Jennifer King performs at the Open Waters Festival on January 6, 2019

Pianist Jennifer King will perform at the Open Waters Festival on January 6, 2019.

Jennifer King, piano, and Gillian Smith, violin, will perform at the Open Waters Festival on January 6, 2019.

A skilled performer, respected adjudicator, coach, and clinician, Jennifer holds a Masters of Music degree in solo piano performance from McGill University, postgraduate diplomas from the University of Reading in the UK as well as the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. 

In addition to her Talent Trust music scholarships, Jennifer received an Award of Appreciation from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia for her contributions to musical life in the province. 

She’s a member of the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers’ Association (NSRMTA) and a private piano instructor and faculty member of the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Halifax.

Jennifer launched her album O Mistress Moon in January 2018.

Hosted by Upstream Music Association, the duo will perform works for solo violin and solo piano as well as violin and piano duos by contemporary Canadian composers, including Derek Charke, Talent Trust music scholarship recipient Emily Doolittle, and Kati Agocs.

Concert details:
Sunday, January 6, 2019 - 1:00 p.m.
MacAloney Room, Dal Arts Centre
Dalhousie University, Halifax

Tickets: tickethalifax.com.

Port Cities wraps up 2018 with a show at Casino Nova Scotia December 28

 Port Cities: Dylan Guthro, Breagh MacKinnon, Carleton Stone

Breagh MacKinnon and her Port Cities bandmates Dylan Guthro and Carleton Stone return to Halifax to perform at Casino Nova Scotia on December 28.  

Breagh is a Talent Trust scholarship recipient who received the Talent Trust Chico Berardi Special Award for Excellence in 2013. 

She was a nominee for the Nova Scotia Music Best New Artist award as well as an East Coast Music Association (ECMA) Rising Star award that same year.

We’re very pleased to have Breagh on the Talent Trust Board of Directors.

In 2016 Port Cities won Artist in Residence at Casino Nova Scotia. The following year they released their multi-award winning debut record, “Port Cities”.

They received five Nova Scotia Music Awards, a SOCAN #1 Award (for their song “Back to the Bottom”), and hit #1 on CBC and Spotify music charts. The band is also multiple ECMA award nominees.

They recently performed in two sold out shows with Symphony Nova Scotia and released their latest single “Montreal”.

A new Port Cities album is due out in 2019.

Show details
December 28, 2018 at 8:00 p.m.
Casino Nova Scotia

Tickets: $40 from the Casino Nova Scotia website.

Karen Myatt in holiday cabaret All I Really Want December 20 in Halifax

Karen Myatt. Photo by Michèle
Parent of Chèle Foto Couture.

Karen Myatt and Stuart Hiseler are featured the Wild Abandon Productions annual holiday cabaret All I Really Want on Thursday, December 20, at Sniggly Wiggily’s in Halifax. 

Karen received voice scholarships from the Talent Trust to assist with her studies. She attended the Randolph Academy in Toronto, and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

Earlier this year she made her debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in the summer show Thorgy and the Thorchestra! and was the featured performer during Atlantic Fashion Week.

Karen and Stuart are joined onstage by musicians Scott Taylor (piano), Kyle Tully (bass), and Serkan Süer (drums.)

“This has become an annual Yuletide tradition for Stuart and I,” says Karen. “The show is a sweet and saucy mix of music and comedy, and it can certainly be a little risqué — and even downright raunchy — at times. It might be best to leave the kiddies at home that night.”

The show usually sells out, so get your tickets now from karenmyatt.net.

All I Really Want — A Holiday Cabaret!
Thursday, December 20, 2018, 8:00 p.m.
Sniggly Wiggily’s
1665 Argyle St. Halifax

If you can't catch the show, here's a glimpse of Karen in performance.

Reeny Smith presents Reeny’s Family Christmas - December 16 at the Carleton

Reeny Smith presents Reeny's Family Christmas
December 16 at the Carleton.

Reeny Smith presents Reeny’s Family Christmas on December 16 at The Carleton in Halifax.

The 2:00 p.m. matinee is sold out. At the time of this writing there are still tickets available for the evening show at 7:00 p.m.

The family-friendly show features Reeny’s musical traditions inspired by her talented family and friends growing up in North Preston. 

