LAURIE EVAN FRASER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, UPPER CANADA CHORISTERS

Laurie Evan Fraser is a freelance musician living in Toronto. She is the founding artistic director of the Upper Canada Choristers and its Latin ensemble, Cantemos. Laurie is a collaborative pianist, teacher, adjudicator and workshop clinician. 

1. What are we interrupting (i.e. what music-related activity are we taking you away from to write this)?

Today (Thursday, May 23) I am in the midst of finalizing plans for the 20th anniversary concert of the Upper Canada Choristers in May 2014. The theme of our concert is “Turn the World Around, a Celebration of Music's Influence on Social Action.” We have commissioned Stephen Hatfield to write a cross-cultural composition for us to sing with the main choir and Cantemos, our Latin chamber ensemble. I am getting in touch with choir alumni to work on a surprise addition to the concert. We are also focused on preparing for a Cantemos recording date in early June.

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member between now and September 7?

I'm looking forward to attending events at the Toronto Summer Music Festival. I am especially drawn to chamber music, and one of my favourite chamber ensembles, the Gryphon Trio, will be performing at Koerner Hall on July 18. Also, this year the fabulous Dutch soprano Elly Ameling is a mentor in the Art of Song.

3. How about as a music maker/player?

I enjoy reading through new scores and exploring new possibilities. There doesn't seem to be time to do much of this during the season. I do minimal teaching during the summer, so I have more freedom to sing and play my own music. Cantemos is planning to perform at two outdoor summer events: Kensington Market Pedestrian Sundays and the Marleeville Street Festival.

4. What are you already preparing for musically beyond the summer? And (how) do your summer plans tie in with these longer term plans?

I am working on preparations for a Holocaust Education Week concert on November 6 of the Upper Canada Choristers in collaboration with the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir and the Choir of Temple Sinai. The concert will be reprised at Temple Sinai on November 15. I am also working on details for our holiday concert on December 6, “Laudamus Te,” and of course, our anniversary concert on May 9. In addition, I will be doing some long range planning for the next five years culminating in a choir trip to Japan in 2019. Summer is also my time to compose, and I am looking forward to setting a poem written by one of our Cantemos members.