Happy New Year

Hello!

Thanks to everyone to went to a show, worked with us, performed, wrote music, and *listened* to us to make 2015 ONMC's most exciting and dynamic year yet. 

Earlier this year, our 2014-15 season was punctuated by Andrew Burn and Jennifer Thiessen's historical basson and viola d'amore, respectively (playing a 100% Ottawa program) in February, an audacious and sold-out talk/ performance/ screening of the sonic style of Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman with Alexis Luko, Matt Morel (cello and electronics), and Adam Saikaley (piano and electronics), at the Mayfair Theatre in March, and finally an amazing season closer by Jen McLachlen (flute) and Sarah Albu (voice).

How does one follow this up? We think we delivered, beginning with a judicious pairing of Esmerine with Ottawa locals Musk Ox and The Visit at the Mercury Lounge in September. We welcomed Suzanne Binet-Audet (ondes Martenot) and Gilles Gobeil at the Gallery Studios in early November – Binet-Audet's 7th generation instrument being only one of about sixty in active use in the world today. Things tooks a turn towards the improvisatory with Huei Lin (saxophone) and Shahriyar Jamshidi (kamanche) at the Raw Sugar Cafe – which, sadly, will be closing soon. We're glad to have been able to stage a show there beforehand.

2016 looks to be no less thrilling. In a few short weeks we will welcome Ottawa native Pierre-Yves Martel (viola da gamba) as well as Ben Grossman (hurdy-gurdy), and we are partnering with the Ottawa New Music Network for their 2016 forum to bring the legendary Pauline Oliveros to town (stay tuned on that one). After a short break, April features two excisitng events: a return to the Mayfair Theatre for a talk/performance/screening on the late Ottawa National Film Board composer Eldon Rathburn (featuring music by Petr Cancura and friends, and a discussion with Dr. James Wright, Carleton University), and the intentionally unusual trio of Daniel Mehdizadeh (piano), Casey Granofsky (flute), and Andrew Nowry (tuba). And – who knows what else 2016 will bring?

As always, all shows at $10 at the door or on Eventbrite.

Have a great NYE.

– CP