Directories

Linda Litwack worked for 20 years as a CBC Radio Music publicist before starting Linda Litwack Publicity, through which she has continued to promote music (mostly classical), along with theatre and other arts.

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

Working with the tireless Ann Summers Dossena to publicize Canadian Day, which she is producing July 5 in Rome. Canadian musicians, photography, a Glenn Gould film and more are presented in the conclusion of the five-day Le Nazioni: The Festival of Nations, featuring the cultures of five different countries. Sadly I’ll be enjoying it vicariously back home in T-O. But then there’s a “Welcome Home” concert featuring performances by most of the artists August 1 at Lula Lounge (Info at http://ircpa.net).  I’m also working on various other music-related projects.

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member (not work-related) between now and September 7? 

My wish list includes the Jazz Festival, world music at Harbourfront, Toronto Summer Music and the Festival of the Sound. It’s a great smorgasbord. My mom used to say my eyes were bigger than my stomach! If I get to even some of these, I’ll be happy. 

3. How about work-related events/activities? 

Besides the “Welcome Home” concert on August 1 (mentioned above), there’s the July 1 closing reception for The Circle of Art: Portraits of Famous Canadians at the Arta Gallery [www.portraitsociety.ca]. It includes portraits of a number of musicians and others.

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

So much to look forward to in the upcoming season – and to prepare for during the summer.  These include the fabulous lineup in the 25th season of Mooredale Concerts, starting October 6 with both the Cecilia and Afiara String Quartets (www.mooredaleconcerts.com), piano virtuoso Christina Petrowska Quilico’s upcoming launch of her Brazilian Tangos CD and performances of piano concerti by Violet Archer (in the composer’s centenary year) and Heather Schmidt, a new composition by Charles Cozens for the Orpheus Choir’s 50th Anniversary Gala, and The Musicians In Ordinary’s new season, which opens in November with a concert celebrating the 450th anniversary of John Dowland. Plus two joint performances by the Toronto Jewish Folk Choir, Upper Canada Choristers and Temple Sinai Ensemble Choir for Holocaust Education Week in November.

Chris Donnelly is a Juno nominated pianist, composer and improviser from Toronto, Canada. He teaches at the University of Toronto and keeps a blog at  www.chrisdonnellymusic.com.

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

Two things: I’m practising Gershwin and putting a contemporary spin on some of his tunes. It’s kind of like reinventing the Superman franchise, but with less revenue. I’m also working on developing some music educational programs for kids. This includes jazz programs for kids and studies in interactive media. 

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member (not work-related) between now and September 7?  

I have tickets to see Man of Steel in 3D IMAX tonight (Tuesday, June 18). We’ll see how Cavill stacks up against Reeve. I’m pretty excited about this.

3. How about work-related events/activities? 

I’m happy to be returning to Music by the Sea in Bamfield, BC. This is a one-of-a-kind summer music festival that’s taking place from July 6 to 14. Bamfield is on Vancouver Island, right on the Pacific. Beautiful. I’ll also be returning to the National Music Camp of Canada at the end of August. I’ll be teaching piano classes, ensemble classes, and yes, spoon classes. Fun stuff.

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

Myriad3 is my collective jazz trio with Dan Fortin on bass and Ernesto Cervini on drums. We have quite a bit of new repertoire up our sleeves and we’ll be touring Europe in September. This will be our first time performing outside of North America. We also hope to be in schools with some of our educational programs. Also exciting is our new video game project. It’s like a contemporary spin on silent movies. But that’s TOP SECRET, you already know too much.

WEBSITE

www.chrisdonnellymusic.com

TWITTER

@chrisdonnelly99

FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/chrisdonnelly99

Jane Bunnett plays soprano saxophone, flute, piccolo and piano, and is one of Canada’s foremost jazz musicians. Known for her improvising talents, technical alacrity, versatile writing, band leading abilities and also for her collaborative work celebrating the music of Cuba, Bunnett is a multiple JUNO Award winner, Grammy nominee and a recipient of the Order of Canada. Driven by a deep appreciation for the universality of music, she continues to tour internationally, forge new collaborations and record.

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

Learning the music of guitarist Jorge Miguel for an upcoming show...should be a blast!!! (Tuesday, June 18)

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member (not work-related) between now and September 7?

Pharoah Sanders, who will be performing at the Guelph Jazz Festival.

3. How about work-related events/activities?

Playing in Chicago at the festival, with Hilario Duran and the great 93-year-old Candido Camero on congas.

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

Working on my new material for a recording that will feature young female musicians from Cuba and Canada.

Luisa Trisi founded Big Picture Communications in 1999 to provide clients with a wide range of strategic communications services. Recent clients include Artscape, ATMA Classique, Tafelmusik and the Toronto Consort.

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

I’m listening to a preview recording of Handel’s opera Orlando, which will be released on the ATMA Classique label this fall. It features a dream cast, including Karina Gauvin, Allyson McHardy and Nathan Berg, with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra directed by Alexander Weimann.

2. What, if anything, are you most looking forward to as an audience member (not work-related) between now and September 7?

A live performance of “Dowland in Dublin,” the gorgeous and utterly addictive program by tenor Michael Slattery and La Nef (also available as an ATMA recording). I haven’t yet decided whether we’re going to make the trek to Domaine Forget in Quebec on July 4, or see them at Ottawa Chamberfest on July 28.

www.atmaclassique.com/En/Albums/AlbumInfo.aspx?AlbumID=1440

3. How about work-related events/activities?

I’m really looking forward to L’Allegro Movement Project, a free event on June 19 at Daniels Spectrum. It’s an amazing collaboration between Dancing With Parkinson’s, school children from the Regent Park and Cabbagetown communities, the Mark Morris Dance Group, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir performing music by Handel – all under the Luminato Festival umbrella. I’m also thrilled to return to work with the team at Artscape on their newest project, Artscape Youngplace near Queen and Shaw, set to open in November.

http://www.torontoartscape.org/artscape-youngplace

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

A lot of planning around Tafelmusik’s inaugural concerts in their newly-revitalized home at Trinity-St. Paul’s, which happen October 3 to 6 – looking forward to the revamped acoustics there.

I’m also reaching out to contacts in the Jewish and Italian communities to help spread the word about performances of “La Istoria de Purim” by an Italian group called Ensemble Lucidarium. They’ve performed at the Ashkenaz Festival and will be returning on November 22 and 23 on the Toronto Consort’s series. Lucidarium’s program is devoted to Renaissance songs and poetry of the Italian Jews, and includes pieces sung in Italian, Yiddish and Hebrew.