Alongside their passion for the traditional chamber music repertoire, the Callisto Quartet values frequent collaboration with living composers. The Callisto Quartet can be heard alongside Frank Morelli on the album From the Soul, for which they recorded Meeelaan by Wynton Marsalis. In collaboration with composer Niloufar Iravani, the Callisto Quartet recorded The Maze for New Focus Records on Sirventès – an album of music celebrating female Iranian composers. The Callisto Quartet has premiered new works by Korine Fujiwara and Ching-Chu Hu at Chamber Music Columbus, Nathaniel Heyder and Saad Haddad at the Caramoor Center, and Annika Socolofsky and Brett Dean at the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival. The Callisto Quartet has the great pleasure of performing alongside many of classical music’s eminent artists, including Misha Amory, Ettore Causa, Frank Cohen, Desmond Hoebig, Nina Lee, Avri Levitan, Tai Murray, Tara O’Connor, Lawrence Power, Miguel da Silva, David Shifrin, Gilles Vonsattel, and Paul Watkins.

As dedicated educators, the Callisto Quartet has taught masterclasses at universities including Rice University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Washington, and the University of California Santa Barbara, among others. The Callisto Quartet serves as returning faculty at summer festivals including the Bravo Workshop, Hudson Montessori Conservatory Chamber Music Intensive, and Rocky Ridge Music, where Callisto serves as Faculty Quartet in Residence. From 2022-2024, the Callisto Quartet taught The Performance of Chamber Music at Yale University, and they currently serve as Associated Faculty at Chamber Music Connection in Columbus, Ohio.

The Callisto Quartet formed in 2016 as undergraduate students at the Cleveland Institute of Music. The quartet has since held residencies at Rice University, Yale University, the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia, the Stauffer Center, and the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. The quartet was inspired by the symmetry between Jupiter’s four major moons and the four members of a string quartet, borrowing the name Callisto from Jupiter’s most stable and hospitable moon.

Elinor is the artistic director of Accademia de’ Dissonanti, an ensemble devoted to musical interpretation and research. She has performed throughout the Americas and in Europe in recital and with numerous chamber ensembles and orchestras (Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Rosa Barocca, Constantinople, Il Gardellino, Tafelmusik, Pacific Baroque Orchestra, etc.). As a guest leader, conducting Galant and early-Classical ensemble repertoire from the cello, she has worked with London Symphonia (Ontario), Kingston Baroque Consort, Dorian Baroque, Siren Baroque, and others. Elinor has recently performed concertos with Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Mercury Chamber Orchestra (Houston), and the Telemann Suite for viola da gamba and orchestra with Symphony Nova Scotia.

Recipient of grants and prizes supporting performance and research, including the US-Italy Fulbright Fellowship, a research residency at the Orpheus Institute in Ghent, she will collaborate in 2025 on a research project with musicologist Nicholas Baragwanath working on using hexachordal solfeggio in practice.

Elinor holds degrees from McGill, Mannes, and Juilliard. She teaches Baroque cello and performance practice at McGill University and the Université de Montréal and was a Visiting Fellow in Music (2020–2023) at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University. Frey was awarded Québec’s Opus Prize for “Performer of the Year” in 2021.

During their extensive tours, Christ and Dominique showcased their musical prowess in a special tribute concert to the legendary Astor Piazzolla. The performance artfully weaved together compositions from influential figures in Piazzolla’s youth, including Gardel, Bach, Ellington, Ginastera, Fauré and Bartok. As a crowning moment, Dominique contributed an original composition titled “Hommage à Piazzolla,” a captivating piece for guitar and cello that served as the grand finale, touching their audiences with its emotive resonance and exciting solos for both instruments.

Piazzolla, the pioneering Argentine composer, created the groundbreaking Tango Nuevo style, fusing elements of traditional tango and classical music. This innovative style laid the foundation for the duo’s exploration and reinterpretation of Piazzolla’s works, adding a contemporary dimension to their performances.

