A dynamic presence in the orchestral world, Peter Oundjian continues to make his mark as one of today’s most exciting faces on the conducting scene.

At the beginning of his tenure, Mr. Oundjian created the now-annual New Creations Festival. His probing musicality, collaborative spirit, and engaging personality have earned him accolades from musicians and critics alike.

Performances:

April 9: Oiseaux Exotiques
April 12: Keyboard Innovation
April 16 and 17: Turangalîla Symphony

Born in Amsterdam, Reinbert de Leeuw's musical activities cover a wide field: Conductor, composer, and pianist. Since 1974 he has been conductor and music director of the Schönberg Ensemble. He is also an author of a book on Charles Ives, a book of musical essays, and has collaborated on eight film documentaries of twentieth-century composers including Messiaen, Ligeti, and Sofia Gubaidulina.

Performances:

April 9: Oiseaux Exotiques
April 12: Keyboard Innovation

Yefim Bronfman is widely regarded as one of the most talented virtuoso pianists performing today. His commanding technique and exceptional lyrical gifts have won him consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences worldwide, whether for his solo recitals, his prestigious orchestral engagements, or his rapidly growing catalogue of recordings.

Performances:

April 9: Esa-Pekka Salonen Piano Concerto (Canadian première)

Recognized as an artist of passion and integrity, American pianist Peter Serkin is one of the most thoughtful and individualistic musicians appearing before the public today. Throughout his career he has successfully conveyed the essence of five centuries of repertoire and his performances with symphony orchestras, recital appearances, chamber music collaborations, and recordings are respected worldwide.

Performances:

April 9: Olivier Messiaen Couleurs de la cité céleste, Oiseaux Exotiques
April 12: Olivier Messiaen Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine

Annalee Patipatanakoon, violin
Roman Borys, cello
Jamie Parker, piano

Celebrating their 15th anniversary season, the Gryphon Trio continues to delight audiences around the globe. Their celebrated recordings include works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Lalo, and Shostakovich. With a strong commitment to expanding the piano trio repertoire, the Trio has commissioned and premiered over 40 works. Their 2004 recording, Canadian Premières, features the work of leading Canadian composers and was awarded a Juno. Their most recent recording, Schubert’s Complete Piano Trios, represents their ninth CD for the Analekta label.

Performances:

April 12: Jeffrey Ryan Equilateral (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra/Toronto Symphony Orchestra co-commission)

Montréal native Marc-André Hamelin is internationally renowned for his musical virtuosity and refined pianism.

Mr. Hamelin began the 2007-2008 season in débuts with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood for Beethoven "Emperor" Piano Concerto No. 5 led by Jens Georg Bachmann, and at the Mostly Mozart Festival performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K. 453 with Louis Langrée. In recital this season, Mr. Hamelin débuts with Great Performers Series at Lincoln Center, with Chicago Symphony Presents, at the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, at Mostly Mozart, and with the Celebrity Series of Boston. He performs in chamber concerts with Midori at at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and at the Kennedy Center, returns to San Francisco Performances for a two-recital series, and performs recitals throughout Europe and North America.

Performances:

April 16 and 17: Olivier Messiaen Turangalîla Symphony

Olivier Latry, titular organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, is one of the world’s most distinguished organists, not only in France, but also in the international community as well. He was born in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France in 1962, and began his study of piano at the age of 7, and his study of the organ at age 12; he later attended the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, studying organ with Gaston Litaize. From 1981-1985 Olivier Latry was titular organist of Meaux Cathedral and at age 23 he won a competition to become one of the three titular organists of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. From 1990-1995 he taught organ at the Academy of Music at St. Maur-des-Fossés, where he succeeded his teacher, Gaston Litaize. Since 1995 he has taught at the Paris Conservatory, where he has succeeded Michel Chapuis.

