Esprit Orchestra - Brief History

                    2005

• Organized concert in Toronto, which was then taken on tour to Montreal as part of Montreal/Nouvelles Musiques produced by the SMCQ
• Commissioned major educational work by Brian Current designed as a modern day “Young Person’s Guide to The Orchestra”
• Developed the project Moving Art Moving Audiences – an expansion of In Your Space combined with The Weekend, New Wave Composers Festival

                    2004

• Introduced In Your Space, a project taking Esprit’s musicians out of the concert hall and into libraries, galleries, bars, the CN Tower and other alternative spaces – a major outreach initiative.

                    2003

• Continued with development of The Weekend as an annual festival.
• Presented greatest ever number of works involving electronics and multi-media culminating with Touch Piece by Alex Pauk for Orchestra, digital sound track of natural sounds, electroacoustic instruments (surround sound with 16 speakers) plus multi-screen video projections and special lighting in the theatre combined with fabric sculpture on the walls.

                    2002

• Concerts feature film collaborations with Bravo! TV;
• The Weekend, Young Composers Festival, presented bringing together 14 emerging Canadian composers to meet each other and their public.

                    2001

• Participated in community-based concert in Massey Hall NUMUFEST.

                    2000

• Recorded first Centrediscs CD - music by Alexina Louie;
• Production of Bravo!FACT music video/inter-active DVD (formated for interactive Internet website (www.toothpastetv.com).

                    1999

• Initiated fundraising/development of R. Murray Schafer's music theatre work Palace of the Cinnabar Phoenix.
• Debut European tour - International Gaudeamus Music Week (5 concerts);
• Released Esprit's first CD on SONY Classical label (soundtrack for Last Night).

                    1998

• Toured Western Canada (Calgary/Edmonton/Banff/Vancouver).

                    1997

• Involved with wilderness performance of Princess of the Stars by R.Murray Schafer.

                    1996

• Collaborative project with Menaka Thakkar Indian Dance Company;
• Received Lieutenant Governor's Award in the Arts (also received in 1998 and 2000).

                    1995

• Winner of Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award (second received in celebration of Joan Chalmers 70th birthday).

                    1993

• First of two collaborations with Toronto Symphony joining the orchestras in performance;
• First of several concerts as part of ONStage at the Glenn Gould Studio CBC concert series;
• Developed elaborate musical/ceremonial/theatrical event for re-opening of Art Gallery of Ontario.

                    1992

• Concert performance of Murray Schafer's Patria V: The Crown of Ariadne
(collaboration with Autumn Leaf Performance); leads to further Esprit music theatre presentations / collaborations;
• Esprit/NASA multi-media collaboration presented as part of ECO-World Congress.

                    1988

• First Canadian tour (Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal) in conjunction with 1991 Calgary Winter Olympics Arts Festival;
• Recorded first all-Canadian CD for CBC Records, which led to JUNO nominations and record reviews;
• Collaborated in concert with Toronto Downtown Jazz Society.

                    1985

• Developed Coffee Chats to educate and grow audiences by putting them in contact with composers/performers;
• Began Toward a Living Art Education Program involving young people with composers and performers to introduce young people to 'new music.'

                    1984

• CBC Radio begins recording Esprit concerts; subsequently, all concerts are recorded/broadcast;
• Began appearing in/recording for Rhombus Media performing arts films.