The Sneak Peek Symphony Orchestra
The Sneak Peek Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of young musicians and emerging professionals. Founded and run by conductor Victor Cheng and composer-in-residence Kevin Lau, the orchestra is committed to raising the level of musical and cultural awareness in the greater Toronto community through the promotion and advancement of young musical talent. Since its inception in the fall of 2007, the Sneak Peek Orchestra has held two full orchestral concerts at theCalvin Presbyterian Church. Both concerts have featured selections from standard repertoire (including Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet suite and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5) as well as new works by Kevin Lau, including his Violin Concerto. The Sneak Peek Orchestra has been slated to perform in a number of venues in 2009, including the Chinese Cultural Centre (for a performance of Peter Karoussos's Alexander the Great) and the George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts (for Music for Change, a fundraising event.) By establishing itself as a prominent ensemble of professional calibre and musical vitality, the orchestra hopes to offer a 'sneak peek' into an exciting new generation of performers, composers, and conductors, all deeply committed to celebrating one of our oldest music traditions: the concert hall.
The Sneak Peek Symphony Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of young musicians and emerging professionals. Founded and run by conductor Victor Cheng and composer-in-residence Kevin Lau, the orchestra is committed to raising the level of musical and cultural awareness in the greater Toronto community through the promotion and advancement of young musical talent. Since its inception in the fall of 2007, the Sneak Peek Orchestra has held two full orchestral concerts at theCalvin Presbyterian Church. Both concerts have featured selections from standard repertoire (including Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet ballet suite and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5) as well as new works by Kevin Lau, including his Violin Concerto. The Sneak Peek Orchestra has been slated to perform in a number of venues in 2009, including the Chinese Cultural Centre (for a performance of Peter Karoussos's Alexander the Great) and the George Weston Recital Hall at the Toronto Centre for the Performing Arts (for Music for Change, a fundraising event.) By establishing itself as a prominent ensemble of professional calibre and musical vitality, the orchestra hopes to offer a 'sneak peek' into an exciting new generation of performers, composers, and conductors, all deeply committed to celebrating one of our oldest music traditions: the concert hall.
Victor Cheng, conductor Victor Cheng, jazz/classical pianist, conductor, vocalist, organist, is now studying conducting with David Briskin (National Ballet of Canada) and Ivars Taurins (Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, Calgary Philharmonic). In 2007, Victor, along with Kevin Lau (UofT Doctoral candidate, composition), founded Sneak Peek Orchestra, showcasing young talent and premiering new works by young Canadian composers. Victor's conducting experience is vastly growing. This past year he directed string ensembles in performances of concertos by Haydn and Mendelssohn, as well as a graduating performance of Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. His conducting interest stemmed from his piano lessons with renowned conductor/composer An-Lun Huang since the age of 6, as well as his early education as a choir boy at St. Michael's Choir School, where he studied voice and organ. Victor is also a member of Vocal Horizons Chamber Choir and the newly formed Toronto Philharmonia Chorus. He is Associate Organist of Our Lady of Annunciation Church and is Director of the OLA Youth Choir.
Victor recently graduated from University of Toronto with a B.Mus in Jazz Piano Performance.
He studied with Gary Williamson, Dave Restivo, performed with Dave Young and Terry Clarke, and has had the opportunity to work with Lee Konitz and Renee Rosnes. In 2006, Victor was invited to perform in Kenny Barron's clinic as part of Musicfest Canada at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Apart from jazz piano, Victor is also an active classical pianist and accompanist. He performed Eric Whitacre's “Ghost Train” with the University of Toronto Wind Symphony. He played celeste with members of the Madawasaka String Quartet under the baton of Gary Kulesha in the contemporary showcase of Christopher Pierce's music. He is currently orchestral pianist for the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Victor was also invited by world famous concert pianist Haiou Zhang to perform a set of solo improvisations in Bremen, Germany in 2010.
Jennifer Rasor, Soprano (Roxana – Thessaloniki – Cleopatra)Jennifer’s training was with l’Atelier Lyrique de l’Opera de Montreal where she performed several Menotti operas, and studied Adele in die Fledermaus & sang “The Voice from the Heaven” in Don Carlo for the main stage.
In Montreal she also worked with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Iwan Edwards and Charles Dutoit.
Jennifer participated in a concert version of Puccini’s Il Tabarro with Atelier S in Santiago di Queretaro, Mexico. Other stage roles include Rosina in Il Barbiere de Seviglia and Gilda in Rigoletto with Zwei-Groschen-Oper in Germany, Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, and Noye’s Fludde with Toronto’s Britten Celebrations (for CBC television) under the late Nicholas Goldschmidt.
Jennifer participated in a concert version of Puccini’s Il Tabarro with Atelier S in Santiago di Queretaro, Mexico. Other stage roles include Rosina in Il Barbiere de Seviglia and Gilda in Rigoletto with Zwei-Groschen-Oper in Germany, Papagena in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, and Noye’s Fludde with Toronto’s Britten Celebrations (for CBC television) under the late Nicholas Goldschmidt.
Andrew Love, baritone (King Philip)
Andrew Love, a native of Calgary, is currently enrolled in the Opera Diploma program at the University of Toronto, studying in the studio of J Patrick Raftery. Most recent engagements include performing the role of Papageno in Opera NUOVA’s production of Die Zauberflöte, Politician in Calgary Opera’s Canadian Premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Stephen Wagman in the Banff Summer Arts Festival production of Frobisher. In 2006, Mr. love was an inaugural member of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Development Program which included highlights such as, performing in a school tour of The Brothers Grimm, and touring Canada’s North with excerpts from the new Canadian opera Frobisher. He has had the pleasure of being able to work and study with such international talents as Sherrill Milnes, Judith Forst, John Fanning, Tracy Dahl, and directors Kelly Robinson and Lotfi Mansourri.