Together, Christ and Dominique form a harmonious musical partnership, conquering audiences with their distinctive sound and collaborative synergy. Their performances create an immersive experience for their listeners, showcasing not only their technical prowess but also a deep appreciation for classical music. As a duo, they continue to enchant and inspire, leaving an enduring impact on the Canadian classical music landscape.

Christ Habib is an acclaimed classical guitarist recognized for his exceptional artistry and passionate performances. He has earned numerous distinctions, including first prize in classical guitar at the National Music Festival (FCMF) in Saskatoon (2019) and recognition as one of Canada’s Top 30 Classical Musicians Under 30 (2020).

In October 2020, he made his debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under renowned conductor Alexander Shelley, performing Jacques Hétu’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings, Op. 56. Habib’s competitive successes span both national and international stages, consistently earning top placements.

A graduate of the Gatineau Conservatory of Music, he completed a Master’s degree and received the Prize in Chamber Music after 12 years of study with Patrick Roux. He has further refined his craft through masterclasses at the Boston International Guitar Academy and the Domaine Forget International Academy, studying with distinguished artists from around the world.

Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy is an award-winning cellist and composer, celebrated for his artistry and versatility. Recipient of the 2018 Prix d’Europe, the 2021 Choquette-Symcox Award, and the 2017 Peter Mendell Award, he was named one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” in 2018. A two-time first prize winner at the Canadian Music Competition, Dominique has performed as a soloist with leading ensembles including the Laval Symphony Orchestra and the Drummondville Symphony Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, he is a founding member of the Trio de l’Île and the Andara String Quartet, performing across North America and Europe, and joined the acclaimed Hochelaga Trio in 2018. As a composer, Dominique earned third prize in the Domicile Adoré competition organized by the Fondation Jeunesses Musicales Canada in 2020. The Laval Symphony Orchestra has performed two of his works under the direction of Alain Trudel. He is also the co-founder of BOA Experience, a collaborative instrumental project of original compositions, and released Aux deux hémisphères—an album of his complete works for cello and piano—with pianist Jean-Michel Dubé.

Dominique holds a Master’s degree in performance from the University of Montreal, where he studied with Yegor Dyachkov, and has participated in masterclasses with distinguished artists including Mischa Maisky, Alisa Weilerstein, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Raphaël Wallfisch, Philippe Muller, and Richard Aaron. He performs on a 1704 David Tecchler cello and a c.1855 Pierre Simon bow, generously loaned by Canimex Inc. of Drummondville, Quebec.

“Thalea never failed to deliver a stirring performance” – Calgary Herald

The Thalea String Quartet brings their signature vibrancy and emotional commitment to dynamic performances that reflect the past, present, and future of the string quartet repertoire while celebrating diverse musical traditions from around the world. Fueled by the belief that chamber music is a powerful force for building community and human connection, the Thalea String Quartet has performed across North America, Europe, and China, and has appeared at the Kennedy Center, Massey Hall, and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. They have shared the stage with luminaries of the chamber music world, including members of the Emerson, Brentano, and St. Lawrence String Quartets, and they have performed alongside celebrated artists including Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw, violist Lawrence Power, acclaimed Canadian band BADBADNOTGOOD, Detroit hip hop icon Mahogany Jones, and visionary R+B artist Charlotte Day Wilson.

Committed to shaping and contributing to the future of the string quartet repertoire, the Thalea String Quartet has premiered dozens of new works and has collaborated on new commissions with composers including Osvaldo Golijov, Paola Prestini, Anthony R. Green, Akshaya Avril Tucker, and Tanner Porter.

