In an effort to celebrate accomplishments, share projects, and reflect on the past year, I have put together this post to share my music and performances from 2022!
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Ottawa New Music Creators
The year began with a solo recital for the Ottawa New Music Creators featuring Ann Southam's sprawling Simple Lines of Enquiry and the Canadian premiere of my Silver Light - a set of pieces for solo piano inspired by the poems of Sara Teasdale.
Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition
In April I competed for the third time in the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition, winning 3rd prize will my good friend David Potvin won 1st prize. He included my piece take a deep breath. on his program and the winner's tour across Canada in the fall.
Westben
For the second year in a row, I participated in the Westben Performer-Composer Residency, creating new works with fantastic creators from around the world. Although the bulk of the residency was virtual, those of us within driving distance to the Westben "Barn" met up for a finale concert which brought together some of us to perform for members of the community and a live-stream.
Breathe In, Breathe Out: Nova Scotia Tour
India Gailey (cello) and I toured for a couple of weeks in Nova Scotia to celebrate the release of Breathe In, Breathe Out. We met hundreds of listeners and were able to share our love of this project. We also had an album release event at the Paul O'Regan Hall at the Halifax Central Library.
PREMIERES
Chronos Vocal Ensemble
As the winner of the Chronos Vocal Ensemble's 2021 Composition Competition, my piece All the love that lies beneath was premiered by this brilliant ensemble in Edmonton. The recording will be featured on their upcoming album "Resolve" to be released in 2023.
SHHH!! Ensemble
The two members of this ground-breaking duo of piano and percussion, Zac and Edana, are friends from our days at the University of Ottawa. I had the distinct pleasure of creating a piece with them for them to premiere at the Ottawa Chamberfest and the Barachois Summer Music Festival in the summer. They will be performing this work again in 2023.
(Art) Song Lab
I've always had a love of fusing music and words in choral music, songs, and even instrumental pieces. When the opportunity came to collaborate with a poet in creating a brand new song cycle, I jumped at the chance. The (Art) Song Lab based in Vancouver was a hybrid virtual/in-person program which paired poets, composers, and performers across Canada to create new art songs. Here is the result, CARDIOID (the heart's curve) for contralto and piano.
Canadian Chamber Choir
After winning the CCC's composition competition in 2020, we created a video for my piece Unimagined Light. The ensemble was finally able to take the piece on tour to perform live on the East Coast in the fall of 2022.
India Gailey
India Gailey and I toured Nova Scotia for a couple of weeks in September and in the process premiered several new works, some of which are from the brand new album, Breathe In, Breathe Out. Here is one of those pieces, Fire + Light.
ALBUM RELEASE & TOUR
The biggest project which much of my year centered around was the recording and release of my debut album, Breathe In, Breathe Out. It features chamber music for piano duo/duet and cello/piano with my dear friends and colleagues David Potvin (piano) and India Gailey (cello).
If you have not yet heard the album and want to, you can do so HERE!
If you want to buy a copy (digital download, CD, LP), you can do that HERE!
Thank you to all who have listened to the album! It's a project which has been very close to my heart, and one of which I am incredibly proud.
New York City Marathon
2022 was also a year to cross a big item off of my personal bucket list: running the New York City Marathon. It was tough, and much more overwhelming than I was expecting, but also very satisfying. It's truly a unique experience running into Central Park after 26 miles and is something I will never forget.
COMING UP IN 2023
A brand new album recorded with the remarkable Rose Naggar-Tremblay and Gabriel Lapointe will be released in the spring with performances surrounding the release. It's an album of Rose's French songs with piano, bass, and string quartet. It's a stunning album we are excited to share with the world!
Performances will be plentiful and varied in 2023. Look out for upcoming dates with both David Potvin and India Gailey, in addition to some solo shows!
Another marathon year! The Chicago Marathon this time in the fall. I will train for some shorter, faster races earlier in the year to switch things up, and then will sink into another marathon training schedule.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
To all who have listened, supported, reached out, and shared your thoughts on any of my music: Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your time with this music which is so special to me. I hope you will continue listening.
Keep an open ear in this coming year and all the best to you and yours in 2023!
