Toronto, February 22, 2024 – Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, President & CEO Designate Alexander Brose, Executive Director of Performing Arts Mervon Mehta, and Dean of The Glenn Gould School James Anagnoson, today revealed programming details of some of the classical and jazz concerts for the 2024-25 season at Koerner Hall. The full season of more than 80 concerts, including pop, world music, and student concerts, will be released in June.
Said Dr. Peter Simon, “This current season at Koerner Hall has been filled with many exceptional moments from sold-out concerts for The Glenn Gould School’s Royal Conservatory Orchestra to the stunning two-night Staatskapelle Berlin performances which saw Maestra Giedrė Šlekytė make her North American debut. I would like to express my deep appreciation to our generous donors, sponsors, and patrons over these last 15 seasons for their shared belief in the transformative power of music. I look forward to watching the outstanding artists that will appear on our great stage in the years to come.”
“This upcoming year will be my first as President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory and I am thrilled that the exceptional calibre of Koerner Hall artists to-date will continue in this 16th season,” said Alexander Brose. “I am looking forward to seeing these distinguished artists – some of whom are returning, others who are gracing our stage for the first time – perform at The Royal Conservatory. I thank our donors, sponsors, and patrons for their generosity and for their support of our mission to develop human potential.”
Mervon Mehta said: “Today we launch season number 16 in our remarkable hall at The Royal Conservatory of Music. What a joy it has been to bring together the artists that will visit us. Our International Orchestra Series continues with two nights of music from Prague, dear friends Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson join forces for some ten-fingered fun, and our celebration of Stephen Sondheim continues with our first ever holiday musical, Into the Woods. Brilliant young artists such as Kevin Chen and Randall Goosby sit comfortably alongside seasoned masters Emanuel Ax and Sir Stephen Hough, and jazz greats Monty Alexander and Branford Marsalis share the stage with talented Canadians Barbra Lica, Emilie-Claire Barlow, and Jay Douglas. The incredible artists of our 2023-24 season brought us back from the brink and the future looks bright indeed!”
International Orchestra Series and Special Events
Czech Philharmonic conducted by Semyon Bychkov
For over a century, the Czech Philharmonic is one of the great orchestras of Europe and has represented the pinnacle of Czech cultural achievement. In 1896, Antonín Dvořák conducted the orchestra’s debut performance, and current Chief Conductor and Music Director of the Philharmonic, Semyon Bychkov, is in his sixth season. His relationship with the orchestra has become noticeably deeper with extraordinary performances of the great Czech masters running in parallel with a much- acclaimed Mahler cycle. In their Koerner Hall debut, they will perform two evenings of works by Dvořák, Smetana, and Mahler. On December 7, the soloist will be the Grammy Award-winning pianist and a frequent performer in Koerner Hall Daniil Trifonov, described by The Times as “the most astounding pianist of our age,” in Dvořák’s Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G Minor, and also on the program is Smetana’s “Vyšehrad,” “Vltava,” and “Šárka” from Má vlast. Czech violinist Jan Mráček, described as “gifted with phenomenal musicality … able to give the content of every single phrase, every motif” by Harmony Magazine, will perform Dvořák: Violin Concerto in A Minor on December 8, before the orchestra plays its award-winning rendition of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.
With generous support from The Michael and Sonja Koerner Fund for Classical Programming
For information about our Signature Events or sponsorship opportunities, please call 416.408.2824 x 446.
Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson
Two of classical music’s brightest stars, pianists Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson, unite to perform Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances (for two pianos), Schubert’s Fantasia in F Minor (for piano four hands), and other works on February 18. Wang, who won a 2024 Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category, is widely recognised as one of the most important artists of her generation, both for her supreme musicianship and her ability to captivate audiences of all ages. Ólafsson, who just performed Bach’s Goldberg Variations in two sold-out recitals at Koerner Hall, has been called “Iceland’s Glenn Gould” by The New York Times and was named Artist of the Year at the Gramophone Awards in 2019.
With generous support from The Michael and Sonja Koerner Fund for Classical Programming
Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods in concert Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Starring Tess Benger, Gabi Epstein, Sara Farb, Mike Nadajewski, and Fiona Reid Directed by Richard Ouzounian
Conducted by Paul Sportelli
One of Sondheim’s most popular works, this Tony Award-winning musical takes everyone’s favourite storybook characters and brings them together for a timeless yet relevant modern classic. Accompanied by an orchestra featuring students from The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School, the story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King’s Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch’s curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone’s wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. There will be four holiday performances suitable for the whole family on December 28, 29, 30, and 31. The all-star cast of Canadian theatre and television icons includes one of Canada’s best known stage actors, Fiona Reid (Jack’s Mother), who has performed in theatres across the country, including five seasons with the Stratford Festival and 12 at the Shaw Festival, as well as theatres in Great Britain and the U.S. Dora Award-winning performer and recording artist Gabi Epstein (Baker’s Wife), hailed “Canada’s Queen of Cabaret” by CTV, best known for playing Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors at the Stratford Festival and Fanny Brice in Funny Girl at the Segal Centre. Tess Benger, who has performed in both our previous Sondheim shows, appears as Cinderella. Sara Farb, who has appeared at the Stratford Festival and made her Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in 2019, is the Witch and Mike Nadajewski, who spent seasons at the Shaw Festival and nine seasons at the Stratford Festival, including in Peter Sellars’s daring A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Chamber Play, is the Baker. The rest of the cast will be announced at a later date.
On December 31, a special New Year’s Eve celebration will include an after-show party with members of the cast, a glass of champagne and party favours for all, as well as dessert stations on all three levels of The Leslie & Anna Dan Gallerias, all while dancing to a live band.
Into the Woods is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
Classical Concerts
With generous support from The Michael and Sonja Koerner Fund for Classical Programming
Piano Recitals
Emanuel Ax
Emanuel Ax, one of the most respected pianists of all time, returns to Koerner Hall on October 6 for his 75th birthday to perform Schoenberg and Beethoven, including his Piano Sonata No. 2, No. 8
(“Pathétique”), and No. 23 (“Appassionata”). With a career spanning over four decades, Ax has received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards and international recognition for his exceptional interpretations of classical masterpieces. “Ax is an extremely satisfying pianist; he is at home in a wide variety of music and his pianism is always thoughtful, lyrical, lustrous,” said The Washington Post.
Benjamin Grosvenor
Acclaimed British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performs works by Brahms, Schumann, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition on November 8. Called “one in a million” by The Independent, Grosvenor is regarded as one of the most important pianists to emerge in several decades, with Gramophone recently acknowledging him as one of the top 50 pianists ever on record. He first achieved prominence in 2004 as the youngest-ever winner of the keyboard section of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year Competition at age 11. Now a storied performer of international acclaim, he has taken his place as one of today’s most exceptional musicians, whose virtuosic interpretations are underpinned by a unique balance of technical mastery and intense musicality.
Kevin Chen
Canadian prodigy Kevin Chen makes his Koerner Hall debut on December 15. Starting to play at just five years old, by age eight Chen had been named one of CBC’s Top 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30 and became the youngest person in Canada to earn The Royal Conservatory of Music’s
associate’s diploma. He has since won numerous accolades: he is the youngest-ever winner of the Franz Liszt International Piano Competition, he won first prize at the Concours de Genève, and first prize in the Arthur Rubinstein Piano Master Competition. As well as being an exceptional musician, Chen is an accomplished composer and has over 100 works to his name. His program consists of works by Chopin, Liszt, and Schubert.
Bruce Liu
One of the world’s most exciting young pianists, Canadian star Bruce Liu returns to Koerner Hall to perform a thrilling program of works by Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, Mendelssohn, and Scriabin on January 19. First prize winner of the 18th Chopin Piano Competition 2021 in Warsaw, Liu’s “playing of breathtaking beauty” (BBC Music Magazine) has secured his reputation as one of the most exciting talents of his generation and contributed to a “rock-star status in the classical music world” (The Globe and Mail).