Winners of the 2021 Ann Divine Educator Award from the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the members of the Thalea String Quartet have been celebrated for their innovative approach to education and community engagement. The Thalea String Quartet has presented masterclasses and workshops at institutions across North America, including the Berkelee College of Music, the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and San Francisco State University. They have presented lectures and led discussions at institutions including the University of Maryland, Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, and Wayne State Medical School in Detroit, where they presented a workshop on non-verbal communication to first-year medical students alongside the Emerson String Quartet. Committed to youth mentorship and community music education, the Thalea String Quartet serve as teaching artists for Washington Performing Arts. The ensemble served as faculty and artistic advisors for the inaugural 2023 Fischoff Summer Chamber Music Intensive. Pioneers of virtual educational programming, the Thalea String Quartet has developed a variety of digital content, including two digital video series for students of all ages and the CHAMPS Virtual Chamber Music Seminar, which brought together students from across North America for an eight-week intensive study of the music of Florence B. Price, Joseph Haydn, and Antonín Dvořák.

The Thalea String Quartet served as the Doctoral Fellowship String Quartet at the University of Maryland from 2020-2023. The quartet has also held fellowship positions at the University of Texas at Austin and the San Francisco Conservatory. They served as Associated Artists at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Waterloo, Belgium for the 2019-20 season, and were the 2019-20 Ernst Stiefel Quartet-in-Residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. They were the 2022 and 2023 resident ensemble at the Lakes Area Music Festival and were the 2023 visiting artists at the Garth Newel Music Center. The Thalea String Quartet were top prize winners at the 2018 Fischoff Competition and 2018 Chamber Music Yellow Springs Competition.

Christopher Whitley (violin) is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Kumiko Sakamoto (violin) is from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada; Lauren Spaulding (viola) is from San Antonio, Texas; and Peter Jangwoo Eom (replacing Alex Cox, cello) is from Gilbert, Arizona.

Christopher and Kumiko perform on instruments generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. Christopher performs on a 1900 Stefano Scarampella violin and Kumiko performs on an 1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin.

« Thalea n’a jamais manqué de livrer une interprétation émouvante » – Calgary Herald

Le Quatuor à cordes Thalea apporte son dynamisme et son engagement émotionnel caractéristiques à des concerts dynamiques qui reflètent le passé, le présent et l’avenir du répertoire pour quatuor à cordes, tout en célébrant les diverses traditions musicales du monde entier. Animé par la conviction que la musique de chambre est un puissant vecteur de cohésion sociale et de liens humains, le Quatuor à cordes Thalea s’est produit en Amérique du Nord, en Europe et en Chine, et s’est produit au Kennedy Center, au Massey Hall et au Weill Hall du Carnegie Hall. Il a partagé la scène avec des grands noms de la musique de chambre, notamment les membres des quatuors à cordes Emerson, Brentano et St. Lawrence, et s’est produit aux côtés d’artistes célèbres tels que la compositrice Caroline Shaw, lauréate du prix Pulitzer, l’altiste Lawrence Power, le groupe canadien acclamé BADBADNOTGOOD, la légende du hip-hop de Detroit Mahogany Jones et l’artiste R&B visionnaire Charlotte Day Wilson.

Engagé à façonner et à contribuer à l’avenir du répertoire pour quatuor à cordes, le Quatuor à cordes Thalea a créé des dizaines de nouvelles œuvres et a collaboré à de nouvelles commandes avec des compositeurs tels qu’Osvaldo Golijov, Paola Prestini, Anthony R. Green, Akshaya Avril Tucker et Tanner Porter.

Lauréats du Ann Divine Educator Award 2021 du Concours national de musique de chambre Fischoff, les membres du Quatuor à cordes Thalea sont reconnus pour leur approche innovante de l’éducation et de l’engagement communautaire. Le Quatuor à cordes Thalea a présenté des classes de maître et des ateliers dans des institutions à travers l’Amérique du Nord, notamment au Berkelee College of Music, à la Frost School of Music de l’Université de Miami et à la San Francisco State University. Ils ont donné des conférences et dirigé des discussions dans des institutions telles que l’université du Maryland, l’université Dalhousie en Nouvelle-Écosse et la Wayne State Medical School à Detroit, où ils ont animé un atelier sur la communication non verbale à l’intention des étudiants en première année de médecine, en collaboration avec le Quatuor à cordes Emerson. Engagé dans le mentorat des jeunes et l’éducation musicale communautaire, le Quatuor à cordes Thalea a été artiste-enseignant pour Washington Performing Arts de 2022 à 2024. L’ensemble a été membre du corps enseignant et conseiller artistique pour la première édition du Fischoff Summer Chamber Music Intensive en 2023.

