CMC Résonance Issue 2 #MakeAnImpact (English)

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CMC RÉSONANCE

CONTENTS 6

10

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15

News and Opportunities

Celebrating our Composers

In Memoriam

Regional Updates

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26

31

32

“If You Love It, You Have to Do It." JUNO winner, Anna Sokolovic’s resolve to forge her path

A Great Mindfulness: An interview with Nicole Rampersaud

CMC Music Services: New from the Library

New from Centrediscs

↑ Photo credit: Holly Nimmons. Book launch R. Murray Schafer. A Creative Life by L. Brett Scott, accompanied by the violinist Christopher Verrette and the pianist Rea Beaumont

ISSUE NO. 2

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL TEAM

CONTACT

their field. While we honour

Glenn Hodgins,

For comments, questions,

many women contemporary

President & CEO

and concerns about

composers, we chose a

CMC Résonance: info@

selection for this month,

cmccanada.org

many of whom are featured

Holly Nimmons,

in this issue. (l to r: Abigail

Director of Development & Communications Héloïse Amez-Droz,

For all general inquiries about

Richardson-Schulte, Jean

the CMC and its mission:

Coulthard, Ann Southam,

info@cmccanada.org

Janelle Fung, Louise Bessette, Ana Sokolović, Carmen

Development & If you wish to be featured

Braden, Violet Archer,

in the next issue of CMC

Sophie Eckahrdt-Grammaté,

DESIGNER

Résonance or want to

Hope Lee, Emily Doolittle,

Aimée Rochard

contribute: holly.nimmons@

Nicole Rampersaud, Barbara

cmccanada.org

Pentland).

Communications Assistant

CONTRIBUTORS Glenn Hodgins

COVER ART

Kathryn Knowles

This design was part of a

Laura Stanley

social media campaign in

Holly Nimmons

October 2019 to celebrate Women’s History Month in

TRANSLATOR

Canada. Initiated by Status

Sabrina Moella

of Women Canada, the 2019

@CMCNATIONAL

theme, #MakeAnImpact

@CMCNATIONAL

ADVERTISING

honoured the women and

@CANADIANMUSIC

Send inquiries to: holly.

girls who have made a

nimmons@cmccanada.org

lasting impact as pioneers in

CMCCANADA.ORG

REGIONAL OFFICES Atlantic | British Columbia | Ontario | Prairie | Québec

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CMC RÉSONANCE

LETTER FROM THE CEO From all of us at the Canadian Music Centre,

5. Education and outreach

we wish you a healthy, joyful and musical 2020!

6. Concert presentations focusing on Canadian composers

We start this year with a good deal of

7. Awards and showcase events

excitement about new initiatives, about

8. Export development through global

continuing to celebrate our Associate

tradeshows and conferences

Composers and contemporary music, and about strengthening services for music creation in Canada.

New Strategic Priorities

Engaging youth With great appreciation to The Azrieli Foundation, we will initiate a pan-Canadian project focussed on youth music-learning.

A new strategic plan sets our course for the

The project builds on CMC’s heritage

next 5 years. The plan is guided by the theme

from the early 1960s, when John Adaskin

“Honouring Our Heritage, Creating New

initiated a project to promote increased

Legacies”, with goals that include advancing

use of Canadian music in education and to

CMC’s leadership role in the contemporary

promote the composition of Canadian school

music community, and engaging children

music. The project will engage youth in

and youth in a pan-Canadian music-learning

their communities to learn about the value

program.

of musical creation to Canadian cultural heritage, and to empower an inclusive

As well, the CMC will continue to achieve its

generation of musical creators that reflects

mission, vision and purpose through eight

diverse cultures across Canada, including

pillars of services and activities.

Indigenous and marginalized communities.

This project works towards fostering the next

1. Library Services

generation of contemporary music creators,

2. Publishing, rentals and sales of

musicians, audiences and supporters.

exclusively Canadian composers 3. Recording and distribution services through Centrediscs and Centrestreams 4. Communication services

cmccanada.org Over the past 3 years, we have worked hard to upgrade and improve our new website.

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cmccanada.org is more robust, streamlined and easier to use than the former site. You will find a new library and e-commerce systems, updated search function and security measures.

