SSO 94 Artist Bios – Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

Michael Bridge, Digital Accordion

Michael Bridge

Michael Bridge is a 21st-century musical maverick—toppling popular expectations of what it is to be a professional accordionist.

He’s a virtuoso performer—a superstar on both acoustic accordion, and its 21st-century cousin, the digital accordion. He’s won a slew of competitions in Canada and abroad and offers lectures and masterclasses around the world.

He embraces a musical esthetic that is alternatively irreverent, deadly serious, meticulously prepared and completely in-the-moment. He’s at home with jazz, folk and classical music. He’s premiered 53 new works. If pushed, he’ll say he likes Baroque music best because of its unforgiving demand for clarity of intent and execution.

He began playing when he was 5 and growing up in Calgary. His mom bought an accordion at a garage sale for $5. A family friend started teaching him to play by ear. Formal lessons began at 7.

He spent weekends at prairie accordion competitions, playing polkas and learning to dance.

At 15 he attended the World Accordion Championships as a spectator. For the first time he heard classical accordion and fell in love with it. He started all over again, mastering a completely different kind of accordion and a whole new technique.

He was soon offering a hundred community concerts a year. As a soloist with orchestra or string quartet, with his two ensembles, he continues that pace, playing in concert halls all over the world. He received his doctorate in accordion performance from the University of Toronto with Joseph Macerollo (the first Canadian to do so) and is a Rebanks Fellow at the Glenn Gould School.

Bridge (along with his clarinet partner Kornel Wolak) performs on a digital accordion—essentially a computer housed in a conventional accordion case. This extraordinary piece of technological wizardry imitates the sound of just about any instrument you can imagine. He can single-handedly shake the rafters with a convincing “1812 Overture”, canons and bells included. Bridge & Wolak concerts capture the energy and panache of stadium rock with the discipline and finesse of chamber music. Think Bach on steroids.

He’s also mastered the more familiar acoustic accordion, a soulful, highly expressive instrument, essential to the music of Toronto-based Ladom Ensemble. Along with cello, piano and percussion, the Ladom quartet creates a sophisticated blend of everything from traditional Persian melodies, to Bach and Piazzolla, to Radiohead.

Bridge also gives back through an online Music Mentorship Program. After performing hundreds of concerts in schools—usually in the less-than-ideal setting of a packed gymnasium with a tight time limit—Bridge & Wolak determined to build more meaningful relationships with musically inclined teens. With help from composers, tech people and producers, they introduce emerging artists to the wide world of professional music.

When he’s not being a musical renaissance man, you’ll find Bridge salsa dancing, cooking vegan dishes and talking to smart people. He loves to travel and he’s trying to live a more minimal life—abandoning anything that isn’t essential to his life and work.

But what really matters for Michael Bridge is making your world more bearable, beautiful and human—even if only for the length of a concert.

He is grateful for the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Sylva Gelber Foundation, and the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto.

www.MichaelBridge.ca
IG: @michael_accordionist
FB: www.facebook.com/MichaelBridgeMusic
YT: www.youtube.com/@MichaelBridge

Richard Carnegie, conductor

A double bassist by training, Richard Carnegie is passionate about teaching young musicians and has served as music director of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO) since 2009.

Under his leadership, the SYO program has seen the addition of a chamber orchestra, conducting classes, a composition contest for young Saskatchewan composers, an annual concerto competition, expanded enrolment and a unique partnership with the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music.

A dedicated teacher, he has been an instructor of double bass at the University of Saskatchewan, and from 2014-2018 Richard taught with Sistema Saskatoon, an after-school program for students in grades 3-8 which focuses on the the ideal that every child should have the opportunity to enrich their lives through music and teamwork.

His birth certificate says he’s from Ontario, but Richard has called Saskatchewan home since 2006 after studies at the Manhattan School of Music (New York) and the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School (Toronto) with Timothy Cobb and Joel Quarrington. He became the principal Double bassist for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and served in that position until 2022.

As a double bassist, Richard has performed solo recitals and had appearances with Prairie Virtuosi, Elixir Ensemble, Ritornello Festival and the YouTube Symphony in Sydney, Australia.

Richard has been invited to guest conduct the Saskatoon Symphony on five separate occasions for Pops and Family series concerts in repertoire ranging from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite to the music of Frank Sinatra and Astor Piazzolla. He has also served as guest conductor at summer music programs including the International Music Camp and the Regina Summer Strings.

In 2013 he was named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, a list of 40 leaders and change makers in the province.

Mitchell Tyler, bass

Conductor, arranger, bassist and educator Mitchell Tyler is an Honours Bachelor of Music (Theory & Composition) and Bachelor of Education graduate of Western University, and has been a member of the Jeans ‘n Classics Band since 1992.

