• Vit Muzik, violin
  
• Kerry Stratton, conductor

Toronto Philharmonia, Chorus, Soloists

• Allison Cecilia Arends, soprano
• Leigh-Anne Martin, mezzo soprano
• Nicolae Raiciu, violin
• Torin Chiles, tenor

Vit Muzik, violin

Born in 1972. First violin teacher was Mr. M. Kurowski at the Elementary school of Art in Vitkov, Czech Republic. Studied at the Ostrava Conservatory under the leadership of Prof. Ladislav Gorula. Graduated his conservatory studies at J.P.Vejvanovski Conservatoire Kromeriz, Czech Republic. Was accepted at the Mannes College of Music New York, continued his studies at the University of Music Cincinnatti under the liedership of Prof. Kurt Sassmanshaus and Prof. Dorothy Delay. Graduated from Music festival in Aspen, USA. (Prof. Kurt Sassmanshaus).Was granted the Master of classical music degree from Contenbury University, England. Graduated from Prague Mozart Academy founded by European Mozart foundation Paris, where one of many profesors also was Sandor Vegh.

1997-2004 served as 2nd Concertmaster in Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc. Leader and principal violinist of Gamavilla string quartet. From 2004 became 1st. Concertmaster in Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra Olomouc. As a guest - concertmaster also works at Moravian-Silesian Theatre Olomouc, Festival Symphony Orkestra de Umbria Italy and many others. From 2004 became an artistic director of Camerata Moravia Chamber Orchestra. Frequently records modern violin music, mostly under the label of Vienna Modern Masters.

Kerry Stratton, conductor

Official Website:www.kerrystratton.com

"Kerry Stratton is an extroverted conductor and all the music followed his lead towards drama, contrast and clarity." - Stanley Fefferman, Showtimemagazine.com

Orchestral conductor Kerry Stratton brings a new world dynamism to old world music.

His performances are featured on some of the world's top labels. He regularly visits Europe and Asia, performing and touring with many of its orchestras, and bringing some of the best of them to Canada on tour. He is music director for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, a well-established summer arts festival, and founded and tours an orchestra, the Grand Salon, which is winning fans with the sophisticated and sensual salon music of the 1920s and '30s. These are only some of the many sides of Kerry Stratton the musician.

In June 2007, the Czech Republic honoured Maestro Stratton in Prague with its prestigious Gratias Agit Award. The prize is given to exceptional persons who have made a significant contribution to promoting Czech culture. Among the previous recipients are former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Czech film director Milos Forman (Amadeus); Czech-Canadian industrialist Tomas Bata; and Olympic Gold Medalist, cross-country skier Katerina Neumannova.

A devotee of Eastern-European music and orchestras, with a particular fondness for Czech music, Maestro Stratton explains his affinity for things Czech: "There is something about the peculiar Czech melancholy which I find distinctly Irish," adding, "Somehow, in Prague, I feel as if they know me. I am at home." Even before his 2007 Award, his service to both Czech and Slovak culture earned him the Jan Masaryk Award in 2000 from the Czechoslovak Association of Canada.

Music and musicians from Eastern Europe figure prominently in his recorded repertoire. Slavonic Serenades, on Dorian Records – which the Washington Post called "a delight" – features him conducting the Moscow Symphony in music by Czech and Russian composers. Also on Dorian is Alan Hovhaness' Celestial Fantasy, in which Maestro Stratton conducts the Slovak Radio Orchestra. For ARS Produktion in Europe and Universal in North America, he leads the Prague Radio Orchestra in an all-Dvorak program.

Committed to broadening the repertoire of both concert and recorded orchestral music, he also conducted the world premiere recording of Franz Liszt's De Profundis with the Hungarian State Symphony on the Hungaroton label. Sony Korea is soon to release his all-Brahms CD with the Grammy Award-winning Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra.

In the course of his international career, Kerry Stratton has conducted orchestras in Europe, North America and Asia. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia alone, he has appeared with many orchestras, including the Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic and Slovak State Philharmonic. He served also as Principal Guest Conductor with the Karlsbad Symphony of the Czech Republic. Added to these are the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra, Zagreb Philharmonic, the Budapest Concert Orchestra, the Concert-Verein Orchestra of the famed Vienna Symphony, and more. In January 2001, he became the first Canadian to conduct the St. Petersburg Camerata in the Hermitage Theatre at the Winter Palace.

Asian audiences have enjoyed his performances with the Prime Philharmonic in Seoul, Korea, the Beijing Symphony in the Forbidden City, and the National Symphony in Taiwan.

