Orchestras Canada

ADMINISTRATIVE / ADMINISTRATIF

Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Development Manager
Application deadline/Date limite : N/A

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal
Adjoint(e) administratif(tive) au directeur musical / Administrative Assistant to the Music Director
Application deadline/Date limite : October 28 octobre 2011

ADMINISTRATIVE / ADMINISTRATIF
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir
Stage Managers and Assistant Stage Managers
Application Deadline / Date Limite : August 31 août 2011

AUDITIONS
Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Assistant Concertmaster (one-year, possibly permanent) / Assistant violon solo (contrat d’un an, avec possibilité de permanence
Principal Second Violin / Deuxième violon solo
Section Violin / Violon section
Second Oboe / English horn / Hautbois section / Cor anglais
Application Deadline / Date Limite : October 3 octobre 2011

We’ve got a pair of presentations of Beethoven’s Symphony #9 to celebrate this week – and they’re each special in their own way.

On Thursday, 31 March, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra led by Music Director Arthur Post caps a season-long 50th anniversary celebration by performing the iconic work with a stellar cast of soloists and the Thunder Bay Symphony Chorus. Happy Birthday, TBSO!

And April 7-10, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and frequent guest conductor Bruno Weill complete their tour of Beethoven’s symphonies by performing the work at Toronto’s Koerner Hall. The program opens with a cappella choral works by Mendelssohn, Brahms and Arvo Pärt, directed by Tafelmusik Chamber Choir Director Ivars Taurins. In the words of Bruno Weil, “we approach these Beethoven concerts as if they were the very first performance, as though the music had been composed yesterday. This is the real thing — there’s no sense of routine with Tafelmusik musicians and everybody’s giving their all for this music, playing with a full heart and a full soul and spirit. That is the secret to a great performance.”

In 2004, the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, under then-Music Director Geoffrey Moull, released a critically acclaimed CD of Canadian orchestral music, Variations on a Memory. The CD – containing works by John Estacio, Jeff Ryan, Régent Levasseur, Aris Carastathis and Alexina Louie – quickly sold out, and has not been available since. However, the TBSO has recently announced that the CD is being re-released in time to play a part in the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season. For more information, please visit tbso.ca.

Administrative/Administratifs

Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Development Manager
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 18 mars 2011

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Orchestra Personnel Manager
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 18 mars 2011

Auditions

Teaching/Enseignant

Don Wright Faculty of Music – The University of Western Ontario
Assistant Professor in Clarinet
Application Deadline/Date limite : April 1 avril 2011

North Bay Symphony
Principal Second Violin and Symphony Strings School Teacher
Application Deadline/Date limite : April 21 avril 2011

ADMINISTRATIVE / ADMINISTRATIF

Honens International Piano Competition
Vice President, Development
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 28 mars 2011

AUDITIONS

The Canadian Forces Music Branch
(National)
Oboe/Hautbois
Clarinet/Clarinette
Tenor Trombone/Trombone ténor
Bassoon/Basson
French Horn/Cor français
Percussion
Application Deadline/Date limite : April 27 avril 2011

Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
(National)
Section Second Violin, Seat 3
Principal Viola
Section Cello, Seat 2
Principal Flute
Principal Oboe
Principal Bassoon
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 18 mars 2011

Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Assistant-timbalier et percussion/Assistant timpani and percussion (national)
Application Deadline/Date limite : April 4 avril 2011

Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Principal Second Violin/Deuxième violon, solo (international)
Section Violin/Violon de section (national)
Application Deadline/Date limite : April 16 avril 2011

Congratulations to Toronto Symphony Orchestra Music Director Peter Oundjian, who has just accepted an appointment as Music Director of the Glasgow-based Royal Scottish National Orchestra, starting in September 2012. He will retain his role in Toronto.

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra has just announced the appointment of Christopher Wilkinson as its new General Manager, effective May 9. He succeeds Leanne Atkinson in the role. Mr. Wilkinson has been Principal Second Violin with Symphony Nova Scotia for many years, and for much of his tenure with SNS he also served as that orchestra’s Personnel and Production Manager. Speaking about the appointment, TBSO Board Chair Paul Inksetter said, “Chris has a big job following in his predecessor’s footsteps, but he inherits a strong organization celebrating 50 years of great music in Thunder Bay. We are confident we have the right person to lead us through the next stage of our growth and development.”

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra has just announced the appointment of their new music director, Arthur Post – and the orchestra has launched its 50th anniversary season at the same time!  Maestro Post has been music director of the San Juan Symphony (of Colorado and New Mexico) for the last eight seasons, and has also served as Assistant and subsequently Resident Conductor with the Pittsburgh Symphony, Associate Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic and Resident Conductor of the New World Symphony.  He trained at Yale, the Juilliard School, and Tanglewood – and has been specifically cited for his “groundbreaking programming that combines the masterworks of the orchestral repertoire with music reflecting local cultures and concerns”.  Maestro Post will assume his duties with the TBSO in the fall of 2010.

While we’re still in Thunder Bay, we’ll convey hearty congratulations to TBSO General Manager Leanne Atkinson and her husband Johnnie, who have just welcomed 9 pound, 14 oz. baby boy Nolan to the world!  Ms Atkinson will be on parental leave until mid-February 2011; Clint Kuschak is serving as Interim General Manager during her leave.

Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra of Ottawa has just announced the appointment of Kevin Mallon as its new Artistic Director, beginning with the 2010-11 season. Mr. Mallon is founder and Music Director of the Toronto-based Aradia Ensemble, and is also Music Director of the Toronto Chamber Orchestra. Each group has a recording contract with Naxos, and under Mr. Mallon’s direction, they have made more than 50 recordings for the label. Commenting on his new appointment, Mr. Mallon said “I am delighted to have been chosen to be the next Music Director of The Thirteen Strings! Our work together in January was rewarding. We all had a terrific time working together – the glove fit!”  For more information about Thirteen Strings, you can visit their website here.

Lucie Paquin, head of media relations at the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal for the past three years, has recently left the post for a communications role at the Muséums Nature de Montréal. During the transition period, OSM programme editor and coordinator Caroline Louis will be filling the role.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra has just appointed violinist Jessica Linnebach as its Associate Concertmaster, following a successful audition. Ms Linnebach, 27, has been a valued member of the NAC Orchestra family for two decades. She first performed as a soloist with the Orchestra in 1990 at the age of seven, joined the Orchestra on a tour of Europe and the Middle East a decade later, and participated in the NAC’s Young Artist Program (YAP) in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Ms Linnebach then joined the Orchestra as a full-time member in the 2002-2003 season. A passionate chamber musician, Jessica is a founding member of the Zukerman ChamberPlayers, a string quintet led by Pinchas Zukerman that was formed in 2003.

Immediately following the national launch of Culture Days, the Ontario Arts Council announced the appointment of Aubrey Reeves as Ontario’s Culture Days Animator/Coordinator for the next six months. Aubrey will be a resource for Ontario artists and arts organizations interested in participating in culture days. Aubrey will work in partnership with the Ontario Culture Days Task Force and the national steering committee. She will: Provide organizing advice to potential presenters on how to develop a free, participatory activity for Culture Days or incorporate an existing arts activity on that weekend; Connect groups or artists in the same community that wish to share spaces or other resources for their Culture Day activity; Work with the national steering committee to develop tips and tools for successful events; Facilitate communication and networking between Ontario Culture Days participants; Support alliances between artists and municipalities. She can be reached by email at on@culturedays.ca or by phone at Toll-free 1-800-387-0058 ext. 5077, or 647-258-5077 in Toronto.

Congratulations to Jacques Lacombe, music director of the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivieres, for his critically acclaimed debut in the role of Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony. You can read the New York Times review of the performance here.

The Ontario Arts Council has also announced the appointment of artist, educator, producer and arts administrator Aengus Finnan as Touring and Audience Development Officer. In his new role, Aengus will work to reinforce OAC’s ongoing commitment to touring, presenting and audience development for the arts. “We consider the issue of building audiences the biggest challenge facing artists and arts organizations today,” said John Brotman, Executive Director. “With his 15-year experience as an established artist and at the helm of a successful music festival, we know that Aengus will bring leadership to this area.”

The National Youth Orchestra of Canada has appointed Katic Agócs as its 2010 composer-in-residence.  Windsor-born Ms. Agocs will compose a special piece for the orchestra’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2010, which will see the NYOC perform in cities from Montreal, QC to Vancouver, B.C.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Knigge Music Competition in Piano at the UBC School of Music:  First Prize: Mila Teovanovic, Toronto, Ontario; Second Prize: Alexander Malikov, Calgary, Alberta; Third Prize: Everett Hopfner, Brandon, Manitoba; Fourth Prize: Kun Yao, Calgary, Alberta.

The Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of Clint Kuschak as interim General Manager, during the maternity leave of GM Leanne Atkinson.  Mr. Kuschak is no stranger to the TBSO, having served as the orchestra’s landlord during his long tenure at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium, and also as its general manager a number of years ago.

As the TBSO nears the conclusion of the search for a new Music Director, it has issued a commendation of resident conductor Stéphane Potvin, who has also served as the group’s Artistic Administrator throughout the 2009-2010 season.  In a release the TBSO noted that “Maestro Potvin has taken on a myriad of artistic responsibilities this season. Relying on his experience both as a conductor and administrator, he has been instrumental in the planning of the orchestra’s upcoming 50th anniversary concert season. Maestro Potvin is leading the symphony through this transition time and is opening the door for further artistic excellence.”

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has just announced that Heather Slater will take the role of Director, Artistic Operations on June 28.  She comes to the position from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, where she has served as Associate Director of Artistic Administration for the past five years.  “I am very pleased to be joining the management team of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Canada’s most acclaimed cultural institutions, and one which is poised for continued growth”, says Ms. Slater. “Along with Maestro Minczuk and the CPO’s extraordinary musicians and staff, I look forward to guiding the next phase of this growth, and helping to take the orchestra to new artistic heights.”

The CPO has also announced the appointment of John Anderson as Associate Director, Artistic Operations. Mr. Anderson received his Master of Arts in Musicology from the University of Calgary and has taught music for the University of Lethbridge, Calgary campus, for 13 years. He joined the CPO in October 2008 and the Orchestra has benefited greatly from his wealth of business experience and music knowledge.