As a performer he has shared the stage with many artists including Rik Emmett (Triumph), Alan Frew (Glass Tiger), Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) and Lawrence Gowan (Styx), and played in the touring productions of Chicago (2015) and Mamma Mia (2012).

Mitchell is a part time contract teacher of string music and classical guitar with the Thames Valley District School Board in London, Ontario and has been a professional educator since 1993. He served as Orchestra London Canada’s Education Director from 2010 to 2013. He has extensive experience writing, developing, programming and conducting curriculum-linked educational content for symphony orchestras, currently offered through his company, Symphonic Kids. He has been the musical director for beloved children’s entertainment troupe, Dufflebag Theatre since 2008.

As a conductor, Mitchell has had the privilege of working with a wide variety of orchestras across North America. Recent guest conductor appearances include the Springfield Symphony, the Erie Philharmonic, the Duluth Superior Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra. He continues to immensely enjoy his work as Conductor with the Jeans ‘n Classics Rock Symphony, a local symphony add-on to the JNC rock band, formed in 2012 for select performances closer to home.

In his spare time, Mitchell enjoys coaching high school and club travel baseball, touring the ballparks of Major League Baseball and supporting his beloved Boston Red Sox.

Johnny Rutledge, vocalist

Based in Chicago, but born and raised in Toronto Canada, this talented guitar player and gifted singer’s career has been quite the journey.

Before becoming a pre-eminent studio session singer in constant demand, Johnny played in numerous bands performing in clubs and venues across Canada. Once he began singing radio and television commercials, he quickly became a recognized voice in households everywhere.

A recording artist in his own right, Johnny has recorded and performed with greats such as Kenny Loggins, R Kelly, Celine Dion, Diana Ross (Oprah Show), The Temptations, Peter Cetera, Gordon Lightfoot, Mavis Staples, and Anne Murray, to name a few.

Johnny moved to Chicago IL in 1989, where his gifts and talents as a singer continued to be in high demand. There he also co-partnered his own music composition/production company, writing and recording music for major brands and clients. In 2005 he co-wrote and produced the music for “The Doodlebops” which became a SOCAN award winning, number one childrens show across Canada and the U.S.

Drawing upon his Canadian roots and his love of hockey, Johnny also took on the challenge of becoming his son Jared’s goaltending coach. Studying under top NHL goaltending coaches at camps in the U.S. and Canada, he coached Jared all the way to a spot on the gold medal winning U.S. National Development Team. Johnny has since become a well known and sought after goaltending coach in the Midwest.

Johnny embraces his multifaceted lifestyle with passion and commitment. Juggling between his two loves keeps him happy, healthy and ready to sing.

Dave Dunlop, guitar

Dave has been a pro guitarist, songwriter, singer, and educator for the past 30 years. Currently, Dave balances his studio work with his touring life as a member of the award-winning duo of Rik Emmett/Dave Dunlop, and Jeans ’n Classics. Emmett and Dunlop won Smooth Jazz Album of the Year and Duo/Group Of The Year in 2007 on the strength of their debut album, Strung-Out Troubadours.

Dave has been an integral member of the Jeans ’n Classics band since 2005, winning rave reviews for his handiwork in many shows, including the music of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton, among others.

Dave was lead guitarist and writer in rock band The Full Nine, signed to Disney’s Mammoth Records in 2001. They had chart success with the single, Not Over. He’s also been a faculty member at the National Summer Guitar Workshop, and has had sideman stints with Bo Diddley, Mike Reno (Loverboy), Ron Sexsmith, and many others. In 2008 Dave joined the re-formed Hall Of Fame act Triumph, supporting the original line-up of Rik Emmett, Gil Moore and Mike Levine.

In 2005 he established Room 9 studio in his Toronto home, where he has been busy recording and producing projects non-stop ever since. His 2016 debut album, Monarch Girl spent 5 weeks at number one on the Maple Music charts. Of late he has up-and-comers Lyric Dubee, and The Launch finalist Trevor LaRose in his studio.

Dave endorses D’Addario strings and picks, Dean guitars, and Godin guitars.

Kevin Adamson, keyboards

Kevin Adamson is a Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, arranger and producer who joined the Jeans ‘n Classics band in 2013.

Classically trained on piano as a child at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Kevin earned a Bachelor of Music from McGill University’s prestigious jazz program in Montreal. He soon became one of the most in-demand musicians in Toronto, playing with such artists as Kim Mitchell, Ian Thomas, Michelle Wright, Ron Sexsmith, Justin Hines, and Rik Emmett, and more.

On the international stage, Kevin toured the world with Roger Hodgson (of Supertramp), throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and across North America, from festivals, to arenas, to London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall.

