The following is a special guest post from Electric Messiah 2020 artist Teiya Kasahara. Learn more about Electric Messiah here! An album I’m listening to a lot right now that is inspiring me in many ways is Kishi Bashi’s latest album called “Omoiyari”. It means “compassion” in the simplest of terms, but I’m probably not… Read More
by Menon Dwarka, Executive Director and Zoe Lin, Manager of Advancement & Patron Experience SlowPitchSound (Cheldon Paterson) was interviewed by Soundstreams’ Executive Director Menon Dwarka at Soundstreams’ office. Soundstreams’ patrons are familiar with SlowPitchSound’s work in Electric Messiah. SlowPitchSound (Cheldon Paterson) is an experimental artist with over 20 years of experience in live composition and… Read More
By Felix Mills, Community Engagement Manager Which of your feet hit the floor first this morning? How many times have you said the word “and” today? Chances are you didn’t plan either of these things – you improvised; we all do. Just as it happens in your typical day, there are many different situations, structures,… Read More
by Tim Crouch, Director of Marketing & Patron Experience Electric Messiah re-imagines George Frideric Handel’s great masterpiece with inspirations from different genres to create a feast of musical styles for curious listeners. Perhaps not known to many, but the process of putting together Electric Messiah is an extremely collaborative affair. Each soloist and musician brings… Read More
by Zoe Lin, Marketing & Communications Intern We are excited to introduce the ensemble for this holiday season’s production of Electric Messiah. Electric Messiah will be presented to you by four soloists along with our ensemble team – SlowPitchSound, Joel Schwartz, Wesley Shen, Joel Visentin, and Lybido; with designer/technical director Nick Andison. SlowPitchSound SlowPitchSound is… Read More
by Felix Mills, Community Engagement Manager It’s always refreshing, speaking with someone whose personality shines out even through email. Rawdna Carita Eira is a multi-talented Sámi poet/dramatist/artist from Guovdageaidnu. She is the librettist for Gállábártnit of Two Odysseys: Pimooteewin / Gállábártnit and the stage manager at The Sami National Theatre Beaivváš, one of Two Odysseys’… Read More
Juro Kim Feliz is a pianist and composer, hailing from the Philippines and currently based in Toronto, Canada. A recipient of the Goethe South East Asian Young Composer Award (1st place, 2009), his music has been performed in music festivals and workshops in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Israel, Greece, Switzerland, Italy, the United Kingdom,… Read More
Soundstreams is thrilled to be working with multi-genre artist Melody McKiver on our upcoming project “Odaanaabag” in collaboration with Jumblies Theatre. Melody McKiver is an Anishinaabe musician, media artist, traditional powwow dancer and artist, and arts educator of mixed ancestry. Melody is an enrolled member of Obishikokaang Lac Seul First Nation on their mother’s side, and their… Read More
Jesse Zubot – multi-instrumentalist, producer, record company owner and sideman-in-demand. He produced Tanya Tagaq’s Polaris Prize-winning album, Animism, and has collaborated with a variety of artists, including Steve Reich, Peggy Lee, Hawksley Workman, and Mother Mother. Before any of that, Zubot honed his musician skills in rural Saskatchewan, with a violin found by his instructor…. Read More
Glaubst du an die Unsterblichkeit der Seele (“Do you believe in the immortality of the soul?” was Vivier’s final composition before his untimely death – an eerily titled, premonitive work considering the circumstance of his tragic murder. Interestingly, in addition to voices, narration, and percussionists, Vivier also calls for synthesisers and electronics. Composer and sound… Read More
Margaret Bárdos, mezzo-soprano Hungarian-born mezzo Bó (Margaret) Bárdos is based in Southern Ontario and loves touring. At home with classical as well as new, experimental music, she seeks out creative challenges and cherishes working with good hearted people. With a voice described by Opera Canada as “mellow, fruity, that caresses the ears”, Canadian and European appearances include… Read More
Soundstreams is delighted to announce the cast for the world premiere of the first fully staged production of Musik für das Ende written by legendary Québécois composer Claude Vivier. Ten of Canada’s most talented singers and one actor are improvising, exchanging and collaborating under the guidance of director Chris Abraham and music director John Hess… Read More
Keith Lam, baritone Hong Kong-born, Toronto-based baritone Keith Lam recently finished a tour across Ontario with Bicycle Opera Project performing the role of the Boss in the new a capella opera SWEAT written by Juliet Palmer and Anna Chatterton. He also participated in Summerworks’ Open Studio performing an excerpt from Njo Kong Kie’s new opera The… Read More
This is the first blog of six Andrew Staniland will write for Soundstreams as our TD SoundMakers.ca online composer in residence. Andrew has been teaching composition in a variety of capacities for almost 15 years, including his current faculty position a Memorial University. Outside the classroom, his work has been performed and broadcast in over… Read More
MICHAEL BRIDGE Michael Bridge is one of the most versatile accordionists of today with a unique ability to blend great classics with world music and pop hits. Michael made his solo orchestral debut at age 16 with the Boston Pops, and his music has led him to China, Croatia, Italy, France, the U.K., and all… Read More
Musician, performer, and educator Joseph Macerollo is one of the talented accordion players who joins us for Squeezebox on February 10. Alongside his protégé Michael Bridge, Joseph will explore a selection of contemporary works, including several which were commissioned specifically for him, like La Testa d’Adriane by Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer. As an educator, Joseph… Read More
Canadian accordion champion and winner of the University of Toronto Concerto Competition, Michael Bridge uniquely fuses classical, pop-rock, jazz and world music. He is one of the talented artists featured in Squeezebox on February 10, which explores the accordion and its family members in an exotic cross-cultural carnival. Michael made his solo orchestral debut with the… Read More
She reflects on the apparent chasm between pop culture and high art, her latest role in Canadian Stage’s Julie, and why she strayed from the predictable path of a rising opera talent. Check it out here: Q Interview: Soprano Sharleen Joynt on operatic bliss and life post Bachelor.
Baritone Clarence Frazer pursued a career in opera because he couldn’t imagine his life without music. He studied opera at Western University, then joined the Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists Program, where he played Count Gil (Il segreto di Susanna), Ramiro (L’heure espangol) and Dottore Grenvil (La Traviata). He is also an alum of the Canadian Opera Company’s… Read More
Canadian mezzo soprano Lucia Cervoni has been described by The Globe and Mail as, “Tall and statuesque, she has a voice on the darker side, and blessed with this natural color, she has a distinctive sound that should take her far.” Lucia has been hailed by critiques around the globe as possessing a voice and presence… Read More