PROGRAMME
Lieberman’s Funky Freilach- Klezmertraditional, arranged by Edmond Agopian
Alphonzo McKenzie’s by Eric Wright - Salkantay byTrent Freeman
Turtle Bay by Ben Plotnick
Bixies (Pipe on the Hob traditional - Bixie’s by Karrnnel Sawitsky)
Holten Alan Moore’s by Ben Plotnick
Ronim Road by Karrnnel Sawitsky - Bella Coola byTrent Freeman
INTERMISSION
Come, Let’s Rejoice – Klezmertraditional, arranged by Edmond Agopian
The HolyTemple. (The Temple house – The Holy Land traditional)
Hidden View- by Eric Wright
Maggie’s Set. (Johnny O’Leary’s - The Millee’s Maggot – The Sally Gardens traditional)
The Bird’s Nest. The Bird’s Nest traditional – The Sungate Trent Freeman
Maybe Molly. Molly PutThe Kettle On – traditional
THE FRETLESS
Trent Freeman (Fiddle/Viola)
Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle/Viola)
Ben Plotnick (Fiddle/Viola)
Eric Wright (Cello).
Mount Royal University Conservatory’s
CalgaryYouth Orchestra
Edmond Agopian, Music Director
VIOLIN 1
Yana Zubrytska^
Isaac Pang^
Carissa Bai
Maya Brideaux
Emily Fakeley
Ana Gonzales
Jinqi Hu
Conan Li
Jadyn Li
Oliver Linton
Eleanor Lipkind
Aedan Lowry
Chloe Luo
Jessica Muchiri
Serafina Oliva
Eden Swalm
Luca Todea
Josephine Wen
Aiden Wong
VIOLIN 2
Yehor Lukianchyk*
Hannah Audette
Franita Badenhorst
Estelle Broadhead
Sadie Broadhead
Nga Yin Chan
Danyil Holubka
Andrei Kycak
Audrey Lee
Vivien Li
Eric Liu
Maria Olson
Anne Shi
Yiting Zhang
Eric Wang
VIOLA
Hannele Agbunag*
Zephram Gilson
Emily Gu
Sophie Ryskine
PatrickVu
CELLO
Teaghan Krahn*
Mateo Barcan*
Oliver Cheng
Clare Fakeley
Curtis Fok
Avril Ge
Ian Guo
Aaron Janse-Deng
Eva Martino
Isaac Park
Liam Scullen
Charles Sunie
Phoebe Xu
Nathan Yep
Jasmine Wang
BASS
Reiss Challoner*
Kristen Cousins
Madeleine Ryan
Thomas Tass
FLUTE
Bella Nguyen*
Sweta Babladi
Grace Chang
Yuki Qian
Rhianna Stafford
OBOE
Sasha Adderley
Yuta Formella
CLARINET
Harry Kang
Alexander Sunie
Kaleb Thannhauser
Ethan Yang
BASSOON
Michael Weaver
SAXOPHONES
Nicolas Luzzi º
Aidan Rigor º
HORN
Abi Adedeji
Nolan Asplund
Shellbie Chayeski
TRUMPET
Sarah Dennison
Edward Hergott
Federico Martino
TROMBONE
Charlie Reid*
Henno Johnson
Ronan Favell
TUBA
Omari Holaki
PERCUSSION
Sydney Ball
Eric Chan
Minsol Kim
Emily Lyu
Abram Schwonik
^denotes Concertmaster
* denotes Principal
º denotes U of C guest
The Fretless
Fourferocious players, masterful composition, and a genre-bending sound Juno award-winning The Fretless is a Canadian quartetthat has firmlytaken its place on the map to a progressive form of “trad”.
A supergroup of celebrated solo artists, The Fretless has been creating a singular and signature sound that dares to expand the idea ofwhat a string music quartet can be—transforming fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements that have quickly gained a dedicated following and accolades from around the world. Within what appears to be a simple construct two fiddles, a viola, and a cello The Fretless has created a sound that is distinctly rich, multi-layered, and uniquely percussive. This tonal quality is pushing traditional music to new heights, producing a completelyfresh approach to Folk music.
Starting with its debut album in 2012, The Fretless had a breakout yearwinning Instrumental Album ofthe Year atthe Western Canadian Music Awards and Instrumental Group ofthe Year and Ensemble ofthe Year atthe Canadian Folk Music Awards(CFMA). Their self-titled follow-up album, “The Fretless”, took home
Ensemble ofthe Year atthe CMFA’s and features the tune “Waving To Ryan”, currently approaching nearlytwo million Spotify plays. In 2015, they released “Bird’s Nest”, an album that solidified them as a force among the world's roots music scene and earned them a 2016 Juno award for Instrumental Album ofThe Year. Recorded in a historic barn, live offthe floor in upstate NewYork, they released “Live from the Art Farm” in 2018, an expanded rhythmic, harmonic, and stylistic exploration ofthe manyfolk genres they play. This album not onlywon them a CFMAfor Best Ensemble but earned them a second Juno nomination.
