Debut Atlantic 2027/28 Season

Debut Atlantic’s 2027/28 season offers a dynamic and diverse roster of artists, with diverse and innovative programming designed to engage audiences across Atlantic Canada. From baroque brilliance to contemporary collaborations and cross-cultural innovation, this season is poised to thrill all audiences!

Nick & Friends

Artist-in-Residence
Available All Season

Nick Halley, percussion
Chris Donnelly, jazz piano
Haig Beylerian, guitar

Nick & Friends, Debut Atlantic’s 2027/28 Artist-in-Residence ensemble, brings together a dynamic collective of East Coast musicians in a vibrant program blending original works, jazz, classical traditions, and Armenian folk music. At its core are pianist and composer Chris Donnelly, guitarist and composer Haig Beylerian, and percussionist, keyboardist, and conductor Nick Halley.

Nick Halley, a celebrated Nova Scotia–based musician and founder of Capella Regalis Choirs, is renowned for his versatility across genres and his leadership in Canada’s choral and instrumental scenes. Donnelly’s performance style spans classical, jazz, improvisation, and video game composition, while Beylerian draws deeply from his Canadian-Armenian heritage, reimagining Armenian folk traditions through the guitar.

Together, Nick & Friends create an engaging, cross-cultural musical experience that is both deeply rooted in tradition and boldly contemporary.

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Elinor Frey

Touring September 9–19, 2027

Sought after for her artistry and captivating performances, Elinor Frey is a Canadian-American cellist, gambist, and researcher celebrated for her imaginative programming and commitment to bringing early and contemporary music to life. A 2023 JUNO Award winner (Classical Album of the Year – Small Ensemble), her recordings on Passacaille and Analekta—including Giuseppe Clemente Dall’Abaco Cello Sonatas (Diapason d’Or) and Early Italian Cello Concertos—feature numerous world premieres and showcase her versatility and insight.

Named Québec’s Opus Prize “Performer of the Year” in 2021, she performs across North America and Europe with leading ensembles including the Asheville Symphony, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Symphony Nova Scotia, and Belgium’s Il Gardellino.

A recipient of major international grants, including a Fulbright, Frey holds degrees from McGill, Mannes, and Juilliard. She teaches Baroque cello at McGill University and Université de Montréal and has been a Visiting Fellow at Oxford.

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Frédéric Lambert & Chloé Dumoulin

Touring November 5–21, 2027

Frédéric Lambert, viola
Chloé Dumoulin, piano

Violist Frédéric Lambert and pianist Chloé Dumoulin are a captivating chamber duo celebrated for their expressive synergy and virtuosity. Equally at home in traditional and contemporary repertoire, they bring energy, nuance, and depth to each performance.

Lambert performs with leading Canadian ensembles including Les Violons du Roy and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal. He is principal violist of the Orchestre symphonique de Laval, a founding member of the Lloyd Carr-Harris String Quartet, and a multiple Prix Opus recipient. He also teaches at McGill University and Université du Québec à Montréal.

Dumoulin, named one of CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” has performed across North America, Europe, and Asia. A prizewinner in major competitions and a graduate of the Guildhall School Artist Diploma program, she is known for her sensitivity and dynamic stage presence.

Their 2025 album, Nouveau Lyrisme, explores contemporary Québec repertoire with lyrical intensity and emotional depth, earning critical acclaim and a Prix Opus nomination.

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Duo Aster

Touring February 4–20, 2028

Clio Theodoridis, saxophone
Jonathan Nemtanu, piano

Duo Aster brings together two internationally trained artists whose decade-long collaboration is marked by energy, precision, and warmth. Their repertoire spans original works for classical saxophone, inventive transcriptions of Romantic and contemporary music, and global musical traditions—from klezmer to Eastern influences.

Their performances create a vibrant dialogue between cultures and styles, offering audiences programs that are both accessible and artistically rich. They have appeared at major venues and festivals including Place des Arts (Montréal), the Aegean International Arts Festival (Greece), and Jiangsu Theater (China).

Deeply committed to education, Duo Aster has reached over 2,500 students through interactive performances and workshops, making classical music engaging and accessible for young audiences.

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Callisto Quartet

Touring March 3–19, 2028

Eric Tsai, violin
Gregory Lewis, violin
Eva Kennedy, viola
Hannah Moses, cello

Praised for their “tremendous variety of color” (The Strad), the American-Canadian-Taiwanese Callisto Quartet is one of the most exciting ensembles of its generation.

Formed in 2016 at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the quartet has won top prizes at major international competitions including Fischoff, Banff, Bordeaux, Melbourne, and Wigmore Hall. They perform at leading venues such as Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Kennedy Center, and appear at renowned festivals including Ravinia, Caramoor, and Prussia Cove.

Balancing core repertoire with contemporary works, they have collaborated with composers such as Wynton Marsalis, Brett Dean, and others, premiering new music internationally. Passionate educators, they have taught at Yale, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon, and currently serve as Quartet in Residence at Music at Saint Mary.

Inspired by Jupiter’s moon, Callisto, the quartet embodies brilliance, balance, and adventurous musical exploration.