DEAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT WELCOMES FRANCIS CHOINIÈRE (CONDUCTOR)

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME CONDUCTOR FRANCIS CHOINIÈRE TO THE DEAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT ROSTER!

Named one of the CBC’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” Francis Choinière is a versatile musician, active as a conductor, concert producer, pianist, and composer. Winner of the Hnatyshyn Foundation’s prestigious Christa and Franz-Paul Decker Conducting Fellowship, Francis has collaborated with some of the world’s top international artists, including engagements as chorus master and collaborative conductor for concerts with Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, Ramin Djawad, Hans Zimmer, and Jonsi & Alex Somers.

Choinière is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the OPCM (Orchestre Philharmonique et Choeur des Mélomanes), successfully programming large choral and symphonic masterworks for the organization. This season's performances include three engagements in Montréal's Maison Symphonique, including Vivaldi’s Gloria, André Matthieu’s Concerto de Québec with pianist Alain Lefèvre, and Orff’s Carmina Burana. Choinière is also the Principal Conductor and Co-Artistic Director of l'Orchestre FILMharmonique. Upcoming, Choinière will lead the FILMharmonique orchestra through symphonic masterworks, including Holst’s The Planets and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, paired with classics from 21st-Century cinema.

In the 2020-2021 season, Choinière served as assistant and cover conductor of the National Arts Centre Orchestra under Alexander Shelley. Similarly, from 2018 to 2020, he worked with the Choeur Fernand Lindsay for the Festival de Lanaudière as chorus master and conductor, collaborating with conductors such as Stephan Layton (Trinity College) and Corrado Rovaris (Philadelphia Opera). Choinière is highly engaged in the Canadian music scene. As the co-founder and president of GFN Productions, he is passionate about expanding and developing classical music audiences through the presentation of new symphonic programs with film. Francis completed his Master’s Degree in Conducting at McGill University, studying with Alexis Hauser.

Click here to learn more about Francis or head to his website here.

DOMINIQUE CÔTÉ - DEBUT SOLO ALBUM

Baritone Dominique Côté's first solo album releases February 11th with ATMA Classique.

Dominique makes his ATMA Classique recording debut with Amour et Fantaisie: mélodies de Lionel Daunais, a portrait that pays homage to a unique artist on the Canadian musical landscape. He is joined by acclaimed pianist Esther Gonthier.

Available on all Apple Music and Spotify for streaming. Click here to download.

DEAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT WELCOMES ANDREW CRUST (CONDUCTOR)

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME CONDUCTOR ANDREW CRUST TO THE DEAN ARTISTS MANAGEMENT ROSTER!

Andrew Crust has developed a versatile international career as a conductor of orchestral, opera, ballet and pops programs. Currently serving as the Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Symphony in Canada, Andrew conducts a large number of concerts with the VSO each season. In his second season as Music Director of the Lima Symphony, Andrew programs and conducts the Grand Classics, Pops, and Educational series and has led collaborations with soloists such as Amit Peled, Awadagin Pratt, and Laquita Mitchell. 

In the current and upcoming seasons Andrew will debut with the Arkansas, Rockford, and Vermont Symphonies as Music Director finalist with soloists such as Tracy Silverman, Stella Chen, Shannon Lee and Wei Luo, and with the San Diego Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic and Sewannee Summer Music Festival as a guest conductor. Andrew will also lead performances of Le nozze di Figaro in multiple cities across Spain in 2023. Other recent engagements include performances with the Winnipeg Symphony, Memphis Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Bozeman Symphony and l’Orchestre de la Francophonie in Québec.

Andrew is a 2020 winner of the Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award. In 2021 he was awarded “Prémio a la Proyección” at the Llíria City of Music International Conducting Competition. In 2017 he was awarded first prize at the Accademia Chigiana by Daniele Gatti, receiving a scholarship and an invitation to guest conduct the Orchestra di Sanremo in Italy. He was a semi-finalist for the Nestlé/Salzburg Festival’s Young Conductors Award competition, and was selected by members of the Vienna Philharmonic as a winner of the Ansbacher Fellowship, with full access to all rehearsals and performances of the Salzburg Festival. 

Click here to learn more about Andrew or head to his website here.

DEAN ARTISTS WITH EDMONTON OPERA

Andrew Haji (Rodolfo), Miriam Khalil (Mimi), Lara Ciekiewicz (Musetta), Peter Barrett (Marcello), and Tom Goerz (Alcindoro/Benoit) join the Edmonton Opera for Puccini’s La Bohème. Conducted by Simon Rivard with direction by François Racine.

*Note: Tenor Adam Luther steps in for Andrew Haji for opening night, February 5th. Andrew recently tested positive for Covid-19. Andrew is currently feeling well, and we are hopeful that he will be able rejoin the cast for performances on Feb. 8 and 11.*

February 5, 8 & 11, 2022 - Jubilee Auditorium

REBECCA CUDDY WITH THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY

Dean Artists’ Rebecca Cuddy premieres VOICES OF MOUNTAINS with the Canadian Opera Company, a collaborative celebration of identity and music making. Rebecca is joined by mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, pianist Gordon Gerrard, and dancer/choreography Aria Evans for this interdisciplinary program.

Produced by Dorian Cox, with dramaturgy by Julie McIsaac, the program features works from Fauré and Elgar, to Brian Current and Tomson Highway. A highlight on the program is Ian Cusson’s “Fire”, the work’s world premiere.

This will also be an artistic “double-bill” for Rebecca! Rebecca was commissioned by the COC for “where the water meets land” - an installation that combines immersive sound, Rebecca’s beadwork, as well as an accompanying land acknowledgement text. “where the water meets land” will premiere in conjunction with Voice of Mountains and will be featured in advance of all COC digital offerings this season. A true multi-disciplinary artist, Rebecca is the first creator to be commissioned as a part of the COC’s Land Acknowledgement Commissioning program.

Supporter Opening Night: Friday, Jan. 14, 2022, 7:30 P.M. ET
General Public Streaming: Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022, 7:30 P.M. ET

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