Since the band’s inception in 2011, The Fretless has been successfullytouring at home in Canada, as well as globally throughoutAustralia, South and North America, and six European tours. From iconic and intimate concert halls to some ofthe worlds most prestigious stages, The Fretless has had the pleasure of performing atthe Cologne Philharmonic, Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra Hall, Shetland Folk Festival, Festival Internacional Cervantino, two sold-out shows at Celtic Connections, as well as sharing the bill with Canadian fiddle legend, Natalie McMaster, for Canada Scene atthe National Arts Centre. A Fretless show is infectious, dynamic, and impressively relentless. They not only deliver expert musicianship and an electrifying performance but always invite the audience to feel the passion they hold fortheir music.
The Fretless is excited as they looktoward 2021 with plans to release their most ambitious recording to date Open House: a 10 track guest singer collaboration, featuring an astounding list of powerhouse vocalists thatwill absolutely solidifyThe Fretless as an ever-evolving, trulytranscendent group.
Outreach and inspiring the next generation of string players is very much a part ofThe Fretless’ ethos. They continue to support numerous fiddle camps, masterclass’ and workshops around the world, not only as instructors but as mentors. Overthe pastfewyears, they have connected with notable organizations such as the Calgary Youth Orchestra and the Luxembourg Youth Orchestra, creating and performing full orchestral arrangements of Fretless tunes.
The Fretless is Trent Freeman (Fiddle/Viola), Karrnnel Sawitsky (Fiddle/Viola), Ben Plotnick(Fiddle/Viola), and Eric Wright (Cello).
They not only deliver expert musicianship and an electrifying performance but a showthat makes you feel the passion they have forthe music.
The CalgaryYouth Orchestra
The Mount Royal University Conservatory’s CalgaryYouth Orchestra is recog anized as one ofthe finestyouth orchestras in the country. CYO’s high artistic achievements have generated reviews such as:
“Encore afterencore,the audience justsimplydid notwantto go home. I have neverseen anything likethis…” Management –Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music, Poland
“Alreadywiththeirfirstpiece,the brilliantlyplayed “ReformationSymphony” byMendelssohn,theyhadthe audience captivated. Applause lastingforseveral minutes rewardedtheyoung musicians.” Markische Allgemeine, Jüterbog, Germany
“The CalgaryYouth Orchestra ofCanada created magical moments formusic lovers… Underthe direction ofEdmondAgopiantheyoung musicianstranscendedthe music…” Ouest France, Caen, France
“The connection between movements,the musical emphasis,the dynamic control of impeccable resolution, andthe precise rhythmic beat,flavoredwith a good dramatic tempo, madethe music a pleasure...The musicwas playedwith such sincere enthusiasmthatitgenerated a rushfeltby all...”
– La Opinion de Granada–Critica Granada, Spain.
“…Someyears ago,TheVancouverSymphonyOrchestra conducted byBramwellToveyvisited Chilliwack.Theyplayed Rossini’;sWilliamTell Overture and Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony. I rememberitwell.The CalgaryYouth Orchestra on Saturdayproduced a performancethatseemedto me to rivaltheVancouverSymphonyOrchestra in everyrespect, such was its brilliance…” Doug Morley – Chilliwack Cultural Centre
Under its music director, Edmond Agopian, the CYO has toured Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and NewZealand. The CYO was honoured to perform for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during hervisitto Calgary in May 2005, and for His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, atthe Saddledome in 2009. The orchestra has commissioned works from a number of composers, most recently Canadian composers Michael van der Sloot, George Fenwick, Laurie Radford and Scott RossMolyneux. The CYO has also presented the world premieres ofworks by Claude Debussy, completed and orchestrated bythe renowned English musicologist Robert Orledge.
The CYO has worked with such illustrious conductors as Rune Bergmann, Roberto Minczuk, Mario Bernardi, Bramwell Tovey, Ivars Taurins, Jean Lamon, Andrés Cárdenes and Hans Graf, among others.
The orchestra has performed in collaboration with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and with Jeunesse Classique Ballet, at festivals throughout Europe, Australia, NewZealand, and Japan, and on-stage atthe 2008 Juno Awards.
CYO alumni can be found in such world-renowned ensembles as the NewYork Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, as well as all major Canadian orchestras.
CYO’s recording of music from Western movies titled The Thrill of the Western has received excellent reviews, including one from Rick Phillips, CBC Radio’s Sound Advice:
“Imaginative interpretation… nicelypulled off… playedtothefullest, with enthusiasm and energy…”
MUSIC NEVER TASTED SO GOOD!
Supportthe CalgaryYouth Orchestra and indulge in the season’s mostfestive treats!
We’re thrilled to launch our Purdys Chocolatier Fundraiser in support ofthe CYO 2027
Tour an unforgettable opportunityfor ourtalented young musicians.
Here’s howyou can help:
Orderyourfavourite wintertreats using the QR code below 25% of every purchase goes directlyto supportthe CYO’s next international tour
All chocolates are made in Canada just like the CYO!
Order Deadline: Sunday, November16
Pick-Up Date: Saturday, November 29 (during CYO rehearsal)
Scan the QR code to start shopping and supportthe music