Le Quatuor à cordes Thalea a été le Quatuor à cordes Stewart en résidence à l’Université de Toronto pour l’année universitaire 2024‑2025. Il a été le Quatuor à cordes boursier doctoral de l’Université du Maryland de 2020 à 2023 et a occupé des postes de boursiers à l’Université du Texas à Austin et au Conservatoire de San Francisco. Il a été artiste associé à la Chapelle musicale Reine Élisabeth à Waterloo, en Belgique, pour la saison 2019‑2020, et quatuor en résidence Ernst Stiefel au Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts pour la saison 2019‑2020. Il est l’ensemble résident du Lakes Area Music Festival et a été artiste invité au Garth Newel Music Center en 2023. Le Quatuor à cordes Thalea a remporté le premier prix du Concours Fischoff 2018 et du Concours de musique de chambre Yellow Springs 2018.

Christopher Whitley (violon) est originaire de Toronto, en Ontario (Canada), Kumiko Sakamoto (violon) est originaire de Medicine Hat, en Alberta (Canada), Lauren Spaulding (alto) est originaire de San Antonio, au Texas (États-Unis), et Peter Jangwoo Eom (qui remplace Alex Cox, violoncelle) est originaire de Gilbert, en Arizona (États-Unis).

Christopher et Kumiko jouent sur des instruments généreusement prêtés par la Banque d’instruments de musique du Conseil des Arts du Canada. Christopher joue sur un violon Stefano Scarampella de 1900 et Kumiko sur un violon Joannes Franciscus Pressenda de 1820.

Comprised of the brilliant Edyelwys Silva (flute), Thomas Chartré (cello), and Jeanne Frenette (piano), Ensemble Callinos brings to life major works and original transcriptions written or arranged for this unique instrumental trio. Deeply committed to artistic diversity, Ensemble Callinos is also dedicated to showcasing underrepresented composers, particularly those whose works are rarely performed. Through thoughtful programming, they strive to bring greater visibility to these voices and expand the traditional classical repertoire.

Their socially engaged approach ensures that music reaches diverse audiences through innovative and heartfelt projects. Since their foundation in 2022, they have partnered with organizations such as Share the Warmth, le Chaînon, and CHSLD VIGI-Reine-Elisabeth, performing concerts that support and uplift vulnerable communities.

In 2025, Ensemble Callinos will embark on an exciting musical journey to share their passion for French music with audiences across the Maritimes and Quebec. Through their captivating projects, Rêveries and Panorama français, and with the support of Debut Atlantic and Jeunesses musicales Canada, the ensemble will explore the rich and diverse landscape of French musical heritage.

Concert Description:

The lyricism of the flute, cello, and piano trio comes alive in the hands of Ensemble Callinos, whose refined artistry brings vivid expression to this program of French and French-inspired works. Philippe Gaubert’s Trois aquarelles opens with impressionistic charm, evoking nature and light with delicate fluidity. Auguste Descarries offers a heartfelt Canadian homage in his Complainte d’après un “Canadien errant”, steeped in nostalgia and national identity. Gabriel Pierné’s Sonata da camera sparkles with elegance and wit, while Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune unfolds as a sensuous, dreamlike reverie. Closing the program is Louise Farrenc’s formidable Trio op. 45, a masterful blend of drama, lyricism, and virtuosic flair. From luminous textures to passionate contrasts, Ensemble Callinos invites you on a journey through soundscapes that are both intimate and richly expressive.