Equally at home in a recording studio, Kevin co-produced Dominic Mancuso’s 2010 album “Comfortably Mine”, which went on to win a Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. In 2016, Kevin’s orchestral arrangement of Ian Thomas’ song “The Runner” was featured on Ian’s album “A Life in Song”.

Kevin endorses Nord and Roland keyboards, as well as Radial Engineering DIs and mixers.

Rique Franks, vocalist

Best known for her four duets with Dan Hill (In Your Eyes, Hold Me Now, Sometimes When We Touch and Can’t We Try), Rique Franks has sung, toured, recorded and/or written with many Canadian and international recording artists, including Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Alannah Myles, Alexander O’Neal, Martin Fry (ABC), Alan Frew/Glass Tiger, Bruce Guthro, Glen Lewis, Eddie Schwartz (Writer for Pat Benatar), Lisa Dalbello, Ronnie Greenfield-formerly Spector (The Ronettes), Lorraine Segato (Parachute Club), Alfie Zappacosta, Stephan Moccio, Marc Jordan – the list goes on and on.

This core artist and featured soloist with Jeans ‘n Classics is also a busy session singer and voice actor in Toronto. Rique has lent her voice to many original projects, and has sung and/or read thousands of memorable commercials for countless products.

Unlike most singers Rique started late, after being discovered in her mid twenties by Marvin Dolgay (Tambre Productions) and Doug Paulson (TV’s Thrill of a Lifetime). She joined the union (ACTRA), and sang her for her first jingle the very next day. That jingle (for Thrifty’s Jeans) won an award, and work suddenly snowballed. Rique still considers many of the people she first worked with in those early days (Lisa Dalbello, Neil Donell, David Blamires, Johnny Rutledge, and others) as major influences.

Rique recently ended a 20-year run as the on-air speaking voice of Showcase Television/Showcase Diva, saying, among other things, “Viewer discretion is advised”…a lot.

Rique’s own songs are available at iTunes, and other online music retailers.

Cris Derksen, cello

Juno-nominated Cris Derksen is an Internationally respected Indigenous Cellist and Composer. In a world where almost everything—people, music, cultures—gets labelled and slotted into simple categories, Cris Derksen represents a challenge. Originally from Northern Alberta, she comes from a line of chiefs from NorthTall Cree Reserve on her father’s side and a line of strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s. Derksen braids the traditional and contemporary, weaving her classical background and Indigenous ancestry with new school electronics to create genre-defying music.

As composer Derksen has a foot in many worlds, 2019 compositions include Maada’ookii Songlines – a Mass Choral piece for 250 singers Commissioned by Luminato Festival. Rebellion—a short symphony commissioned by the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. Iron Peggy – a Theatre piece commissioned by the Vancouver Children’s Festival. A new performance art piece commissioned by the National Art Gallery of Canada, Ikumagiialit. Her 2018 works include the DORA Award for Best Sound Design for Theatre 2018; Kiinalik: these sharp tools, TIFF Premier Biidaaban (the dawn comes) Short Animation Film by Amanda Strong, Ka:hawai Dance Company production of BloodTides, Kamloopa Theatre production, 2018 Banff Centre for the Arts String Quartet Residency White Mans Cattle and Wood Quintet International 5 bucks per head.

As a performer, Derksen performs nationally and internationally solo and with some of Canada’s finest, including Tanya Tagaq, Buffy Sainte Marie, Naomi Klein, and Leanne Simpson, to name a few. Recent destinations include Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, Sweden, and a whole lot of Canada—the place Derksen refers to as home.

Tania Miller, conductor

Canadian Conductor Tania Miller has distinguished herself as a dynamic interpreter, musician and innovator. On the podium, Maestra Miller projects authority, dynamism and sheer love of the experience of making music. As one critic put it, she delivers calm intensity . . . expressive, colourful and full of life . . . her experience and charisma are audible.” Others call her performances “technically immaculate, vivid and stirring”.

Tania Miller has recently been named as Artistic Director of the Brott Music Festival in Canada. She is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the National Academy Orchestra of Canada and of Brott Opera. Maestra Miller’s 23-24 season includes her debut with Vancouver Opera in the production of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, a concert with highly acclaimed soprano, Sondra Radvanovsky and Vancouver’s Opera West, and debuts with the Baton Rouge Symphony, Illinois Symphony, with return engagements to the Springfield Symphony, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and London Symphonia, among others. Miller served as interim Principal Conductor of the Rhode Island Philharmonic in the 22-23 season, and recently made her debut with the Warsaw Philharmonic, I Musici de Montreal, and the New Haven Symphony.

