Youth and Education
Composers Workshops
COMPOSERS
WORKSHOP
with Gary Kulesha
April 30
- May 2, 2011
The following Canadian composers have been selected to participate in
the workshop and have their compositions performed and recorded by the
Kindred Spirits Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Kristian
Alexander:
- Matthew Tozer, Bassoon Miniature (2011), World Premiere
- Edith Covach, Wind Play (1971)
COMPOSERS
WORKSHOP
with Larysa Kuzmenko
December 12-13, 2010
The following Canadian composers have been selected to participate in the workshop and have their compositions performed and recorded by the Kindred Spirits Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Kristian Alexander:
- Jordan O'Connor, Acclivity (2010), World Premiere
- Sahlia Wong, Axis of Convinction (2010), World Premiere
- Bruno Degazio, Andante Melodico (2010), World Premiere
- Réjean Campbell, Grey Day (2010), World Premiere
Composers Workshops
COMPOSERS
WORKSHOP
with Brian Current
March
31 - April 2, 2012
Markham
Theatre for the Performing Arts
171 Town Centre Blvd, Markham ON L3R 8G5
Markham Heritage Collection Building
9350 Highway 48, Markham ON L3P 3J3
Old Unionville Library Centre
15 Library Ln, Markham ON L3P 1Y6
OVERVIEW
Kindred
Spirits Orchestra is hosting a workshop for composers with Mr. Brian
Current, a renowned Canadian composer, Guggenheim fellow and Barlow
Prize laureate. Composers will have an opportunity to receive
written and verbal feedback on one of their compositions, submitted
in advance. The feedback will be provided by Mr. Brian Current and
Maestro Kristian Alexander, Music Director of Kindred Spirits
Orchestra. Lectures on compositional techniques, working sessions
with a violinist, and round table discussions are included as well.
Composers are invited to submit two copies of the score of one
original composition for an orchestra with duration no longer than 5
minutes. The orchestration of the piece is up to 2222 | 2200 t,
unpitched perc., and strings (87654); pieces for various
instrumental ensembles will be considered as well. The composition
of all active participants will be performed by Kindred Spirits
Orchestra during a read-through session and an audio recording will
be provided to each active participant.
FACULTY
A graduate of McGill University in Montreal and U. C. Berkeley, Brian Current writes music that is brimming with energy – sometimes with the propulsive rhythms of so-called minimalist music, sometimes with a more delicate sense of flux, but almost always with a sense of motion and playfulness about the treatment of time and texture. These features have won him numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Barlow Prize for Orchestral Music, and Italy’s Premio Fedora for his new chamber opera Airline Icarus. Temporal plasticity is especially compelling in Current’s large ensemble scores For the Time Being (1999) and Symphonies in Slanted Time (2005). In the latter, Current explains, the music “is always speeding up or always slowing down. Rather than write music for a steady metronome, I wondered if it were possible to make the change in tempo the normal state of the music... using rejuvenation to create constantly changing textures.” He has put these principles to a variety of expressive uses, in such works as the recent Whirling Dervish (2010) or the orchestral tone poem Kazabazua (2002, rev. 2006) which describes the “flow and restlessness” of a partially underground river in the Gatineau hills north of Ottawa. Current’s virtuoso handling of instrumental ensembles stems in part from his work as a conductor, which has placed him at the helm of a dozen or so ensembles and symphony orchestras. Also perhaps linked to his experience on the conductor’s podium is a very sensitive, almost tactile treatment of musical texture–the interplay between discrete lines of material or groups of players in the moment of performance. This preoccupation is readily apparent in This Isn’t Silence (1998, rev. 2001) which lends its title to a CD of his music released by Centredisques in 2007. It can also be heard in Current’s Concertino for flute, string orchestra, and three flutes dispersed around the concert hall. Here, the composer “imagined blanketing the hall of with the sound of flutes positioned at the back of the room. At times they act as distant relatives to the solo line but more often they fill out the sound with tumbling gestures of their own.” A similarly imaginative handling of texture can be in Current’s 2009 score, Strata. Combining his activities as composer and conductor, Current has engaged in some astonishing and successful public interventions on behalf of new music. Since 2006, he has been artistic director and conductor of the Royal Conservatory of Music’s New Music Ensemble in Toronto. In 2009, he supervised a 12-hour, 200-person installation-performance of James Tenney’s In a Large Open Space, which drew an estimated 15,000 people to the opening of the Conservatory’s new Koerner Hall. He has also composed a real-time introduction to twentieth-and twenty-first-century music called This Isn’t Silence: A Young Person’s Guide to New Music for Symphony Orchestra (2008), and in May 2010 he curated a concert series devoted to young composers that was aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [CBC] Radio 2. In 2001, Current’s score For the Time Being won the Grand Prize in the CBC’s National Competition for Young Composers, after which it was honored by the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris and was selected as part of the inaugural concert program for the 2002 Warsaw Autumn Festival. Next month, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet will take on tour a full-evening ballet featuring three of Current’s scores alongside works by John Estacio. And later this season, the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra will give the world premiere of Whirling Dervish, for Sufi Whirling and Symphony Orchestra, commissioned with funds from the Barlow Endowment. For information, visit www.BrianCurrent.com.
