Message from the Premier Congratulations to the esteemed Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra on their 20232024 season. The NSO is a cultural arts institution in Newfoundland and Labrador. Its ambitious and varied programming each year attracts regular audience members, and new fans alike. Over the last number of years, their inclusion of performances based on iconic pop culture have been met with enormous popularity and have drawn audiences of all ages. The NSO has a strong commitment to community partnerships, reaching over 10,000 students in 2022-23 with their in-school, virtual and interactive programs and providing online concerts, free of charge, to more than 80 senior’s homes. Congratulations, as well, to Marc David, now in his final full season as Music Director, on his outstanding artistic achievements during his long career with the NSO The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is a proud supporter of the NSO and values its contributions to our province’s arts and cultural sector. All the best for a successful season.
Message from the Mayor
Hon. Andrew Furey, Premier
On behalf of Council, it is my pleasure to congratulate the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra on its 61st Anniversary, Celebrating the year of the Arts. The City of St. John’s is a proud supporter of the arts and of this vibrant organization. With multiple performances every season, the educational experiences and entertainment provided to all ages is amazing. This season promises to entertain like no other and we are extremely fortunate to have talented musicians as the heartbeat of our musical community whom are there to share their talent and love of music with us all. The NSO board, staff, volunteers and sponsors work diligently each and every year to bring these shows to our community. Allow me to express my appreciation for your hard work and dedication and thank you for the significant contributions you make to the truly unique culture of our City. Best wishes –
Danny Breen, Mayor
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We acknowledge the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as the traditional territory of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the diverse histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province. We strive for respectful relationships with all the peoples of this province as we search for collective healing and true reconciliation and honour this beautiful land together.
SINFONIA 2: Alikeness January 13, 2024 | D. F. Cook Recital Hall, Memorial University School of Music
Mark Fewer, violin Featuring guest artists: Aiyun Huang, percussion Deantha Edmunds, soprano Heather Kao, violin
PROGRAMME String Symphony in C Major - C. P. E. Bach Episodes - S. Arcuri Angmalukisaa (Round) - D. Edmunds Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV 1043 - J.S. Bach INTERMISSION Alikeness for Percussion and Strings - J. Kapuściński Orchestral Suite no. 3 in D Major, BWV 106 - J.S. Bach
Special thanks to our accommodations partner:
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Mark Fewer leads a multi-disciplined life in music. Violin soloist, chamber musician, orchestral leader, artistic director, conductor, arranger, teacher, jazz violinist, recording artist and occasional radio host, he has performed worldwide to great critical acclaim. Described as “intrepid” (The Globe and Mail), “genre-bending” (National Post), “profound” (The WholeNote), and “freaky good”(The Gazette), he has performed around the world in halls such as Carnegie, Wigmore and Salle Pleyel, and is equally at home in recital venues such as Bartok House (Budapest) to Le Poisson Rouge (NYC) to The Forum (Taipei). As a soloist, he has performed with the symphonies of Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Quebec, San Francisco and Melbourne, as well as with groups such as the Fodens-Richardson Brass Band (UK), the Zapp Quartet (Amsterdam), the McGill Percussion Ensemble, and as a featured guest with Stevie Wonder and his band. As a chamber musician he was a founding member of the Duke Piano Trio, has been a member of the Smithsonian Chamber Players for over 15 years, and was violinist with the St. Lawrence String Quartet at Stanford University, where he was Artistin-Residence. As a conductor he has directed I Musici de Montreal, l’Orchestre Symphonique de Laval, the Newfoundland Sinfonia, the McGill Baroque Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony and the choir Capella Antica. Mr. Fewer has been Artistic Director of the SweetWater Music Festival for 16 years, and in 2019 was appointed as the new Artistic Director of Stratford Summer Music. He is currently Associate Professor of Violin and the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. He is a Juno and Prix Opus winner. Aiyun Huang (percussion) enjoys a musical life as a soloist, chamber musician, conductor, producer, and teacher. She was the First Prize and Audience Award winner at the Geneva International Music Competition in 2002. She has appeared at the Weill Recital