Reeny began singing and playing piano at the age of five. She received a Talent Trust scholarship to support her studies in voice, and won the Talent Trust Portia White Award in 2010.

Reeny Smith. A still from our 75th anniversary video.

She’s performed at the Halifax Jazz festival, at Nova Scotia’s iconic Stanfest in Canso, and was Casino Nova Scotia’s Artist in Residence in 2015. She appeared with Symphony Nova Scotia in a community concert series in 2017. 

In 2018 Reeny released her first single, Good Girl Swag, and her album W W I I I: Strength Courage Love. She recently won Music Nova Scotia’s African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year.

We’re grateful she was able to take time from her busy schedule to appear in our 75th anniversary video.

Reeny’s Family Christmas 
The Carleton
1685 Argyle Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Matinée - 2:00 p.m. - sold out
Evening - 7:00 p.m.

Tickets: thecarleton.ca 

Visit Reeny’s Family Christmas Facebook event page for more information. If you can't catch the show, here's Reeny in performance at CBC Halifax's Studio 60.

Eszter Horvath Sings in Helios Vocal Ensemble Concert An Illuminated Christmas

Soprano Eszter Horvath

Eszter Horvath and her Helios Vocal Ensemble colleagues Elisabeth Stones, Andrew Pickett, Garth MacPhee, and John Mark Dawson present “An Illuminated Christmas” at Saint George’s Round Church on December 2.

Eszter received a Talent Trust scholarship in 2016 to assist with her studies in conducting. 

She holds a Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University and is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Toronto. She's a soprano who is equally skilled in orchestral and choral conducting. 

Eszter is the past president of the Early Music Society of Nova Scotia (EMSNS), and was the interim music director at the Cathedral Church of All Saints in 2015–15, and at St. George’s Round Church in 2010–11. 

She was associate conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir in 2013 and 2014, and directs the the EMSNS Madrigal Group, which she founded in 2012. She was music director for Cosi fan tutte at the Halifax Summer Opera Festival in 2016. 

“An Illuminated Christmas” is Helios Vocal Ensemble’s fourth annual Christmas concert.

The evening will feature Renaissance polyphony by Sweelinck, Gabrieli, Mouton, des Prez, Byrd, and others, as well as ancient and modern carols.

Concert details:
December 2, 
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm

St. George’s Round Church
2222 Brunswick St., Halifax

Admission is by donation.

Visit the Facebook event page for further information.

Talent Trust Portia White Award Winner Shanice Skinner Performs at the 2018 Portia White Concert

Shanice Skinner is the special guest artist at the 2018 Portia White Concert, where she will perform three wonderful selections from her catalogue. 

The Sackville Concert Band and the Dalhousie Medical Health Professionals Chorale present the 13th Annual Portia White Gala Concert on Friday, November 30, 2018.

The concert will once again take place at Faith Tabernacle, 6225 Summit Street, Halifax. 

Tickets are $20 and can be obtained from chorale and band members, reserved through the Medical Humanities office at (902) 494-1533, or medhuman@dal.ca.

The concert will showcase a varied repertoire that includes seasonal music, concert band and choral favourites, and special tributes to the 100th anniversary of Armistice 1918. 

Shanice Skinner will perform at the
Portia White Concert on November 30.

Shanice is a soprano hailing from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. She received Talent Trust scholarships in 2016 and 2018, and received the Talent Trust Portia White Award for exceptional commitment and potential in voice in 2016. 

She graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance in 2017.

Throughout her undergraduate studies, Shanice performed scene work with Opera Laurier in a number of roles, including Cendrillon in Massenet’s Cendrillon. 

In August 2018, Shanice performed the role of Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at Halifax Summer Opera Festival.

This past April, Shanice performed in the Nova Scotia Kiwanis Music Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She won the Voice Rose Bowl and went on to represent the Festival at Provincials in June. She was also awarded the Rose Bowl for Senior Voice at the Provincial Music Festival in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and was Nova Scotia’s voice representative at the 2018 National Music Festival in Sackville, New Brunswick.

Shanice is a current member of Halifax Camerata Singers and is a Section Lead/Soloist at First Baptist Church Halifax. Her plans for the future include pursuing a master’s degree in voice to further prepare for a career in performance and teaching voice.