L’Ensemble Callinos incarne l’essence même de la beauté lyrique grâce à son mélange captivant de flûte, violoncelle et piano. Le nom « Callinos » s’inspire de Calliope, muse de la poésie, et de Linos, maître légendaire de la lyre, reflétant parfaitement la mission artistique de l’ensemble.

Composé des brillants Edyelwys Silva (flûte), Thomas Chartré (violoncelle) et Jeanne Frenette (piano), l’Ensemble Callinos donne vie à des œuvres majeures et à des transcriptions originales écrites ou arrangées pour ce trio instrumental unique. Profondément engagé dans la diversité artistique, l’Ensemble Callinos se consacre également à la mise en valeur de compositeurs sous-représentés, en particulier ceux dont les œuvres sont rarement jouées. Grâce à une programmation réfléchie, ils s’efforcent de donner plus de visibilité à ces voix et d’élargir le répertoire classique traditionnel.

Leur approche socialement engagée permet à la musique d’atteindre des publics diversifiés grâce à des projets novateurs et sincères. Depuis leur fondation en 2022, ils ont établi des partenariats avec des organismes tels que Partageons l’espoir, le Chaînon et le CHSLD VIGI-Reine-Elisabeth, donnant des concerts qui soutiennent et réconfortent les communautés vulnérables.

En 2025, l’Ensemble Callinos se lancera dans un passionnant voyage musical afin de partager son amour de la musique française avec le public des Maritimes et du Québec. À travers ses projets captivants, Rêveries et Panorama français, et avec le soutien de Début Atlantique et Jeunesses musicales Canada, l’ensemble explorera le paysage riche et diversifié du patrimoine musical français.

Courte description du concert

Le lyrisme du trio flûte, violoncelle et piano prend vie sous les doigts de l’Ensemble Callinos, dont le raffinement artistique donne toute son expression à ce programme d’œuvres françaises et d’inspiration française. Les Trois aquarelles de Philippe Gaubert ouvrent le concert avec un charme impressionniste, évoquant la nature et la lumière avec une délicate fluidité. Auguste Descarries rend un hommage sincère au Canada dans sa Complainte d’après un « Canadien errant », imprégnée de nostalgie et d’identité nationale. La Sonata da camera de Gabriel Pierné brille par son élégance et son esprit, tandis que le Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune de Debussy se déploie comme une rêverie sensuelle et onirique. Le programme se termine par le formidable Trio op. 45 de Louise Farrenc, un mélange magistral de drame, de lyrisme et de virtuosité. Des textures lumineuses aux contrastes passionnés, l’Ensemble Callinos vous invite à un voyage à travers des paysages sonores à la fois intimes et riches en expressions.

Created by cellist Daniel Hamin Go and pianist Jean-Luc Therrien, the Therrien-Go Duo’s fortuitous encounter occurred in the illustrious setting of the Rebanks Family Fellowship and International Residency Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music. Their convergence forged a dynamic partnership that has since captivated audiences across Canada. With an innate connection that electrifies the stage, their music is a mesmerizing fusion of thought-provoking interpretation, innovative collaboration, and a sincere dedication to community engagement, both near and far.

Créé par le violoncelliste Daniel Hamin Go et le pianiste Jean-Luc Therrien, le Duo Therrien-Go a vu le jour dans le cadre de la bourse de la famille Rebanks au Conservatoire royal de musique. Leur convergence a donné naissance à un partenariat dynamique qui a depuis captivé les auditoires partout au Canada. Décrit comme « autoritaire, posé et débordant d’élan » (Jonathan Freeman-Atwood), Daniel Hamin Go s’est produit dans toute l’Amérique du Nord et l’Europe, notamment dans les salles de concert Berliner Philharmonie, Cadogan et Carnegie. Finaliste et lauréat de plusieurs concours, dont le Concours Prix d’Europe, le pianiste canadien Jean-Luc Therrien a vu son premier album solo Piano Preludes, qui vient de sortir sur étiquette Orpheus Classical en 2021, choisi par CBC Music comme l’une des meilleures parutions de l’année 2021.

