SSO News – Page 5 – Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra

Allison Miller, flute

Saskatoon-born flutist, Allison Miller, was thrilled to join the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in 2019. Having received tenure in 2020, Allison now holds the SSO Randi Nelson Principal Flute Chair. Allison has been highly featured during her short time with the orchestra, regularly presenting concerti and solo flute works with the ensemble. These works include Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti numbers 2 and 5, Vivaldi’s Concerto in F Major, Devienne’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, and Sommers’ Picasso Suite. Allison was delighted to appear as guest soloist for the 2022 world premiere of Up to Her Waist in Lupins by renowned composer, Christos Hatzis. Allison has appeared numerous times as both a flutist and piccoloist across Canada, including consistent appearances as guest Principal Flute with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra since 2017. Allison is also active throughout her home province of Saskatchewan, having joined the Regina Symphony Orchestra as a guest musician.

Allison completed a Diploma in Music at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, studying with Richard Volet. She went on to complete both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music, specializing in Flute Performance, at the University of Ottawa, studying with Camille Churchfield. She is a three-time NYO Canada alum, participating in international tours to Portugal, Germany, and Scotland, as well as the Canadian Edges of Canada coast-to-coast tour in 2017. Allison also spent three summers studying with William Bennet (WIBB) and Lorna McGhee at the PIFR international festival, off the coast of Vancouver Island, and attended both the Domaine Forget International Music Academy and the Orford Music Academy.

For the 2023-2024 season, Allison was granted a one-year sabbatical from her orchestral position to continue her musical development in New York City. Allison spent the year fervently exploring her artistic path, guided by international soloist and pedagogue, Linda Chesis. Allison coordinated a 40-week partnership with Professor Chesis, which included private tuition, masterclasses, lectures, concerts, and guest teaching / studio assisting at the Manhattan School of Music. In addition to this course of individual study, Allison also completed an Artist Diploma from the OAcademy Orchestral Institute, further expanding her training, network, and portfolio. Throughout this Diploma, Allison studied privately with Gareth Davies, Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, while also attending studio classes and workshops. As an extension of this program, Allison was selected from among the OAcademy participants to participate in the Orchestra of the Americas Orchestral Festival in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This residency comprised numerous highlights, including the opportunities to play as Principal Flute under the baton of Carlos Miguel Prieto and to experience a world premiere collaboration between Yo-yo Ma and Kayhan Kalhor. This year of professional development was made possible by generous funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association. Allison believes strongly that one’s musical learning is never complete and strives to continue growing, regardless of level achieved or experience acquired.

Allison has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including The Payne-Lyon Prize for Excellence in Flute from NYO Canada and the top flutist award at the National Music Festival. She was also a finalist of the NACO Bursary competition and a Rising Star performer with Ottawa’s Chamberfest.

Allison has been heard on various media platforms including CBC and BBC Radio broadcasts as Principal Flute of NYO Canada. Allison can be seen in NYO Canada’s documentary, That Higher Level, produced by Johnny Spence Bolton, documenting the Edges of Canada tour in 2017. In 2021, Allison gave an interview for Loud and Clear, a podcast amplifying the voices of women in classical music.

In addition to her busy performance schedule, Allison teaches flute both privately and as the Sessional Lecturer in Flute at the University of Saskatchewan. Allison has adjudicated music festivals in both her home province and across Canada. Allison has also served as a Woodwind Sectional Instructor for the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra and frequently presents guest masterclasses for the Saskatchewan Band Association and the Saskatoon Concert Band. In her teaching, Allison encourages both physical and mental health, a sense of community rather than competition, and a focused and efficient method of practice. Allison has been consistently recognized for her passion and dedication to teaching, twice receiving the RCM Gold Medal Award as a distinguished flute teacher. Allison’s private studio continues to accept highly motivated students of all ages.

Loud and Clear Podcast

The SSO is thrilled to present a podcast in collaboration with Saskatchewan’s very own Olivia Adams.

Olivia is a pianist, music clinician, and teacher. She holds a MA in Music and Feminist Studies from the University of Ottawa and a B.Mus. in Piano Performance from Western University. Olivia speaks and adjudicates across Canada and the US. She is a researcher on gender and music in Canadian music conservatories and is the author of the forthcoming book “Loud and Clear: Graded Piano Music by Women Composers” centering on the voices of female BIPOC composers comes out this October with Debra Wanless Music & 80 Days Publishing. She has written articles for the Canadian Music Teacher Magazine, Opus, and the book Hands On Piano. In 2020 received a Canadian Government SSHRC grant for her research on gender and race in the conservatory curriculum. Olivia works as a piano teacher and collaborative pianist in Ottawa, and a Music Director at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church. She is passionate about equity in the music studio, writing curriculum, and increasing inclusionary practices in classical music.

