2009-2010

Download 2009-2010 Brochure [PDF ~2MB]

TOUR #1

Jean-Sébastien Roy, violin with Mathieu Gaudet, piano

Jean-Sébastien Roy, violin

Jean-Sébastien Roy was laureate of the Prix d’Europe 2006 and winner of the Prix Joseph Rouleau at the Concours International de Musique de Montreal in 2003 and again in 2006. He studied at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal. During his studies at the Conservatory, he earned scholarships from Wilfrid-Pelletier and McAbbie foundations. In May 2002, he earned his first prize at the Conservatory with great distinction.

During his career, Jean-Sébastien Roy won many top prizes, including the Music Competition in Canada, the Competition concertos at the University of Montreal and at the Cleveland Institute of Music Competition and the OSM contest in 2004. In May 2005, Jean-Sébastien was a finalist at the prestigious International Violin Competition of Michael Hill in New Zealand. In 2006, he recorded a recital for Jeunes Artistes de Radio-Canada programme, which won the Prix Étoile Galaxie, rewarding the best recital serie.

The young violinist Jean-Sébastien Roy was invited to perform as a soloist with various orchestras, including Ensemble Amati, Symphony Orchestra of Cleveland Institute of Music, Sinfonia de Lanaudière, Orchestre Symphonique de Trois-Rivières, La Sinfonia de Montréal and Orchestre Symphonique de Montérégie. Jean-Sébastien Roy has been heard in recital in several cities in Canada, in the United States and in Europe where he recently performed in London, Munich and Paris. In 2005, he played the Violin Concerto by Sibelius in Kulas Hall Cleveland, with the Orchestra CIMM. In 2007, he was chosen to perform a recital within the context of international exhibition “MUSICORA” at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. He also participated in several festivals, including the prestigious Festival international de musique de Lanaudière (Canada). He occurred in recital for various organizations in Quebec and as a chamber musician in a concert and a recording disk in Tahiti. In addition, it can be heard regularly on CBC and Espace Musique here in Canada.

In addition to his studies at the Conservatory, Jean-Sébastien Roy obtained his master’s degree in interpretation from the Université de Montréal in May 2004. During the same year he was admitted to the Cleveland Institute of Music in Paul Kantor’s class. Thanks to this support he received, in May 2006, a Professional Studies.

In 2008, Jean-Sébastien Roy visited Paris to attend a residence with the internationally renowned masters. Upon his return, he played with the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal in a Beethoven program led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He will perform as a soloist at the Festival de Lachine, at the Festival de musique de chambre de Sainte-Pétronille, and at the Lac Mégantic, in three different programs. Finally, he will appear on the stage in Repentigny with Violons du Roy.

Mr. Roy thanked the Canimex Foundation and the Canada Council for their generous support. Indeed, the Canada Council lent him an exceptional Stradivarius violin Windsor-Weinstein of 1717, thanks to competition from the Arts Musical Instrument Bank.

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Mathieu Gaudet, piano

Canadian pianist Mathieu Gaudet is quickly establishing himself in the musical world for his passionate interpretations and virtuoso technique. Since his acclaimed début in Baltimore, USA with Brahms’ Piano Concerto No 2, he has become much in demand as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician.

Born in 1977, Mr. Gaudet studied piano in both Canada and in USA with such renowned figures as Julian Martin, Marc Durand, André Laplante and John Perry. His many awards include First Prize at the 2000 Glenn Gould School Competition (Toronto) and Harrison Winters Competition (Baltimore), as well as semi-finalist in the 2004 Montréal International Piano Competition, during which the celebrated French pianist Jean-Phillipe Collard praised his musical honesty and conviction. Since then, he has appeared throughout North America and is frequently heard on radio and television broadcasts. He is the co-founder of Gros Morne Summer Music, a highly successful concert series in Newfoundland, Canada.

In 2007, Mr Gaudet received his Doctorate in Piano Performance at the Université de Montréal, where he studied with Paul Stewart. His spectacular performance of the complete 24 Preludes by Rachmaninoff was later recorded on a CD scheduled to be released in November 2008.

In addition to his busy musical life, Mathieu Gaudet is studying medicine at Université de Montréal. He is much involved in international cooperation, social justice and environmental causes, and has volunteered his services as a doctor-in-training in Kenya, Africa, and in Northern Canada with the Inuit People.