What’s new from the CMC Library and Centrediscs We intend to provide readers with information about new scores that are recently available from CMC Library, Rental and Sales (pg 31). Centrediscs was very busy this past fall. We are excited about our Centredisc album releases (pg 32).

Welcome new Associate Composers We welcomed 28 new Associate Composers in 2019 (pg 10). For information about benefits of being an Associate Composer, eligibility and application process, please check out Become an Associate Composer.

The next deadline is March 15, 2020.

This will be an exciting year. We regularly update our website and social media platforms about concerts, events, programs and services. So, I hope you will stay connected as we work to serve musical creation in Canada.

Glenn Hodgins President & CEO

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CMC RÉSONANCE

AWARDS

THE HARRY FREEDMAN RECORDING AWARD Winners to be announced Spring 2020 The Harry Freedman Recording Award provides a cash prize ($3,000 CAD) to a winning composer in order to support the first commercial recording of a composition.

The Harry Freedman Award was established by the Freedman family to commemorate the legendary Canadian composer. The award contributes to the creative costs (rehearsal and editing of a piece), or the recording costs associated with making audio recordings of Canadian composers’ music for a confirmed future commercial release—in any physical and/or digital format.

Go to cmccanada.org for more info.

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OPPORTUNITIES CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Stay up to date with opportunities for composers Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects (ACNMP) National Student Composition Class invites budding composers to submit a work for adjudication/feedback

by JUNO-nominated composer Bekah Simms, associate of the Canadian Music Centre. The Louise MacPherson Memorial Award (amount of $400) will be given to a promising composer based on the recommendation of the adjudicator.

This class and award is made possible through partnership with the Canadian Music Centre.

Deadline: January 19, 2020

JOIN THE COMMUNITY We invite you to join our 900+ strong body of active Canadian composers!

Learn more about the valuable benefits of becoming a CMC Associate Composer.

LEARN MORE → SUBMISSION DETAILS →

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CMC RÉSONANCE

NEWS LOUISE BESSETTE RECOGNIZED WITH THE 2019 GOVERNOR GENERAL’S AWARD FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

By Barbara Scales Pianist Louise Bessette, daughter and grand-

programs reflecting numerous themes which

daughter of church organists has always

reflect her passions: nature, gardens, birds,

engaged in the act of playing her instrument,

the wonders of different locations places the

with a devotion to unlocking the secrets

globe reflecting their cultural variety, and of

behind the notes. Through her acquaintance

course her deep commitment to the music of

with her piano teacher Raoul Sosa , who is

Messiaen, his students and their students.

also a composer, her composer colleagues and the professors of composition at the

She performed the Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant-

Conservatoire de musique de Montréal,

Jésus, and the Quatuor pour la fin du Temps,

notably Gilles Tremblay, she rejoiced in bringing to life the intention and curiosity which prompted the notation of each phrase and the sometimes eccentric rhythmic structures which shaped them. These traits define her commitment to music to this day. Her engagement with living composers was recognized in her triumph at the 1981 Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition.

As her acquaintance with more and more works of composers from a variety of countries, traditions and periods spread she amused herself - and her public - with

↑ Photo credit: Shelagh Howard.

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OTHER NEWS various Messiaen “Birds”, the TurangalîlaSymphonie and in 2008, in order to mark his centenary, she organized a three month long celebration of the composer’s work including over 40 concerts and events, for organ, piano, and various ensembles, during which she herself performed the Quatuor pour la fin du Temps, ten times as well as a monumental performance of the Vingt Regards sur l’EnfantJésus.

Since then she has developed a taste for marathons including a concert to honour Gilles Tremblay of works by the master as well as nine of his students; a few years later,

ECKHARDT-GRAMATTÉ NATIONAL MUSIC COMPETITION CMC was proud to present the Toronto event of Brynn Blackwood’s cross-Canada winner’s tour. Brynn is the 2019 EckhardtGramatté National Music Competition winner.

His inspiring piano performance kicked off the 2019-2020 CMC Presents season, bringing Canadian piano music to audiences, including works from legendary composers Jean Coulthard and Jacques Hétu, as well as composers active today such as Brian Current.

she prepared a four-concert series in to mark the 25 years of the Chapelle historique du Bon-Pasteur, for which she played 25 different works by 25 different Montreal based composers – one for each year of the existence of la Chapelle.