Maestro
Kristian Alexander is the
founding Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Kindred
Spirits Orchestra, the founding Artistic Director of Markham New
Music Festival, and the founding Music Director of the International
Music Academy (Toronto, Canada). He has conducted several
professional instrumental and vocal ensembles, such as the Windsor
Symphony Orchestra (Windsor, Canada), the Metropolitain
Orchestra (Montreal, Canada), the Royal Conservatory of Music
Symphony Orchestra (Toronto, Canada), the Oakville Chamber
Orchestra (Oakville, Canada), the Etobicoke Philharmonic
Orchestra, the Guelph
Symphony Orchestra, the Vaughan Symphony Orchestra
(Toronto, Canada), the Internationale Bach-Collegium and Gächinger
Kantorei (Stuttgart, Germany), the “Mozarteum” Symphony
Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria). In 2007 he was advisor and host of
the Conductors Guild International Workshop for conductors with
Faculty members Jorma Panula and Raffi Armenian. In addition to
master degrees in Conducting and Music History, he holds various
degrees in anthropology, psychology, theology, computer science, and
arts management from academies and universities in Toronto,
Montreal, Stuttgart, Sofia, and Plovdiv. He is a recipient of
several grants and awards from the Canada Arts Council, London City
Council, L’Université de Montréal, Internationale Bachakademie
in Stuttgart, the Mozarteum Internationale Stiftung in Salzburg,
Open Society Foundation in New York, and National Music Academy in
Sofia. For information, visit www.KristianAlexander.com.
SCHEDULE
Saturday,
March
31,
2012
Markham Heritage Building
8:30 a.m. Registration, breakfast (provided by the KSO)
9:00 a.m. Welcome remarks by Maestro Kristian Alexander
9:05 a.m. Analysis of the compositions from a conductor's perspective
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Working session with a violinist
11:30 a.m. Working session with a woodwind/brass musician
12:30 p.m. Luncheon (provided by the KSO)
1:30 p.m. Lecture on compositional techniques by Brian Current
2:30 p.m. Round-table discussion (I)
3:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Round-table discussion (II)
5:00 p.m. Closing remarks by Brian Current
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Markham
Theatre
8:00 p.m. Markham New Music Festival. Kindred Spirits Orchestra performs compositions by Current, Stravinsky, Bartok, R. Strauss, and Honegger. Listen to enlightening discussions that stimulate and entertain. Share a glass of Champagne with the musicians after the concert in celebration of the beginning of the spring. For more information, visit http://www.ksorchestra.ca/concerts/2011_12.html.
Monday, April
2,
2012
Old Unionville Library Centre
7:15
p.m. Read-through and recording session of the submitted
compositions (I)
8:30 p.m. Break
8:50 p.m. Read-through and recording session of the
submitted compositions (II)
10:00 p.m. Reception with champagne and hors-d'oeuvres (provided by
the KSO)
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE
The workshop is limited to 10 active participants and
10 auditors. Two copies of the score of one composition, together
with a cheque for $30 non-refundable application fee payable to the
Kindred Spirits Orchestra, must be submitted by mail no later than
March 1, 2012 to the following address:
Kindred
Spirits Orchestra
Composers workshop
4981 Highway 7, Unit 8
Markham ON L3R 1N1
Include one-page biography, a web link to a high resolution portrait
photograph, and a cover letter with complete contact information
(mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address).
COMPOSERS
WORKSHOP
with Gary Kulesha
April 30
- May 2, 2011
CBC Glenn Gould Studio
250 Front Street West, Toronto ON M5V 3G5
Markham Heritage Collection Building
9350 Highway 48, Markham ON L3P 3J3
Old Unionville Library Centre
15 Library Ln, Markham ON L3P 1Y6
OVERVIEW
Kindred
Spirits Orchestra is hosting a workshop for composers with Mr. Gary
Kulesha, a renowned Canadian composer, Adviser at the Toronto Symphony
Orchestra, and Professor at the University of Toronto. Composers will
have an opportunity to receive written and verbal feedback on one of
their compositions, submitted in advance. The feedback will be
provided by Mr. Gary Kulesha and Maestro Kristian Alexander, Music
Director of Kindred Spirits Orchestra. Lectures on compositional
techniques, working sessions with a violinist, and round table
discussions are included as well. Composers are invited to submit two
copies of the score of one original composition for an orchestra with
duration no longer than 5 minutes. The orchestration of the piece is
up to 2222 | 4200 t, perc., and strings (87654); pieces for various
instrumental ensembles will be considered as well. The composition of
all active participants will be performed by Kindred Spirits Orchestra
during a read-through session and an audio recording will be provided
to each active participant. Written and verbal feedback from both Mr.
