Without Borders concert starts tour

Ladom Ensemble gathered at the University of Toronto’s music program as individuals from Prince Edward Island, Alberta, Quebec, and earlier still, Iran. The Canadian spread of the group reaches even further across the world as their original repertoire incorporates inspirations from Argentinian jazz, classical tango, Serbian folk dance, and Persian classical dulcimer, amongst others. Ladom doesn’t pretend to represent any one tradition, but rather expresses a more authentically Canadian fusion. Ladom has a musical identity combined from many sources and reflects a beautiful new world with a Western classical toolset.

Two-time Canadian accordion champion and winner of the University of Toronto Concerto Competition, Michael Bridge uniquely fuses classical, pop rock, jazz and world music. He made his solo orchestral debut with the Boston Pops at age 17, and has performed in China, Ecuador, Croatia, Italy, Poland, France, the United Kingdom, and across North America. In 2013, he placed 2nd at the World Digital Accordion Championships. Michael is pursuing his master’s degree at the University of Toronto in accordion performance with Professor Joseph Macerollo. With over thirty commissions and world premieres to his credit, he continues to actively promote new, multi instrumental works involving accordion. His accordion and clarinet duo, Double Double Duo, released its debut CD “Rock Bach” in fall 2015 and toured Poland and France in the summer of 2016. With Ladom Ensemble, he toured the Maritimes in the summer of 2016.

Adam Campbell completed his master’s degree in music at the University of Toronto, studying with John Rudolph, Beverley Johnston and Russell Hartenberger, and completed his bachelor’s degree at Acadia University with Ken Shorley and Mark Adam. As a contemporary and chamber percussionist, he has performed with Evelyn Glennie, Nexus, Beverley Johnston, Toronto Wind Orchestra, Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Mississauga Chamber Music Society, Canadian Opera Company Orchestra, Talisker Players, Array New Music Ensemble, Esprit Orchestra, and is a member of the Evergreen Club Contemporary Gamelan and Ladom Ensemble. As a freelance drummer and studio musician, Adam regularly performs and records throughout Toronto with folk, rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop artists of all types, plays in pits for musicals, and is the house drummer and a producer at Euphonic Sound recording studio. He is also an avid teacher and clinician, and has toured and continues to work with Soundstreams Canada to present workshops across Ontario.

Pouya Hamidi’s relationship with the piano has its roots in Iran, where he began to study seriously at a young age. Upon moving to Canada, he carries on studying piano performance and accompaniment. He achieved his Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT) status before entering university, the highest certification bestowed by the RCM. Pouya participated in several music competitions such as the Canadian Music Competition, Kiwanis Music Festival, and Markham Music Festival, winning first place awards and scholarships in piano performance. Well prepared by these experiences and his passion for the piano, Pouya continued to excel at the University of Toronto, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in piano performance along with a bachelor’s degree in composition, studying with the renowned Jamie Parker and Janet Lopinski. He continues to perform with the Ladom Ensemble, and also as a solo performer.

Born in Valleyfield in 1984, Marie-Cristine Pelchat St-Jacques started playing the cello at the age of eight. She first attended l’École des cèdres, where she studied with Kristina Melnyk. She continued her tutelage at the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivières with Jean-Christophe Guelpa. After receiving her CEGEP diploma, she moved to Toronto to continue her studies with Shauna Rolston and David Hetherington. Marie-Cristine holds a bachelor of music and a master’s degree in musical performance from the University of Toronto. She also regularly participates in many different summer programs, festivals, and master classes. Apart from being a private instrument teacher, Marie-Cristine is a member of Ladom Ensemble, with which she has been performing since 2008.

Musical programme :

Nemanja PJANIC (born in 1986)
Veles I
Veles II

Astor PIAZZOLLA (1921-1992)
Fugata (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Frédéric CHOPIN (1810-1849)
Etude No. 3 in E major, op. 10, « Tristesse » (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Pouya HAMIDI (born in 1986)
Goriz

Jean-Sébastien BACH (1685-1750)
Harpsichord Concerto No. 7 in G minor, BWV 1058
I. Allegro (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Nemanja PJANIC
Prelude and Dance
Flying Balkan Dance

Aram KHATCHATOURIAN (1903-1978)
“Sabre Dance”, from Gayaneh (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Serge PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
“Dance of the Knights”, from Roméo et Juliette, op. 64 (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Johannes BRAHMS (1833-1897)
Hungarian Dance No. 5 in F-sharp minor (arr. Ensemble Ladom)

Traditional (France)
Bourrée papillon (arr. Ensemble Ladom)

Maziar HEIDARI (born in 1976)
Summer in Tehran

Pouya HAMIDI
Gift
Noor

Traditional (Serbia)
Tebi Majko Misli Lete (arr. Nemanja Pjanic)

Traditional (Iran)
Chahar Mezrab (arr. Pouya Hamidi)

Atalay ALTINOK (born in 1980)
Neden

Pouya HAMIDI
Raha

Astor PIAZZOLLA
Libertango (arr. Ensemble Ladom)

Jeunesses Musicales Canada (JMC) is a talent incubator that boosts the careers of the best emerging artists, while helping to democratize classical music for audiences of all ages. Today, JMC seasons include over 1200 musical activities presented across Canada, ranging from high-calibre concerts to exciting musical activities for young audiences.

jmcanada.ca

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Source :
Marie-Philippe M. Lambert
Communications Coordinator
Jeunesses Musicales Canada
514-845-4108, ext. 222
mplambert@jmcanada.ca

Information :
Martin Boucher
Media liaison
Boucher Communications
514-778-0989
martin@bouchercommunications.com