Recognized in 2019 with the Governor General’s Award for the Performing Arts, Louise Bessette continues performing, recording, and supporting the explorations of the composers of our time and revealing their insights to audiences of the present and the future.

↑ Photo credit: Shelagh Howard.

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CMC RÉSONANCE

CELEBRATING OUR COMPOSERS

WELCOME 2019’S NEW ASSOCIATE COMPOSERS We are pleased to welcome 28 new AC

• James Lowrie

members to the CMC community. We are

• Gordon Monahan

in the process of setting up Composer

• Bonnie Penfound

Showcase pages for all new members. To

• Luis Ramirez

find new pages as they become available or

• Liam Ritz

to search for other Associate Composers,

• Ernest John Robertson

click here

• Aby Rojze

→

• Peter Skoggard

Quebec • Edward Enman • Émilie Girard-Charest

• Lieke Van Der Voort

British Columbia

• Laurence Jobidon

• Ross Alden (posthumous)

• Dominique Lupien

• Maria Eduarda Mendes Martins

• Vanessa Marcoux

• Anna Pidgorna

• Luis Ernesto Pena

• David Squires

• Matthew Ricketts

• Carl Winter

• Christian Thomas

Prairies Ontario • Howard John Alexander • Eliot Britton • Donald Cochrane • Rebekah K. Cummings (posthumous)

• R. Duane Hendricks

Atlantic • Bill Brennan

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LINDA CATLIN SMITH AND CASSANDRA MILLER The Guardian selected the best classical music works of the 21st century, which includes two CMC Associate Composers.

Congratulations Linda Catlin Smith for Piano Quintet (2014) and Cassandra Miller for Duet for cello and orchestra (2015).

↑ Linda Caitlin Smith, Photo: The Guardian

BECOME AN ASSOCIATE COMPOSER The CMC represents composers working in a variety of areas including concert music, music for instrumental and vocal ensembles, electroacoustic music, improvised music, educational music, music with other disciplines, and music that crosses a variety of genres and responds to different cultural influences.

LEARN MORE →

↑ Cassandra Miller, Photo: The Guardian

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CMC RÉSONANCE

IN MEMORIAM with his wife and son in 1974, where he lived until his death.

Colgrass’ compositions are known for their distinctive and quirky style, as they synthesize influences from both classical and jazz genres— this process ran parallel to a common interest among composers in Third Stream music that emerged during Colgrass’ early career. While he is best known for his works for orchestral

MICHAEL COLGRASS 1932-2019

and wind ensembles (with commissions from the Toronto Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, and many other organizations across North America), he

The Canadian Music Centre joins with Canadian

composed in almost every classical genre, and

and wider music communities to mourn the

his music appears on over fifteen recordings.

loss of Associate Composer Michael Colgrass.

His compositions have received many awards,

Colgrass passed away on July 2nd, 2019 at

including the 1978 Pulitzer Prize for Music,

the age of 87, having made immeasurable

an Emmy Award, First Prize in the Barlow

contributions to music, education and

and Sudler International Wind Ensemble

performance.

Competitions, and the 1988 Jules Leger Prize for Chamber Music.

Born in Brookfield, Illinois, Colgrass began his musical journey as a percussionist, but

Passionate about fostering the creativity of

eventually studied composition with Darius

others, Colgrass enjoyed leading workshops

Milhaud, Lukas Foss, and Ben Weber. After

for both children and professional musicians.

graduating from the University of Illinois in

He developed a method for teaching graphic

1954, he spent eleven years in New York as a

notation and composition to students that was

freelance percussionist and composer, where

adopted by schools in Nova Scotia, facilitated

he collaborated with Dizzy Gillespie, the New

a group composition for the Esprit Orchestra

York Philharmonic, and the American Ballet

by students from Toronto’s Rockcliffe Middle

Theatre among others. He moved to Toronto

School, and he lectured on performance and

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creativity at colleges and universities across North America.

Michael Colgrass’ compositions and mentorship have deeply impacted the Canadian music community, and his presence will be missed. His musical legacy will live on through the many recordings and continued performances of his work, as well as his memoirs and writings on creativity and education.

THANK YOU FOR READING CMC RÉSONANCE! We want to make sure that we are including what YOU want to read about, so please take a few minutes to fill out the form below.

