TOUR DATES: October 14-30, 2016 

BIOGRAPHY:

Committed to bringing classical music to 21st-century audiences through innovative programming and engaging presentations, Canadian classical pianist and cellist Silvie and Bryan Cheng have been making music together for the past 13 years. In 2011, when they were called upon to replace an injured musician for a scheduled recital in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, they officially became known as Cheng² Duo, pronounced Cheng Squared Duo. The duo’s New York debut was met with an enthusiastic full-house audience, as well as critical acclaim. New York Concert Review wrote, “The New York debut recital of Bryan and Silvie Cheng was infused with a spirit of thoughtfulness and generosity. The obvious affection between the two siblings extends beyond the familial sphere into the audience, and most importantly, into the music itself”. Following that concert, the Cheng² Duo was invited back to Weill Hall for areturn recital in 2013, which included the world premiere of a pair of new Canadian works written by the Juno award-winning composer Alexina Louie to another full house.

Named by CBC Music as one of 2015’s “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30”, the sibling duo is formed by 18-year-old cellist Bryan Cheng, a guest soloist with numerous orchestras since his debut at age 10 in Montreal under the baton of Yuli Turovsky and a top prizewinner of several national music competitions, and pianist Silvie Cheng, a recent graduate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York witha Master’s Degree in Piano Performance, and the recipient of the Roy M. Rubinstein Award for “exceptional promise in piano performance”. The Cheng² Duo’s wide-ranging repertoire for the cello and piano has brought them to present recitals and performances on three continents, in notable venues throughout North America (Canada and the US), Europe (Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, and Italy), and Asia (China and South Korea). They have performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Trasimeno Music Festival, Orford Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Festival of the Sound, CAMMAC Festival, and Festival Pontiac Enchanté, and they have been featured several times on CBC Radio Two, as well as on Vermont Public Radio.

Recital highlights of 2016 include debut appearances at the Pro Musica Series in Montreal, the Friends of Port Hope Series in Port Hope, ON, and the Leith Music Festival in Leith, ON, as well as a 13-city tour throughout mainland China. Cheng² Duo’s debut album recording with the German classical label audite will also be released in October 2016. For more information, all are welcome to visit www.facebook.com/Cheng2Duo.

TOUR DATES: September 16 – October 2, 2016

BIOGRAPHY:

Three of Canada’s most acclaimed chamber musicians, clarinetist Jean-Francois Normand, violist Marina Thibeault and pianist Philip Chiu, gather in this unique and compelling formation to form Trio Canoë The trio’s outstanding programs have been curated to highlight the poetic, intimate, and mysterious nature of their instruments – in solo, duo, and trio form – to deliver an incomparable experience. Complementing the warm and melancholic colours of the existing repertoire, Trio Canoë reveals their fiery and passionate personalities with original transcriptions; including Piazzolla’s ‘Four Seasons of Buenos Aires’. The trio is strongly committed to engaging new audiences, and bringing classical music to those with limited access. Each member has had the opportunity to work with incredible organizations, including El Sistema, La Société pour les arts en milieux de santé,
and ArtStarts.

Jean-François Normand, clarinet

A much sought-after performer on the Canadian music scene, Jean-François Normand is currently clarinet teacher at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and McGill University in addition to the Domaine Forget Music Academy. Mr. Normand holds degrees from both University of Montreal and the Juilliard School of Music. Mr. Normand has already appeared as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Montreal, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Toronto, Texarkanas Symphony Orchestras and the Montreal Metropolitan Orchestra. His interpretation of the Mozart Concerto has been praised by the press: “completely natural playing, flawless technique, supple phrasing, beautiful and controlled tone quality, intonation, style, and imaginative use of improvised ornamentation” (Claude Gingras, La Presse). He performed this same concerto in 2005 with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra in Bratislava where it was broadcast to over 16 European countries. He is also frequently heard on Radio-Canada/CBC. In 2010, Jean-François Normand entered the world of historical performance on period instruments. He recorded a CD for Atma dedicated to the French composer Mehul, along with oboist Washington McClain and bassoonist Mathieu Lussier. His next concerts will take him to Toronto where he will be joining Tafelmusik for a series of concerts in May.