Olivia’s new podcast Loud and Clear, amplifies the voices of women in music. In conversation with composers, artists, and musical leaders, the podcast explores the experiences of women in all areas of music creation and production, including conducting, composing, producing, broadcasting, directing, teaching, performance, and research.

New episodes launch each Tuesday everywhere you get your podcasts.

Spotify

Apple Podcasts

Amazon

iHeartRadio

PlayerFM

An Intimate Interview with Julie Nesrallah

We pulled off a fun surprise…
In spring 2022 we gathered together an audience for a concert with a surprise guest artist. No one knew who was coming, but we put together an elegant evening of torch songs with the sensational Julie Nesrallah!

Star of stage and host of CBC Radio’s Tempo, Nesrallah has become the voice Canadian classical music lovers turn to for their daily dose of morning radio. Known for her incredibly artistry on operatic and concert stages, Nesrallah stepped into new shoes (literally!) to sing some of her favourite standards, specially arranged by Saskatoon’s own Paul Suchan.

Ahead of her concert filming, Julie sat down her the SSO’s Mark Turner to taste test some exceptional gin from Black Fox Distillery.

Watch An Intimate Interview with Julie Nesrallah free to view on ConcertStream.tv

A World First for Streaming

This past April, the SSO’s Simeon Taylor and Mark Turner had the chance to experience a world first.

The duo co-direct the live streaming of the SSO’s performances and are the creative team behind ConcertStream.tv – together they’ve filmed dozens of performances for live streaming and video-on-demand. Pairing Taylor’s background in film and Turner’s background in music, the two work in tandem to direct and capture a live performance that helps you see what they want you to hear.

When they started live streaming in fall of 2020, they didn’t dream that they’d end up flying to Sweden to experience the first ever gathering of directors of orchestral streaming…but in April they boarded a plane bound for Gothenburg and found themselves spending a week with peers from around the globe gathered together to explore the world of multi-camera orchestral filming.

Helmed by the IMZ International Music + Media Centre, the week was lead by renowned directors Peter Maniura and Kriss Russman, with Mons Per Fogelberg (head of streaming for the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra) and the GSO’s entire streaming team. After days spent learning from the best, Taylor and Turner got to sit in the director’s seat and film a performance by superstar soprano Barbara Hannigan. A thrill to film this exceptional Canadian artist alongside the Gothenburg Symphony, the week lead to incredible opportunities to learn from the best, connect with colleagues around the globe, and be part of the creation of a network that allows for the filming of orchestral performances to grow and flourish!

The SSO is grateful to the support of SKArts for supporting Simeon Taylor’s participation in the IMZ Academy.

One Last Music Talk

At the end of his 7 season, Maestro Eric Paetkau steps down from the role of Music Director. Ahead of his final concert as Music Director, Eric sat down with CEO Mark Turner for one final chance for a music talk.

Exploring the highlights, memorable moments, and special stories never told before the pair reminisce about performances spanning back to Eric’s SSO debut in 2014.

It’s a walk down memory lane and a chance acknowledge Eric’s considerable achievements at the helm of the SSO.

One Last Music Talk is available to view at ConcertStream.tv

A Fond Farewell

Eric’s last concert as Music Director is Mahler 4 on May 7th. While we hope you can join us there, we know it might not be possible to say goodbye in person. If you have a message or memory you wish to share with Eric, enter it in the form below! We will make sure he gets all your kind messages as we celebrate his incredible tenure here at the SSO.

Andrew Balfour, composer

Balfour is an accomplished artist and is also known for his beautiful choral works. It is no wonder that he also composes for strings in a way that often reminds us of the human voice.

Of Cree descent, Andrew Balfour is an innovative composer/conductor/singer/sound designer with a large body of choral, instrumental, electro-acoustic and orchestral works, including Take the Indian (a vocal reflection on missing children), Empire Étrange: The Death of Louis Riel, Bawajigaywin (Vision Quest) and Manitou Sky, an orchestral tone poem. His new Indigenous opera, Mishaboozʼs Realm, was commissioned by LʼAtelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal and Highlands Opera Workshop.

Andrew is also the founder and Artistic Director of the vocal group Camerata Nova, now in its 22nd year of offering a concert series in Winnipeg. With Camerata Nova, Andrew specializes in creating “concept concerts”, many with Indigenous subject matter. These innovative offerings explore a theme through an eclectic array of music, including new works, arrangements and innovative inter-genre and interdisciplinary collaborations.