Visit the Therrien-Go Duo’s Media Resources page to see more performance videos, read interviews, and more!

Stick&Bow, « le duo montréalais avant-gardiste qui joue tout, de Bach à Radiohead » (The Intro de CBC Music), réunit la joueuse de marimba Krystina Marcoux et le violoncelliste Juan Sebastian Delgado. Musiciens de formation classique, ils présentent des programmes éclectiques comprenant des arrangements originaux de certaines des œuvres les plus célèbres de l’histoire, mettant en valeur le potentiel de leurs instruments combinés. Leur processus créatif associe la narration musicale à l’humour et à la narration d’histoires dans lesquelles la puissante combinaison du violoncelle et du marimba transforme l’écoute d’œuvres familières de manière rafraîchissante et inattendue.

Visit Stick&Bow’s Media Resources page to see more performance videos, read interviews, and more!

Liam&LaLa is a new cello/piano duo composed of two of Canada’s brightest young talents, cellist David Liam Roberts and pianist LaLa Lee. The duo are dedicated to innovative programming and unforgettably engaging performances. In November 2020, they made their recital debut for Cecilia Concerts at the Lilian Piercey Concert Hall in Halifax, to great acclaim. Despite having formed under the extraordinary circumstances of the ongoing pandemic, the duo has quickly developed a unique and exciting artistic voice.

Keith Hamm

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.

Keith is an alumnus of the International Musicians Seminar at Prussia Cove, the Sarasota Music Festival, and programs at the Banff Centre. Keith has been featured on CBC Radio, Toronto’s Classical 96.3, Minnesota Public Radio, and has been named one of Canada’s Hottest 30 Classical Musicians Under 30 by CBC.

Julie Hereish

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. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded The New Cohort with husband and violist, Keith Hamm. 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.

Fondé dans les premiers jours de la pandémie de la COVID-19, The New Cohort a été formé par Keith Hamm et Julie Hereish pour explorer les possibilités de la musique de chambre pendant le confinement à la maison. Une plongée en profondeur dans le répertoire pour alto et violoncelle a conduit à de nombreux engagements de spectacles en ligne et en plein air. Parmi les événements de diffusion en direct, citons les concerts de la série Stage to Screen (Du théâtre à l’écran) de l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton, Doors Open for Music at Southminster (Portes ouvertes pour la musique à Southminster) à Ottawa, The Homestage Tour (Tournée sur scène à domicile) pour le Rosebud Theatre, et la série de concerts Xenia. The New Cohort a également participé à des festivals à travers le Canada, dont le Festival de musique de chambre Rosebud et le Festival de musique Sweetwater. 

Keith Hamm 

Keith Hamm, alto, est originaire de Rosebud, en Alberta. Il a reçu sa formation à l’École de musique Glenn Gould sous la direction de Steven Dann, et au Conservatoire de Mount Royal avec Nicholas Pulos. Alors qu’il était encore étudiant, Keith a été nommé altiste principal de l’orchestre de la Compagnie d’opéra canadienne et a joué pendant huit saisons. À l’automne 2019, Keith a accepté ce même poste au sein de l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton. 

Musicien de chambre dévoué, Keith a joué au Festival Ravinia en tant qu’altiste invité avec l’Ensemble ARC du Royal Conservatory, qui a été nommé pour des prix Grammy, au Festival de musique d’été de Toronto, au Ottawa Chamberfest, au Stratford Summer Music, au festival de musique Sweetwater et au Music By The Sea de Bamfield, en Colombie-Britannique. Keith a joué en tant qu’artiste invité avec l’Ensemble Amici, lauréat d’un prix Juno, et se produit fréquemment avec l’Ensemble de musique contemporaine Continuum, dans les séries de concerts Skylight dans le Distillery District de Toronto, Echo Chamber Toronto, et Stereo Live en tant qu’interprète et producteur. Keith est le fondateur et le directeur artistique du Festival de musique de chambre Rosebud à Rosebud, en Alberta. Il est également cofondateur et altiste du quatuor à cordes Rosebud. De 2000 à 2003, Keith a été le violoneux pour les Flames de Calgary.  

Keith est un ancien élève du Séminaire international des musiciens de Prussia Cove, du Festival de musique de Sarasota et des programmes du Centre Banff. Keith a été invité à la radio de la CBC, à l’émission Classical 96.3 de Toronto et à la radio publique du Minnesota, et a été nommé l’un des 30 musiciens classiques canadiens de moins de 30 ans par la CBC. 

Julie Hereish 

Julie Hereish, violoncelle, a poursuivi ses études dans sa ville natale, Montréal, puis à Vienne, en Autriche. À l’automne 2019, elle s’est jointe à l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton à titre d’assistante violoncelle solo. Auparavant, elle occupait ce même poste au sein de l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec. Pendant son séjour à Québec, elle a cofondé le quatuor de piano Quatuor Philanthros et l’octuor de violoncelles Élément 8. Elle est maintenant membre du High Level Trio, qu’elle a fondé avec deux amis et collègues de l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton, Ewald Cheung et Ethan Filner. Au début de la pandémie de la COVID-19, elle a cofondé The New Cohort avec son mari et altiste, Keith Hamm. Ses concerts de musique de chambre l’ont amenée à parcourir le Canada, où elle a effectué une tournée avec Début Atlantique et Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. 

En tant qu’artiste invitée, Julie a rejoint l’Ensemble ARC, lauréat d’un prix Grammy, en spectacle à Toronto. Elle a également rempli le rôle de basse continue en tant que violoncelliste invitée avec la Compagnie d’opéra canadienne. Elle a joué à la radio de la CBC et de Radio-Canada. Julie a donné des concerts dans toute l’Europe et l’Amérique du Nord, et a souvent participé avec l’orchestre de chambre Les Violons du Roy à Québec. Avec le comédien Pierre Mayer, Julie a créé Charlot et Mlle Cello, une expérience de concert théâtral pour enfants basée sur le célèbre personnage de Charlie Chaplin. 

About VC4’s Digital Series Concert:
This programme was inspired by the feeling of coming out the other side of the COVID-19 pandemic and celebrates reconnecting with friends.

The theme and variations composed by Beth Silver are based on a melody collected by Jewish-Ukrainian ethnomusicologist Moishe Beregovski in the early twentieth century.  This quartet is part of a group of works commissioned by Prof. Anna Shternshis and the University of Toronto with the purpose of bringing to life some of Beregovski’s recently resurfaced notes and sketches.  These notes were confiscated by the USSR, and Beregovski died thinking his collections had been destroyed.  Beregovski’s correspondence indicates that he asked composers to incorporate pieces of Jewish musical folklore into their compositions in the way Bartók and Stravinsky had previously done, but his wish was never fulfilled.  The variations were written with this in mind; in the styles of famous composers he would have been familiar with.  The writing attached to this particular melody translates to “I planted vegetables in my little garden” and was collected by Ida Shaykes from Lerner Visnshaftler in Kiev in 1946.  Shaykes was one of very few women ethnomusicologists associated with Beregovski, and was trained by him to continue his work.

Members of VC4 also attended McGill University with Kaitlyn Raitz, a wonderful cellist and composer who now resides in Nashville.  Her music is heavily inspired by both Western Classical music and traditional Bluegrass and American folk music.  She remains a dear friend to this day which makes it all the more special that the ensemble is able to perform her music.

Grieg’s Morning Mood and Jocelyn Morlock’s The Violet Hour are about the sunrise – a peaceful, beautiful moment of the day that symbolizes rebirth and renewal. The works by Kaitlyn Raitz call back to a time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful.  The Goltermann Serenade is a moment of serenity and the Matz movement is an energetic party.

