Events

Benjamin Britten’s quirky cantata, Rejoice in the Lamb, set to the delightfully peculiar poetry of Christopher Smart is the feature work on the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir’s term-end concert.  Organist Jan Overduin joins the choir in this program at Knox Presbyterian Church, Waterloo.  Music by Jan Sandström, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Tim Corlis, Franz Biebl and others completes the program. The Chamber Choir is directed by Mark Vuorinen.  Tickets are available at the door.

The UWaterloo Jazz Ensemble is an accomplished group of approximately twenty student musicians.  They perform a mix of jazz classics and modern pieces.  The director is Michael Wood, well known vibist and jazz director.
The concert lasts approximately 75 minutes, refreshments to follow.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe described chamber music (specifically, string quartet music) as "four rational people conversing". This conversational pattern–which refers to the way one instrument introduces a melody or motif and then other instruments subsequently "respond" with a similar motif–has been a thread woven through the history of chamber music composition from the end of the 18th century to the present. 

Come join us and hear accomplished UW student musicians play beautiful chamber music.  Free admission, followed by a reception.

Registration and audition slots are now open for 7 different ensembles:

In 1817, the 20 year old Franz Schubert wrote a song for voice and piano about a fish. Two years later, he created a set of variations from this delightful theme which became the 4th movement of his immortal quintet nicknamed “The Trout”.

Our performers are
Bruce Skelton, violin
David Wadley, viola
Ben Bolt-Martin, cello
George Greer, double bass
Joanne Bender, piano

Ben Bolt-Martin, a renowned local cello player and our Instrumental Chamber Ensemble director, will perform mostly original music for solo cello with looper.

The Cardinal Consort of Viols will be performing 'Heart's Ease', a programme full of some of their favourite pieces. The programme will feature some of the most beautiful music ever written including works by Jenkins, Byrd and Farina.

Sheila Smyth, treble viol
Linda Deshman, tenor viol
Sara Blake, bass viol
Valerie Sylvester, bass viol

Five different Chamber Ensembles,
sixteen talented students,
five diverse instruments.

Result: A lovely way to spend a winter evening at the end of term!

Free admission, reception to follow.

A seminar and singers' workshop for choirs, conductors, and fans of choral music led by celebrated Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds. Hear Ēriks speak about his life and process as a composer, then actively participate with the host choirs as Ēriks leads attendees through singing 1-2 of his works. Fee includes scores*.

This workshop is presented in partnership with conductor Mark Vuorinen, Conrad Grebel University Choirs, and the Grand Philharmonic Choir. 

The featured composition for this noon hour concert is a 25-minute piece titled Mama’s Painting: Louis Riel’s Dream by Dr Karen Sunabacka. The piece is inspired by an unfinished collection of paintings by her Métis grandmother Lenore Clouston titled “Louis Riel’s Dream.” The five paintings were to highlight the history of Western Canada through the stories of the indigenous peoples, illustrating the clashes of cultures and politics in Canada and pointing to a future where people of all races could live in harmony.