Orchestras Canada

From May 19-26, the members of I Musici de Montréal will embark on their third international tour of the season with a journey to Mexico for the Festival Cultural de Mayo. They’ll be led by Richard Lee (currently resident conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra) and they’ll present a program of music by Tchaikovksy and Mussorgsky (in an arrangement made for I Musici by founding music director Yuli Turovsky). The Festival Cultural de Mayo facilitates exchange between Mexican artists and international colleagues, and this year, the focus is on Quebec – with over twenty artists and organizations from Quebec representing music, film, dance, circus arts and visual arts.

Meanwhile, members of Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra have joined their long-time collaborators at Opera Atelier to accompany OA’s production of Lully’s Armide at the “spiritual home” of Baroque opera – the Royal Opera House at Versailles. You can read more about just what it took to make these performances happen, here.

March 21-30, I Musici de Montréal gives a four-concert tour in four American states, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Texas. The tour conductor is Aziz Shokhakimov (born in Uzbekistan in 1988) and the tour repertoire includes Yuli Turovsky’s arrangement of Pictures at an Exhibition as well as works by Janacek and Shostakovich. For more information about the orchestra – and its tour – please visit imusici.com.

Last Sunday evening, the Conseil Quebecois de la Musique (CQM) celebrated both the 25th anniversary of its founding and the excellence of the musical community it supports, at the 15th annual Prix Opus Gala. We salute the following friends and members of Orchestras Canada, whose exceptional accomplishments were recognized:

Hommage prize: cellist and conductor Yuli Turovsky, founder and 30-year leader of I Musici de Montreal.
Concert of the year, Montreal: Shostakovich’s four last quartets, Quatuor Molinari
Concert of the year, modern/contemporary: Homage to Xenakis, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne
New work of the year: Mutation, by Denis Gougeon (Nouvel Ensemble Moderne)
Concert of the Year, young audiences: On n’est jamais trop classique, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Recording of the year, romantic/post-romantic/impressionist: La tragédie de Salomé, F. Schmitt, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Orchestre Métropolitain, ATMA Classique
Artistic Director of the year: Jean-François Rivest, Orford Arts Centre
Event of the year: Festival de Lanaudière, summer 2011

Congratulations to the outstanding Canadians with connections to Canada’s orchestras who were named to the Order of Canada at the end of December. They include mezzo soprano Catherine Robbin; cellist, conductor and founder of I Musici de Montreal,Yuli Turovsky; and super-volunteer Ana P. Lopes, a recent chair of the board of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

We’ve recently learned of two recently-appointed composers-in-residence with Canadian orchestras – and we’d like to welcome them to the family. Serge Arcuri is the new (and first-ever!) composer in residence with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, which performed one of his existing works on January 10, and will be giving the world premiere of a new work in February. You can find out more about him here.

Simon Bertrand, an award-winning Quebec composer (and nominee for a Prix Opus 2011) has just been appointed as composer in residence with the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil. In this new position, he’ll be creating original compositions and arrangements for the orchestra, while working closely with music director Marc David. To share his experiences as composer-in-residence, he’s created a blog at residenceosdl.wordpress.com.

The last few weeks have been good ones for Orchestras Canada members, and we’d like to acknowledge some key accomplishments and landmarks.

Congratulations to the Royal Conservatory of Music, which kicked off its 125th year of operation on November 20th. Speaking about the milestone, RCM President Dr. Peter Simon noted that, ““the broad-based programs of The Royal Conservatory support Canadian education and, ultimately, Canadian innovation. The Conservatory provides a structured system of learning that develops musical literacy, professional training for Canada’s most gifted young artists, and pioneering learning solutions. Over 125 years it has been the vision of The Royal Conservatory to weave these programs into the very fabric of society, based on our conviction that the arts are our greatest tools for learning, for fostering creativity and personal fulfillment, and for contributing to stronger and more productive societies.”
For more information about The Royal Conservatory and its programs, please visit rcmusic.ca.

We’d also like to acknowledge the many Orchestras Canada members who are finalists for the 15th annual Prix Opus, presented by the Conseil québécois de la musique (CQM). The awards – which recognize outstanding concerts, events, musical works and writing about music during the 2010-11 season – will be presented January 29 at the Salle Bourgie at the Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal. The evening will also include a special tribute to Maestro Yuli Turovsky, founder of I Musici de Montreal.

Finalists of note from our membership include:

Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (multiple categories)
Quatuor Molinari (multiple categories)
Les Violons du Roy
Orchestre symphonique de Montreal (multiple categories)
Orchestre symphonique de Québec (multiple categories)
Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières
Orchestre Métropolitain
Tim Brady/Bradyworks

For more information about the Prix Opus – and to learn more about the nomination categories and nominees – please visit cqm.qc.ca (some pages are available only in French).