Louis Lortie
On February 9, acclaimed pianist Louis Lortie pays tribute to Maurice Ravel in celebration of his 150th birthday, with an all-Ravel program including Gaspard de la nuit and La valse. For over three decades, the French-Canadian Lortie has built a reputation as one of the world’s most versatile musicians, playing and recording solo repertoire by Liszt, Beethoven, Mozart, to name a few, and concerti with the world’s finest orchestras and conductors. He returns to Koerner Hall for the seventh time.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard
Considered a “brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary” by The Wall Street Journal, French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard enjoys an internationally celebrated career. As a master performer of Beethoven, he has recorded Beethoven’s entire catalogue of piano concertos and both the “Hammerklavier” Sonata and “Eroica Variations.” He is widely acclaimed as a key figure in the music of our time and has had close collaborations with many leading composers, including György Ligeti. His recital on February 28 consist of works by Beethoven, Debussy, Schoenberg, Webern and Pierre Boulez in recognition of his 100th birthday.
Schaghajegh Nosrati
The exceptionally talented protégé of Sir András Schiff, Schaghajegh Nosrati, makes her Koerner Hall debut with a program of works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Charles-Valentin Alkan, and Haydn on March 23. The Iranian-German pianist has earned a formidable reputation for her stellar Bach performances. Her international breakthrough came in 2014 as an award winner at the International Bach Competition in Leipzig and particularly through her increasing musical collaboration with Schiff, who praised the “astonishing clarity, purity, and maturity” as well as the musical comprehension associated with it when she plays Bach.
Vocal Concerts
Les Violons du Roy with Karina Gauvin and Marie-Nicole Lemieux
Exquisite voices of soprano Karina Gauvin and contralto Marie-Nicole Lemieux join forces to sing Handel arias and duets with the celebrated Les Violons du Roy, conducted by Jonathan Cohen, on October 27. Recognized for her work in the Baroque repertoire, Gauvin has sung with the world’s leading symphony orchestras, including the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic, as well various prominent Baroque ensembles. Marie-Nicole Lemieux is acclaimed as a peerless recital artist with an exceptional vocal palette having a special talent for French and Russian songs, as well as German lieder. Her international career has led her to the world’s most famous stages: La Scala; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; l’Opéra National de Paris; the Staatsoper in Berlin, Munich, and Vienna; the Teatro Real in Madrid; and many more. Les Violons du Roy takes its name from the celebrated court orchestra of the French kings. It was founded in 1984 by Bernard Labadie, now styled founding conductor, and continues under music director Cohen to explore the nearly boundless repertoire of music for chamber orchestra in performances matched as closely as possible to the period of each work’s composition.
Barbara Hannigan with Bertrand Chamayou
The sensational Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan, who has just been nominated for a Juno Award, returns to Koerner Hall to perform works by Scriabin, Messiaen, and John Zorn with pianist Bertrand Chamayou on November 28. Embodying music with an unparalleled dramatic sensibility, singer and conductor Hannigan is an artist at the forefront of creation who has shown a profound commitment to the music of our time and has given the world premiere performances of over 90 new works. Acclaimed pianist Chamayou has mastered an extensive repertoire displaying striking assurance, imagination, artistic approach, and remarkable consistency in his performances. He is a regular chamber music performer, with partners including Renaud and Gautier Capuçon, Quatuor Ébène, Antoine Tamestit, and Sol Gabetta.
VOCES8
VOCES8, the Grammy Award nominated British vocal ensemble, makes its Koerner Hall debut with a special Christmas concert on December 13, titled Winter Tales. Touring globally, the group performs an extensive repertory both in its a cappella concerts and in collaborations with leading musicians, orchestras, conductors, and soloists. Versatility and a celebration of diverse musical expression are central to the ensemble’s performance and education ethos which is shared both online and in person. As The Arts Desk put it, “VOCES8 are the Rolls-Royce of British a cappella ensembles.”
