The Kindred Spirits Orchestra (KSO) is a civic orchestra based in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 2009 with music director Kristian Alexander.
| Kindred Spirits Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Location | Markham, Ontario |
| Music director | Kristian Alexander |
| Website | ksorchestra |
Orchestra
editThe KSO is an auditioned-based civic orchestra based in Markham, Ontario, Canada.[1] It performs regularly at the Flato Markham Theatre, the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, and the CBC Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto.[2]
Music director Kristian Alexander first discussed creating an orchestra in Markham in 2007. Auditions began in April 2009 with rehearsals in September[3] and the orchestra's first concert was performed at Glenn Gould Studio on 3 November 2009.[1] In its early years, the KSO had 38 musicians and focussed on presenting Baroque and classical repertoire.[1] Since then, it has grown to 86 musicians[citation needed] required for more complex and large-scales compositions.[2][3] The KSO has commissioned original pieces and has performed works of Canadian composers Brian Current, Gary Kulesha and Larysa Kuzmenko.[2]
Outside of its subscription concert series, the KSO has performed special concerts for Canada Day, Chinese New Year, and the Markham Contemporary Music Festival.[2] In 2017, the KSO accompanied Bollywood composer A. R. Rahman at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (now Meridian Hall).[2] The orchestra has also performed at the Isabel Bader Theatre, and the Unionville Millennium Theatre.[2]
The KSO also has community outreach and educational programs, with professional development opportunities for emerging artists, music educators, conductors,[1][3] and composers.[citation needed]
In 2021, the KSO announced that it had become the first orchestra in Canada to replace paper-based sheet music parts with a digital library accessible via iPad Pro tablets made available to all musicians.[4]
Notable people
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Music directors:
- Kristian Alexander (2009–present)
Associate conductors:
- Matheus Coelho (2023–present)
- Michael Berec (2015–2023)
- Andrew Chung (2011–2014)
- Scott Harrison (2010–2011)
Assistant conductors:
- Jonás Joya (2021–2023)
- Elli Kozak (2019–2021)
- Patrick Headley (2018–2020)
- Travis Grubisi (2018–2020)
- Joanna Augustine Ng (2016–2017)
- Giancarlo Mincone (2015–2016)
- Matthew Poon (2012–2015)
- Michael Berec (2012–2015)
- Keith Reid (2010–2012)
- Scott Harrison (2009–2010)
Composers-in-residence
- Erik Kreem (2020)
- Chan Wing-Wah (2019)
- Vincent Ho (2018)
- Werner Chan (2017)
- Colin Sandquist (2016)
- Heather Schmidt (2015)
- James W. Campbell (2014)
- Kevin Lau (2013)
- Brian Current (2012)
- Gary Kulesha (2011)
- Larysa Kuzmenko (2010)
- Daniel Friedman (2009)
References
edit- ^ a b c d MacQuarrie, Jack (September 2010). "New seasons, new ensembles". The WholeNote magazine. Vol. 16, no. 1. Toronto, Ontario. p. 30.
- ^ a b c d e f Kaptainis, Arthur (10 February 2020). "Kindred Spirits Orchestra: finding symphonic strength in diversity". La Scena Musicale magazine. Montreal, Quebec.
- ^ a b c Hsieh, Tiffany (October 2, 2009). "Homegrown orchestra in 'right place'". Markham Economist and Sun. Markham, Ontario: Metroland Media Group. p. 1. ProQuest 362298389.
- ^ Vincent, Michael (15 November 2021). "Toronto Orchestra Becomes First To Go Paperless". Ludwig van Toronto. Toronto, Ontario: Museland Media Inc.