The Wild Rose Trio was formed in the spring of 2016 when Liz, Julie and Mary realized a burning need to get together and play chamber music. That in itself is not so unusual among passionate musicians, but the formation of this group occurred due to a happy disclosure of who actually played what.
In 2016, all of us were playing in the Calgary Wind Symphony: Liz plays alto sax, Julie plays horn and piano, and Mary is the principal clarinettist. The extraordinary bit was the discovery of Liz’s secret life as a first rate cellist! One evening at band rehearsal, Liz was covering a double bass part on her cello in a band piece! Immediately, the rich repertoire for clarinet, cello and piano ran through Julie’s head: Beethoven’s Trio Opus 11, Brahms’ Trio Opus 114, Glinka’s ‘Trio Pathetique’. And that was just the beginning.
It can take 3 to tango, and sometimes we do just that, playing the Palm Court classics of the 1920’s or Miguel del Aguila’s ‘Tango Trio’ of 2002. We are having so much fun preparing for various performances that we are learning new repertoire as fast as we can. If it isn’t quite to our specs, we arrange it.
We believe quality chamber music belongs wherever you can set up for it: the zoo, the airport, churches, malls, private homes, seniors’ residences or the concert hall. The magical connection between a chamber ensemble and their audience feeds our souls.
We are all highly trained and experienced music professionals. Liz hails from Brighton, in the UK, having studied both piano and cello at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She was active for many years in Bermuda, teaching and performing. After arriving in Kingston Ontario in 2005 (quite the climate change!) she continued to be a very busy chamber and orchestral player and teacher. She moved to Calgary in 2012, promptly threw herself into the local music scene, and rapidly became a well-known figure in local orchestras such as the Calgary Civic Orchestra, The Symphony of the Kooteneys and The Blue Arch Strings. She also maintains a large private studio for piano and cello, and still finds time to practise her saxophone!
Mary comes from Nelson, British Columbia and holds multiple degrees in clarinet performance and music education from such prestigious schools as the Eastman School of Music and Ohio State University. She is one of the best kept clarinet secrets in Calgary, with her superb expressive sound. She can melt your heart playing Brahms or make you dance like Benny Goodman. Whatever is required, Mary’s phrasing is always impeccable. Recently retired from a long and satisfying career teaching for the Calgary Board of Education, Mary is energized by her passion for music, books, her horse Skookumchuck and nature.
Julie was born in Sarnia, Ontario and most of her formal musical training took place at the Banff Centre and at the University of Calgary where she earned one degree in piano performance and another in musicology. For over 40 years she has been seen accompanying anything that drew breath or bow, partnering both professionals and students for recitals, auditions and competitions. She is a natural collaborator with a keen ear for balance and ensemble. When not researching or arranging music for the group to play, Julie enjoys the frustrations of growing roses in Calgary.
We are the Wild Rose Trio.