Marina Thibeault, viola

Marina Thibeault, born in 1989, from Québec City graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with both Roberto Díaz, and Michael Tree. Afterwards, she studied abroad with Bruno Giuranna at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the swiss government. Marina is currently finishing her Master’s Degree with André Roy at the McGill University in Montréal.  Marina has performed as a soloist with the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Marienbad Orchestra, North Czech Philharmonic, and the Západočeský Symphony Orchestra. Marina was a 2007 winner of “CBC Young Artist”, She was also a 2008 prize-winner at Hradec’s Beethoven International Music Competition in the Czech Republic, after which she gave a recital tour in Prague and Teplice, during the Music Festival Ludwig van Beethoven. Marina is the winner of the 2015 McGill Concerto Competition and will perform the Schnittke Concerto with MGSO next season. In 2012, Marina made her debut in Paris at the Centre Culturel Canadien.  Marina joined the Parcival Project in 2013. The ensemble has performed at Halifax’s Scotia Fest and Toronto’s ROM and Mooredales concerts. En September 2014, the group went on tour to South America; Argentina, Chili and Bresil. Inspired by El systema, the Parcival Project gave masterclasses and workshops for social actions in music. In November 2014, Marina toured around Quebec and Ontario for Les Jeunesses Musicales du Canada with the recital; White Nights in Russia. Marina is also a Hatha Yoga teacher. She teaches at the Sivananda Yoga Center in Montreal and gives workshops and conferences on yoga for musicians.

Philip Chiu, pianist

More than a summation of technical and musical abilities, pianist Philip Chiu has become one of Canada’s leading musicians through his infectious love of music and his passion for communication and collaboration. Lauded for the brilliance, colour and sensitivity of his playing, he is particularly noted for his ability to connect with audiences on and off-stage. An exceedingly sociable pianist, Philip concertizes extensively as one of Canada’s most sought-after chamber musicians. He has appeared in recitals with leading musicians of the world stage, including James Ehnes, Raphael Wallfisch, Patrice Fontanarosa, Regis Pasquier, Matt Haimovitz, Radovan Vlatkovic, Stefan Dohr, Philippe Bernold, Alex Klein, and Eugene Isotov. He performs regularly with principal members of Canada’s leading orchestras and ensembles, including Toronto Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Jonathan Crow, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal concertmaster Andrew Wan, and Pascale Giguere of Les Violons du Roy. Along with pianist Janelle Fung, he forms one of Canada’s most exciting piano duos, the Fung-Chiu Duo. He has toured numerous times with premier touring organizations, Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Prairie Debut, and Debut Atlantic, and will be touring again soon with Jeunesses Musicales (2014/2015, 2015/2016) and Prairie Debut (2014/15). Dedicated to elevating the standard and art of collaborative piano, Philip is the creator and director of the new Collaborative Piano Program at the Domaine Forget International Festival and Academy. He is an acclaimed accompanist¬/coach based at McGill University, has been an invited professor¬-accompanist for the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal, and regularly accompanies at l’Universite de Montreal. He travels regularly across Canada and the U.S. to accompany for national and international competitions. Philip is extremely grateful for the support of the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts and Jeunesses Musicales in his various pursuits. He can be heard/seen on Classical 96.3 FM, Australia’s ABC Radio, CBC Radio, and Radio Canada.

“… a pianist-painter who turns every musical idea into a beautiful array of colors.” La Presse
“Pianist Philip Chiu played with striking precision and subtle poetry.” The Gazette (Montréal)

TOUR DATES: November 4-13, 2016 and April 1-9, 2017  (Other dates available upon discussion)

BIOGRAPHY:

Over the past decade, Emma Rush has established herself as one of Canada’s preeminent classical guitarists. Known for her innovative programming and powerful stage presence, along with her warm sound and virtuosic technique, an event with Emma Rush is not a typical classical music concert. She is a compelling and engaging performer, a passionate educator, and a dynamic arts impresario.

Emma Rush’s career has commanded world recognition. Highlights of her 2014-15 season include a ten-day, 4-city tour in China, starting with the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival, appearances at guitar festivals including Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), Guitarfest Peru, the Lonestar Guitar Festival (Texas), ’Women of the Guitar’ Festival (Buffalo, NY), and a prestigious concert at the Internationales Gitarren Symposion, Iserlohn (Germany). Canadian appearances of this season have included concerts in Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, Moncton, and Winnipeg, along with performances throughout Ontario as both a soloist and chamber musician. She performed in March 2015 at a sold-out JUNOfest showcase concert as a soloist and in collaboration with Canadian pop-folk sensation Jeremy Fisher. She will perform Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez with Burlington Symphony by the Bay and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in the 2015-16 seaon.

