Artist Detailed Info: Arraymusic

Arraymusic
From Wikipedia, downloaded 11/6/2009

Arraymusic is a Canadian organization specializing in the performance and the promotion of contemporary classical music. It presents its virtuosic 7-member chamber ensemble, The Array Ensemble, each season in a series of Toronto-based concerts spanning three sunny months in the spring and summer.

Array was founded in 1971 by six young composers at the University of Toronto in Canada, to explore a new style of music that was rarely heard in Toronto. The Array Ensemble continues to unite musicians who are superlative in their knowledge, skills and passion to deliver inspired virtuosic performances.

The Array Ensemble is widely considered one of Canada's finest creative musical groups. Each member possesses a rich education in the traditional art of classical music, along with the highly specialized skills and experience needed to perform today’s concert music with precision, style, a disarming joy and absolute finesse.

"… leaves the audience speechless before they stand to break into applause. This ensemble is a model for all musicians – contemporary or not.” – Bulletin de Collectif et Cie, Annecy

The Array Ensemble tours, commissions and records its music, and boasts an extensive library of scores written for the group by leading and emerging composers from all corners of the world. As part of its long-running Young Composers’ Workshop and Concert, and its newer Young Performers’ Workshop and Concert, the ensemble mentors up-and-coming composers and musicians alike. In addition Array Ensemble members provide instructional master-classes within The Array Studio designed to keep composers up-to-date on the latest techniques for various instruments.

Over the years, Array’s ensemble has changed its instrumentation and enjoyed many highly accomplished guest artists, as well as the leadership of eight distinctive and distinguished artistic directors. These include: John Fodi (1972-1978), Marjan Mozetich (1976-1978), Douglas Perry (1979-1983), Henry Kucharzyk (1983-1988), Linda Catlin Smith (1988-1993), Michael J. Baker (1993-2000), Allison Cameron (2000 - 2005) and, currently, Bob Stevenson (2005 - present). Throughout, The Array Ensemble has remained true to its mandate to commission, present and promote the very best that bold, risk-taking contemporary music has to offer.

“Their ensemble playing is of enviable precision… they function like a music machine, but above and beyond this they prevail and breathe life into the performance… Arraymusic musicians seduce with expansive, sensual sounds.” – Basel, Switzerland

The Array Ensemble has recorded 7 compact discs, released on the Artifact label with its latest 2008/09 release – an Array retrospective 2-CD set entitled Array Legacy – celebrating 35-years of music-making. This CD features the musical ‘picks’ of each sof Array’s past artistic directors, representing nothing less than the evolution of new music over four decades.

The Array Ensemble performs concerts for other presenters and has toured 7 times throughout Europe and Canada, most recently (2006/07) performing on stage at Canada’s National Arts Centre in Ottawa as part of a 3-week music-theatre presentation featuring composer Allen Cole’s noir thriller The Wrong Son. In early 2008, The Array Ensemble performed in Montreal for the Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ) and is thrilled to be performing as part of its 2008/09 season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in New York.

The Array Ensemble engages inter-disciplinary work and collaborates frequently with distinguished choreographers, dancers and visual artists, which have included Peggy Baker, Dancemakers, Studio GRAME (in Lyon, France), the Theatre Centre, and Toronto Dance Theatre. To learn more about The Array Ensemble, visit their home online at www.arraymusic.com.
[edit] Array Ensemble musicians

* Stephen Clarke, piano
* Blair Mackay, percussion
* Anita McAllister, trumpet
* Peter Pavlovsky, double bass
* Rick Sacks, percussion
* Bob Stevenson, clarinets, artistic director
* Rebecca van der Post, violin

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