His North American engagements have taken him to the Mexican State Symphony Orchestra, across the U.S.A., and to a number of Canada's orchestras.

In his Toronto home base, since 1988 Kerry Stratton has been Conductor and Music Director of the Toronto Philharmonia, the orchestra-in-residence at the Toronto Centre for the Arts. During his tenure, Maestro Stratton has developed the orchestra from an amateur ensemble to a fully professional ensemble, with a season of main series concerts, educational programs, fundraisers and a province-wide touring schedule. The orchestra has introduced audiences to exciting young singers and instrumentalists, as well as such notable guest conductors as Italian film composer and conductor Alessio Vlad, and Leos Svarovsky of the Prague Symphony Orchestra.

The orchestra also commissions and premieres works by Canadian composers. Three are coming up in 2007-08 alone – Awakening, a concerto for erhu and orchestra by Lee Pui Ming; Requiem for Cecilia Zhang for children's choirs and orchestra by Kousitsky; and Concerto for Orchestra by Serge Arcuri.

Not content to confine himself to the standard repertoire, in 2006 Maestro Stratton founded the 21-piece Grand Salon, Canada's Palm Court Orchestra. It recreates the elegant salon era of the early 20th century, with irresistible music by the likes of Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter. A hit wherever it performs, the orchestra has even inspired audience members to leap up and dance to the infectious rhythms.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts also enjoys the talents of Maestro Stratton, who has been its Music Director since 1992. Held in July in Ontario's cottage country, the Festival features a professional orchestra-in-residence, accompanying acclaimed soloists. Maestro Stratton will conduct a Last Night at the Proms concert on July 22, 2007. He will also conduct a program called La belle époque at the Cedar Ridge Festival on August 11, 2007.

Kerry Stratton is on a lifelong mission to share his knowledge and passion with as wide an audience as possible. Through his company, International Touring Productions, he has created Canadian tours for such renowned orchestras as the Georg Solti Orchestra of Budapest; the Vienna Concert-Verein and, in October 2007, the Czech Philharmonic. Arrangements are being finalized to bring over the Orchestra Internationale d'Italia in 2008.

To help develop audiences and expand their appreciation of music, Maestro Stratton created a highly successful adult education course called A Little Night Music. Its innovative format offers lectures, discussions and live performances, in an intimate and non-intimidating atmosphere. Since launching in 1998, it has attracted more than 1,000 participants.

Maestro Stratton grew up in rural Ontario, where his grandfather would redirect the television antenna – in those days before cable TV – across Lake Ontario at northern New York State, so that he could watch Leonard Bernstein's famed orchestral concerts. His first instrument was the violin, but conducting was always his goal. After earning his degree in conducting from McGill University in Montreal, he went on to complete graduate studies at the Vienna Conservatory under Sir Charles Mackerras, the Academia Chigiana in Siena, Italy with Franco Ferrara, and L'École Pierre Monteux in Maine with Charles Bruck.

Kerry Stratton sums up the joy of his life in music: "Irish poet Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy wrote, ‘We are the music-makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams.' How fortunate to be able to work in this field and in a position to help other people dream their dreams."

Allison Cecilia Arends, Soprano

Official Website: www.allisonarends.com

Lyric Coloratura Soprano, Allison Cecilia Arends, is quickly making her mark in the Canadian music scene as a singer who has “charmed listeners with her lyrical upper tones” (Opera Canada, Winter 2009). Previously featured on the cover of Ontario’s Whole Note Magazine, she is noted as having a “voice [that] is stunningly beautiful, [which] she uses… with intelligence and great sensitivity” (Hnatyshyn Foundation press release, July 2007). Upcoming performances this season include a Mardi Gras opera concert at Saint James Cathedral in February; a concert of opera favourites entitled Songs of Love and Passion at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in February; chorus in Le Nozze di Figaro with Opera Atelier in April and May; Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI); Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme for the Highlands Opera Studio in August and September in Haliburton, Ontario. She will also join Univox Choir and the Sneak Peak Orchestra for Faure’s Requiem in February and the Annex Singers for Orff’s Carmina Burana in April. In recital, she will join pianist Norman Reintamm for a concert of Estonian selections in Toronto in February; Timothy Eaton Memorial Church’s Opera Tea series for a concert with pianist Marty Smyth in May; Toronto’s Birthday Series for a recital of Richard Strauss Lieder at Haleconian Hall in June; and an afternoon recital at Saint James Cathedral this winter. In March, she will also travel to Regina for a chamber music recital with trumpeter Miles Newman, flutist Tara Semple, and organist Hart Godden and a joint recital with Alicia Woynarski, mezzo-soprano and Rachel Andrist, piano. Next season, she looks forward to singing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy with the Toronto Philharmonia in October; Handel’s Messiah with the Regina Symphony Orchestra in December; as well as joining Calgary Opera for their Emerging Artist Development Program. She has also been engaged by the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg to sing in recital in 2011.