String Concerts
Leonidas Kavakos
“Astoundingly virtuosic and blazingly insightful” (The Guardian) violinist Leonidas Kavakos performs the complete Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin over two days on November 9 and 10. Recognized across the world as a violinist and artist of rare quality, Kavakos is acclaimed for his matchless technique, captivating artistry, and superb musicianship, and the integrity of his playing. He works regularly with the world’s greatest orchestras and conductors, and plays as recitalist in the world’s premier halls and festivals.
Sheku Kanneh-Mason with Isata Kanneh-Mason
Sister and brother, Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, team up for a recital of cello sonatas by Fauré, Mendelssohn, and Poulenc, and a new work by Natalie Klouda on December 11. The Kanneh-Mason family have transformed the world of classical music with their stunning performances and sincere advocacy, and the collaboration between Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason is a joy to behold: “immensely engaging players: a star duo is born,” declared The Independent). After winning the BBC Young Music competition in 2016, Sheku’s performance at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, at Windsor Castle in 2018 was watched by two billion people worldwide. Pianist Isata, in great demand internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, offers eclectic and interesting repertoire with recital programs encompassing music from Haydn and Mozart via Fanny Mendelssohn and Clara Schumann, Chopin and Brahms to Gershwin and beyond.
Randall Goosby with Zhu Wang
American rising star violinist and protégé of the legendary Itzhak Perlman, Randall Goosby performs works by Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Fauré, Chausson, and Schubert with pianist Zhu Wang at their Koerner Hall debuts on April 23. Goosby is acclaimed for the sensitivity and intensity of his musicianship alongside his determination to make music more inclusive and accessible, as well as bringing the music of under-represented composers to light. He performed with the New York Philharmonic at age 13 on a Young People’s Concert at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall and became the youngest recipient ever to win the Sphinx Concerto Competition. Praised as “a superb pianist” by The New York Times, Zhu Wang was awarded First Prize in the 2020 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions. In 2019, Zhu was finalist in the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, and he has been a featured soloist on WQXR’s Young Artist Showcase and WFMT’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts.
James Ehnes with Orion Weiss
Two of the most sought-after recitalists on the international stage join forces as Canadian violinist James Ehnes, who has just been nominated for a Juno Award, and American pianist Orion Weiss return to Koerner Hall. Known for his virtuosity and probing musicianship, Ehnes has performed in more than 35 countries on five continents, appearing regularly in the world’s great concert halls and with many of the most celebrated orchestras and conductors. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism, and an unfaltering musicality, he has collaborated with leading artists such as Leif Ove Andsnes, Renaud Capuçon, Louis Lortie, Yo-Yo Ma, and Yuja Wang, among many others. One of the most sought- after soloists in his generation of young American musicians, Weiss has performed with major American orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. He is a recipient of the Gilmore Young Artist Award and an Avery Fisher Career Grant and served as co-artistic director of the 2016 Laguna Beach Music Festival with violinist Jennifer Koh.
Their program on May 11 consists of Bach, Korngold, Prokofiev, and Vaughan Williams.
Chamber Music Concerts
Viano Quartet with MILOŠ
The master guitarist MILOŠ and the Viano Quartet, winners of the 2019 Banff International String Quartet Competition, perform Baroque to Piazzolla to Broadway to The Beatles on November 17. MILOŠ is one of the world’s most celebrated classical guitarists. His career began its meteoric rise in 2011, with the release of his international best-selling Deutsche Grammophon debut album Mediterraneo. Since then, he has earned legions of fans, awards, and acclaim around the world through his extensive touring, six chart topping recordings, and television appearances. Praised for their “virtuosity, visceral expression, and rare unity of intention” by the Boston Globe, the Viano Quartet is one of the most sought-after young performing ensembles today. The Quartet has collaborated with world-class musicians such as pianists Emanuel Ax, Marc-André Hamelin, and Inon Barnatan.
