn Grenke<br />
416-481-1141<br />
shawn.grenke@esgunited.org<br />
www.esgunited.org<br />
●●Elmer Iseler Singers<br />
Celebrating its 39th season in <strong>2017</strong>/18, the Elmer<br />
Iseler Singers, conducted by artistic director<br />
Lydia Adams, is a 20-voice professional choral<br />
ensemble based in Toronto. Founded by the late<br />
Dr. Elmer Iseler in 1979, the Singers have built<br />
an enviable reputation throughout Canada, the<br />
United States and internationally.<br />
The Singers present a five-concert subscription<br />
series in Toronto, also participating in local<br />
workshops and other Toronto concerts – including<br />
guest performances with the Toronto Symphony<br />
Orchestra.<br />
Touring is a major component of the EIS activities,<br />
having just completed a seven-city Western<br />
Canada tour in April <strong>2017</strong> and an Eastern Canada<br />
tour, with Dr. Roberta Bondar, in July <strong>2017</strong>. The<br />
Singers are active in many Ontario communities<br />
and specialize in their GET MUSIC! Educational<br />
choral workshops and performances in the GTA.<br />
Recently, Lydia Adams was appointed Visiting<br />
Associate Professor in Choral Studies at Western<br />
University. She is the Artist Recipient of the<br />
2013 Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in<br />
the Arts, the 2012 winner of the Roy Thomson Hall<br />
Award of Recognition and a <strong>2017</strong> JUNO nominee<br />
with the Elmer Iseler Singers.<br />
Jessie Iseler<br />
416-217-0537<br />
info@elmeriselersingers.com<br />
www.elmeriselersingers.com<br />
●●Elora Singers<br />
The Elora Singers, an all-professional Grammyand<br />
JUNO-nominated chamber choir, was<br />
founded in 1980 by Noel Edison as principal<br />
choral ensemble of the Elora Festival.<br />
Since 1997, the choir has been the core of the<br />
Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the Toronto Mendelssohn<br />
Singers, and is the choral ensemblein-residence<br />
of the Elora Festival each summer.<br />
Through regular concert series, recordings,<br />
broadcasts and touring, The Elora Singers has<br />
established a reputation as one of the finest<br />
chamber choirs in Canada and beyond, contributing<br />
to the musical life not only of the community<br />
but on an international stage.<br />
With 11 releases on the Naxos label, The Elora<br />
Singers is known for its rich, warm sound and<br />
clarity of texture. The choir is renowned for its<br />
diverse styles, commitment to Canadian repertoire,<br />
and collaborations with other Canadian<br />
artists.<br />
Esther Farrell<br />
519-846-0331<br />
info@elorasingers.ca<br />
www.elorasingers.ca<br />
●●Ensemble Vivant<br />
Ensemble Vivant, “Canada’s chamber music<br />
treasure” (Toronto Star), has dazzled audiences<br />
worldwide with innovative, genre-diverse programming<br />
for three decades. A pioneer among<br />
piano chamber ensembles, Ensemble Vivant garners<br />
accolades internationally. EV are Opening<br />
Day recording artists. Through EUTERPE (www.<br />
euterpemusicarts.com), Ensemble Vivant is<br />
known for fostering a love of great music among<br />
our youth. Core members: Catherine Wilson,<br />
piano/artistic director; Corey Gemmell, violin;<br />
Sybil Shanahan, cello; Norman Hathaway, viola;<br />
Jim Vivian, bass. Regular guests: Don Thompson,<br />
vibes; Guido Basso, flugelhorn; Mike Murley,<br />
sax; Brian Barlow and Juan Carlos Medrano,<br />
percussion.<br />
“…the highest calibre…No matter the genre,<br />
there is magic in Ensemble Vivant’s music-making.”<br />
Rick Wilkins, CM<br />
“…precisions of sonority, dynamics and rhythm<br />
that Ensemble Vivant fully deliver…[Burke’s] intricate<br />
ensemble writing is performed magnificently…a<br />
moving experience…Wilson’s playing is<br />
evocative.” The WholeNote<br />
“…thoroughly enjoyable…” Boston Herald, USA<br />
“…beautiful, poised performances...these musicians<br />
capture the passion and verve…Wilson’s<br />
piano gives this music unerring drive and plenty<br />
of sparkle.” Toronto Star<br />
“To my heart, your rendition of Oblivion is the<br />
most touching I have ever heard: Bravo!” Radio<br />
Classique, Montreal<br />
Catherine Wilson<br />
416-768-8856<br />
cwpianist@me.com<br />
www.ensemblevivant.com<br />
●●Esprit Orchestra<br />
Founded in 1983 by music director and conductor<br />
Alex Pauk, Esprit’s commitment to commissioning<br />
and advancing contemporary music<br />
has set it apart as one of the few organizations<br />
of its kind on a global scale. Esprit consistently<br />
collaborates with outstanding composers, and<br />
performs with first-class soloists and ensembles<br />
from Canada and abroad.<br />
Each concert season, Esprit Orchestra commissions,<br />
promotes and performs the work<br />
of Canadian composers, and features Canadian<br />
premieres of music by leading international<br />
composers.<br />
With a dynamic annual subscription concert<br />
series, this skilled 65-member orchestra presents<br />
music that is otherwise unavailable in Canada,<br />
always performed to the highest standards<br />
in the acoustically acclaimed Koerner Hall at the<br />
TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning.<br />
Amber Melhado<br />
416-408-0208<br />
amber@espritorchestra.com<br />
www.espritorchestra.com<br />
B8 | theWholeNote <strong>2017</strong>/18 PRESENTER PROFILES
Change language