Ms Arends’ opera credits include Musetta in La Boheme, Adele and Ida in Die Fledermaus, Lucy in The Telephone, Ginevra in Handel’s Ariodante, Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Madame Herz in The Impresario, Dortchen Wild in Dean Burry’s The Brothers Grimm, and the Angel, King’s Mistress, and Witch in R. Murray Schafer’s The Children’s Crusade. In concert, Ms. Arends has appeared as a soloist in Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Handel’s Messiah; Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore; Bach’s Saint John Passion, Magnificat, Mass in B minor, and Cantata 209; Haydn’s Creation; Vivaldi’s Gloria; Faure’s Requiem; Mendelssohn’s Elijah; Rutter’s Magnificat; Beethoven’s Mass in C; and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater. She has sung with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Philharmonia, Chorus Niagara, Scarborough’s Cathedral Bluffs Orchestra, the University of Victoria Orchestra, Tryptych Opera, Soundstreams, the Toronto Concert Opera Group, Opera By Request, the University of Toronto Opera School, and Saskatoon Opera. In recital, she has sung for the Aldeburgh Connection, the Wagner Society, the Arts and Letters Club, Opera IS, the University of Toronto New Music Festival, and the Canadian Opera Company’s noon hour series at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre.

Allison was named a Jeune Ambassadeur Lyrique Laureate both in 2007 and 2009. In 2007, she competed in the Spazio Musica International Competition for Singers in Orvieto, Italy, where she placed third. She also represented Canada in Sicily’s Concorso Internazionale per Cantanti Lirici, where she was judged by Dame Joan Sutherland and Maestro Richard Bonynge. Other awards include a Wagner Society Scholarship (2008), Hnatyshyn Foundation Governor General’s Award for Classical Voice (2007), a British Columbia Arts Council Senior Award (2007), the Johann Strauss Scholarship for study in Austria (2005), first place in the Gordon C. Wallis Opera Competition (2004), and various other awards and scholarships through the University of Toronto and the Canadian Opera Volunteer’s Committee, including the Holbrook Opera Tour Graduating Award. A recipient of the Encouragement Award at the 2005 Western Canadian Metropolitan Opera auditions, Ms. Arends has been recorded and broadcast by CBC Radio.

Ms Arends completed a Masters of Music at the University of Toronto Opera School under the esteemed tutelage of Mary Morrison, OC, with whom she now continues private studies. A graduate of the University of Victoria Voice Performance program, Allison has studied in the studios of Alexandra Browning and Selena James. She has also participated in the Highlands Opera Studio (2009), the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel (2008), the Song and Scenes Program with Queen of Puddings Music Theatre in Toronto (2008), the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (2007), the Banff Opera as Theatre program (2006), the Franz Schubert-Institut in Baden bei Wien, Austria (2005), and the Stuttgart Festival International Choir under the direction of Maestro Helmuth Rilling (2004). She also joined Toronto’s Eglinton St. George United Church Choir last summer as a soloist and choir member in their tour of the major cathedrals of Italy. She has sung in masterclasses with Stephen Pickover, Timothy Noble, Richard Margison, John Fanning, Joan Dornemann, Martin Katz, Carol Vaness, Michael Schade, Martin Isepp, Håkan Hagegård, Edith Wiens, Elly Ameling, Rudolf Jansen, Wolfgang Holzmair, Helmut Deutsch, Walter Moore, Jorma Hynninen, Robert Tear, Stuart Hamilton, Rosmarie Landry, Selena James, and Darryl Edwards.

Leigh-Anne Martin, Mezzo soprano

Mezzo soprano, Leigh-Anne Martin grew up in Barrie, where her family still resides. She recently graduated from York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts with an honours degree in music. Her voice studies there were under the direction of the renowned mezzo soprano, Catherine Robbin. Ms. Robbin first heard Leigh-Anne sing at the Barrie Kiwanis Festival and has taken a special interest in her development since then. A prize-winner in numerous music festivals and National Association of Teachers of Singing Auditions, Miss Martin has also been the recipient of several scholarships and bursaries during her undergraduate studies at York University. She was frequently selected as a soloist in choral concerts at York, such as Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Bach’s Cantata Wachet auf. At York University, she also had the opportunity to perform in master classes with such guest teachers as Nancy Argenta,Ingrid Attrot, Russell Braun, Delia Wallis and Emile Belcourt.

