In Ottawa and the National Arts Centre Orchestra
Excited to be one of the selected composers for American Composers Orchestra’s Earshot Readings with the National Arts Centre Orchestra! I’ll be heading off to Ottawa next week to hear my orchestral piece “Chained” with the NACO under the baton of Henry Kennedy!
Making my European Orchestra Debut
Had a fantastic time conducting the world-premiere of my latest orchestral piece “Vanishing Lanterns” with Danubia Orchestra at the Liszt Academy in Budapest last night, making my orchestral debut as a composer and conductor in Europe.
Many thanks to Dunakanyar Kortárs Zenei Fesztivál for inviting me (especially Bence Kutrik for the commission), the Danubia Zenekar / Danubia Orchestra and their fantastic Music Director Máté Hámori.
New Commission finished for the "Happenstancers"
So happy to put the double barline on a new chamber piece for The Happenstancers for a premiere in 2025! “Misshapen” is a Baroque Dance Suite but with a contemporary lens for English Horn, Bass Clarinet, Viola and Cello.
I can’t wait for the amazing Happenstancers to bring this whacky piece to life next year. Thank you Brad Cherwin for commissioning this piece!
Also a huge thanks to the Toronto Arts Council and SOCAN Foundation - Fondation SOCAN who generously funded this new work through their commission and creation grants.
Now unto a whole lot of orchestral projects for the next year!
World Premiere of "Fragments" in May!
I can hardly wait for May 11th and the world premiere of “Fragments” to be performed by the amazing Cantabile Chamber Singers and the Ton Beau String Quartet.
“Fragments” is piece that explores anxieties, memories and the dream-worlds of displaced folks. I was thrilled to work with the amazing poet, Nika Khanjani who interviewed several displaced people, and turned their stories into the powerful text for this piece.
I cannot wait for this performance, and I hope t see you there!
This concert will also feature some amazing Canadian choral music that you do not want to miss!
We’re also immensely thankful to the Canada Council for the Arts for funding this entire project.
"Recurrence" Released!
OUR ALBUM “RECURRENCE” IS FINALLY OUT!
5 new compositions by some of Canada’s top composers paired with some of this country’s most high-profile performers promises to be an exceptional listening experience.
I am so honoured to have my piece “Eroded” on this album and also act as the pianist in the record as well.
Link to the entire album: https://leaf-music.lnk.to/LM256
Special thanks to Leaf Music for producing this album as well our funders Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada, Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario and The Foundation Assisting Canadian Talent On Recordings (FACTOR)
The Rogue Duo on Tour!
Bijan and I are going on tour this November!
5 new commissions and other music by living Canadian composers!
Would love to see you at any of these performances in Toronto, London or Kitchener-Waterloo!
Many thanks to ICOT for providing these commissions for the The Rogue Duo and Canadian Music Centre for having us as Artists in Residence in their Chalmers House in preparation for this tour.
Perfromance by Hamiton Philharmonic Orchestra
Very happy to learn that the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra has programmed my string orchestra piece "Suspended Doorways" as part of their 2023-2024 season on May 1st 2024 under the baton of maestra Gemma New.
“Suspended Doorways” was commissioned by the Whispering River Orchestra in 2020 as part of Riversongs commission awards. The piece is based on a painting titled “It is what it is. Imperfections are doorways.” by Northern Ontario First Nation artist Michael Cywink.
To date, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia Toronto have also performed this piece, and I cannot wait for the 4th performance of this work in canada.
"Recurrence" Album Recording with ICOT Chamber Orchestra - May 2023
NEW UPCOMING ALBUM
RECURRNECE
Very eagerly excited for the recording and release of "Recurrence" with ICOT Chamber Orchestra in collaboration with Leaf Music. I am so happy to be involved in the lineup of superstars in this album as both a composer and pianist!
My new and ambitious piece "Eroded" for String quintet, two percussions, Flute, Clarinet and Piano will be recorded and released as a part of this album alongside with by Nicole Lizée, Jordan Nobles, Maziar Heidari and Dr. Keyan Emami.
We will be heading into the recording studio next week to capture all these beautiful and challenging works, and release them worldwide on October 13th!
New Orford String Quartet (Jonathan Crow, Andrew Wan, Sharon Wei, Brian Manker)
Leslie Allt (Flute)
Peter Stoll (Clarinet)
Ryan Scott (Percussion)
Beverley Johnston (Percussion)
Scott Peterson (Bass)
Saman Shahi (Piano)
Maziar Heidari (conductor)
Also special thanks to Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada, Ontario Arts Council, and FACTOR for their generous support in realizing this project!
Cover Art: David Griffin
Activate to view larger image,
Feeling absolutely elated after a memorable performance of my latest piece, “Streams of the Unconscious” (co-composed by ICOT) for percussion quartet and electric guitar.
It was one of those performances that restores your faith in what you do, and give you a deep sense of artistic and personal gratification.
Our world-class musicians made this piece a reality, and I cannot thank them enough:
Andrew Noseworthy, Jamie Drake, Richard Burrows, Yang Chen and Tim Francom. Also a huge thank you to Soundstreams for commissioning and presenting this piece as part of their season.
A great time conducting the Array Ensemble in Toronto this week performing the music of Canadian composers Claude Vivier, Linda Caitlin Smith and Henry Kucharzyk with some superb colleagues.
Toronto Symphony Orchestra - Open House Performance
ICOT was thrilled to be performing as part of Toronto Symphony Orchestra's Open House at Roy Thompson Hall this September.
I had a great time performing some solo piano music, as well as 4-hand piano with my good friend, Maziar Heidari.
New opera project in Atlanta, Georgia
I’m excited to be in Atlanta this June writing a new chamber opera with The Atlanta Opera as part of the 96 Hour Opera project. I’m very excited to be collaborating with the NYC based librettist, Isabella Dawis on this opera!
More info: https://lnkd.in/etDrmcvn
Nominated for Juno Awards 2022
Still in absolute disbelief to learn that my song cycle "Breathing in the Shadows" was nominated for The JUNO Awards 2022, "Classical Composition of the Year" category. This is a huge honour for me, and I am absolutely humbled to be nominated amongst some of Canada's finest artists. Many thanks to the Juno Awards, CARAS and Academy delegates and judges. "Breathing in the Shadows" was commissioned by the incredible Maureen Batt in 2019 through the generous support of Ontario Arts Council - Conseil des arts de l'Ontario and was later recorded and released by Leaf Music with the beautiful piano playing of Tara Scott. Many thanks to the album's producer, Jeremy VanSlyke, Recording Engineer Pouya Hamidi and all the other amazing artists involved in this album. I am hugely indebted to all of them.
Toronto Symphony 2021 Explore The Score
Absolutely thrilled to have been selected as one of Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s 2021 “Explore the Score” composers. Today the TSO rehearsed, performed and recorded my piece “Suspended Doorways”. It was an absolute honour to have some of Canada’s top musician play and record my music.
This piece was originally commissioned by Whispering River Music orchestra and premiered in September of 2020 in Perry Sound.
This work will receive its next Toronto performance in May by Sinfonia Toronto!
Thrilled to announce the release of my second composition album, "Microlocking" by People|Places|Records.
"Microlocking" is now available for streaming and purchase on all major streaming platforms and online retailers. Click here for a quick listen: https://hypeddit.com/3rq4ix
This EP features a series of my chamber music that deal with minimalism and microtonality.