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CMC RÉSONANCE

IN MEMORIAM Passionate about vocal genres, Dr. Wilson was organist-choirmaster (1954-64) at Chalmers United Church, Guelph for ten years. As founder and conductor (1955-74) of the Guelph Light Opera, he used local singers to present one oratorio and one musical annually. During these years he conducted choirs and taught high school in the Guelph area and was, for a time, Music Supervisor of Guelph Township public schools. He conducted (1962-74) the Bach-Elgar Choir of Hamilton, but resigned

CHARLES WILSON 1931-2019

to devote his time to study and composition. He began teaching at the University of Guelph in 1979, where he became Director of the electronic music studio and later Composer-in-Residence.

The Canadian Music Centre offers condolences to the family of Dr. Charles M. Wilson, who

Dr. Wilson composed in a variety of genres, but

passed away peacefully on June 13, 2019 at the

his best known music involves the human voice.

age of 88.

He wrote many works for his wife Elizabeth, a contralto, and frequently performed in recital

Dr. Wilson was born on May 8, 1931 in Toronto,

with her. Larger scale vocal works include the

Ontario, and studied composition at the

oratorio The Angels of the Earth and his operas,

University of Toronto and Berkshire Music

The Summoning of Everyman, Heloise and Abelard

Centre at Tanglewood. His primary mentors

(Commissioned by the Canadian Opera Company),

included Godfrey Ridout, Lukas Foss, Carlos

Psycho Red, and Kamouraska. Dr. Wilson also

Chavez and Aaron Copland, though his music

composed works for ensembles including the

is also heavily influenced by Stockhausen and

Canadian Children's Opera Chorus, the Festival

Carter. Stylistically, he composed in most of the

Singers of Canada, the Canadian Brass, and

idioms of the 20th century, from serialism to

Dalhousie University.

indeterminacy, as well as tonal centered works, but all of his works are characterized and unified

Dr. Wilson’s contributions to Canadian music were

by a strong emotional lyricism originating from

significant and diverse, and his presence will be

the human voice.

greatly missed.

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REGIONAL UPDATES

BRITISH COLUMBIA #ChangetheCultureNotThePlanet Responding to the latest UN Report on Biodiversity, which projects a potential devastating loss of species, CMC BC seeks to partner with a major B.C. environmental organization on a project titled Change The Culture Not

Murray Adaskin Salon The Murray Adaskin Salon is now equipped with a built-in, four-camera livestream video recording and broadcast studio along with professional stereo recording microphones and new control systems, all fully integrated with the existing A/V projection system.

CMC BC recognized Langley Community Music School with an Outstanding Contribution award on Nov 23, 2019

The Planet. The goal is to partner with a leading BC environmental organization to harness the power of music to help create environmental awareness, change behaviours, and take action supporting five key areas where constructive action is still possible, as identified within the report: • Protecting Habitat • Promoting Sustainable Fisheries • Transitioning to Renewable Energy • Restoring and Protecting Clean Water • Fostering Native Species Visit bc.cmccanada.org

→

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CMC RÉSONANCE

REGIONAL UPDATES

PRAIRIES On September 7, 2019, the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region moved across the University of Calgary to Craigie Hall, G 203. This is a very positive step in the organization’s history for several reasons.

First of all, it puts our region office in a very public area, next to the University Theatre where it is prominently displayed to audience members attending shows.

Secondly, it provides easy access for regular CMC patrons from the vehicle loop at the theatre entrance. Thirdly, it places the office and library right in the centre of the U of C’s School of Creative and Performing Arts in a place of prominence for the students and faculty of the university, thus encouraging more usage of the facility. Perhaps most importantly, it continues the forty-year partnership between CMC and the U of C, sustaining the organization into the future.

Visit pr.cmccanada.org

→

↑ Congratulations to Richard Mercer who received the Violet Archer Lifetime Achievement Award for his continued contributions to Canadian contemporary music. (l to r: Richard Mercer, John Reid, Director, CMC Prairie Region)

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ONTARIO No shortage of activities in Ontario in that latter half of 2019! Here is a small slice of what we’ve been up to…

We continue partnering on creative workshops that build artistic careers and communities. Our friends at the Toronto Creative Music Lab presented the fourth and final edition of their workshop in June 2019, and among other things, we were able to produce a livestream presentation of the final concert—you can relive the sonic magic here!