Andrew has become increasingly passionate about music education and outreach, particularly on northern reserves and in inner-city Winnipeg schools where he has worked on behalf of the National Arts Centre, Camerata Nova, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and various Winnipeg school divisions.

In 2007 Andrew received the Mayor of Winnipegʼs Making a Mark Award, sponsored by the Winnipeg Arts Council to recognize the most promising midcareer artist in the City.

Lahni Russell named Cellist Emeritus

The SSO announces the retirement of Lahni Russell after more than three decades as Principal Cellist.

Ms. Russell earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music (both with High Distinction) from Indiana University studying with world-renowned cellist, Janos Starker. Post-graduation she spent two years at the Banff Centre of the Arts and was the first ‘cellist to win the Regina Concerto Competition (1987) before winning the audition for Principal Cellist in Saskatoon in 1989.

During her tenure she captivated SSO audiences with many solo concerto performances including Haydn D Major, Kabalevsky, Haydn C Major, Vivaldi and Piazzolla’s Four Seasons, and in 2018, Jocelyn Morlock’s remarkable ‘Exaudi’ with the Canadian Chamber Choir. In the wider community, Ms. Russell was a founding member of Prairie Virtuosi and the U of S Amati Quartet, she sat as first chair for the Saskatoon Opera and accompanied the Saskatoon Children’s Choir on many occasions. Across Canada, she performed as guest artist with the Calgary Philharmonic in Banff, as guest Principal Cello in Regina and in the Victoria and Vancouver Symphony sections. She was Solo cello for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet during performances in Saskatoon and Victoria and was hired for that same position on the Ballet’s tours across the U.S.

In addition to her orchestral performances, Ms. Russell teaches private lessons (in person and online), coaches string ensembles and has mentored advanced string students prior to competitions and exams.

Ms. Russell is also an accomplished luthier and bowmaker. She has provided stringed instrument and bow repair, restoration services, and appraisals to professional musicians and students province-wide and beyond. Her clients have included visiting guest artists and principal string players in professional orchestras. She has operated her own business, LJ Russell Violin and Bowmaker, since 1995. She will continue to teach and offer violin shop services.

Ms. Russell is the longest serving Principal Cellist in the SSO. To recognize her contribution to the orchestra, we are happy to bestow upon her the honorary title of Principal Cellist Emeritus. We thank Lahni for her years of service and wish her well.

An Announcement from Music Director Eric Paetkau

It’s hard to believe that I’m enjoying my seventh season as Music Director of the SSO. I’ve had so many unforgettable experiences and memorable moments over the years. Not only has the organization as a whole been incredible (the musicians, Mark Turner and the whole staff, the Board) but the welcome and warmth Karen and I received from the audience, the city, and the community has been special. And that’s why it’s not easy to say that I’ve decided to move on from the SSO at the end of this season and hand over the musical reins of this wonderful orchestra

Eric Paetkau conducting. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished as an organization over the years and how we’ve been an innovative force in the Canadian music scene. Some highlights have been the many Saskatchewan and Canadian musicians and music we’ve featured, our growing presence in the community, and simply daring to try new things and making them work. Part of this is creative momentum and I strongly believe new ideas and fresh perspectives are paramount to artistic growth. That’s why I’m very excited in passing the torch to new musical leaders and seeing how they contribute to the future of the SSO.

We’ve already been seeing fresh faces on the podium in the last year and I’m delighted to see many more this coming season. I’m making this announcement now to ensure a smooth transition and for everyone (orchestra, audience, and community) to experience what great things are in store for the orchestra moving forward. Thanks to all of the hard work from everyone involved, the SSO is in a prime position for an exciting future.

But I’m not done yet! I’m excited for the Brahms Requiem this month and then officially saying goodbye in May. I look forward to my last season and continuing to experience not only this great orchestra but the wonderful city of Saskatoon and its incredibly warm and inviting people.

Thank you Saskatoon and see you soon!
Eric Paetkau

Chrysalis Extended – Nia Imani Franklin

With styles ranging from R&B to classical, Nia’s soulful and eclectic music is a great fit for commercials, television and film. Her gospel singing background in church contributed to her love for music at a young age, having written her first song at the age of five. Nia has a Bachelor of Music degree in theory and composition and a Master of Music degree in composition. She is a composer of opera, instrumental music, and writes for artists and herself.

We’re thrilled to be performing the Canadian premiere of her new work “Chrysalis Extended” as part of our Swan Lake performance on February 26th.

Take time to watch her video talk about this incredible new work!