Andrew Love, a native of Calgary, is currently enrolled in the Opera Diploma program at the University of Toronto, studying in the studio of J Patrick Raftery. Most recent engagements include performing the role of Papageno in Opera NUOVA’s production of Die Zauberflöte, Politician in Calgary Opera’s Canadian Premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Stephen Wagman in the Banff Summer Arts Festival production of Frobisher. In 2006, Mr. love was an inaugural member of Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artist Development Program which included highlights such as, performing in a school tour of The Brothers Grimm, and touring Canada’s North with excerpts from the new Canadian opera Frobisher. He has had the pleasure of being able to work and study with such international talents as Sherrill Milnes, Judith Forst, John Fanning, Tracy Dahl, and directors Kelly Robinson and Lotfi Mansourri.
Alastair Smyth, bass (High Priest)
Alastair Smyth is in the third year of a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Toronto. He studies voice with mezzo-soprano JoAnne Bentley, and in the Opera Division under Sandra Horst. Originally from Vancouver, Alastair has taken part in master classes there as well as here in Toronto. These master classes have been led by such illustrious artists as Sherrill Milnes, Francois le Roux, and Paul Sperry. He has also performed with the UBC Opera Ensemble, and took part in the University of Toronto's fall production of Cimarosa's “Il Matrimonio Segreto”. He is excited to perform this new work by composer Panayiotis Karousos.
Dolores Tjart, soprano (Queen Olympias)
Soprano Dolores Tjart was heard this past year performing Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in a benefit concert for the St. Francis of Assissi Parish in Toronto. Dolores also toured in Mexico last summer singing the role of Giorgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro. Dolores also performed Manuel de Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares with local classical guitar favourite Hilario Yáñez.
Soprano Dolores Tjart was heard this past year performing Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater in a benefit concert for the St. Francis of Assissi Parish in Toronto. Dolores also toured in Mexico last summer singing the role of Giorgetta in Puccini’s Il Tabarro. Dolores also performed Manuel de Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares with local classical guitar favourite Hilario Yáñez.
Canadian composer Dr. Paul McIntyre, Professor Emeritus at University of Windsor’s Music Department, describes Dolores’ voice as a “glowing spinto voice with a natural theatrical instinct which she invests in every note and phrase.” Dolores gave a “stunning performance” of the world premiere of a selection of McIntyre’s Macbeth.
Dolores is well known on the Toronto music scene having been heard as a featured artist with Opera York (Die Zauberflöte), Tryptych Productions (Der Corregidor, Falstaff) and Toronto Opera Repertoire (Die Fledermaus, La Forza del Destino, Carmen, La Traviata) as well as an ensemble member with Opera Mississauga. Dolores brings to her performance a rich and thrilling dramatic-spinto soprano that commands her audience.
Stewart Granger, tenor (Alexander the Great)
Stewart Granger based in Toronto he has performed numerous opera roles in Canada. With Opera by Request of Toronto performances have included: Idomeneo by Mozart with A Recital with Erika Reimann at Redeemer United and various concerts with Tafelmusik. Other appearances have included his exciting interpretations of the following roles: Mozart’s Idomeneo with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Tanzmeister in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne Auf Naxos with the Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Pluton in Orphee Aux Enfers with the Opera NUOVA and Offenbach’s Raoul in La Vie Parisienne. A fine recitalist Mr. Granger gave successful concerts in Brandon University (Manitoba), and Brock University, St Catherines. Also he appeared in La Messe de Minuit de Noel with the Apollo Ensemble. Alexander the Great by Panayoti Karousos is a big pleasant challenge for Mr. Granger to create a modern opera and incarnate the conqueror’s difficult and dramatic role. In May Mr. Granger will sing Tito in La Clemenza di Tito by Mozart with Opera by Request.
Dolores is well known on the Toronto music scene having been heard as a featured artist with Opera York (Die Zauberflöte), Tryptych Productions (Der Corregidor, Falstaff) and Toronto Opera Repertoire (Die Fledermaus, La Forza del Destino, Carmen, La Traviata) as well as an ensemble member with Opera Mississauga. Dolores brings to her performance a rich and thrilling dramatic-spinto soprano that commands her audience.
Stewart Granger, tenor (Alexander the Great)Stewart Granger based in Toronto he has performed numerous opera roles in Canada. With Opera by Request of Toronto performances have included: Idomeneo by Mozart with A Recital with Erika Reimann at Redeemer United and various concerts with Tafelmusik. Other appearances have included his exciting interpretations of the following roles: Mozart’s Idomeneo with the Royal Conservatory of Music, Tanzmeister in Richard Strauss’ Ariadne Auf Naxos with the Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, Pluton in Orphee Aux Enfers with the Opera NUOVA and Offenbach’s Raoul in La Vie Parisienne. A fine recitalist Mr. Granger gave successful concerts in Brandon University (Manitoba), and Brock University, St Catherines. Also he appeared in La Messe de Minuit de Noel with the Apollo Ensemble. Alexander the Great by Panayoti Karousos is a big pleasant challenge for Mr. Granger to create a modern opera and incarnate the conqueror’s difficult and dramatic role. In May Mr. Granger will sing Tito in La Clemenza di Tito by Mozart with Opera by Request.
No comments:
Post a Comment