Miller has conducted the KBS Symphony in Seoul, and the Virtuoso Chamber Orchestra at the World Orchestra Festival in Daegu, South Korea with concerts in Daegu, Hwaseong, and Seoul. She has appeared as a guest conductor in Canada, the United States and Europe with such orchestras as the Bern Symphony Orchestra, NFM Wroclåw Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra Métropolitain de Montreal, Vancouver Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, Naples Philharmonic, Hartford Symphony, Madison Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Winnipeg Symphony, Louisiana Philharmonic and numerous others. Maestro Miller was Music Director of Canada’s Victoria Symphony for 14 years, and was named Music Director Emerita for her commitment to the orchestra and community. She has distinguished herself as a visionary leader and innovator with a deep commitment to contemporary repertoire and composers and has gained a national reputation as a highly effective advocate and communicator for the arts.

Miller conducted Calgary Opera’s 2022 production of Lehar’s Merry Widow and numerous opera productions as Artistic Director of Michigan Opera Works and guest conductor of Opera McGill in Montreal. She was Assistant Conductor of the Carmel Bach Festival for four seasons, and Assistant and Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony from 2000-2004. She was Assistant Conductor of the Banff Summer Festival of the Arts opera production of Michael Daugherty’s Jackie O.

Ms. Miller has a Doctorate and Masters degree in Conducting from the University of Michigan. Maestro Miller received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Royal Roads University, and an Honorary Fellowship Diploma from Canada’s Royal Conservatory of Music for her commitment to leadership in community and music education. She was recipient of the 2017 Friends of Canadian Music award from the Canadian League of Composers for her dedication to the performance of contemporary music.

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Sara Davis Buechner, piano

Noted for her musical command, cosmopolitan artistry, and visionary independence, Sara Davis Buechner is one of the most original concert pianists of our time. Lauded for her “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” (New York Times), “thoughtful artistry in the full service of music” (Washington Post), and “astounding virtuosity” (Philippine Star), Japan’s InTune magazine sums up: “Buechner has no superior.”

In her twenties Ms. Buechner earned a bouquet of top prizes at the world’s premiere international piano competitions — Queen Elisabeth (Brussels), Leeds, Mozart (Salzburg), Beethoven (Vienna), and Sydney. She was a Bronze Medalist of the 1986 Tschaikowsky Competition in Moscow and the Gold Medalist of the 1984 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition.

Ms. Buechner has performed in every state and province of North America — as recitalist, chamber musician and soloist with top orchestras like the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Philadelphia Orchestra; and in venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl. She has toured throughout Latin and South America and Europe; and she enjoys a special following in Asia, where she has been a featured soloist with the Sydney Symphony, New Zealand Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic and Shanghai Philharmonic, among many others.

She has commissioned and premiered important contemporary scores by composers such as Michael Brown, John Corigliano, Ray Green, Dick Hyman, Vitězslavá Kaprálová, Jared Miller, Joaquín Nin-Culmell, and Yukiko Nishimura. Ms. Buechner’s performance versatility extends to unique collaborations with film and dance (including tours with the Mark Morris Dance Group, and Japanese kabuki-mime-mask dancer Yayoi Hirano).

Ms. Buechner has released numerous acclaimed recordings of rare piano music by composers such as Rudolf Friml (“a revelation” — The New York Times), Dana Suesse, Joseph Lamb, Joaquín Turina, Miklós Rózsa, and Ferruccio Busoni (including the world première recording of the Bach-Busoni “Goldberg” Variations). Stereophile magazine selected her Gershwin CD as “Recording of the Month,” and her interpretation of Hollywood Piano Concertos won Germany’s coveted Deutsches Schauplatten Preis. Most recently her recorded traversal of the score to Carl Dreiser’s silent movie classic Master of the House (1925) may be heard on Criterion Collection DVD.

Sara Davis Buechner joined the faculty of Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance in 2016, after previously teaching at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University and the University of British Columbia. She has presented masterclasses and workshops at major pedagogic venues worldwide, adjudicated important international piano competitions, and is also a contributing editor for Dover Publications International. In 2017 Ms. Buechner marked her 30th year as a dedicated Yamaha Artist.

As a proud transgender woman, Ms. Buechner also appears as a speaker and performer at important LGBTQ events, and has contributed interviews and articles about her own experience to numerous media outlets worldwide.

Sara is a dual American-Canadian citizen who makes her home in Philadelphia.

http://saradavisbuechner.com/

Michael Bridge, Digital Accordion

Richard Carnegie, conductor

Mitchell Tyler, bass

Johnny Rutledge, vocalist

Dave Dunlop, guitar

Kevin Adamson, keyboards

Rique Franks, vocalist

Cris Derksen, cello

Tania Miller, conductor

Sara Davis Buechner, piano

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