Kulesha and Maestro Kristian Alexander on the submitted compositions
will be provided to all participants.
FACULTY
Mr. Kulesha's music has been commissioned, performed, and recorded by musicians and ensembles all over the world. His "Angels" for Marimba and Tape has become a standard repertoire item for percussionists, and receives over a hundred performances per year. His works for Danish recorder virtuoso Michala Petri are toured by her throughout the world each year, and have been recorded on RCA Red Seal. Over 15,000 copies have been sold in Europe alone. Works such as "Mysterium Coniunctionis" for Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Piano, and the Sonata for Horn, Tuba, and Piano, are performed regularly in England and Europe, and are often taught as part of performance curricula in these places. "Celebration Overture" is one of the most performed orchestral pieces written in Canada. "Four Fantastic Landscapes" has entered the repertoire of several noted pianists from Canada and Europe. Mr. Kulesha's first opera, "Red Emma", was included in Opera America's book of "Operas which should be performed more often", beside works by Copland, Bernstein, and Weill. He is currently assisting Toronto Symphony Music Director Peter Oundjian with the design and programming of the Toronto Symphony's New Creations Festival, the most successful new music festival in the history of Canadian music. Mr. Kulesha is on the fulltime faculty of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. For information, visit www.kulesha.com.
Maestro
Kristian Alexander is the
founding Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Kindred Spirits
Orchestra and the founding Music Director of the International Music
Academy (Toronto, Canada). He has conducted several professional
instrumental and vocal ensembles, such as the Windsor Symphony
Orchestra (Windsor, Canada), the Metropolitain Orchestra
(Montreal, Canada), the Royal Conservatory of Music Symphony
Orchestra (Toronto, Canada), the Oakville Chamber Orchestra (Oakville,
Canada), the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, the Guelph
Symphony Orchestra, the Vaughan Symphony Orchestra
(Toronto, Canada), the Internationale Bach-Collegium and Gächinger
Kantorei (Stuttgart, Germany), the “Mozarteum” Symphony
Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria). In 2007 he was advisor and host of
the Conductors Guild International Workshop for conductors with
Faculty members Jorma Panula and Raffi Armenian. In addition to master
degrees in Conducting and Music History, he holds various degrees in
anthropology, psychology, theology, computer science, and arts
management from academies and universities in Toronto, Montreal,
Stuttgart, Sofia, and Plovdiv. He is a recipient of several grants and
awards from the Canada Arts Council, London City Council,
L’Université de Montréal, Internationale Bachakademie in
Stuttgart, the Mozarteum Internationale Stiftung in Salzburg, Open
Society Foundation in New York, and National Music Academy in Sofia.
For information, visit www.KristianAlexander.com.
SCHEDULE
Saturday,
April 30
8:00
p.m. Beethoven’s
Pastoral Symphony. Concert with the Kindred Spirits Orchestra at
CBC Glenn Gould Studio, featuring Gary Kulesha’s Divertimento
for Strings and a discussion with Alexa Petrenko, host of
Classical 96.3 FM.
Sunday,
May 1
8:30 a.m. Registration, breakfast (provided by the KSO)
9:00 a.m. Welcome remarks by Maestro Kristian Alexander
9:05 a.m. Analysis of the compositions from a conductor's
perspective
10:15 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. Working session with a violinist
11:30 a.m. Working session with a woodwind/brass musician
12:30 p.m. Luncheon (provided by the KSO)
1:30 p.m. Lecture on compositional techniques by Gary
Kulesha
2:30 p.m. Round-table discussion (I)
3:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Round-table discussion (II)
5:00 p.m. Closing remarks by Gary Kulesha
Monday, May 2
7:15
p.m. Read-through and recording session of the submitted
compositions (I)
8:25 p.m. Break
8:40 p.m. Read-through and recording session of the
submitted compositions (II)
10:00 p.m. Reception with champagne and hors-d'oeuvres (provided by
the KSO)
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE
The workshop is limited to 10 active participants and
10 auditors. Two copies of the score of one composition, together with
a cheque for $30 non-refundable application fee payable to the Kindred
Spirits Orchestra, must be submitted by mail no later than April 1,
2011 to the following address:
Kindred
Spirits Orchestra
Composers workshop
4981 Highway 7, Unit 8
Markham ON L3R 1N1
Include one-page biography and a cover letter with complete contact
information (mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address).
