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A MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Welcome to another wonderful season of beautiful music at Leith
Summer Festival. There's nothing that beats a close up, live music
experience, and there's no better place for this than the intimate
setting of historic Leith Church.
This summer we welcome back several musicians who have already
enjoyed the experience of making music in superb acoustics for our
warm, welcoming audience. And for those musicians who are new to
Leith Festival, we know they will not forget the experience.
There's just something irresistible about the relaxed atmosphere,
fresh country air and beautiful countryside that brings audiences and
artists back for more….
We are delighted to open the 2011 season with our good friends, The
Gryphon Trio. They represent the very best that Canada has to offer
the world of music and will get the season off to a flying start.
Another returning artist is soprano, Monica Whicher… this time with
her treasured colleague, internationally renowned harpist, Judy
Lowman. What an angelic combination… a first for Leith Festival.
We're pleased to welcome a premiere appearance by the Bremen String
Quartet. A member of this newly formed group was one of the first
performers in a chamber music concert at Leith Church over a decade
ago. The Festival is happy to honour our humble beginnings and
proud accomplishments to date by remembering those who gave their
time and talents in the early days of our development. As for new
faces joining our distinguished roster this summer, you will be blown
away by the virtuosity and musicality of Canada's finest marimba
player, Anne-Julie Caron, and rising star violinist, Marc Djokic.
Trust me, they are the best of the best. And I am pleased to be
able to appear with an extraordinarily talented singer, mezzo soprano
Laura Tucker. Having sung in major venues around the world, Laura
now makes her home in Toronto. I'm delighted to introduce her to
the wonders of a Leith Summer Festival experience.
See you this summer. Bring some friends and treat yourselves to a
full series of concerts of the finest music in the most intimate of
settings. You'll be inches away from Canada's best performers… an
unforgettable experience!
Robert Kortgaard
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Pianist Robert Kortgaard was born in Regina, Saskatchewan and grew up in Calgary, Alberta. He completed his Bachelor and Master's degrees at the Juilliard School in New York City. As a recipient of arts awards from the Canada Council, he furthered his musical studies in Italy and England.
Mr. Kortgaard has performed as a soloist with major Canadian orchestras and has given recitals throughout Canada and the United States, as well as in England, Finland, Portugal, Italy, Indonesia, the Czech Republic, China and Japan. He is a favorite collaborator of many of Canada's finest instrumental soloists, vocalists and chamber groups. His performances are frequently heard on CBC Radio, and he has recorded for the Centrediscs, Marquis Classics/EMI, CBC Records, Teldec and ATMA Classique labels.
Mr. Kortgaard is Artistic Director of the Indian River Festival on Prince Edward Island (recently nominated "Event of the Year" by the East Coast Music Awards), and the Leith Summer Music Festival in Ontario. He was musician-in-residence at the University of New Brunswick from l993-l998, and has given piano masterclasses at Universities and festivals in Canada, Indonesia and China.
Mr. Kortgaard has performed with sopranos Isabel Bayrakdarian, Sumi Jo, Jane Archibald and Measha Brueggergosman, mezzo soprano Susan Platts, violinist Joshua Bell, and with Peter Tiefenbach and prima ballerina Veronica Tennant on a production entitled "Invitation to the Dance". He has recorded French and German Cabaret programmes with mezzo-soprano Jean Stilwell for CBC Records. His CD with soprano Wendy Nielsen was nominated for both Juno and East Coast Music Awards. Recent engagements include tours with flutist Susan Hoeppner, cabaret artist Patricia O'Callaghan. baritone Brett Polegato, renowned music theatre actress/singer Rebecca Caine and several performances of duo piano repertoire with Peter Tiefenbach. A CD of the music of Olivier Messiaen, recorded with soprano Suzie LeBlanc, was released on the ATMA Classiques label and has received an Opus Award for best recording of contemporary music.
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