Barrie Concerts

100 Voices - Pax Christi Chorale

October 22, 2011

Pax Christi Chorale was founded in the fall of 1987, inspired by the success of an ad hoc choir assembled for the Toronto celebration of the 1986 Bicentennial of Mennonites in Canada. Over the years, the choir has grown from about 35 to 80, including both Mennonites and singers from various faith traditions and cultures. Stephanie Martin has been Artistic Director since the choir’s 10th season, building on the work of former conductors Robert Loewen, Lee Bartel and John Ford. Stephanie led the choir in its first experience of singing with a large orchestra, for Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem and Benjamin Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb. As part of our 20th anniversary initiatives in 2007, we hired our first Assistant Conductor, Stuart Sladden, and launched the Pax Christi Chamber Choir. Both choirs were semi-finalists in the 2008 CBC National Choral Competition.

Tchaikovsky Spectacular

November 5, 2011

Kerry Stratton has conducted orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia. Maestro Stratton is the Conductor of the Toronto Concert Orchestra, the Grand Salon Orchestra, and Conductor & Music Director of Wish Opera.

Pianist Lang Ning Liu brings an introspective approach to both the contemporary and classical repertoire, with performances that couple breathtaking technical mastery with profound and eloquent musicality. Her uncommon artistic range and the compelling immediacy of her interpretations offer listeners distinctively original concert experiences. Anthony Tommasini of New York Times hailed her as "a sensitive, extremely compelling artist", and praised her "elegant pianism, warmth and artistic maturity". Musical America has remarked on her "miraculous strength and confident breadth."

Silent Night - Czech Boys Choir

November 26, 2011

The Czech Boys Choir from the city of Hradec Kralove in North Bohemia, maintains the famous traditions of boychoir singing in the Czech territory as it began in the 13th century with the first boys’ choir at the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. Current artistic director, Jakub Martinec, began singing as a child with the first boys’ choir established in the region by Jiri and Kveta Skopal in 1982.

• Jakub Martinec, conductor

Strings on Fire

January 14, 2012

International Chamber Soloists is the unique group of extraordinary young string players from all over the world. There are musicians from Russia, Bulgaria, Belarus, Latvia, Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and US. What brings them together is love and dedication to Music.

• Dmitri Berlinsky, conductor

Pergolesi’s Inspiring Stabat Mater

February 4, 2012

Daniel Taylor is recognized as "Canada’s star countertenor" and "Canada’s most prolific recording artist".

Originally, Emma Kirkby had no expectations of becoming a professional singer. As a classics student at Oxford and then a schoolteacher she sang for pleasure in choirs and small groups, always feeling most at home in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire. She joined the Taverner Choir in 1971 and in 1973 began her long association with the Consort of Musicke.

The Choir and Orchestra of the Theatre of Early Music is an ensemble of some of the world’s finest musicians, sharing a particular passion for early music. Its formation is the result of a search by instrumentalists and singers for opportunities that would allow devotion and dedication to enter into the creative process.

Russian Masters

March 10, 2012

The KWS was formed in 1945, the brainchild of Dr. Glenn Kruspe, then-director of the Philharmonic Choir, who suggested forming an orchestra to play for a choir performance in April of that year. The performance was an overwhelming triumph, with over 2000 people in attendance. Spurred on by this success, the orchestra decided to stage a sold-out solo concert in October 1945. Until 1950, the orchestra performed three concerts every year. Between 1950 and 1972, there was a huge increase to 14 concerts per season. Today, the KWS performs over 90 concerts every season to a combined audience of over 90,000 concert-goers. Nationally acclaimed, the KWS is the cultural centrepiece of the Waterloo Region. Comprehensive school programs, free concerts at hospitals, soup kitchens, and seniors’ homes are offered every year to the community. The KWS also supports the activities of a Youth Orchestra Program, which involves five distinct ensembles: Preludium Strings, Youth Strings, Youth Sinfonia, Youth Orchestra and Valhalla Brass. Its musicians range in age from eight to 24, and number over 100.

• Peter Longworth, Pianist
• Larry Larson, Trumpeter

Legendary Canadian Brass

April 28, 2012 - Bonus Concert

"...put brass music on the map...unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humour..." - Washington Post

“These are the men who put brass music on the map: with their unbeatable blend of virtuosity, spontaneity and humor, they brighten the rosters of concert halls, international festivals and orchestra series throughout the world. Their numerous recordings, frequent television appearances and tireless efforts in the realm of music education have resulted in vast new audiences for the art of the Canadian Brass.” Washington Post Five tremendous brass musicians — each a virtuoso in his own right — form the legendary Canadian Brass. With an international reputation as one of the most popular brass ensembles today, Canadian Brass has truly earned the distinction of “the world’s most famous brass group.”