Biographies of the members of VC4:

Beth Silver
Beth Silver (M.Mus) is thrilled to be part of a community in which she can thrive on her intuition and creativity. As an involved freelancer based in Toronto, she is admired for expressive, compelling playing and her abilities to paint in many colours through her instrument and capture character and spontaneity in music – especially amidst interactive chamber settings. A lover of many genres, Beth is equally at home in a traditional classical ensemble as she is in a band arranging and exploring new voices for cello. Recently, she has also assumed the role as North America’s foremost (i.e. only) klezmer fiddle-style cellist.

​Performances with various chamber projects have brought her to festivals around the world, including Salzburg’s Kammermusik Festival, Ottawa Chamber Festival, Toronto
Summer Music Festival, Glatt und Verkehrt Festival in Austria, Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival, Festival Napa Valley, Ashkenaz Fest, Tirgan Festival, and
Klezkanada. She has been presented across Canada by Jeunesses Musicales, Prairie Debut, and Debut Atlantic as part of the Ladom Ensemble.

She is the recipient of grants from the Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council and her awards include the 2014 Ben Steinberg Musical Legacy Award recognizing musical
achievement in the Canadian Jewish community. She is currently arranging settings of Jewish refugee songs for BBC’s documentary on Jews in Muslim lands.

Beth enjoys spending non-musical time painting, reading, practicing horticulture, and doing yoga, and lives in Toronto’s west end with her cat Sica.

VC2
VC2 Cello Duo is an innovative ensemble that captivates audiences through their performances of classical masterworks, unknown gems and boundary pushing music.
Comprised of cellists Amahl Arulanandam and Bryan Holt, CBC Music calls VC2 “a tight unit, with excellent intonation and expression.” They present artistically challenging, yet accessible programs in venues ranging from intimate cabarets to Roy Thomson Hall. As respected cellists, they have performed as part of leading music organizations including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, Esprit Orchestra, Soundstreams, Art of Time Ensemble, Continuum Contemporary Music, New Music Concerts, Music in the Barns, Thin Edge New Music Collective, Tapestry Opera and others. The duo have been
featured artists at Toronto Summer Music Festival, soundSCAPE Festival (Italy), Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Ottawa Chamberfest, Indian River Festival, New
Works Calgary, Ottawa New Music Creators, 21C Music Festival, Ritornello Festival, and the Prairie Cello Institute.

Committed to the creation of new works by living composers, especially those from their home country of Canada, VC2 commissioned five Canadian composers to create works based on the Beethoven Cello Sonatas project. In addition to their performances, VC2, with the generous support of the Ontario Arts Council, recorded these works and in fall 2018, released the album Beethoven’s Cellists which CBC Radio calls a “first-rate” recording.

In the fall/winter of 2019/20, VC2 embarked on a tour of the Western Canada, presented by Prairie Debut, which included a brand-new commission, Heist, by
Chinese-Canadian composer Vincent Ho.  The duo has also toured with Debut Atlantic (2018) in support of their debut album. Entering their fifth year, VC2 will be recording their second full-length album that will be comprised entirely of Canadian cello music, celebrating the diverse compositional voices Canada has to offer.

Sarah Gans
Sarah Gans, cellist, is currently based in Toronto, Ontario. From 2016 to 2019 Sarah served as the Assistant Principal Cello of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Prior to this, Sarah graduated with a Master of Music from the Juilliard School where she studied with Darrett Adkins. There, she was the recipient of the Irene Diamond
Graduate Fellowship as well as awarded the Grunin Prize in Cello.

In 2014 Sarah received her Bachelor of Music from McGill’s Schulich School of Music where she studied with Matt Haimovitz. At McGill Sarah was a recipient of the Lloyd Carr-Harris String Scholarship, and upon graduation, was awarded the Salsinger Tani Gold Medal in Music Performance as well as recognized for Outstanding Achievement
in Cello Performance. Sarah has spent her summers at festivals such as the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, the Banff Centre’s Masterclasses for Strings, and the
Toronto Summer Music Festival.