Takács Quartet with Sir Stephen Hough
One of Koerner Hall’s most frequent visitors, Takács Quartet brings its innovative musical thinking to works by Beethoven and Brahms, along with a new string quartet by the acclaimed pianist Stephen Hough on February 21. The Takács Quartet was formed in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest by Gábor Takács-Nagy, Károly Schranz, Gabor Ormai, and András Fejér, while all four were students, and the group received international attention in 1977, winning First Prize and the Critics’ Prize at the International String Quartet Competition in Evian, France. In 2015, the Takács performed a program inspired by Philip Roth’s novel Everyman with Meryl Streep at The Royal Conservatory of Music. One of the most distinctive artists of his generation, Sir Stephen Hough combines a distinguished career as a pianist with those of composer and writer. Named by The Economist as one of Twenty Living Polymaths, Hough was the first classical performer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (2001). In 2014, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022.
Martin Fröst, Antoine Tamestit, and Shai Wosner
Three internationally respected soloists come together for the intimate format of a chamber-music recital: Martin Fröst from Sweden, Frenchman Antoine Tamestit, and the Israeli Shai Wosner. Known for pushing musical boundaries, clarinettist and Sony Classical recording artist Fröst has been described by The New York Times as having “a virtuosity and a musicianship unsurpassed by any clarinettist – perhaps any instrumentalist – in my memory.” Violist Tamestit is internationally recognized as a leading soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician beloved for his unsurpassed technique and the much-vaunted beauty of his richly coloured tone. Pianist Wosner has attracted international recognition for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity, creative insight, and performances of a broad range of repertoire. He is a favorite among audiences and critics, while the NPR notes his “keen musical mind and deep musical soul.” Their program on March 28 consists of Bizet, Brahms, Dvořák, and a dance mosaic – a selection of Swedish, Bulgarian, French, and other folk dance tunes, arranged by Fröst and Wosner.
Les Arts Florissants with Théotime Langlois de Swarte: Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” at 300
On March 29, Baroque superstars Les Arts Florissants are joined by fast-rising French violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte in Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” at 300, commemorating the work’s original publication in 1725. The program frames these iconic masterpieces afresh, setting them alongside music Vivaldi would have known in Venice and compositions which were in turn inspired by his bold vision. “Théotime Langlois de Swarte reminds me why I fell in love with the Baroque violin in the first place,” commented Gramophone, while The New York Times stated that for “decades [Les Arts Florissants] have been fulfilling the task of any truly important cultural institution: opening up new worlds of beauty and excitement, both emotional and intellectual.”
Royal Conservatory Orchestra
Part of the Temerty Orchestral Program at The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School
RBC Guest Conductor Program sponsor: RBC Foundation
RCO Livestreaming sponsor: TELUS
The Royal Conservatory Orchestra (RCO), part of the Temerty Orchestral Program and widely regarded as an outstanding ensemble and one of the best training orchestras in North America, is making its Carnegie Hall debut on May 7, 2024. It consists of orchestral students in the Bachelor of Music, Performance (Honours) and Artist Diploma programs of The Glenn Gould School (GGS). Graduates of the RCO have joined the ranks of the greatest orchestras in the world, including: the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the BBC Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Quebec Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Calgary Philharmonic, Tafelmusik, the Hallé Orchestra of Manchester, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Leipzig Gewandhaus.
Royal Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Tania Miller with violinist Isabella Perron
Tania Miller returns once again to conduct the RCO. “Wonderful control over the orchestra as if she carried a quiver of gestures that matched perfectly the mood of each musical section … While the sound of the orchestra was entertaining enough, watching Miller brought a new dimension to the performance,” said Madison Capital Times. The program on October 11 will include Hector Berlioz’s Le carnaval romain, Sibelius’s Symphony No. 1, and Brahms’s Violin Concerto in D Major with soloist Isabella Perron, BMus ’24 (GGS) and Grand Prize winner of The Robert W. and G Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition.