The summer saw the culmination of a new partnership with Unitatis Strings and conductor Kemi Lo on a string composition workshop in August. Nine composers from Ontario and beyond took part in group meals, key note lectures, rehearsals, and a recording session. It was a marathon two days, but highly enjoyable!

Visit on.cmccanada.org

→

↑ Photo credits: Matt Guarrasi.

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CMC RÉSONANCE

ONTARIO Beginning in the fall, we have been collaborating with

his evolving practice as a jaw harp player and

The Piano Lunaire, pianists Adam Sherkin and

field recordist. Watch! In partnership with the

Stephanie Chua alongside composer Christopher

Thin Edge New Music Collective ONGAKU

Mayo, on the inaugural Composers’ Symposium.

festival we hosted a composition workshop

Several composers are receiving

featuring traditional Japanese instruments.

mentorship as they write a new solo work for piano.

Watch! Coinciding with the 100th anniversary

Stay tuned for event information as each piece will be

of the instrument, Pamelia Stickney

performed in concert on January 19!

presented on performance and composition for the theremin.

CMC Ontario Library Residency artist Juro Kim Feliz has also produced the third installment of Nomadic Sound Worlds, a series of blog posts/podcasts that examines contemporary composition through the lens of global migration.

Watch!

• Darcy • Ongaku • Theremin

The episode, Citizenship as Invention, features the voices and music of Dorothy Chang,

Snowblink’s Daniela Gesundheit pictured

Sergio Barroso, and Gabriel Dharmoo.

with ensemble members Johnny Spence, Alex Lukashevsky, and Phil Melanson during a

You can find out more about these and other

performance of Alphabet of Wrongdoing that

activities by contacting the Ontario office,

took place at the CMC in Toronto on October

or visiting on.cmccanada.org for workshop,

23. The project recontextualizes sacred

residency, and concert programming.

song and ritual, and investigates communal gestures of forgiveness.

Did you miss it…

If you weren’t able to attend the workshop series in our Toronto venue, you can rewatch the livestreams. We hosted a presentation with visiting artist Darcy Spidle (AKA chik white) on

← Photo credit: Claire Harvie

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QUEBEC Visits at CMCQuebec for future partnerships 5 - 7 February 2020 : The International Guild of Conductors Convention will take place in Montréal in february 2020. Conference on our activities. Stand dedicated to the promotion of our composers. Germany

Quebec Music Contest - CMCQuébec ( for young pianists) Young pianists are urged to register and present one of the selected musical piece in front of a jury. The contest, in front of the jury, as well as the ceremony award will take place on Saturday, May 23rd 2020 at 1PM, at la Chapelle historique du Bon Pasteur, in Montréal.Classical Recording of the Year.

Prix collégien de musique contemporaine 12th edition - May 2020 Le Prix collégien de musique contemporaine (PCMC) is a musical price, awarded each year to the favorite quebecois contemporary piece, coming from one of our composers, as a result of a vote from students in music, registered at Cégep or at the conservatory.

2020: Book fair in Frankfort - Canada will be represented and CMCQuébec hopes to participate, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. Visites au CMCQuébec wishes to increase the number of exchanges between composers and musicians in Canada and abroad. We are working on several projects to complete in 2020.

Fundraising gala CMC Québec April 2020 In order to highlight the 45th anniversary from the Canadian Music Center in Québec, CMC Québec wishes to organize an exceptional concert in the spring 2020, in Montréal.

A festive event to celebrate an important anniversary, accompanied by some musicians who care to celebrate our 250 associate composers and the music from our region.

Visit qc.cmccanada.org

→

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CMC RÉSONANCE

ATLANTIC Atlantic Region

Charlotte New Music Festival

Associate Composer,

Applications are open for the 9th annual

Emily Doolittle has

Charlotte New Music Festival. It's free to

a number of new

apply and we invite you to share these

recordings of her

workshop opportunities with students and

music coming out

other composers you know.

this spring, including ↑ Composer, Emily Doolittle

music for magpies

Thank you for your continued support as

recorded on the

we work to create more opportunities for

CD Shattering the Glass by viola da

our field. We look forward to another great

gambist, Philip Serna; Gliese 581c on

round of concerts, exploring new music,

the CD American Evolution: The Silence

networking, and hosting composers and

Between, recorded by pianist Kris

performers from around the world!

