The pipe organ dates back to the 3rd century BC in Ancient Greece, making it one of the oldest instruments still used today. Some consider it a development from the pan flute, giving the instrument much deeper and widespread roots. In a marriage of creativity and tradition, this concert features new compositions for the pipe organ.
For this concert, 6 living composers from diverse backgrounds have come together to create a program that pushes the boundaries of traditional organ music. Each composition is a testament to the organ’s timeless grandeur, skillfully exploring its vast tonal palette to craft sound worlds that embrace the spirit of the modern age while honoring the rich heritage of the king of instruments. Some have extensive knowledge of the organ, while others are exploring it for the first time. It was a great pleasure working with artists near and far, developing new relationships and sharing our love for creation. Please enjoy: Timeless Resonance.
Ethan Hill is a creative and inquisitive mind. Interested in music at an early age, Ethan studied piano and theory throughout his childhood. He later studied composition at the University of Victoria, where he also began his training as a liturgical musician. He then pursued the organ at McGill University whilst holding a scholarship at Christ Church Cathedral. His work in the church sparked his fascination with metaphysics, symbolism and the ineffable, which he continues to explore today. He is currently based in Calgary, Alberta and works with companies like the Alberta Ballet, dedicating his free time to his compositions. www.ethanhill.ca
Michalis Andronikou is a composer and musicologist currently residing in Calgary, AB. He holds a PhD in composition from the University of Calgary. He received his Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s degrees in musicology from the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens, Greece. He has a Diploma in Classical Guitar, Clarinet and Music Theory from the Trinity College and the Royal Academy of Music, and a Diploma in Byzantine Music from the Argyroupolis Municipal Conservatory. Michalis gained credentials in Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue, and Music Composition (with Theodore Antoniou) from the Hellenic Conservatory. https://mandronikou.wixsite.com/website
Tyler Versluis is a Toronto-based composer, curator and conductor. His music has been commissioned and performed by a growing list of Canadian ensembles and organizations and is also performed internationally, with premières and repeat performances in the USA, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia and Lithuania. In 2021 he was the guest composer at the Arts Forum Festival in Kraków, and in 2022 was a featured composer at Festival Forfest in Czechia. His composition “Quintet” can be heard on DUX Records’ 2022 release “Accosphere”. Tyler holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Toronto, and since 2020 he is Organist and Music Director at Saint Matthew’s Anglican Church, Islington in Toronto, where he also runs a small concert series. tylerversluis.com
Rob Hunter is a Calgary-based composer and performing artist. He has appeared throughout Canada with Puente Theatre, Gwaandak Theatre & National Arts Centre Northern Scene, Intrepid Theatre among others, as well as producing, performing, and touring his own works. Rob studied trombone performance as well as composing and arranging with Ian McDougall, then completed the Full Circle: First Nations Performance Ensemble Training program in Vancouver. Rob found a passion in telling stories of his family, and learning about his heritage, for instance that Plains Cree does not typically use capital letters. He is now collaborating with librettist Caroline Russell-King creating the opera sakochihtaw He Conquers as well as composing for Calgary Opera’s Opera212 initiative.
Bruce Petherick is a Vancouver based autistic advocate, and has also composed and performed music throughout the world for the last 40 years. His first sound design and composition works were created during his High School years, and he has continued to create, perform and music direct, first in his native Australia, and later in London, Mongolia, and in the United States. He moved to Canada in 2001 and has been active as a performer, teacher and composer. https://www.brucepetherick.com/
Alexandre Amat
Originally from La Rochelle, Alexandre Amat (born in 1993) is a French composer based in Montréal, Canada. After studying French horn (first prize obtained in 2011 at Conservatoire de Niort) and musicology (undergraduate degree at the University of Bordeaux in 2014), he studied instrumental composition with Jean-Louis Agobet at the Conservatoire of Bordeaux, where he graduated with honors in 2019. He is currently doing his Phd in composition and sound creation at the University of Montreal under the direction of Jimmie LeBlanc. He collaborated with ensembles and soloists such as Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine, Quatuor Cobalt, Ensemble Prisme, Ensemble PTYX, Vanina Santoni, Chatori Shimizu and Julia Cauley. https://www.alexandreamat.com/
This concert is the third in a series of five piano concerts during 2023 generously sponsored by:
