Carnival of Venice – February 27, 2021

Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra presents

Carnival of Venice

A magical night of curiosities in the city of Venice.

The Carnival of Venice is a century-old festival that gives an already fantastical city an even greater enchanted atmosphere. The masks, the parties, the stories of Casanova, the gondolas on the canals, and of course the opulent music!

Venice’s music scene exploded in the baroque era. It was marked by virtuosic writing that matched the spectacular art and architecture of the floating city. The royal courts and palaces were filled with some of the most beautiful, challenging, unusual, and breathtaking music of the day.

For this special concert, the SSO is joined by four soloists: our very own Principal Flute Allison Miller, Principal Oboe Erin Brophey, soprano Chelsea Mahan, and trumpeter Dean McNeill. They’ll be showcasing the music of Marcello, Tartini, and Vivaldi!

Grab your mask and a bottle of prosecco, and enjoy a gondola ride with the music of the Carnival!

Artists
Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra
Eric Paetkau, Music Director
Chelsea Mahan, Soprano
Allison Miller, Flute

Allison Miller, Saskatoon born flutist, joined the SSO in 2019. Allison completed a Diploma of Music at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, studying with Richard Volet. She went on to complete both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music specializing in Music Performance at the University of Ottawa, studying with Camille Churchfield. Allison has appeared numerous times as both a Flutist and Piccoloist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.

Allison is a three time NYO Canada alum and has participated in international tours to Portugal, Germany and Scotland as well as the Canadian Edges of Canada coast to coast tour. Allison spent three summers studying with William Bennet (WIBB) and Lorna McGhee at the PIFR international festival off the coast of Vancouver. She has also attended the Domaine Forget International Music Academy and the Orford Music Academy.

Allison has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, receiving The Payne-Lyon Prize for Excellence in Flute from NYO Canada, and the top flutist award at the National Music Festival.

Erin Brophey, Oboe

Prior to joining the SSO as Principal Oboe, Erin held the position of section oboe and English horn with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra for eight seasons. Erin is also an active freelance musician, and has performed with many Canadian orchestras, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra and the Elora Festival Orchestra. Erin has also performed with several chamber music groups including Mélange, La salade trio, Festival Winds, Lake Winds Octet and the Bremen String Quartet.

In 2000, Erin received her Honours Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied with James Mason. She completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania under the tutelage of Cynthia Koledo de Almeida in 2002.

Dean McNeill, Trumpet

Downbeat magazine award-winning Canadian trumpet player/composer Dean McNeill is a Full Professor at the University of Saskatchewan where he has taught applied trumpet and a variety of brass and jazz-related courses since joining the faculty in 1998. Dean holds music degrees from the University of North Texas (Masters), McGill University (Undergraduate), and a music diploma from MacEwan University. Dean has released two critically acclaimed CDs respectively entitled Prairie Fire: Large Jazz Ensemble Music of Dean McNeill and Mélange: New Music For Trumpet and Piano.

In the jazz idiom Dean has performed with the Banff Centre Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, Birth of the Cool Repertoire Project, Art Blakey Tribute Project, Art Pepper + 11 Tribute Project, and withthe likes of Kenny Wheeler, Pat LaBarbera, Michael Cain, Denzal Sinclaire, P.J. Perry, Jon Ballantyne, Bobby Caldwell,Carol Welsman, Hugh Fraser, Tommy Banks, Bob Mintzer, Rob McConnell, Brad Turner,Campbell Ryga, Kelly Jefferson, Robert Younge, among others.

Dean has composed and arranged music for symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, large and small brass ensembles, jazz combo, and large jazz ensemble.

The live stream begins Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 8:30pm ET  (7:30pm CT), and will be available for 24 hours.

To purchase your virtual ticket visit: www.saskatoonsymphony.org