Leigh-Anne, who now lives in Toronto, looks forward to performance opportunities and further study in Canada and abroad. She is delighted to have the opportunity to perform in recital at home in Barrie.

Nicolae Raiciu, Baritone

Romanian born, dramatic baritone, Nicolae Raiciu began studying the violin at the age of seven. After completing his high school studies he gravitated towards opera and operatic vocal training. He was a voice student at the Romanian Musical University where he graduated with honours. Soon after, he was engaged at the Bucharest Opera where he became one of the young and rising stars.

Mr Raiciu and his family moved to Canada in 1992. In 1994 he performed Escamillo in Carmen with Opera Mississaugua. Since 2000 he has been a member of the chorus with the Canadian Opera Company where he often covers lead roles such as: Don Alvaro in Il Viaggio a Reims, Tomsky Pique Dame, Scarpia in Tosca, Alberich in Siegfried and Count di Luna in Il Trovatore.

Most recently, in the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Siegfried, Mr. Raiciu had the wonderful opportunity of stepping in to the role of Alberich and subsequently performed the last 2 performances to great acclaim.

This spring he performed the roles of Schlemil, Crespel and Luther in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Opéra de Québec. In July 2005, Mr. Raiciu will be going on tour with the Kitchener-Waterloo Philharmonic performing in France and Spain.

Torin Chiles, tenor

Torin Chiles (tenor) wears many hats. As a performer Mr. Chiles’ active performing career has spanned 20 years and his resume is replete with engagements from North American Symphonies and Opera Companies. He has recently been featured on CBC Television's Opening Night as McAlpine in the critically acclaimed new Canadian opera, Filumena. His operatic credits include: Count Almaviva and Pinkerton for the Opera Lyra at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and for the Manitoba Opera Association, Pang for L'Opera de Montreal, Arizona Opera, Vancouver Opera Association, Calgary, Edmonton and the Manitoba Opera Association. He has played the Magician in the Consul for the Florentine Opera company in Milwaukee, the Manitoba Opera Association and twice for L'Opera de Montreal where he has also been featured as Bob Boles in their highly successful Peter Grimes. Other performances have included MacDuff in Winnipeg, Tom Rakewell and Rodolfo in Toronto. Mr. Chiles has often been featured on the CBC Saturday Afternoon at the Opera broadcasts as both artists and panelist. Over the past twenty years Mr. Chiles has performed for every major opera company in Canada and most Canadian orchestras.

Torin Chiles is also a seasoned performer of Operetta and Music Theatre repertoire. He has performed Gilbert and Sullivan roles for The Winnipeg Symphony, the Manitoba Opera Association, and the Festival of the Sound. He is also featured on a CBC SM5000 recording entitled A Gilbert and Sullivan Gala with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra under Bramwell Tovey. Mr. Chiles has performed Music Theatre "Pops" concerts with several Canadian orchestras including the Winnipeg Symphony, the Hamilton Philharmonic and the National Arts Centre Orchestra and he has portrayed Operetta roles such as: Orpheus in Orpheus in the Underworld for the Toronto Operetta Theatre (TOT), Camille in the Merry Widow for the Regina Symphony, the Windsor Symphony and TOT. Mr. Chiles has been involved with the development and premiers of new music, opera projects such as Luis Applebaum's Erewhon, John Beckwith's Taptoo, Timothy Sullivan's The Lady of the Lamp and recently John Estacio's Filumena.

As a pedagogue, adjudicator, examiner and clinician Mr. Chiles is in ever increasing demand. He has served as a full-time voice faculty member at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario since 2004 (currently serving as the Voice Division Coordinator) and he began his teaching career at UWO in 1999. Mr. Chiles teaches the Vocal Pedagogy course at UWO and has presented public lectures this year as part of the interdisciplinary Music and Medicine series in London, Ontario. A NATS member since 1999, Mr. Chiles currently serves as president of the Ontario Chapter of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing).

Now residing in London, Ontario with his wife, Lesley and their two young sons (Nawton and Tennyson), Torin Chiles is the Director of Music for a thriving and exciting music ministry at New St. James Presbyterian Church in downtown London.

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