Proceeds from the concert will help support a young Nova Scotian musician through the Talent Trust which began in 1944 to assist Portia White with her vocal studies. We have continued to support talented Nova Scotian artists across disciplines in their formative years. 

The Dalhousie University Humanities-HEALS Program is pleased to be able to make a yearly contribution to this worthy cause.

We would like to thank Dr. Wendy Stewart, Ana Bela Sardinha, Bryan Crocker, Jim Forde, the choir members, the Sackville band members, and the many volunteers that will make the concert yet another memorable event.

Pianist Andrew Son on Final Stop of Atlantic Young Artist Regional Tour November 25

Andrew Son performs in Halifax on the final stop of his Atlantic Canada tour with a free afternoon concert of Chopin, Scarlatti, Mendelssohn, and Rachmaninoff. 

The performance takes place Sunday, November 25.

Andrew is an award-winning pianist who recently captured the 2018 Atlantic Young Artist Competition and the Piano Rose Bowl at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Halifax.

He represented Nova Scotia at the 2015 Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association National Piano Competition in Vancouver. 

Andrew received Talent Trust scholarships from 2014-17. He’s currently a student at Dalhousie University.

The Talent Trust is pleased to co-present Andrew’s Halifax concert with Cecilia Concerts, Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers Association, and the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts.

Concert details

Sunday, November 25, 2:00 p.m.

Admission: free

Lilian Piercey Concert Hall

Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts

6199 Chebucto Rd, Halifax

For more information, visit the Cecilia Concerts website.

 

Jane Archibald, Jennifer Jones in Annelies, presented by the Halifax Camerata Singers

Jane Archibald and Jennifer Jones will perform in the choral Annelies, presented by the Halifax Camerata Singers.

Annelies is based on The Diary of Anne Frank (whose first name was Annelies) by British composer James Whitbourn. 

Jane Archibald will sing the role of Annelies. The full ensemble features Jennifer Jones on violin, Shimon Walt (cello), Graham Lord (clarinet) and Camerata accompanist Lynette Wahlstrom (piano).

The concert takes place at Shaar Shalom Synagogue on Sunday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are expected to go quickly — see below for concert details.

Soprano Jane Archibald stars in Annelies on November 11

Jane Archibald received a Talent Trust scholarship to assist with her voice studies. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University. She also trained at the Orford Arts Centre and the Tanglewood Music Center. 

She’s performed with Opera Ontario (for Delibes' Lakmé, her professional operatic debut), Toronto Operetta Theatre, Symphony Nova Scotia, the San Frrancisco Opera, and the Vienna State Opera.

The Canadian Opera Company named Jane as their first-ever Artist-in-Residence for their 2017/18 season.

Jennifer Jones performs violin in Annelies on November 11

Jennifer Jones was awarded a Talent Trust scholarship to support her music studies. She trained at the Maritime Conservatory of Music and Dalhousie University, and completed her Master of Music degree in Performance and Pedagogy at Indiana University.

She’s performed as a soloist with the NSYO, Dalhousie Chamber Orchestra, Chebucto Orchestra, Saint John Symphony and Symphony Nova Scotia. She’s currently Assistant Concert Master at Symphony Nova Scotia and first violinist with the Blue Engine String Quartet.

Jennifer is a respected violin teacher, as a faculty member at Acadia University and the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts. She’s taught from her private studio throughout her career, coaching members of the NSYO and serving on the faculty of various summer institutes throughout the Maritimes.

Concert details
Shaar Shalom Synagogue, Halifax
(Pepperell at Oxford Streets)
Sunday, November 11 - 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: purchase online at tickethalifax.com, or 
The Coast offices at 2309 Maynard Street, Halifax

Karen Wyatt in Concert: Blues Deluxe at Neptune Studio Theatre

Karen Wyatt follows her jam-packed summer concert schedule that included her debut with Symphony Nova Scotia and returns to the stage with Blues Deluxe, a two-night tribute to the genre’s greatest performers.

Tickets are going fast for the September 28 and 29 performances (details below).

Karen received Talent Trust scholarships to help support her studies in voice. She attended the Randolph Academy in Toronto, and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

A well-known and accomplished performer, she’s one of the nominees for The Coast magazine's 2018 Best of Halifax Readers' Choice Awards.