Tour Concert Performance Schedule

Saturday, October 17/09 – Winnipeg MB
Presented by Virtuosi Concerts in Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, U of Winnipeg

Monday, Oct 19/09 – Flin Flon MB
Presented by the Flin Flon Arts Council

Sunday, March 7/10 – Fort Saskatchewan AB
Presented by the City of Fort Saskatchewan in Shell Theatre, Dow Centennial Centre

Thursday, March 11/10 – St. Jean MB
School show presented by Ecole Régionale St. Jean-Baptiste

Friday, March 12/10 – Steinbach, MB
Presented by Steinbach Arts Council in Grace Mennonite Church

Monday, March 15/10 – Snow Lake MB
Presented by Ravna Concerts in Ravna House

Thursday, March 18/10 – Leduc AB
Presented by Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts in Maclab Centre Theatre

Friday, March 19/10 – Shaunavon SK
Presented by Shaunavon Arts Council in Shaunavon Public School

Saturday, March 20/10 – Regina SK
Presented by Regina Musical Club in Riddell Centre, University of Regina

Sunday, March 21/10 – Estevan SK
Presented by Estevan Arts Council in St. Paul’s United Church

Performance dates and venues are subject to change. Schools shows, workshops & masterclasses in addition to these concerts.  Please contact the local presenter to confirm performance details.

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TOUR #2

Quartango

Quartango

Douglas Schmidt, bandoneon
Rene Gosselin, doublebass
Antoine Bareil, violin
Stephane Aubin, piano

Virtuosity, musicality, elegance, sensuality and humour:  Quartango’s music evokes deep emotions, even after 25 years!

Comprised of four highly accomplished musicians, bound by their shared passion for the tango and driven by an unceasing desire to make a close connection with their audience, Quartango offers a performance filled with subtle nuances and a blend of colors that reflects both the classics and modernity and the effervescence of the milonga.

Acclaimed excellence

Quartango’s awards include three Opus Awards from the Conseil québécois de la musique, notably 2007/2008 Artist of the Year, a Félix Award and a Juno nomination. The ensemble also continues to delight critics and audiences alike: “The Montreal group heated things up with a concert that was nothing short of brilliant. It was dramatic. It was elegant. It was everything tango music should be,” wrote Kelly-Anne Reiss for the Regina Leader-Post following a concert.

Quartango has performed all over Canada as well as on the international stage, from Ankara and Tokyo to Taipei, Paris and New York, where they shared the stage at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops. More recently, they performed in Guatemala and with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro JoAnn Faletta. “With elegantly flawless arrangements full of sensuality and wry humour, this group of classically trained musicians infuses the tango with a fascinating mixture of pathos and heat -The story these four musicians tell on Astor Piazzolla’s Adios Nonino is breathtaking. The violin and bandoneon are like plaintive lovers, with the piano narrating the scene as the double bass wickedly plays the devil’s advocate. I swear it’s palpable,” said Harold McNeil, news staff reviewer for The Buffalo News.

Quartango has recorded six CDs on the Justin Time label that have been acclaimed for their quality and originality. Their most recent disc, El Fuego, will be available in September 2009 and will also mark the group¹s 25th anniversary. Radio-Canada and the CBC have broadcast many Quartango concerts and the group also appeared on the CBC Television program Opening Night. As well, Quartango appeared in and provided original music for the soundtrack of the film Macadam Tango, which aired on Radio-Canada television and TV5.

Invited by major orchestras and festivals

Renowned for its performances with many important North American symphony orchestras, including Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Regina Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre Métropolitain, Quartango also wowed the critics at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, the Orford Festival and the Festival international de Lanaudière. In the summer of 2008, over the course of three concerts with the OSM, the quartet won the hearts of some 40,000 people with their contagious charm.