Rush has been a prize winner at international music competitions (Great Lakes Guitar Festival and Competition, Columbus State International Competition), and was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture . She is the only artist to have received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards (as Established Artist in Music, in Arts Education, Arts Administration categories).
Folklórica, Rush’s much-anticipated debut CD, was released in the fall of 2014. The CD showcases a global classical guitar repertoire that draws inspiration from folk legend and traditional music harmonies; programmatic selections that evoke culturally diverse narratives.

Rush completed her post-graduate studies at the Hochshule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, following an honors Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. Her faculty appointments at Mohawk College and Redeemer University College serve to not only stimulate an increasing number of students in developing classical guitar skills, but also to integrate them in the community ‘entity’ she inspired – Guitar Hamilton.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Guitar Hamilton concert series that includes the Hamilton International Guitar Festival. This year, the Festival celebrates its 5-year anniversary. The Festival brings together classical guitar enthusiasts (students and a widespread community) to appreciate world-renowned artists for a 3-day celebration of master classes, musicians/artists-in-concert, guitar makers, and lecturers.

TOUR DATES: February 3-19, 2017  (1 piano, 4 hands)

BIOGRAPHY:

Duo Fortin-Poirier, featuring pianists Amélie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier, has been heralded as one of the most promising piano duos of its generation. Both graduates of the Université de Montréal (Master and D.E.S.S.) under the direction of Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt and Paul Stewart, the two pianists won several awards and grants individually before making their debut as duettists in 2005. It was not long after that the natural connection between these two artists would lead them to become an extraordinarily powerful ensemble. Their complementing artistic intuition, explosive playing style and dynamic performances have been catching the attention of audiences and critics alike.

Since its creation, the Duo Fortin-Poirier has given many concerts in Canada as well as abroad. The two pianists have been awarded grants from the Office Franco-Québécois pour la Jeunesse (2005), the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec (2009-2010), the Canada Council for the Arts (2011-2013), and have won numerous prizes including First Prize at the Concours de Musique Clermont-Pépin, the Festival de Musique du Royaume as well as the Canada Music Competition.

At the international level, they were finalists in the Concours International de Piano à 4 mains de Valberg (France, 2009) and in the Liszt 200 Chicago International Piano Duos Competition (U.S., 2011). Their brilliant interpretation of John Corigliano’s Gazebo Dances also awarded them a special mention from the jury at the prestigious Concours Grieg – International Piano Competition in Oslo (Norway, 2010). Recently, they won the 2nd price at the Roma International Piano Competition (Italy, 2013).

Very active on the Canadian scene, Amélie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier created the Vingts doigts et un piano concert in 2008 and they have since performed it in every corner of Quebec. It was actually the first classical concert selected to take part in the Entrées en Scène Loto-Québec for the 2013-2014 season. Other highlights include a recent appearance at the prestigious Lanaudière Festival in the summer of 2015. In addition, Duo Fortin-Poirier was selected by both Debut Atlantic and Prairie Debut to tour in the 2016.17 season and will tour on the west coast of the United States in April of 2017.

The duo’s first CD, Vingt doigts et un piano, was released at the end of November 2013, and can be heard on Ici Radio-Canada Première, Espace Musique and Radio Classique Montreal and Quebec.

TOUR DATES: March 10-26, 2017

BIOGRAPHY:

Architek Percussion is a Montreal-based quartet specializing in the performance of experimental, minimalist, multi-disciplinary, and electroacoustic chamber music. Founded in early 2012, the quartet has quickly established itself as a dynamic force in Canada’s vibrant new music community; equally comfortable in performing classic repertoire and exploring new terrain through commissions and premieres. In addition to self-producing a concert series in Montreal, Architek Percussion has recently appeared as guests of Ottawa New Music Creators, live@CIRMMT, Innovations en Concert, Cluster Festival, and toured Canada’s maritime provinces. Appearances in 2014-15 include PASIC Focus Day (Indianapolis), New Music Edmonton, Codes d’Acces, Groundswell (Winnipeg),The Music Gallery (Toronto), and Scotia Festival of Music (Halifax).

Architek Percussion is committed to the development and presentation of new Canadian music. The quartet has premiered over 20 new works by composers such as Eliot Britton, Christos Hatzis, Nicole Lizée, and Lukas Ligeti. The quartet’s current repertoire reflects the cultural and stylistic diversity of North American contemporary music. Architek Percussion consists of Ben Duinker, Mark Morton, Ben Reimer, and Alessandro Valiante.