The New Cohort Set to Bring “Household Music” to Concert Halls across Atlantic Canada!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2022
THE NEW COHORT SET TO BRING “HOUSEHOLD MUSIC” TO CONCERT HALLS ACROSS ATLANTIC CANADA!
K’JIUPUKTUK/HALIFAX, NS – From September 10th-25th, join viola and cello duo The New Cohort as they embark on a 15-day concert tour of the Atlantic provinces with Debut Atlantic. Founded in the early days of the COVID 19 pandemic, The New Cohort was formed by violist Keith Hamm and cellist Julie Hereish to explore chamber music possibilities while in household isolation. A deep dive into the repertoire for viola and cello has led to many performance engagements online and outdoors. Livestream events include concerts for the Edmonton Symphony’s Stage to Screen series, Doors Open for Music at Southminster in Ottawa, The Homestage Tour for Rosebud Theatre, and Xenia Concerts. This tour entitled “Household Music” – which includes four concerts in Nova Scotia, two in New Brunswick, and one on Prince Edward Island – explores the individuals, relationships, and circumstances behind the collaborations between composers and close friends.
Debut Atlantic is thrilled to present high-calibre artists to audiences across Atlantic Canada. The New Cohort will begin their tour in Indian River, PE on Sunday September 11th performing with the Under the Spire Music Festival at 3:00pm. Next, they head over to Tatamagouche, NS, where they will appear at the Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre at 7:30pm on Thursday, September 17th. The New Cohort then travels to Antigonish, NS on September 17th, where they will perform with the Antigonish Performing Arts Series at 7:30pm. For their first New Brunswick appearance, they will appear at the Théâtre Capitol Theatre in Moncton, NB for a 7:30pm performance on Tuesday, September 20th. Afterwards, they are traveling to Annapolis Royal, NS, where they will appear at King’s Theatre on Thursday, September 22nd for a noon hour performance. The New Cohort then travels to Cecilia’s Retreat in Mahone Bay, NS on September 23rd, where they will perform with Musique Royale at 7:00pm. Afterwards, they are traveling to Annapolis Royal, NS, where they will appear at King’s Theatre on Thursday, September 22nd for a noon hour performance. The New Cohort finishes their Debut Atlantic tour on September 25th at 2:00 pm, where they will perform in Bertrand, NB with Musique Saint-Joachim.
In addition to concert engagements, The New Cohort will be working with young students through the Debut Goes to School! program. This season, Debut Goes to School offers students throughout Atlantic Canada virtual and in-person access to outstanding classical and global music artists. Through this program, students are provided the opportunity to participate in live, interactive learning sessions and other events for various age groups and levels of ability.
Debut Atlantic wants to recognize the partners and sponsors that come together to bring these incredible artists to communities and venues of all sizes across our region. It would not be possible without the generous support of sustaining partners, including the 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 concert dates and artist biography, and come share in a unique performance, rich with passion and exploration.
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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 42 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—The New Cohort
Indian River, Prince Edward Island
3:00pm, September 11, 2022
Under the Spire Music Festival
Historic St. Mary’s
1374 Hamilton Rd.
1-866-856-3733
Underthespire.ca
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia
7:30pm, September 16, 2022
Grace Jollymore Joyce Arts Centre
31 Creamery Rd.
902-657-3500
www.gracejollymore.com
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
7:30pm, September 17, 2022
Antigonish Performing Arts Series
Immaculata Hall, St. F.X. University
2360 Notre Dame Ave.
902-867-3909
people.stfx.ca/msteinit/schedule.htm
Moncton, New Brunswick
7:30pm, September 20, 2022
Théâtre Capitol Theatre
811 Main St
capitol.nb.ca
506-856-4379
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia
12:00pm, September 22, 2022
King’s Theatre
209 George St.
902-532-7704
www.kingstheatre.ca
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia
7:00pm, September 23, 2022
Musique Royale
Cecilia’s Retreat
1199 Oakland Rd. RR#2
musiqueroyale.com
Bertrand, New Brunswick
2:00pm, September 25, 2022
Musique Saint-Joachim
Église St-Joachim
650 Boulevard des Acadiens
www.musiquestjoachim.com
BIOGRAPHY—The New Cohort
Founded in the early days of the COVID 19 pandemic, The New Cohort was formed by Keith Hamm and Julie Hereish to explore chamber music possibilities while in household isolation.A deep dive into the repertoire for viola and cello has led to many performance engagements online and outdoors. Livestream events include concerts for the Edmonton Symphony’s Stage to Screen series, Doors Open for Music at Southminster in Ottawa, The Homestage Tour for Rosebud Theatre, and Xenia Concerts. The New Cohort has also appeared in festival performances across Canada, including the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival, and the Sweetwater Music Festival.
Keith Hamm, viola, is a native of Rosebud, Alberta. He received his training at the Glenn Gould School of Music under the instruction of Steven Dann, and at the Mount Royal Conservatory with Nicholas Pulos. While still a student, Keith was named Principal Violist of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and performed there for eight seasons. In the fall of 2019, Keith took up that same position with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. A dedicated chamber musician, Keith has been invited to perform at the Ravinia Festival as guest violist with the Royal Conservatory’s Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Stratford Summer Music, Sweetwater Music Festival, and Music By The Sea in Bamfield, BC. Keith has performed as a guest artist with the Juno-winning Amici Ensemble, and frequently performs with Continuum Contemporary Music, Skylight Series in Toronto’s Distillery District, Echo Chamber Toronto, and Stereo Live as performer and producer. Keith is Founder and Artistic Director of the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival in Rosebud, Alberta, and is the co-founder and violist of the Rosebud String Quartet. From 2000 – 2003, Keith was the fiddler for the Calgary Flames.
Julie Hereish, cello, pursued her studies in her hometown, Montreal and then in Vienna, Austria. In the Fall of 2019, she joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Cello. Previously, she held the same position in the Québec Symphony Orchestra. During her time in Québec City, she co-founded the piano quartet Quatuor Philanthros and the cello octet Élément 8. She is now a member of the High Level Trio, which she founded with two friends and colleagues of the ESO, Ewald Cheung and Ethan Filner. Her chamber music performances have taken her across Canada, where she’s toured with Debut Atlantic and Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. As a guest artist, Julie joined the Grammy Award winning ARC Ensemble in performance in Toronto. She has also performed with the Canadian Opera Company as guest continuo cellist. She has been featured on CBC Radio and Radio-Canada. Julie has performed throughout Europe and North America, and has appeared extensively with the chamber orchestra Violons du Roy in Québec City. Together with actor Pierre Mayer, Julie created Charlot et Mlle Cello, a theatrical concert experience for children based on Charlie Chaplin’s famous character.