Ensemble contemporain de Montrˆ©al+

Ensemble contemporain de Montrˆ©al+ performs Generation 2008 on November 10 at Dominion-Chalmers United Church

Ottawa (Canada) ’Äì The National Arts Centre (NAC) and the Ottawa Chamber Music Society present Generation 2008, a performance by Montreal’Äôs stellar Ensemble contemporain de Montrˆ©al+ celebrating some of Canada’Äôs most talented and exciting young composers.

The performance takes place at 8 p.m. on Monday, November 10th , 2008, at Dominion-Chalmers United Church, 355 Cooper Street, Ottawa. Admission for this performance is on a ’Äúpay-what-you-can’Äù basis.

This performance will showcase new works from composers Scott Good, Brian Harman and Fuhong Shi ’Äì all of whom have participated in the NAC Summer Music Institute Program ’Äì and by Michael Berger. The concert will also feature soloists Tim Brady on electric guitar and Scott Good on trombone. (See attached biographies).

PROGRAM:

Kaleidoscope, Fuhong Shi

Skeleton, Michael Berger

Gregarious Machines, Brian Harman (Soloist: Tim Brady, electric guitar)

Shock Therapy Variations, Scott Good (Soloists: Tim Brady, electric guitar; Scott Good, trombone)

BIOGRAPHIES

Composers

Michael Berger (b. 1980, British Columbia)

A graduate of the University of Victoria (2005) and the University of Alberta (2007), Michael is presently pursuing doctoral studies at Stanford University. In 2007 he was awarded a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship for research in physical interaction design for electroacoustic performance practice. His music is often driven by extra-musical concepts, but always with careful consideration of sound as a physical medium and of energy in performance.

Scott Good (b. 1972, Ontario)

Scott completed his Doctor of Music degree at the University of Toronto in composition (2005) and is now appointed composer in residence at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Rooted in the classical tradition, Scott’Äôs music draws infl uence from a wide variety of sources such as rock, jazz, and baroque as well as more abstract and esoteric musical concepts, such as serialism, extended techniques, and free improvisation.

Brian Harman (b. 1981, Quebec)

Now completing his doctorate at McGill, Brian holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Toronto. In 2007 he won a SOCAN prize for his piece sink. His music plays with the interaction between various musical layers, and is often inspired by non-classical music.

Fuhong Shi (b. 1976, Ontario)

Fuhong graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and from the University of Victoria. She is now pursuing her doctoral studies in composition at the University of Toronto. She was awarded the 2007 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music. In her music, she explores colouristic effects, lyricism, as well as percussive sonorities.

Guest soloists

Tim Brady, electric guitar

Tim Brady is a composer and guitarist who has created music in a wide range of genres. He has been commissioned and performed by numerous ensembles and orchestras in North America, Europe and Australia. Brady regularly tours internationally as an electric guitar soloist, performing his own music as well as new works, which he commissions from other composers in his effort to create a new voice for the electric guitar. Tim Brady was awarded the Prix OPUS for «Composer of the Year» (2004), and the Jan V. Matejcek Award by SOCAN (2006).

Scott Good, trombone (See above)

Scott has served as a trombonist in many orchestras, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the National Ballet Orchestra, Esprit and Orchestra London, among others. Many of his works and performances have been heard on CBC radio.