Blues Deluxe will feature both classic and contemporary blues artists such as Robert Johnson, LaVern Baker, Muddy Waters, Nina Simone, BB King, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin.

The multi-media performances will also showcase many modern blues artists, including The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Blues Saraceno.

From Karen: “I have absolutely fallen for the blues. I love the heart and soul of the rhythms and melodies, the gritty vocals, the tremendous history and culture of the music.”

She’ll be backed by an 8-piece band, including a horn section and backup singers.

Blues Deluxe details
Friday, September 28
Saturday, September 29
Neptune Studio Theatre, Halifax

Showtime for both nights is 8:00 p.m.

More information, including ticket details for Blues Deluxe, are available at karenmyatt.net.

Summer Soirees - Vocalist Karen Myatt in Concert at the Halifax Distilling Co.

Karen Myatt celebrates summer with a series of themed concerts at the Halifax Distilling Co. at 1668 Lower Water Street on the city's waterfront.

On Saturday, June 16, The Karen Myatt Quintet presents Acoustique, an intimate evening of classic and contemporary melodies.

"These are some of my all-time favourite songs," says the vocalist, noting that the two-set soirée will include works by Cassandra Wilson, Jeff Buckley, Imelda May, Tom Waits, and many others. "We will be taking these tunes down a notch and showcasing the sheer, simple beauty of the music."

On Saturday, July 14, Myatt's Quartet presents Just Jazz, a two-set tribute to the genre's tremendous tradition.

"We are going back to basics with this concert, performing standards by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, and Nova Scotia's very own Holly Cole," she explains. "Purists — and those just discovering jazz — will love it."

On Friday, August 17, the Quintet returns with Calendar Girl,  showcasing the life and work of renowned American singer and actress Julie London. 

"We have been wanting to do this show for a long time," says Myatt. "The first set will overview her career, while the second set will feature her classic 1956 album Calendar Girl in its entirety."

More information on Summer Soirées, as well as ticket details, are available via Myatt's website: www.karenmyatt.net

Lala Lee and Nova Sinfonia in Concert: An Evening of Beethoven and Sibelius

She played Mozart in her solo debut with Symphony Nova Scotia in 2017. CBC declared her one of the 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30 that same year. 

Now Lala Lee joins Nova Sinfonia to perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19, and Sibelius’s Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82.

Conducted by Mark Shapiro, the concert takes place Sunday, May 6 at 7:30 pm, Faith Tabernacle Church, 6225 Summit Street in Halifax. For tickets or more information, visit the Nova Sinfonia website.

Christianne Rushton, Jennifer Jones perform with Jeff Joudrey's Halifax Camerata Singers on March 10, 2018

Christianne Rushton

Jeff Joudrey's Halifax Camerata Singers presents Memories of the Heart on 

Saturday, March 10, 2018 
at 7:30 p.m. 
at First Baptist Church, Halifax.  

From their press release:
The choir is joined by mezzo-soprano Christianne Rushton and pianist Lynette Wahlstrom in a romantic program of songs and memories of childhood, of loves lost, forbidden or foolish, and songs of times gone by.
 
Mezzo-soprano Christianne Rushton and Camerata open the program with a challenging choral composition by Aaron Copland titled In The Beginning.  Christianne will also perform works by Gaetano Donizetti, Franz Schubert, and Ola Gjeilo. 

Guest violinist, Jennifer Jones, of Symphony Nova Scotia and Rhapsody Quintet, is featured in Eric Whitacre’s beautiful Five Hebrew Love Songs.  Christianne will also perform Whitacre’s arrangement of Goodnight Moon, whose text is from the famous children’s book by Margaret Wise Brown.

Music featured by the Camerata Singers includes Only in Sleep by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvald, Chant for a Long Day by Canada’s Stephen Hatfield, and songs from the American folk and gospel traditions.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticket Halifax.

Reeny Smith performs with Symphony Nova Scotia July 19 - July 26, 2017 at various locations.