Performaces:

April 16 and 17: Jacques Hétu Concerto for Organ, Op. 68

A student of the french ondist Jeanne Loriod and Maurice Martenot, Jean Laurendeau has been guest artist with most of the major North American orchestras (Montréal, Toronto, New-York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Miami, Houston, Milwaukee, Saint Louis, Minneapolis, Cincinati, etc.), also with European orchestras (Concertgebouw, Orchestre National de France, Norddeucher Rundfunk Orchestra of Hambourg), and with the NHK in Tokyo. He performed with renowned conductors such as Seiji Ozawa, Charles Dutoit, Hans Vonk, Kurt Masur, Michael Tilson Thomas, Karel Ancerl, Christoph Eschenbach, James Conlon and Sir Andrew Davis.

Performances:

April 12: Olivier Messiaen Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine
April 16 and 17: Olivier Messiaen Turangalîla Symphony

Elmer Iseler Singers
Dr. Lydia Adams, Artistic Director and Conductor

Based in Toronto, the Elmer Iseler Singers has performed throughout Canada, the US, as well as internationally since its début performance in 1979. Now conducted by Dr. Lydia Adams, the group was founded by and nurtured under the direction of the late Dr. Elmer Iseler, the "Dean of Canadian Choral Conductors".

Through it's 29 year history of recordings, publications, live concerts, master classes, workshops, and broadcasts - both on radio & television and now through the internet, the E.I.S. continues to be the leader in the development of professionalism in choral music in Canada for the betterment of community participation and performance, enhancing lives through singing. Elmer Iseler Singers have been the recipients of numerous awards including the 1997 Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts and the Grand Prix du Disque for "Serenade in Harmony".

Amadeus Choir

Founded 31 years ago, the Amadeus Choir, currently under the direction of Conductor and Artistic Director Lydia Adams, is in its 13th season as Choir-in-Residence at the George Weston Recital Hall of the Toronto Centre for the Arts. The Choir has become known for its professionalism, exceptional musicality, diverse and high-quality programming, and warm beautiful sound. During her 21 years as Conductor and Artistic Director, the Choir has grown significantly in size and reputation to become one of Canada’s pre-eminent choral groups. The 100 auditioned members of the Choir perform a regular series of concerts in the Recital Hall, as well as at carefully selected downtown venues, presenting well-known artists in works by Canadian and international composers, including major works with instrumental ensembles or full orchestra, and challenging a cappella performances.

Performances:

April 12: Olivier Messiaen Trois petites liturgies de la Présence Divine

Renowned keyboard artist Anthony Newman has made countless solo appearances at many of the world’s most prestigious venues – more than 50 at Lincoln Center alone. He has conducted many great chamber orchestras, including those of Los Angeles, New York, and St. Paul. A prolific composer, his catalogue includes keyboard, vocal, and chamber music, as well as orchestral, operatic, and choral works. His compositions have been heard in New York, Paris, Vienna, London, Krakow, among other cities. In concert and recordings, he has collaborated with many ‘greats’ of music including Kathleen Battle, Itzhak Perlman, James Levine, and Wynton Marsalis. Dr. Newman studied in Paris with Alfred Cortot, Nadia Boulanger, and Pierre Cochereau and holds degrees from Mannes College of Music, Harvard University, and Boston University. He is Music Director and fundraiser of Bach Works, New York’s only all-Bach organization; and is currently Music Director of the Bedford Chamber Series at St. Matthew’s Church in Bedford, NY.

Performances:

April 12: Philip Glass Harpsichord Concerto (Canadian première)

Alexander Sevastian (accordion, piano, and bandoneon) is three-time first prizewinner of the International Accordion Competition.

Born in Minsk, Belarus, Alexander began his studies on the accordion at the age of seven. In 1991 he attended the Glinka Musical College in Minsk. His advanced studies took him to the Gnessin Academy of Music in Moscow where he received his Masters in Performance degree, studying with renowned performer and pedagogue, Friedrich Lips. While at the Academy, Alex also studied piano, conducting, and philosophy.

Mr. Sevastian began his professional career in Moscow in 1996, performing with the Russian Radio Orchestra. Since then, he has performed as recitalist and soloist with orchestra throughout Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

In May 2003 Alex completed the Advanced Certificate in Performance program at the University of Toronto where he studied with Quartetto Gelato's previous accordionist Joseph Macerollo.

Performances:

April 9: Malcolm Forsyth Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra