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Festival

Open Waters Festival 2023

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New Music for the New Year / Musique Nouvelle pour le Nouvel an.

Sharing creative music performance together with open ears, open hearts, and open minds is such a privilege and such a joy. Many musical streams converge at the Open Waters Festival of new and improvised music, and these shifting currents help to keep fresh ideas afloat.

Upstream Music Association gratefully acknowledges our festival's presence in K'jipuktuk (Halifax) on unceded Mi'kmaw territory where we have supported new and improvised music for 33 years.

Lukas Pearse

Artistic Director, Upstream Music Association

Festival Brochure 

Festival Program 

Schedule

Concert

OWF '23: Duologue with Mike Murley and David Occhipinti

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Saxophonist Mike Murley and guitarist David Occhipinti began performing in and around Toronto as a duo in 1999. The intimate musical rapport that they developed during this period led to the recording of two “Duologue” CDs in 2002 and 2005, garnering critical acclaim as well as Juno and National Jazz Award nominations.  These recordings led the duo to concert and festival performances across Canada from Halifax to the Yukon.

This concert is taking place at the Joseph Strung Concert Hall at the Dalhousie University Arts Centre. 

Concert

OWF '23: Ce qui reste quand la peau se détache du corps (Quebec)

The Dunn Theatre, 6101 University Ave, Halifax

Ce qui reste quand la peau se détache du corps (What remains when the skin detaches from the body) is a performative and audio show created by artists Sara Létourneau and Chantale Boulianne. For two years, they designed and made sound structures and giant instruments that they manipulate and transform on stage: the giant bellows, the live metal sheet, the bass counterweight, the nail box-stepladder, the huge round-koto... In a series of sound and physical light-magnified scenes, they speak of their bodies, metamorphoses, and potential disasters. 

At the crossroads of performance, sound art and installation, this creation will be presented in an immersive environment, on an 8-speaker multiphonic system.

Concert

OWF '23: Jennifer King

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Join pianist Jennifer King for an exploratory electro-acoustic and unadulterated cosmic piano program of music by David Jaeger, Allen Strange, Michael Donovan, Amy Brandon, Rosemary Mountain and Peter Togni.

Her recordings can be found on all streaming platforms through her website www.jenniferkingpiano.com.

Concert

OWF'23: Upstream Septet plays BEAMS

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

The Beams project is part of Upstream Music and Chris Spencer Lowe’s “Now Here This”, an upcoming online video production.

This live music performance will feature the compositions of guitarist Geordie Haley written for the “Now Here This” video. In addition, we will be playing works by bassist Lukas Pearse and Dawn Hatfield on sax and flute.

This intriguing septet will also feature Tom Easley bass, Andrew MacKelvie on alto sax with Greg Ritchie and Lucas Goudie on drums and percussion.

Beams of all kinds (wood, steel, sun, moon, balance) will be outlined in persuasive new music styles.

We cannot wait to play this music for you!

Concert

OWF '23: Saltwater Percussion

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Saltwater Percussion is Rob Power, Erin Donovan and Bill Brennan, a trio of some of Atlantic Canada's finest percussionists whose work seeks to continually discover new sound worlds. For Open Waters 2023, the group is delighted to present a concert of improvisations and original compositions and works by young Atlantic Canada-based composers.

Concert

OWF '23 Joel Miller Trio

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

A fun set of music that is melodic, catchy, accessable and exploratory at the same time. This saxophone, electric guitar and percussion trio will feature Juno/ECMA-winning Joel Miller's music creations as well as Americana, Indie-rock references and well-loved works by Thelonious Monk, Ornette Colman, Ellington and The Weekend.  Guitar-wizard Richard White and ever-versatile percussionist Mark Adam join Miller. 

Concert

OWF '23: Janice Jackson presents O DEATH II

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Jackson will perform 4 songs from a suite of poems entitled O Death by Annie Martin.  The poetry will be transformed, improvised and reimagined with the aid of a looper.  As a compliment to these songs, Jackson will perform her new solo mini opera entitled Penelope: Dreamwalker, one of Halifax's oldest ghost stories, which concerns Penelope and her final decision to end her existence and haunt the halls of Dalhousie's Shirreff Hall.

Concert

OWF '23: AJAX and Sam Wilson

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Andrew Jackson and Sam Wilson have been exploring the interplay of trombone and guitar over the last several years while honing their musical chemistry as a duo. Both are acclaimed musicians and composers in their own right, and they are currently collaborating on an upcoming duo album to be released on January 28th, 2023. For this Upstream concert, Andrew and Sam will each play a solo improvised set with some transitional duo pieces in the middle to give the audience a feature of what is to come. 

Concert

OWF '23: De-Fraction with The Breaking Circus

Breaking Circus Studio, 2164 Barrington Street, Halifax

Based on the Ryan Gray and Breaking Circus trilogy That Which Lights Your Way, OWF 2023 brings you an adapted encore of part three, De-Fraction! After examining your inner self in Reflection, and choosing to evolve into a new state with RefractionDiffraction observed waves as they move around objects and multiply on the other side, becoming amplified interference between contemporary circus artists and musicians from the Upstream Music Association. De-Fraction looks to push the improvisational aspects of Diffraction to the forefront for the Open Waters Festival 2023!

Concert

OWF '23: Alkali Collective

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Named for the salt water that surrounds our province and shapes our way of life, Alkali Collective is a dynamic ensemble dedicated to the creation, performance, documentation, and educational outreach of 21st-century music. They provide a voice for music concerning cultural, environmental, and political issues. This collective is open to musical and interdisciplinary projects spanning all artistic genres, highlighting both new and established composers artists from Nova Scotia, Canada, and abroad.

Concert

OWF '23: Alan Syliboy and the Thundermakers featuring Morgan Toney

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲, 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢-𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭. With the Thundermakers, he 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐯es 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩, 𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

ECMA-winner 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐲, 𝐚 young 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐦𝐚w 𝐅𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐫 / singer songwriter 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐚𝐠𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐭”. 

Champion improvisors from the Upstream Ensemble (Dawn Hatfield, Andrew Jackson, Andrew MacKelvie, Nicola Miller and James Shaw, with Geordie Haley) will join this artistically expansive group for an unforgettable collaboration.

 

Concert

OWF '23: Fountain School of Performing Arts Composition Students

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Directed by Tim Crofts, The Creative Music Ensemble emphasizes collaborative creative process through deep listening and collective improvisation.  The group employs creative strategies including graphic scores, text scores and improvisational forms to generate, you know, music.

Tim Crofts- Piano 

Evan Baltzer- Contra Bass Clarinet

Jeremie Boudreau- Violin

Dylan Hay- Trombone

Kip Johnson- Banjo/French Horn

Directed by Amy Brandon the film music, chamber music and improvisations written and performed by Dalhousie composition students James Thomas, Dylan Hay, Kip Johnson, Noah Kivler and Kristiana Tavityan.

Concert

OWF '23: Amber (Montreal)

AMBER (Toronto and Montreal)

Amber is the Montreal improvising duo of Lori Freedman (Bb & bass clarinets) and Scott Thomson (trombone), with a fifteen-year history bookended by the release of Plumb (Barnyard 2007) and Amber (Clean Feed 2022). To mark the latter, Amber toured extensively in Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Portugal, France, and the Netherlands in recent months. 

 

Concert

OWF '23: Open Company with Geordie Haley

Sourwood Cidery - 5576 Cornwallis St., Halifax

Geordie Haley's Open Company

Improvisor, composer, educator and guitarist Geordie Haley will be hosting and curating an open invite improvisation session at the Sourwood Cidery.

Concert

OWF '23: Joyfultalk and Nicola Miller

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Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

JOYFULTALK //\\ NICOLA MILLER DUO  

JOYFULTALK is the brainchild of composer, improviser, multimedia artist Jay Crocker. 