A rich and innovative repertoire

Quartango’s vast repertoire is characterized by refined musical arrangements, full of energy, the majority of which are the creations of pianist Richard Hunt (who has also composed some 20 original works for the group). While these arrangements explore Astor Piazzolla’s tango nuevo, they also include hints of the classics, jazz and Celtic music that are as subtle as they are unexpected. Quartango sheds new light on the music of the tango, elevating it to an international level.

www.quartango.com
www.stationbleue.com

Quartango is represented by agence Station bleue, Montréal, Québec
Tour Concert Performance Schedule

Sunday, October 25/09 – Sherwood Park AB
Presented by Festival Place in Festival Place Theatre

Monday, October 26/09 – Saskatoon SK
Presented by University of Saskatchewan Music Department in Convocation Hall

Wednesday, October 28/09 – Yorkton SK
Presented by Yorkton Arts Council in Anne Portnuff Theatre, Yorkton Regional Highschool

Friday, October 30/09 – Rosthern SK
Presented by Station Arts Centre in Rosthern Mennonite Church

Wednesday, January 20/09 – Virden MB
Presented by Virden Community Arts Council in the Aud Theatre

Thursday, January 21/09 – Carman MB
Presented by Golden Prairie Arts Council in Carman Collegiate Theatre

Friday, January 22/09 – Pinawa MB
Presented by Eastern Manitoba Concert Association in Pinawa Community Centre

Saturday, January 23/09 – Portage la Prairie MB
Presented by William Glesby Centre in William Glesby Centre Theatre

Performance dates and venues are subject to change. Schools shows, workshops & masterclasses in addition to these concerts. Please contact the local presenter to confirm performance details.

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TOUR #3

The Schumann Letters

The Fateful Love of Two Great Artists in the Shadow of Madness

Written by Colin Fox. Produced by Andrew Kwan. Creative team: Susan Gilmour Bailey, Colin Fox, Michael Kim, Andrew Kwan.

German composer Robert Schumann fell in love with a young Clara Wieck – a virtuoso pianist – to the adamant opposition of her father. In 1840, the couple wed after seeking legal consent, and during this time an estimated 20,000 letters were written which provide the inspiration for this music-as-theatre performance.

The Schumann Letters is a concert format performance presenting some of the most beautiful piano and vocal music of Robert Schumann. It is exquisitely narrated through a spectacular story of his life and love for Clara Wieck and his personal triumphs and tragedies. A timeless story of true love, this ravishing production is a fresh approach to classical music, a welcoming presentation that will animate his great works of classical music. The result will be a mesmerizing concert of awe-inspiring music brought to life through an alluring story that will entice the piano, voice and theatre enthusiasts as well as newcomers alike.

The Schumann Letters is a musical biography narrated JUNO winner Colin Fox, with soprano Susan Gilmour Bailey and pianist Michael Kim. Join these artists as they share a story of love, obstacles, happiness and tragedy between Robert and Clara.

About the Artists

Born and raised in Manitoba, soprano Susan Gilmour Bailey emigrated to London in 1999 to complete her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the Royal Academy of Music. Performing throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and North America, Susan enjoys a varied career of concert, oratorio, and opera. Concert highlights include performances at the Ambronay Early Music Festival in France, Monteverdi’s Vespers in Budapest, solos with the City of London Sinfonia and with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream under Douglas Boyd. Miss Bailey has also be guest soloist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, City of London Sinfonia among others.  An experienced opera performer, Susan’s roles include principal leads in Purcell’s Fairy Queen for Opera de Lille, ‘Iris’ (Semele) for the Early Opera Company, ‘Euridice’ (Orfeo) with Le Concert d’ Astrée, ‘Alice’ in Rossini’s Le Comte Ory for Garsington Opera, ‘Atalanta’ (Xerses) with the Cambridge Handel Opera Group, among others. In 2001, Susan established her Canadian presence in solo performances with the Vancouver and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras. She returned in 2006 for two further performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

• • •

Michael Kim is a gifted pianist and performer.  As a soloist and concerto artist, Michael has brought audiences to their feet with his outstanding technique and refined artistry. Michael is the recipient of a multitude of awards, including the grand-prize of the Canadian Music Competition and the CBC National Radio Competition for Young Performers.  He was also silver medalist at the Scottish International Competition in Glasgow, and a prize winner in the Leeds and Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competitions. An artistic scholar, Dr. Kim received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from The Juilliard School where he held the Vladimir Horowitz Piano Scholarship. Michael Kim has toured extensively in North America, South America, the United Kingdom and Korea. His performance highlights include a tour in Peru with Orchestra Sinfonica de Trujillo and the UK tour with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony. As a chamber musician, Michael has performed at the Brevard, Aspen, Banff, Huntsville, and Heifetz (Annapolis, MD) festivals to name a few. He frequently collaborates with his wife, pianist Kyungran Kim, in a special four hand – one piano program. In August 2008, Dr. Kim was appointed Dean of Brandon University’s School of Music, in Brandon Manitoba, Canada.

