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Obituaries
American heldentenor Stephen Gould has died of cancer at the age of 61. Gould’s international career spanned performances of works by Wagner, Britten, Verdi and Berlioz, to name a few.
Stephen Gould (Photo by Kay Herschelmann)
Appointments/Retirements
Jacob Clewell
Violist Jacob Clewell has been appointed to chamber orchestra Sinfonia Toronto, having won the position on Sept. 6.
The Royal Conservatory of Music has welcomed President and CEO Designate Alexander Brose, who has begun his yearlong transition into the role. Brose will follow in the footsteps of current President and CEO Peter Simon, who will retire in August 2024.
Louise Roy, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Concours musicale international de Montréal (CMIM), has announced Chantal Poulin as Executive Director and Shira Gilbert as Artistic Director of the CMIM. They will succeed Christiane LeBlanc who, after leading the Concours for 10 editions, has announced her retirement.
Xian Zhang
The CMIM has also announced that the internationally recognized Chinese-American conductor Xian Zhang will be the Guest Conductor for the 2024 Piano Edition of the competition.
Metropolitan Opera Chorus Master Donald Palumbo has announced that he will step down from the role, which he has held for the last 17 years, at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Composer Simon Bertrand has been named interim artistic director of the SMCQ, replacing former artistic director Ana Sokolovic.
Awards
Christie Peter Watson (Photo by Matt Rezneck)
Emmy Lee Wall (Photo by Gloria Wong)
The Canada Council for the Arts has announced Emily Lee Wall and Christie Peter Watson as recipients of the 2023 John Hobday Awards, which recognize the significant contributions of arts managers in Canadian arts organizations.
The Ontario Arts Council has announced pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico as winner of the 2023 Oskar Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music Performance, presented biannually to an outstanding Canadian classical musician.
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has been awarded the 2023 Vida Peene Orchestra Award, for artistic and organizational achievements.
Jasmin White
The Queen Sonja Singing Competition has announced its 2023 winners. Contralto Jasmin White has taken home the first prize, baritone Aksel Daveyan the second prize, and countertenor Nils Wanderer the third prize.
Janna Sailor has been named winner of the 2023 Orchestras Canada Betty Webster Award. She was nominated by the all-female Allegra Chamber Orchestra.
News
The Cliburn Competition has announced its 17th edition, which will take place from May 21-June 7, 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. Applications open Oct. 16, 2023, and will be due Oct. 16, 2024.
Honens has launched Keys for Newcomers, in partnership with the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. Beginning this fall, the program will provide newcomers to Calgary with accessible music education for students, and opportunities for piano teachers.
Élisabeth St-Gelais
Elisabeth St-Gelais has signed an exclusive recording contract with Atma Classique. Over the next six years, St-Gelais will record three albums with the label, the first of which will be devoted to the music of Duparc, Chausson, and Poulenc.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony has filed for bankruptcy, shortly after cancelling its 2023-24 season.
This year’s Canadian Opera Company Ensemble consists of soprano Karoline Podolak, tenor Wesley Harrison, baritone Korin Thomas-Smith, and pianist Mattia Senesi, who will join the Ensemble alongside returning sopranos Ariane Cossette and Charlotte Siegel, mezzo-sopranos Alex Hetherington and Queen Hezumuryango, and pianist Brian Cho.
Meanwhile, in Montreal, the Atelier Lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal welcomes pianist Jerome de los Santos, sopranos Chelsea Kolić and Sophie Naubert, countertenor Ian Sabourin, and mezzo-soprano Ilanna Starr alongside returning pianists Christopher Gaudreault and Rebecca Klassen-Wiebe, soprano Emma Fekete, bass Matthew Li, tenor Angelo Moretti, and baritone Mikelis Rogers.
AMACC (Photo by Danylo Bobyk)
On Sept. 14, the Azrieli Foundation announced the launch of the Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC). The Centre aims to support and promote artistic excellence in Canada by combining the Foundation’s grant-making division, sectoral collaborations, strategic initiatives, and the Azrieli Music Prizes under one umbrella. AMACC will operate out of the Foundation’s main headquarters.
In the words of soprano Sharon Azrieli, board member of the Azrieli Foundation and Chair of the AMACC Advisory Council, the Foundation hopes “to create an impact that is greater than the sum of its parts, ensuring Canadians of all ages enjoy a deeper relationship with the arts.”
The Foundation recognizes that the needs of the arts and culture sectors are greater than ever. Determined to meet these needs, the Foundation sees AMACC as “a catalyst, key funder and strategic partner of choice in creating a resilient, impactful and connected arts sector.” While its reach promises to be broad, the AMACC will not support building projects (such as construction of new concert halls or cultural centres), and while applications are by invitation only, interested parties are encouraged to contact AMACC for information on their programs.
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