Reeny Smith will perform with Symphony Nova Scotia

Photo: Reeny Smith website

Wednesday, July 19, 12:30 and 2:00 pm
Pier 21, Rowe Hall, Halifax

Saturday, July 22, 11:00 am and 12:30 pm
Alderney Landing Theatre, Dartmouth

Tuesday, July 25, 11:00 am and 12:30 pm
Wednesday, July 26, 11:00 am and 12:30 pm
Halifax Central Library O’Regan Hall, Halifax

From the Symphony Nova Scotia website: 

Celebrate Nova Scotia’s vibrant musical landscape in this lively, fun, and free concert experience for the whole family! Featuring Symphony Nova Scotia, singer Reeny Smith, and drummer Trevor Gould, this full-orchestra event brings together Mi’kmaq chants and drumming, African Nova Scotian songs, Acadian fiddling and dancing, and new symphonic music – plus traditional favourites like Stan Rogers’ The Bluenose and Farewell to Nova Scotia. Don’t miss this symphonic celebration of the rich, colourful, and powerful music of our beloved home by the sea.

You can find more information about Reeny Smith at http://www.iamreeny.com/

Gina Burgess and Matt Myer with Gypsophilia at the Halifax Jazz Festival July 16, 8:30pm

Gina Burgess and Matt Myer play with Gypsophilia at the Jazz Festival

photo: Gypsophilia website

Sunday, July 16, 8:30pm
Waterfront Main Stage
With The Mellotones

FREE CONCERT!

Halifax-based Gypsophilia is a group of six performers (including Talent Trust scholarship recipients Matt Myer and Gina Burgess) playing original high-energy jazz that is by turns angular, sweet, nostalgic, modern and raucous. 

In recent years Gypsophilia has become a formidable touring outfit, regularly crisscrossing the continent and playing to sold-out crowds all over Canada and the US. Their killer live shows and danceable, genre-bending sound have made them an audience favourite at major festivals and small clubs alike. With a combination of serious musicianship, humour and showmanship they are capable of enchanting a sit-down crowd one moment, and whipping people into a dancing, clapping, singing frenzy the next.

You can find more information about Gypsophilia at http://www.gypsophilia.org/

Thank you Devin Huang for a great concert at the RBC branch in Halifax!

l-r back row: Justice Arthur LeBlanc, Elizabeth MacDonald, Lynn Stodola, Jennifer Wang and Devin Hung front.

Devin Huang played seven pieces for us. Everyone present was amazed. Thank you Devin!

Thank you to Devin's mtother Jennifer Wang that was willing to spend lots of time helping organizing it all, Lynn Stodola, Devin's piano teacher that helped him chose the music, and Elizabeth MacDonald, RBC Branch Manager for all your support. After the concert we met Justice Arthur LeBlanc. 

We thank the RBC Foundation for their ongoing support!

Jeff Joudrey takes his choir Halifax Camerata Singers to Edmonton International Choral Festival

Text and Photo: Halifax Camerata Singers press release

The ECMA-nominated Halifax Camerata Singers (HCS) with special guests, Rhapsody Quintet and actor Jeremy Webb are taking Halifax 1917:  From Dreams to Despair to the first Edmonton International Choral Festival, June 1-4, as invited guests of Pro Coro Canada.

Camerata’s performance is on Friday, June 2 at 8:00 p.m. at All Saints Anglican Cathedral in Edmonton. www.halifaxcamerata.org

Artistic Director Jeff Joudrey commented “We wanted to tell a Nova Scotian story in Edmonton, and were delighted when the Artistic Director of Pro Coro Canada, Michael Zaugg, accepted our suggestion of taking the Explosion show to a Western audience.  We are also so excited to perform with Pro Coro and Sweden’s Voces Nordicae and to work with master choral conductor, Robert Sund.”

Also travelling to Edmonton are Halifax’s award-winning Rhapsody Quintet (Jennifer Jones, violin; Shimon Walt, cello; David Langstroth, bass; Eileen Walsh, clarinet and Diana Torbert, piano) and Halifax’s favorite actor/director/producer Jeremy Webb.  For more information on Rhapsody Quintet, please visit www.rhapsodyquintet.com and on Jeremy Webb:  www.easternfronttheatre.com

.

Jeff Joudrey and Jennifer Jones are former NS Talent Trust recipients. 