Hall, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra’s Green Umbrella Series, LACMA Concert Series, Holland Festival, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Agora Festival in Paris, and many more. In 2004, she gave a solo European tour in the cities of Paris, Geneva, Lyon, Budapest, and Milano. She is a founding member of the Canadian trio Toca Loca with pianists Gregory Oh and Simon Docking. Her 20092010 concert appearances include the cities of Milan, Berlin, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, San Diego, Singapore and Taipei. She has commissioned and championed over 100 works in the fifteen years working with composers internationally. Aiyun is a researcher at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology (CIRMMT) in Montreal. She was born in Kaohsiung, a city in the southern part of Taiwan. She holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego. She was a Faculty Fellow at UCSD and is currently the Chair of the Percussion Area as well as director of the McGill Percussion Ensemble at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University in Montreal. Deantha Edmunds (soprano) is Canada’s first Inuk professional classical singer, and an award-winning performer. An urban Inuk, creator, and mentor, Deantha aims to empower Indigenous people and share their stories. Deantha was longlisted for the prestigious 2023 Kenojuak Ashevak Memorial Award from the Inuit Art Foundation. From solo and internationally broadcast performances for His Holiness, Pope Francis in Iqaluit to touring one-woman shows about the lives and legacy of the Beothuk in Newfoundland, and from contributing to large choral gatherings to teaching one-on-one music lessons, Deantha is committed to bringing her music and skill to developing deeper understandings about reciprocal collaboration amongst Indigenous peoples, their musics and settlers. She brings a level of professional excellence to Canada’s Indigenous art scene that is unique and important. Deantha has released three albums, including her most recent - the Music NL award-winning solo album Connections. Her contribution to Messiah/Complex with Against the Grain Theatre and Toronto Symphony Orchestra helped garner the production a 2022 JUNO nomination. Deantha was one of the recipients of the 2020 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in the Opera Division in Two Odysseys: Pimooteewin / Gállábártnit, produced by Soundstreams/Signal Theatre/Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš. Actively working on creating original operatic work, contributing to other Indigenous productions, and mentoring young Indigenous artists, Deantha sings her heart out and turns heads across Canada and the world. Heather Kao (violin) From St. John’s, Heather Kao is the concertmaster of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra and first violinist of the Atlantic String Quartet since 2015. She studied at Memorial University with Dr. Nancy Dahn. She is a past member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Quintessential Vocal Ensemble, and Lady Cove Women’s Choir. Heather has been a guest performer on countless recordings, as well as on TV and radio. She has enjoyed performing in many genres, from pop music with Rod Stewart and Hey Rosetta! to traditional music with Ennis and the Once.
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Violin 1 Heather Kao Dominic Greene Ilyas Duissen Daniel Fuchs
Andy Kao
Violin 2 Nancy Case-Oates Whit Fitzgerald
Carole Bestvater
Elena Vigna
Viola Kate Read Rosaura Aguilar
Ema Shiroma-Chao
Chantelle Jubenville
Sandra Pope
Amy Collyer-Holmes
Cello
Nathan Cook
Bass
Frank Fusari
Harpsichord
Jenny Griffioen
NSO Board NSO Staff Marc David, Music Director/Conductor Hugh Donnan, CEO Lynn Ann Pye, Patron Relations Manager Jennifer Brennan, Education & Outreach Coordinator Maria Penney, Marketing & Development Manager Dominic Greene, Personnel Manager Steve Power, Production Manager/Video Production/Editing Jenny Griffioen, Librarian Kyle McDavid, Graphic Designer
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Tom Hickey(Chair) Margaret Allan (Vice-Chair) Karen Bulmer Jessica Chapman Amy Collyer-Holmes Michelle Davis Aimee Letto Paul McDonald Heather McKinnon Ian Penney Andrea Rose Conor Stack Alana Walsh-Giovannini Douglas Wright Elizabeth Wright Jing Xia
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WAYS TO SUPPORT THE NSO You don’t have to be a musician to play your part in the NSO. NSO supporters make an investment in one of this province’s most important educational, musical, and cultural resources. The NSO performs nearly 20 times each season and reaches over 20,000 people across all demographics. This would not be possible without the support of the community, local businesses and people like YOU! There are many different ways to support your NSO and help us continue to grow orchestral music in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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A STANDING OVATION FOR ALL OUR SUPPORTERS
nsomusic.ca
Photo: Alick Tsui
P.O. Box 23125 St. John’s, NL A1B 4J9 709-722-4441