Carlisle; Palouse Songbook, commissioned and recorded by flutist Sophia Tegart for the CD Musical Ekphraisis; and Three Summer

Application deadline: January 20, 2020 by 11:59pm

Wassails, recorded by Via Nova Choir for their upcoming CD Where the Marsh Plants Grow.

Free to apply!

She is looking forward to performances of Child's Play by the Erato Ensemble in Vancouver on January 19, several performances of Woodwings by the Symphony New Brunswick Wind Quintet in February and March, and performances of A Short, Slow Life by Orchestra Iowa and a performances of Falling still by the English Symphony Orchestra in April.

Visit atl.cmccanada.org

→

APPLY NOW →

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Congratulations to CMC Associate Composer Keiko Devaux!

Ms Devaux won the 2020 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music, which is the largest prize for Canadian music, and part of The Azrieli Foundation’s biennial Azrieli Music Prizes . The 2020 winners also include Yizhak Yedid (The Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music) and Yotam Haber (The Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music).

Established in 2014, the biennial Azrieli Music Prizes offer opportunities for the discovery, creation, performance, and celebration of excellence in music composition. This Commission for Canadian Music prize is offered to a Canadian composer to create a new musical work that creatively and critically engages with the challenges of composing concert music in Canada today. Ms Devaux will write a new work for 14 musicians that draws on her combined history as a Japanese-French-Canadian.

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‘IF YOU LOVE IT, YOU HAVE TO DO IT’ JUNO winner, Ana Sokolović’s resolve to forge her own path

BY KATHRYN KNOWLES

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about trusting life and not “ It’s being ashamed of your wishes

“

What does it mean to be a successful

Sokolović has been following her instincts

Canadian composer? Do we cross into that

throughout her career and even in the

category when we receive commissions

early stages she learned to recognize and

from the major music organizations like

appreciate her own ambitions. “I had to do

the National Arts Centre Orchestra or the

something which was related to the creative

Canadian Opera Company? Or is it when

process and actually when I was a pianist –

we win the JUNO Award for Classical

as a young student – I was composing all the

Composition of the Year?

time and trying to do something that was not really written.”

Montréal-based composer Ana Sokolović has accomplished all of this but as we sit

The creative process has always been

together and discuss the creative process

important to Sokolović. Before she was a

and the steps involved in achieving that

musician she trained in classical ballet and

elusive “success,” we realize that there is a

theatre. “In the theatre I did the same thing.

crucial first step that often gets overlooked.

I created pieces with my colleagues. Staging, acting, composing, and performing – doing

“It’s about trusting life and not being

everything around! So I think that for me,

ashamed of your wishes,” says Sokolović. “I

composing is not the only way I can express

like to respect society and I feel that I should

myself.”

respect society but I refuse to be obliged or to be a slave to it. I feel we must do more; we

For someone with several creative outlets

must do the things that make us more.”

and interests, it can be draining to be pulled in so many different directions. “I was happy

Doing the things that make us “more”

but I was never completely myself,” Sokolović

might seem like an unrealistic goal, but for

admits about her work in other fields. But

Sokolović it comes down to one simple act: “I

then, working on her first chamber opera

think that what is important is that we really

(The Midnight Court), everything changed.

follow our instincts and trust in what we believe.”

“I realized that this is what I have wanted all

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my life – this is what I wanted to do,” she says

from the ordinary people.”

about her 2005 opera inspired by the Gaelic poem. “Because I did theatre and then I did

“Everything could be inspiring,” she says.

composition and I was searching for this

“I like challenges. I think it’s good because

dramaturgy. I was doing this in all my pieces

when you have challenges, you have to find a

but I was somehow missing the theatre.

way to overcome them and your imagination

Each time I had the opportunity to write for

has to work very hard.”

theatre or for dance, I was there. But it was not complete. It wasn’t until several months after I started the opera commission and I thought – this is it! There is a possibility to put all my loves together.”

If you love this, you have to do it because you will be so full as a person if you do.

“If you love this, you have to do it because you will be so full as a person if you do,” she

The results of that hard work and

adds. “If you love it, you have to do it – there

imagination can be seen in her piece Golden

is no question about it!”