It’s been a big week at I Musici de Montreal. The Montreal-based chamber orchestra has announced the appointment of Jean-Marie Zeitouni as its new music director, effective June 1. He will balance this new role with duties at the Columbus (OH) Symphony, and will lead three concerts in 2011-12 and more in succeeding seasons.

At the same time, I Musici has confirmed the retirement of founding music director Yuli Turovsky, who founded the ensemble 27 years ago, and who is retiring from the role for health reasons following his last concert on May 18. Speaking about Maestro Turovsky’s retirement, IM musician representative said, “All of I Musici’s musicians observe Yuli Turovsky’s departure with great emotion: these past years under his leadership remained engraved on our hearts, a precious heritage and an ongoing source of inspiration.”

Finally, I Musici has announced the appointment of Stephanie Rose as its new directrice générale, effective April 26. A trained musician and arts administrator, Mme Rose has worked as an arts consultant and directrice générale of the Fondation de l’École nationale de cirque.

The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the retirement of Lance Elbeck, its Concertmaster of 33 seasons, at the conclusion of the 2011/2012 season. The HPO will audition concertmaster candidates through the 2011/2012 season; however, Mr. Elbeck will officially remain as concertmaster to the conclusion of the 11/12 season. Speaking about Mr. Elbeck, HPO Music Director James Sommerville said, “Lance has always been the kind of co-operative and collaborative colleague that all musicians appreciate. I know his departure will be deeply felt by our loyal audience, as much as by those of us fortunate enough to have shared the stage with him over the course of his long and illustrious Hamilton career.”

The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra has announced the retirement of its long-time Concertmaster, Cenek Vrba, for health reasons. He has served in the role for a remarkable 36 years, working with five different CPO music directors through the evolution of the orchestra through that time. Commenting on Mr. Vrba’s contributions to the CPO, Music Director Roberto Minczuk said, “His command of the instrument and his musical leadership of the Orchestra clearly shows an artist who knows his craft entirely and is able to follow every gesture, every nuance in the musical score and convey it very clearly to his section and the Orchestra. “He always made music with a lot of joy. In performance, he never spared himself but always played with all of his energy and heart, in a way that I could personally identify. I will miss him greatly as one of the most important leaders of the CPO.”

Natasha Bood, former executive director of the Regina Symphony, is now Director of Administration & Operations at Toronto Summer Music and Academy.

The Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra has announced the winners of its recent Young Artists Competition. Percussionist Matt Groenheide was the overall winner, and he will perform Michael Daugherty’s Raise the Roof for timpani and orchestra with the Symphony next season as part of the LSO Master Series. Sarah Viejou (horn), and Audrina Steciw (soprano), took second and third place respectively.

The Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival has announced that artistic director Agnes Grossmann will leave her post at the end of the 2010 season to pursue her international conducting and concert schedule. At the same time, the festival has announced the appointment of violist Douglas McNabney as her successor, effective August 14. “As founding Artistic Director, Agnes Grossmann has given us five years of exceptional service, working tirelessly to help us transform an appealing idea into a leading musical destination. The Festival attracts world-class artists and Academy faculty, and boasts full concert houses, critical acclaim and gifted young musical acolytes from around the world,” said TSM Chair Barbara Thompson. The Toronto-born McNabney is a violist with a wide-ranging and varied performing career as soloist, chamber and orchestral musician across Canada and internationally; as well, he was Artistic Director of The Domaine Forget International Festival from 2001 to 2005, and Chair of the Performance Department (2004-2008) of the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, where he is presently Associate Professor and Coordinator of Chamber Music.

On June 3, Yuli Turovsky, founder and music director of I Musici de Montreal was inducted as a Chevalier of the Ordre national du Québec by premier Jean Charest. Maestro Turovsky was cited for his exceptional dynamism over more than thirty years, enriching the musical scene in the province and serving as a true ambassador for culture. The Ordre national du Québec is the rarest and highest honor given by the Québec government, and is only granted to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the province’s people and its culture.

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has announced the appointment of David Dredla to the role of Artistic Administrator, effective August 3. Mr. Dredla has previously worked in artistic administration positions with the Detroit Symphony and the Phoenix Symphony, and is an alumni of both the University of Rochester and the University of Michigan in biology and trumpet performance respectively. In his position, he will work closely with Director of Artistic Planning, Loie Fallis, and Assistant, Artistic Administration Jennifer MacDonald.

The Pacific Baroque Orchestra has announced the appointment of Melissa Ratcliff as its new General Manager. She succeeds Nancy Cottingham Powell, who left PBO to take up a position with Festival Vancouver.