Our Emerging Composer Workshop (ECW) has seen major growth over the past few years. Now entering its fourth year, the workshop attracts composers from all over the world. This year marks an important milestone, with world-renowned composer Steve Reich serving as visiting guest mentor, Peter Hatch as local mentor, and a group of six composer… Read More
Canadian composer Emilie LeBel is a frequent collaborator with Soundstreams, and we are excited to announce that she is our 2016 TD SoundMakers Composer in Residence! In her new role with us, Emilie will be composing a work for community choirs in collaboration with Jumblies Theatre. Emilie is active in the music community in various capacities: composing,… Read More
The Toy Piano Composers This is the last of a three-part series highlighting some of the most exciting big music coming from small places, featuring some of Toronto’s foremost “indie” new music presenters. Check out part one, and part two. In the digitally-fueled D.I.Y. generation, artist collectives have become fully-functional micro presenters, producing incredible audience experiences keeping more… Read More
FAWN Chamber Creative This is the second of a three-part series highlighting some of the most exciting big music coming from small places, featuring some of Toronto’s foremost “indie” new music presenters. Check out part one, and part three. Artist-driven collectives play an important role in the ecology of arts presenters in Canada. They face incredible environmental challenges… Read More
Music in the Barns This is the first of a three-part series featuring some of Toronto’s foremost “indie” new music presenters. Check out part two, and part three. One of the things that I enjoy about my work at Soundstreams is the way that it naturally intersects with my broader activities in the arts community…. Read More
Since this is my first Soundstreams blog post I thought I would quickly introduce myself. My name is Katerina (Kat) and I am interning at Soundstreams this summer. I am a composer, improviser, and singer (among other things), born and raised in the GTA. During the year I study music at school and next month… Read More
The participants of the 2015 Emerging Composer Workshop, from left-to-right: mentors Jean-Baptiste Barrière and Kaija Saariaho; composer James O'Callaghan; Soundstreams Associate Director of External Relations Ben Dietschi; flutist Leslie Newman; composer Santa Bušs; violinist Stephen Sitarski; composer Tawnie Olson; composer Núria Giménez-Comas; composer Oren Boneh; composer Helga Arias; singer Carla Huhtanen; workshop facilitator Adam Scime What happens… Read More
James O'Callaghan will be one of six composers chosen for this year's Emerging Composer Workshop, taking place May 14 to 24, and featuring guest mentors Kaija Saariaho and Jean-Baptiste Barrière. James is a composer and sound artist based in Montréal, who is praised for his “mastery of materials and musical form” (Electromania, Radio France) and “highly refined… Read More
Tawnie Olson will be one of six composers chosen for this year's Emerging Composer Workshop, taking place May 14 to 24, and featuring guest mentors Kaija Saariaho and Jean-Baptiste Barrière. Described as “especially glorious… ethereal” by The Whole Note, and “a highlight of the concert” by The Boston Musical Intelligencer, the music of Canadian composer Tawnie Olson… Read More
The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) Photo credit: Carrie Schneider The Drama Department of Etobicoke School for the Arts (ESA) is presenting A Doll’s House from February 20 to 28 at The Theatre Centre, at the same time as The Whisper Opera. In preparation for sharing the backstage this February, students from ESA asked the International Contemporary… Read More
Applications to Soundstreams’ 2015 Emerging Composer Workshop are now open! We are thrilled to share that we will be hosting two visiting international guest mentors in 2015: prominent Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and pioneering electronic-music composer Jean-Baptiste Barrière. Combined, they represent a complete spectrum of approaches between acoustic, electroacoustic, and electronic music—perfect for today’s aspiring composers who are… Read More
Our new SoundMakers Composer In Residence is Canadian Aaron Gervais. Based in San Francisco, Aaron enjoys frequent performances of his work by leading ensembles, presenters, and festivals in North America and Europe. His output focuses primarily on chamber music and opera but also includes orchestral music, live electronics, solo works, and music for theatre and dance…. Read More
Alec Hall, one of the participants in the 2014 Soundstreams Emerging Composer Workshop, discusses Death in Venice, his new work composed expressly for the workshop and gives us clues that give us context for this piece. Over the past few years, my interests have moved away from music that locates itself within traditional paradigms of… Read More
André Mestre is one of the 6 participants in the upcoming Soundstreams Emerging Composer Workshop under the direction of composers Ye Xiaogang, Juliet Palmer and the Cecilia Quartet as resident ensemble. André discusses Corpo Confesso, the work he will be working during the workshop and gives us an insight into his creative process. Ever since I… Read More
Kyle Brenders: I have a tendency to think of musicals as Fosse and Broadway but I have a feeling this isn’t what Acting Up Stage produces. Could you tell us a little bit about your company and how it fosters “new” musical theatre? Mitchell Marcus: While large-scale commercial musicals are certainly a key part of… Read More
Nic Gotham, a wonderfully inventive composer and performer, died last Thursday, July 25, 2013. Nic had an insatiable curiosity about all things musical and otherwise – his enthusiasm was infectious – but above all, he was kind, gentle and thoughtful in all his relationships. I visited Nic at the hospice a couple of weeks ago, and… Read More
This was my third time during University Voices with the Calixa Lavallee Singers from the University of Ottawa. One thing I can confidently say about this project is that it has been a different experience every year I have participated since 2008. The days often included 6 hour rehearsals followed by choristers going shopping or… Read More
Last week, for five days, 120 choristers came together for 21 hours of rehearsal to create University Voices. Under the direction of Kaspars Putnins, this group sang alongside the Latvian Radio Choir, one of the premiere choral ensembles in the world. The experience was thrilling: being part of Ana Sokolovic’s ASAP 4 SATB (a world… Read More