Slumbers Kiss your Eyes, which earned Sokolović the 2019 JUNO Award for Classical

Sokolović is currently in the late stages of

Composition of the year. The piece was

working on her new opera, commissioned by

commissioned by the National Arts Centre

the Canadian Opera Company and expected

Orchestra and recorded on Analekta*Select/

to premiere in 2020. The mainstage opera

The Orchard.

is inspired by Philip Larkin’s poem The Old Fools, in particular the line “Perhaps

Reflecting on her career up until now and

being old is having lighted rooms / Inside

the reason behind her success she says, “I

your head, and people in them, acting.”

have always done the things I believed were

This excerpt is what triggered Sokolović to

important. At the time, if you feel you can

imagine a story that would follow an ageing

move the mountain, do it! If you don’t feel it,

lead character while the audience and the

don’t do it. But when I feel it, I do it.”

opera exist inside his head.

“Generally what’s interesting to me is to talk

FOR MORE ON ANA SOKOLOVIĆ, CLICK HERE →

about ordinary things and ordinary people,” says Sokolović. “That’s what’s inspiring to

Kathryn Knowles is a composer, cellist, and

me – to talk about universality, which comes

writer based in Toronto.

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A Great Mindfulness: An Interview with Nicole Rampersaud

BY LAURA STANLEY

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What I love about improvising, I find it a really great way to level the playing field for lack of a better term. You’re just really in the moment, in a space with people..."

“Do you ever worry that you’ll get on

was the only one to not sign-up. After the

stage and have nothing to play?” I ask

teacher’s insistence, Nicole relented and her

composer, trumpet player, and improvisor

music career began. When it came time to

Nicole Rampersaud about her improvised

pick an instrument, Nicole decided that the

performances. “It’s funny because that’s

trumpet looked the easiest - it only has three

pretty much every show. It’s my waking life,

buttons, after all. “Little did I know what I

Laura,” Nicole replies with a warm laugh.

was really getting myself into,” Nicole laughs.

“I think there’s a great mindfulness though

Nicole completed her undergrad in Jazz

that can happen to you through improvising,”

Studies at the University of Toronto and

she adds. “I can be pretty cerebral in many

then received her Master’s in Jazz Studies at

areas of my life to the point where I probably

the New England Conservatory in Boston,

come off as aloof or maybe even a bit of a jerk

Massachusetts. While in Boston, Nicole

but that’s because I’m constantly thinking

began studying free jazz and improvised

about things. What I love about improvising,

music— sonic styles that she continues to

I find it a really great way to level the playing

explore.

field for lack of a better term. You’re just really in the moment, in a space with people,

Nicole’s textured compositions have

whether it’s fellow musicians or an audience.”

boundless curiosity. She manipulates her trumpet to create sounds both familiar and

Nicole was born and raised in Scarborough,

unfamiliar for her instrument. Before moving

Ontario. In grade four, the music teacher at

to Southampton, New Brunswick (about 40

Nicole’s elementary school asked students

minutes north of Fredericton) two years

to sign-up for concert band but, as a self-

ago, Nicole was a common sight on stages

described timid kid, Nicole rejected the idea

in Toronto. Nicole performed with a range

because she didn’t want to stand out. She

of musicians such as jazz-fusion artists like

ended up standing out anyway because she

Brodie West, Joseph Shabason, and Sandro

ISSUE NO. 2

Perri, and improvisors like Germaine Liu, and

“When I was thinking of who to involved

Allison Cameron.

[for the piece], I really wanted people from a diverse background as opposed to musicians

Her decision to move was in part because

that I already know and that I’m familiar

she wanted to be with her partner but as

with,” Nicole explains. “I really wanted to

Nicole explains, she also felt it was time

force myself to write for people who I’ve

for a change of scenery. “I really like how

never met and who I’ve never played with. So

music projects unfold out here. Where

that’s really exciting.”

you’re working for a period of time towards a particular project,” Nicole says. “That’s not to say that that doesn’t exist in Toronto, it certainly does, but a lot of the work that I had been involved in in Toronto was ad-hoc formation - playing at the Tranzac a couple of nights a week, working gig-to-gig. I think I was craving some space to really rehearse

I really wanted to force myself to write for people who I’ve never met and who I’ve never played with.

more and work on new things.”