• • •

It is possible that one may not recognize Colin Fox by name alone. It is highly unlikely, however, that his face, and in particular, his voice could escape recognition. A multi-talented artist, Colin Fox has an impressive and extensive list of stage, film, television and now, musical narrations to his credit. Colin is a veteran of television and film work. As a television actor, Colin has excelled in performing in several long running, critically acclaimed shows, including: PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, A & E’s Nero Wolfe, Wonderfalls, Law and Order, The Equalizer, Relic Hunter and Street Legal. Colin’s stage appearances include productions at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre, Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival and on Broadway. He has also narrated numerous audio books, one which received a JUNO Award.  Colin’s first musical narration was in 1974 with the Boston Symphony and Toronto Symphony Orchestras conducted by Seiji Ozawa.  Since then, his intermittent collaborations have ranged from large ensembles to soloists with such names like the Hannaford Street Silver Band, guitarist Simon Wynberg, the Mendelssohn Choir, pianist Leslie Kinton, Gryphon Trio and the Elora Festival Singers. Colin has also appeared at music festivals including Huntsville, Parry Sound, Elora, Grand River Baroque and the Toronto Summer Music Academy & Festival.

`THE SCHUMANN LETTERS’ is pending trademark.

Some of the Musical Highlights

Träumerei (Reverie), Op. 15 No. 7 from Kinderszenen
Kennst du das Land, (Do You Know the Land…) Op. 98a No.1
from Lieder und Gesänge aus Wilhelm Meister
Ich hab’ im Traum geweinet (I wept in my dream), Op.48 No.
13 from Dichterliebe
Aufschwung (Soaring), Op. 12 No. 2 from Fantasiestücke
Impromptu on a Theme by Clara Wieck, Op.5
Piano Sonata No. 3 in f minor, Op.14
Er, der Herrlichste von allen (He, the Most Glorious of All),
Op 42 No.2 from Frauenliebe und leben

The Schumann Letters is a special project represented by Andrew Kwan Artists Management, Toronto ON.

www.andrewkwanartists.com

Tour Concert Performance Schedule

Sunday, November 15/09 – Lacombe AB

Presented by Canadian University College in CUC Auditorium

Tuesday, November 17/09 – Swift Current SK
Presented by Swift Current Allied Arts Council in Sky Centre – Living Sky Casino

Wednesday, November 18/09 – Yorkton SK
Presented by Yorkton Arts Council in Anne Portnuff Theatre, Yorkton Regional Highschool

Wednesday, January 20/10 – Brooks AB
Presented by Newell Concert Association in Griffin Park Theatre

Friday, January 22/10 – Fort McMurray AB
Presented by Keyano College in Keyano Theatre

Sunday, January 24/10 – Regina SK
Presented by Regina Musical Club in Riddell Centre Theatre

Monday January 25/10 – Melfort SK
Presented by Melfort Arts Council in CJVR Performing Arts Theatre

Tuesday, January 26/10 – Kindersley SK
Presented by Kindersley & District Arts Council in Norman Ritchie Community Centre

Wednesday, January 27/10 – Outlook SK
Presented by Outlook & District Arts Council in Outlook High School

Thursday, January 28/10 – Rosthern SK
Presented by Station Arts Centre in Station Arts Centre

Saturday, January 30/10 – Edson AB
Presented by Chautaqua Edson Arts Council in Red Brick Cultural Centre

Sunday, January 31/10 – Sherwood Park AB
Presented by Festival Place in Festival Place Theatre

Tuesday, February 2/10 – Saskatoon SK
Presented by In Performance Concert Series, U of S, in Convocation Hall

Saturday, February 6/10 – Winnipeg MB
Presented by Virtuosi Concerts in Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, U of Winnipeg

Sunday, February 7/10 – Langenburg SK
Presented by Langenburg Arts Council in George Layh Theatre

Tuesday, February 9/10 – Brandon MB
Presented by The Pro Series, BU School of Music in Lorne Watson Recital Hall

Performance dates and venues are subject to change. Schools shows, workshops & masterclasses in addition to these concerts.  Please contact the local presenter to confirm performance details.