COMPOSERS
WORKSHOP
with Larysa Kuzmenko
December
12-13, 2010
Unionville Old Library Centre
15 Library Ln, Markham ON L3P 1Y6
OVERVIEW
Kindred Spirits Orchestra is hosting a workshop for composers with Larysa Kuzmenko, renowned Canadian composer and Professor at the University of Toronto. Composers will have an opportunity to receive written and verbal feedback on one of their compositions, submitted in advance. The feedback will be provided by Larysa Kuzmenko and Maestro Kristian Alexander, Music Director of Kindred Spirits Orchestra. Lectures on compositional techniques, working sessions with a violinist, and round table discussions are included as well. Composers are invited to submit two copies of the score of one original composition for a string orchestra with duration no longer than 5 minutes. The composition of all active participants will be performed by Kindred Spirits Orchestra during a read-through session and an audio recording will be provided to each active participant. Only active participants will have their compositions performed and recorded. However, written and verbal feedback from both Larysa Kuzmenko and Maestro Kristian Alexander on the submitted compositions will be provided to all participants.
FACULTY
Ms. Larysa Kuzmenko is a Toronto-based composer and pianist. Her music has been performed and broadcast throughout the world. Her works have been commissioned, performed and recorded on CD by many outstanding artists. Kuzmenko’s works demonstrate a strong affinity towards the mainstream tradition of classical music. She imbues her music with strong melodic sense, and a firm rooting in traditional, albeit extended tonal processes. She has appeared as a pianist in several countries, and has performed at Carnegie Hall, the St. Lawrence Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and Massey Hall, as well as several other venues throughout Canada. Larysa Kuzmenko is currently on staff at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Music, where she teaches piano, harmony, and composition. For more information, visit www.LarysaKuzmenko.com.
Maestro Kristian Alexander is the founding Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Kindred Spirits Orchestra and the founding Music Director of the International Music Academy (Toronto, Canada). He has conducted several professional instrumental and vocal ensembles, such as the Windsor Symphony Orchestra (Windsor, Canada), the Metropolitain Orchestra (Montreal, Canada), the Royal Conservatory of Music Symphony Orchestra (Toronto, Canada), the Oakville Chamber Orchestra (Oakville, Canada), the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra, the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, the Vaughan Symphony Orchestra (Toronto, Canada), the Internationale Bach-Collegium and Gächinger Kantorei (Stuttgart, Germany), the “Mozarteum” Symphony Orchestra (Sofia, Bulgaria). In 2007 he was advisor and host of the Conductors Guild International Workshop for conductors with Faculty members Jorma Panula and Raffi Armenian. In addition to master degrees in Conducting and Music History, he holds various degrees in anthropology, psychology, theology, computer science, and arts management from academies and universities in Toronto, Montreal, Stuttgart, Sofia, and Plovdiv. He is a recipient of several grants and awards from the Canada Arts Council, London City Council, L’Université de Montréal, Internationale Bachakademie in Stuttgart, the Mozarteum Internationale Stiftung in Salzburg, Open Society Foundation in New York, and National Music Academy in Sofia. For information, visit www.KristianAlexander.com.
SCHEDULE
Sunday,
December 12
8:30 a.m. Registration, breakfast (provided by the KSO)
9:00 a.m. Welcome remarks by Maestro Kristian Alexander
9:05 a.m. Analysis of the compositions from a conductor's
perspective
10:30 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Working session with a violinist: bowings, fingering,
contemporary techniques
12:30 p.m. Lunch (provided by the KSO)
1:30 p.m. Lecture on compositional techniques by Larysa
Kuzmenko
2:30 p.m. Round-table discussion (I)
3:30 p.m. Break
4:00 p.m. Round-table discussion (II)
5:00 p.m. Closing remarks by Larysa Kuzmenko
Monday, December 13
7:15
p.m. Open rehearsal of the KSO (includes Voice for Hope
by Larysa Kuzmenko)
8:40 p.m. Break
9:00 p.m. Read-through and recording session of the
submitted compositions
10:00 p.m. Reception with champagne and hors-d'oeuvres (provided by
the KSO)
APPLICATION
PROCEDURE
The workshop is limited to 10 active participants and
10 auditors. Successful applicants will be notified by December 5,
2010. The fees for an active participant are $300 and for an auditor -
$150. A $50 non-refundable application fee is required as well.
Kindred
Spirits Orchestra
Composers workshop
4981 Highway 7, Unit 8
Markham ON L3R 1N1
Include one-page biography and a cover letter with complete contact
information (mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address).