Nicole was selected as the first ever composer-in-residence for the twelfth annual OBEY Convention, an avant-garde music and arts festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia which took place in late spring. The composer-in-residence program gave Nicole the opportunity she was craving: to focus on a specific project.

As composer-in-residence, Nicole delivered a talk about her journey so-far as a musician and led a workshop on her creative process.

She also composed a site-specific piece for Paul O’Regan Hall and performed it with local artists Tim Crofts (pianist), Bianca Palmer (percussionist), and Danielle Jakubia (sound artist).

“Ultimately we really wanted to make sure that whoever was our chosen artist in residence that they were connecting with Halifax, connecting with local talent.

That was a huge decisions in reading all of the proposals,” OBEY Executive Director, Kat Shubaly says about the composer-inresidence selection process.

“Nicole spoke to us in the sense that her practice is really quite open and she has a long history of collaboration,” says Andrew Patterson, the festival’s Creative Director. “As Kat mentioned, that collaborative element was really important to us. We didn’t want it to be someone writing anything and making other people play it. So Nicole’s approach to integrating visual scores for local folks to interpret spoke to our values.”

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Looking to the second half of 2019, Nicole says that she is busy recording and composing and is eager to finally launch her own projects. She is planning to release recordings of live performances either digitally or as physical media and she will be releasing an album later this year with guitarist Joel LeBlanc via the Toronto tape label Dark Matter.

“I’ve been fortunate to be a side-person, and continue to be a side-person, for a broad range of projects and I’ve been really blessed to have that opportunity but right now I’m really into starting some new things.”

To keep up to date with Nicole Rampersaud’s projects, follow her on Twitter or visit her website.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EVERYSEEKER, CLICK HERE →

EVERYSEEKER, formerly the OBEY Convention, are currently looking for funders to support a second year of their composerin-residence program. If you can help out, [please get in touch with them].

Laura Stanley is a freelance writer from Toronto.

Ultimately we really wanted to make sure that whoever was our chosen artist in residence that they were connecting with Halifax, connecting with local talent.

ISSUE NO. 2

CMC MUSIC SERVICES

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SONGS OF THE INVISIBLE SUMMER STARS

KICKIN’ IT 2.0

Composer

Composers

Carmen Braden

Analia Llugdar, Derek Charke, Omar Daniel, Vincent Chee-Yung Ho

Performers Carmen Braden, David Parker, Derek Charke,

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Gillian Smith, Mark Adam, Nadia Francavilla,

Ben Reimer, Karl Hirzer, Land's End

Norman Adams, Susan Sayle, Suzanne

Ensemble

Lemieux

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WHAT GOES AROUND

TWENTY-FOUR PRELUDES

Music by Frank Horvat

For piano solo

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Composer

Frank Horvat

John Burge

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Performer

Beverley Johnston, Frank Horvat, Joseph

Philip Chiu

Phillips, Peter Stoll, Sharlene Wallace

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SUMMER NIGHT

THE HOCKEY SWEATER

And other songs for voice and piano

Composer

Composer

Healey Willan

Abigail Richardson-Schulte

Performers

Author

Allyson McHardy, Helen Becqué, Martha

Roch Carrier

Guth, Peter Barrett

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NEW FROM CMC CENTREDISCS

AUBADE

OUR STRENGTH, OUR SONG

Composer

Composers

Auguste Descarries

Alice Ping Yee Ho, Barbara Monk Feldman, Jean Coulthard, Jocelyn Morlock, Rebekah

Performer Janelle Fung

Cummings, Violet Archer

Performers Akemi Mercer-Niewoehner, Rachel Mercer

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NEW FROM CMC CENTREDISCS

ACROSS THE VEILED DISTANCES

MUSIC FOR WOODWIND CHOIRS

Music by Hope Lee

Composer

Composer

Christopher Tyler Nickel

Hope Lee

Performers

Performers

Anne-Elise Keefer, Beth Orson, Christie

Stefan Hussong, Yumiko Meguri

Reside, Erin Marks, Karin Walsh, Lara Vanek, Paolo Bortolussi, Paul Hung, Roger Cole, Rosanne Wieringa, Sarah Jackson

Conductor Clyde Mitchell

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