India Gailey, cello and Ellen Gibling, harp will perform music composed by Adam Langille and Lucas Oickle on May 2 at 8 p.m. in Halifax

India Gailey, cello May 2, 2017 at 8 p.m. 1313 Hollis Street, Halifax

This concert of new pieces for cello will present an ethereal selection of musical palettes imagined by emerging composers Liam Elliot, Adam Langille, Lucas Oickle, and India herself. Also featuring Ellen Gibling, harp, and Norman Adams, cello.

Wonderful to see NSTT scholarship recipients to play pieces composed by NSTT scholarship recipients. (smile)

Claire Ahern is one of the winners of the Dal Concerto Night Competition. Performing on Thursday, Feb 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sir James Dunn Theatre.

Claire Ahern is one of the

winners of the Dal Concerto Night Competition. Congratulations Claire!

She will be performing with the Dalhousie Orchestra on 
Thursday, Feb 16 
at 7:30 p.m. 
at the Sir James Dunn Theatre, Halifax

Claire won the 2014 NSTT Raymond Simpon Award. 

The Dalhousie Orchestra is conducted by Peter Allen another former NSTT scholarship recipient. (smile)


Cost
$15 / $10

Additional Information
All performances at 7:30 pm. Tickets available at the Dalhousie Arts Centre Box Office and at the door. Tel. 902.494.3820 or 1.800.874.1669. $15 / $10 for individual tickets or purchase a 5-event package and save! See details in our Season brochure or contact the FSPA office.

Mark Morton touring with Architekt Percussion for Debut Atlantic's Concert Season from March 10-26, 2016

Photo: Debut Atlantic website

Architek Percussion is committed to the development and presentation of new Canadian music. The quartet has premiered over 20 new works by composers such as Eliot Britton, Christos Hatzis, Nicole Lizée, and Lukas Ligeti. The quartet’s current repertoire reflects the cultural and stylistic diversity of North American contemporary music. Architek Percussion consists of Ben Duinker, Mark Morton (former NSTT scholarship recipients), Ben Reimer, and Alessandro Valiante.

Architek Percussion is a Montreal-based quartet specializing in the performance of experimental, minimalist, multi-disciplinary, and electroacoustic chamber music. Founded in early 2012, the quartet has quickly established itself as a dynamic force in Canada’s vibrant new music community; equally comfortable in performing classic repertoire and exploring new terrain through commissions and premieres. In addition to self-producing a concert series in Montreal, Architek Percussion has recently appeared as guests of Ottawa New Music Creators, live@CIRMMT, Innovations en Concert, Cluster Festival, and toured Canada’s maritime provinces. Appearances in 2014-15 include PASIC Focus Day (Indianapolis), New Music Edmonton, Codes d’Acces, Groundswell (Winnipeg),The Music Gallery (Toronto), and Scotia Festival of Music (Halifax).

To find out more go to: http://www.debutatlantic.ca/artist/architek-percussion-percussion-quartet#audio-tab

Eszter Horvath to perform Dec 17, 2016 with Helios Vocal Ensemble in Halifax

Helios Vocal Ensemble presents An Illuminated Christmas
on 
Saturday, Dec 17, 7:30 pm 
at 
St. George's Round Church, 
2222 Brunswick St, Halifax. 
Admission is by donation.

"An Illuminated Christmas" offers an evening of beauty and calm within the busy holiday season, in the warm, bright acoustics of Saint George's Round Church. This year’s programme will feature Renaissance polyphony by Byrd, Gabrieli, Praetorius and others, as well as carols ancient and modern from the Old and New Worlds. 

Founded in 2015, Helios Vocal Ensemble is Atlantic Canada’s premier vocal ensemble, performing sacred and secular music from the Renaissance and beyond. Its members include Eszter Horvath, former music director at All Saints Cathedral, Halifax; Elisabeth Stones, National Youth Choir alumna; Andrew Pickett, former lay clerk at Manchester Cathedral; Garth MacPhee, music director at St George’s Round Church, Halifax; and John Mark Dawson, former boy chorister at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa. They made their Indian River Festival début in 2016, and will perform for Cecilia Concerts and the Three Churches Festival in 2017. 

Eszter Horvath is the 2016 Kenneth Elloway Award winner.