FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 24, 2020

“FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE” – AN EXPLORATION OF THE GREAT SLAVIC COMPOSERS COMES TO ATLANTIC CANADA

HALIFAX, NS – Paul Merkelo, trumpet, and Serhiy Salov, piano, team up to create the powerhouse duo Merkelo & Salov. Recognized for their “unusual lyrical gifts” and “glittering technique” (Gramophone) respectively, Merkelo & Salov are reuniting for a nine concert tour throughout Atlantic Canada from March 10-21 with Debut Atlantic. Their tour – which will include four concerts in Nova Scotia, four in New Brunswick, and one in Newfoundland and Labrador – is titled “From Russia with Love.” It will explore some of the greatest works by Slavic composers, embracing the many personas of the trumpet – from expressive to virtuosic.

In addition to concert engagements, Merkelo & Salov will be working with young students and performing at schools throughout the region. They will also participate in a video conferencing session hosted by Newfoundland’s Centre for Distance Learning and Innovation (CDLI), which reaches hundreds of students throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and will be available for public viewing around the world at a date to be announced soon.

Debut Atlantic wishes to recognize the partners and sponsors that come together to bring these incredible artists to communities and venues of all sizes across our region. Touring these artists would not be possible without the generous support of sustaining partners, including Canada Council for the Arts, Arts Nova Scotia, and the Province of New Brunswick. Debut would also like to thank its educational partner, the Nova Scotia Department of Education; and its season partners, including the Halifax Regional Municipality, The Lloyd Carr-Harris Foundation, Support4Culture, the Craig Foundation, Pink Larkin, Halcraft Printers, Strategic Arts Management, and InnVest Hotels (Comfort Inn).

Please see the enclosed list of tour dates and artist biography and come share in a unique performance.

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As one of Canada’s most prestigious classical music organizations, Debut Atlantic is committed to developing young artists and establishing new initiatives that enhance the cultural life of Atlantic Canada. Since 1979, it has treated Atlantic audiences to Canada’s most promising young musicians. Celebrating 40 years, Debut Atlantic has featured over 400 artists, gracing the stages of venues from Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Full details on Debut Atlantic’s concert seasons and educational programs can be found at www.debutatlantic.ca.

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For further information, please contact:

Erin Sparks – Executive Director

Debut Atlantic

902-429-6812

erin@debutatlantic.ca

 

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Elizabeth Upson Perez – Program Officer

Debut Atlantic

902-429-6812

elizabeth@debutatlantic.ca

 

TOUR SCHEDULE—MERKELO & SALOV

Fredericton, New Brunswick

7:30pm, March 11, 2020

MusicUNB

Memorial Hall, UNB

9 Bailey Dr.

506-453-4697

unb.ca/cel/music

 

Bertrand, New Brunswick

7:30pm, March 12, 2020

Musique Saint-Joachim

Église St-Joachim

650 Boulevard des Acadiens

musiquestjoachim.com

 

Sackville, New Brunswick

7:30pm, March 13, 2020

Mount Allison Performing Arts Series

Brunton Auditorium, Mount Allison University

62 York St.

mta.ca/performingarts

 

Antigonish, Nova Scotia

7:30pm, March 14, 2020

Antigonish Performing Arts Series

Immaculata Hall, St. F.X. University

2360 Notre Dame Ave.

902-867-3909

people.stfx.ca/msteinit/schedule.htm

 

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

2:00pm, March 15, 2020

Sunday Music in the Garden Room

Garden Room, K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre

32 University Ave.

artsacadia.acadiau.ca/Sunday_Music_in_the_Garden_Room.html

 

Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador

8:00pm, March 17, 2020

Rotary Arts Centre

5 Park St.

709-630-0012

rotaryartscentre.ca

 

Moncton, New Brunswick

7:30pm, March 19, 2020

Capitol Theatre

811 Main St.

506-856-4379

capitol.nb.ca

 

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

7:30pm, March 20, 2020

Dartmouth Community Concert Association

Woodlawn United Church

54 Woodlawn Rd.

dartmouthcommunityconcert.ca

 

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

5:00pm, March 21, 2020

Musique Royale

Cecilia’s Retreat

1199 Oakland Rd. RR#2

musiqueroyale.com

 

 

BIOGRAPHY—MERKELO & SALOV

Paul Merkelo, trumpet

 

JUNO nominated artist Paul Merkelo is recognized as “a spectacular soloist …a most impressive master of his instrument” (Montreal Gazette) who “knows no limits” (Der Spiegel online – Germany) with “unusual lyrical gifts’’ (Gramophone). Principal trumpet with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal since 1995, he has been featured frequently with the OSM, including tours to South America and at the Lincoln Center in New York, and is the first member of the orchestra to be invited to record a debut solo album with the orchestra (French concertos – Kent Nagano).

 

In 1999, he was appointed Canadian musical ambassador to China for the inauguration of the Montreal Park in Shanghai, and as soloist with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in a national telecast. Mr. Merkelo made his New York debut at Lincoln Center with the New World Symphony Orchestra and Michael Tilson Thomas in 1998. He has worked with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Sir Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta and Valery Gergiev, and has been invited as guest principal trumpet in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and New York Philharmonic.

 

Paul is on the faculty at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, and McGill University in Montreal. He is on the board of directors for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas (Canada) and is the founder of the Paul Merkelo Scholarship, which helps young, gifted brass players with financial aid and career guidance. Paul Merkelo is a Yamaha artist.

 

Serhiy Salov, piano

Serhiy Salov is recognized as an outstanding pianist, whose playing is both energetic and imbued with sensitivity. He is known for his remarkable technique, exacting rigour, and virtuosity, qualities that unwaveringly serve the poetry inherent in the music. Public enthusiasm and critical acclaim have amply confirmed his prominent status on the international music scene as a soloist and chamber musician. In addition, Salov has achieved distinction for his piano transcriptions of symphonic works such as Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Debussy’s Nocturnes, Mussorgsky’s Night on a Bald Mountain, and many others.

 

After initially learning music in Ukraine, Serhiy Salov pursued his studies in London, obtaining a Master’s degree from the prestigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama, followed by a Doctor of Music degree from the Université de Montréal. His gifts extend far beyond the mastery of piano technique: the disciplines of improvisation, musicology, and the study of languages complement his training and enable him to deploy a highly expressive individual approach.

 

A superlative concert performer, Serhiy Salov has collaborated with renowned conductors and numerous orchestras around the world. He is regularly featured at the foremost international music festivals and has been awarded many prizes in competitions worldwide.