New Music Festival - Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

PERFORMER/ARTIST BIOS
Gudbergur Bergsson, author
Born in Grindavík, Iceland
in 1932, Mr. Gudbergur
Bergsson received a
teaching diploma from the
Iceland University of
Education in 1955, went to
Spain for further studies and graduated in
Spanish, literature and art history from La
Universidad de Barcelona in 1958. His first
books, the novel Músin sem lædist (The
Prowling Mouse) and the poetry collection
Endurtekin ord (Repeated Words),
appeared in 1961. He has published
numerous books, short stories, over 20
novels, children's books, autobiographical
novels, and more. Mr. Bergsson is one of
Iceland's most prolific translators from
Spanish and has thus played an important
part in introducing Spanish and Latin-
American authors in Iceland. His own
books have been translated into several
languages and the novel Svanurinn (The
Swan) has received strong acclaim in
many countries. He received the Nordic
Prize of the Swedish Academy in 2004.
Tim Hecker, composer & performer
(Canada)
Tim Hecker is a Canadianbased
musician and sound
artist, born in Vancouver.
Since 1996, he has
produced a range of audio
works for Kranky, Alien8,
Mille Plateaux, Room40, Force Inc,
Staalplaat, and Fat Cat. His works have
been described as “structured ambient,”
“tectonic colour plates” and “cathedral
electronic music.” More to the point, he
has focused on exploring the intersection
of noise, dissonance and melody, fostering
an approach to song craft that is both
physical and emotive. The New York
Times has described his work as
“foreboding, abstract pieces in which static
and sub-bass rumbles open up around slow
moving notes and chords, like fissures in
the earth waiting to swallow them whole.”
His work has also included commissions
for contemporary dance, sound-art
installations, as well as various writings.
Jim Hiscott, composer (Canada)
Jim Hiscott was born in 1948 in St.
Catharines, Ontario. In 1971, after
earning a master's degree in
Theoretical Particle Physics, he
switched to music composition,
studying with Samuel Dolin at the
Royal Conservatory of Music and David Lidov and
Richard Teitelbaum at York University. He is the
recipient of the Creative Arts Award of the
Canadian Federation of University Women. His
compositions have been performed across North
America, in Europe and Asia by many artists
including the Hilliard Ensemble, the St. Lawrence
String Quartet, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra,
the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Vancouver
New Music Society ensemble, Rivka Golani,
Arraymusic and Philadelphia's Relache.
Gwen Hoebig, violin
Recognized as one of Canada's most
outstanding violinists, Gwen Hoebig is a
graduate of the Juilliard School. She
joined the WSO as concertmaster in
1987, having been awarded the position
as the unanimous choice of the audition
committee. A champion of new music, she has given
many Canadian premieres, and was recently recognized
at the 50th anniversary celebrations for the Canadian
Music Centre for her exemplary commitment to the
performance of the music of Canadian composers.
She has performed all the major violin concerti with
orchestras across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. As a
chamber musician she appears frequently in recital with
her husband, pianist David Moroz, and has performed
at many of the country's foremost festivals.
Yuri Hooker, cello
Yuri Hooker is principal cellist for both
the Winnipeg Symphony and the
Manitoba Chamber Orchestras. He
makes regular concerto appearances
with both orchestras and has been
featured on CBC Radio 2. He is also a
regular performer at GroundSwell New Music, the
Winnipeg Chamber Music Society, and the Clear
Lake Chamber Music Festival. Mr. Hooker is also a
dedicated teacher and the founder of the Winnipeg
Summer Cello Institute. He holds a Bachelor of
Music from Brandon University after which he
pursued graduate studies with Janos Starker at
Indiana University.
January – February 2012 I OVERTURE 31