Guided by graphic scores, handmade kinetic sculpture, and junked/recuperated Crocker delicately weaves between human interaction and machine clockworks. 

 Nicola Miller is a jazz performer, composer, and music educator currently based in Chester Basin, NS. Her playing stretches from melodic and sweet to avant-garde free improvisation. 

Concert

OWF '23: Unfolding River

Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Unfolding River:

Tom Richards is a musician with a kaleidoscopic range of work. A low-brass specialist, pianist, composer, conductor, and producer, Tom performs in dozens of active projects in both Toronto and his new home Nova Scotia, including The Heavyweights Brass BandThe Human RightsQueen KongAvi Granite 6, and the Woodshed Orchestra

Tom is the composer and producer behind Unfolding River, an 81-piece series of avant-classical music based on the Tao te Ching. Unfolding River began life as an experiment to "translate" each character of the text into music. Over the past 10 years, it has evolved, become dormant, and re-awakened in a new form. All of these pieces have been recorded, but this will be the world premiere live performance of (a few of) the pieces, co-produced by Upstream and suddenlyLISTEN. The all-star band of performers are:

Sarah Frank

Etienne Chenard

Norman Adams 

Lukas Pearse

Eileen Walsh

Andrew MacKelvie

Concert

OWF '23: Jeffrey Zeigler Houses of Zodiac

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Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Houses of Zodiac | A Refracted Anthology

Cello Performed by Jeffrey Zeigler 

Music composed by Paola Prestini

Choreographed and Performed by Dai Matsuoka & Georgina Pazcoguin 

Visuals Directed by Murat Eyuboglu 

Visit the Houses of Zodiac website for more details on the performance: http://www.housesofzodiac.com/

  • House of Zodiac: A Refracted Anthology
  • Eight Takes: Sketches on Love
  • Océano: A Pacific Ritual
  • Ophelia: A New Orleans Story
  • Houses of Zodiac: A Chimeric Journey 

Houses of Zodiac, A Refracted Anthology brings word, movement, music, and image together to illuminate from within the verses of four poets: Pablo Neruda, Brenda Shaughnessy, Natasha Trethewey and Anaïs Nin. Former Kronos Quartet member Jeffrey Zeigler performs the music of Paola Prestini, to which New City Ballet soloist “Rogue Ballerina” Georgina Pazcoguin and Butoh dancer and Sankai Juku member Dai Matsuoka bring their own choreographies. The latency of the poems is refracted through music, dance, and in some instances archival images. These multiple perspectives are curated into a cinematic experience by Murat Eyuboglu while the composite work draws inspiration from sources as diverse as the choreography of Samuel Beckett, the conceptual art of Sol LeWitt, the natural world and more.

 

If you are a patron of the Scotia Festival Of Music you can access your tickets through this link:

https://www.scotiafestival.com/purchase-tickets

Concert

OWF '23: Symphony Nova Scotia Featuring Karl Hirzer (conductor) and Jeffrey Zeigler, cellist

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The Stage at St. Andrew's, 6036 Coburg Rd, Halifax

Tickets also available by cash and credit at the door.

Adult ticket - $25.00 ($29.54 with fees)

Adult ticket Upstream Member - $20.00 ($24.21 with fees)

Senior ticket - $20.00 ($24.21 with fees) 

Senior Ticket Upstream Member - $15.00 ($18.87 with fees)

Student Ticket - $15.00 ($18.87 with fees)

Student Ticket Upstream Member - $10.00 ($13.54 with fees)

Workshop

OWF '23: IMPROV TALKBACK

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Joseph Strug Concert Hall, 1385 Seymour St., Halifax

Exploratory improvised performance workshop and discussion facilitated by Upstream’s Artistic Director, Lukas Pearse and featuring India Gailey, Lori Freedman, Mohammad Sahraei, Kelvin Mansarray and Nicola Miller. A chance to examine multiple approaches to creativity in the moment: a peek around the curtain of the creative process.

Questions welcome and discussion encouraged!