Royal Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Earl Lee with violinist Anna Štube
Earl Lee is a renowned Korean Canadian cellist and conductor, currently Assistant Conductor of the Boston Symphony. He also served as the Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra from 2015 to 2018 and was the associate conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony. He is the 2022 recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award. The program on November 22 consists of Rachmaninov and Richard Strauss, as well as Britten’s Violin Concerto played by Anna Štube, BMus ’27 (GGS) and winner of The Robert W. and G Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition.
Royal Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Naomi Woo with pianist Jerry Hu
Canadian conductor and pianist Naomi Woo is a widely sought-after symphonic and operatic conductor, an educator, the 2022 winner of the Canada Council’s prestigious Virginia Parker Prize, as well as a member of Tapestry Opera’s Women in Musical Leadership program. She joined the Philadelphia Orchestra as assistant conductor for the 2024-25 season and was chosen by her mentor Yannick Nézet- Séguin as a member of the Orchestre Métropolitain’s inaugural orchestral conducting academy. Naomi was also recently announced as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada’s music director for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The program on February 7 will include Zosha Di Castri’s Lineage, Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 played Jerry Hu, BMus ’27 (GGS), currently enrolled in The Ihnatowycz Piano Program and also a winner of The Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition.
Royal Conservatory Orchestra conducted by William Eddins with baritone Colin Mackey William Eddins is the Music Director Emeritus of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and a frequent guest conductor of major orchestras throughout the world. He is also an accomplished pianist and chamber musician, and was a founding member of the New World Symphony. The program on May 2 includes the overture from Verdi’s La forza del destino, Stravinsky’s Petrushka, and Vaughan
Williams’s Songs of Travel, sung by baritone Colin Mackey, ADP ’24 (GGS) and winner of The Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition.
Opera
On March 19 and 21, students from The Glenn Gould School’s vocal program will present their fully staged annual opera in Koerner Hall as part of the Price Opera Program. Title to be announced.
Jazz Concerts
Monty Alexander 80th Birthday and the Jay Douglas All-Stars
A Jamaican jazz jam in honour of Monty Alexander’s 80th birthday takes place on October 19. Grammy Award nominated pianist Alexander is a Jamaican classic, touring the world relentlessly with various projects, delighting a global audience drawn to his vibrant personality and soulful message. Discovered by Frank Sinatra, he has appeared at the Montreux Jazz Festival 23 times since 1976. Toronto singer, Juno Award nominee Jay Douglas has performed at festivals worldwide, including Rastafest Festival in Toronto and the 4 Seasons Reggae Cruise in Atlanta, Georgia. He has worked with international reggae stars such as Beres Hammond, Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths, Luciano, Ken Boothe, Leroy Sibbles, Fab5 Band, General Tree, Jesse “Dub Matix” King, Ziggy Marley, Lyn Tait, and the great Ernest Ranglin.
Emilie-Claire Barlow: Winter Wonderland
Canada’s award-winning jazz songbird Emilie-Claire Barlow doles out some holiday cheer with her all- star band in a program called Winter Wonderland on December 14. Critically acclaimed Barlow is not only a jazz singer, but also an arranger, record producer, and voice actress. A two-time Juno Award winner, she has released 12 self-produced albums on her own label, Empress Music Group. She has led bands featuring the finest musicians in Canada, and her work as a band leader and producer has been recognized with a Juno Award nomination for Producer of Year for her recording Clear Day in 2015 – notable for being only the second jazz recording nominated in this category. She is also one of very few women to be honoured as Producer of the Year.
Branford Marsalis Quartet
The NEA Jazz Master, Grammy Award winner, and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis returns to Koerner Hall with his formidable quartet on February 8. From his initial recognition as a young jazz lion, Marsalis has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. He is the recipient of three Grammy Awards, a Tony nomination for his work as a composer on Broadway, a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as Jazz Master, and a 2021 Primetime Emmy nomination for the score he composed for the Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, documentary. Branford formed his own quartet in 1986 and it remains his primary performance vehicle. Known for its unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances, the Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured.
Yellowjackets and All-Star Big Band
The Grammy Award-winning quartet Yellowjackets joins forces with a hand-picked Toronto big band to blow the roof off Koerner Hall on April 26. Throughout their storied 43-year history, the Yellowjackets have recorded 25 albums, received 17 Grammy Award nominations – won two – performed countless sold-out tours, and enjoyed worldwide critical acclaim and commercial success. The group formed in the late 1970s as the backup band for guitarist Robben Ford. They recorded their first album together in 1980 and, shortly after that recording, Ford decided to part ways. As a result, the modern day Yellowjackets were formed – a trio with Russell Ferrante, Jimmy Haslip, and Ricky Lawson. Since then, and with the addition of Bob Mintzer, the Yellowjackets have gained and maintained prominence as one of jazz’s most influential and loved groups.
Sullivan Fortner Trio and Barbra Lica Quintet
On April 30, celebrate International Jazz Day with two young artists making their mark: a Grammy Award- winning piano virtuoso Sullivan Fortner and Barbra Lica, a swinging Juno nominated vocalist. For the past decade, Fortner has been stretching deep-rooted talents as a pianist, composer, band leader, and uncompromising individualist. In addition to associations with such diverse voices as Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Diane Reeves, Etienne Charles, and John Scofield, Fortner’s frequent and longtime collaborators have included Cécile McLorin Salvant, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Stefon Harris, Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah, Fred Hersch, and the late Roy Hargrove. Toronto singer-songwriter Lica is a seasoned act on the North American club and festival circuit. She has performed everywhere, from New York City’s legendary Birdland to festivals around the world, including Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and Tokyo International Jazz Festival, and opened for the likes of Christian McBride, Pat Metheny, Bob Dorough, and Terence Blanchard.
The Royal Conservatory’s 2024-25 season is made possible through the generous support of: Major & Series Sponsors and Supporters: Power Corporation of Canada, Weston Family Foundation, Robert W. & G. Ann Corcoran, Michael Foulkes & Linda Brennan, Michael & Sonja Koerner, Tim & Frances Price, Rebanks Family, James & Louise Temerty, and two anonymous donors
Performance Sponsors and Supporters: A gift in memory of Robert Calvin, Bill & Janet L’Heureux, and several anonymous donors
Wine & Beverage Sponsors: Cave Spring Vineyard, McManis Family Vineyards
Government Supporters: Government of Canada, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council
About The Royal Conservatory of Music
The Royal Conservatory of Music is one of the largest and most respected music and arts education institutions in the world. Providing the definitive standard of excellence in music education through its curriculum, assessment, performance, and teacher education programs, the Conservatory has had a substantial impact on the lives of millions of people globally. In addition, the organization has helped to train a number of internationally celebrated artists including Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, David Foster, Sarah McLachlan, Angela Hewitt, and Diana Krall. Motivated by its powerful mission to develop human potential through music and the arts, The Royal Conservatory has emerged over the last two decades as a leader in the development of arts-based programs that address a wide range of social issues. For more information, please visit www.rcmusic.com.
Koerner Hall
At the heart of the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning, Koerner Hall provides an unprecedented integration of arts education and performance. Koerner Hall has been called “the greatest venue in this city” and “magnificent in its acoustics, as much as in its design” by the Toronto Star and voted “Best Concert Hall” in NOW magazine’s Best of Toronto Awards. This 1,135-seat, acoustically excellent concert hall features performances across all music genres – each season offers more than 95 spectacular concerts by the world’s top classical, jazz, roots, and world music artists along with The Conservatory’s renowned faculty and students. Koerner Hall is named for Michael and Sonja Koerner in recognition of their generous gift toward its construction and to the revitalization of The Royal Conservatory.
