Chamberfest announces 2019 City Series featuring Egré winner Amy Hillis and Pentaèdre wind quintet flutist Ariane Brisson

Ottawa Chamberfest today announced the latest edition of its free City Series, taking place at Ottawa’s City Hall. Celebrating artists with ties to Ottawa-Gatineau, with a particular feature on amateur and emerging professional musicians, this year’s series features students from the University of Ottawa and École secondaire publique De La Salle, Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition winner Amy Hillis and the Canadian Guitar Quartet. The Series opens with a performance from Quebec’s Quatuor Andara, who will be in residence with Ottawa Chamberfest this year as part of their Career Development Residency program for emerging ensembles. City Series is part of Chamberfest CEE: Community Engagement and Education. Quatuor Andara Tuesday, March 19 12PM Ottawa City Hall Andara: the river, where smaller streams converge, in the Wendat language of the Huron people. Inspired by their namesake, the young Quatuor Andara brings an emotional rush to quartets by Debussy and Ginastera. The Quebec quartet’s performance begins their Career Development Residency with Ottawa Chamberfest through the 2019 festival and 2019-2020 season. Jeanne Côté, violin Marie-Claire Vaillancourt, violin Vincent Delorme, viola Dominique Beauséjour-Ostiguy, cello Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, L 85, Op. 10 Ginastera: String Quartet No. 1, Op. 20 Duo Palladium Tuesday, March 26 12PM Ottawa City Hall Mythical creatures come to life through music in this playful program by Ariane Brisson, known for her performances with Montreal’s beloved Pentaèdre wind quintet, and pianist Olivier Hébert-Bouchard. Debussy and Bartók feature in this dance between wind, keys, and ancient myth. Ariane Brisson, flute Olivier Hébert-Bouchard, piano Debussy: Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune (arr. Gustave Samazeuilh) Reinecke: Sonata for flute and piano in E major, Op.167, “Undine” Bartók: Suite Paysanne Hongroise, (arr. Paul Arma) Roussel: Joueurs de flûte, Op. 27 Jolivet: Chant de Linos for flute and piano University of Ottawa Chamber Groups Tuesday, April 2 12PM Ottawa City Hall Hear the masters of the past inspire tomorrow’s chamber musicians. Coached by the University of Ottawa’s expert faculty, a string quartet, piano trio with bassoon, and pianist perform works by Dvořák, Glinka, and Ravel. Sophia-Marie Bergeron, violin Marlena Pellegrino, viola Shang Jung Chan, cello Emmanuel Cigana, piano Nicolas Richard, bassoon Vinci Chen, cello Kassandra-Anne Demers, piano Min-Key Park, piano Dvořák: Piano quartet in E-flat major, Op. 87, No. 2 Glinka: Trio pathétique in D minor Ravel: Scarbo from Gaspard de la nuit meagan&amy Tuesday, April 16 12PM Ottawa City Hall Skyrocketing duo meagan&amy share an inspiration that ranges from the Viennese courts all the way to Canada’s North. Often heard on CBC Music, violinist and Egré winner Amy Hillis and pianist Meagan Milatz preview the programme that they will tour across Canada this year with Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Prairie Debut, and Debut Atlantic. Features Mozart, Debussy, and Canadian composers David McIntryre and André Mathieu. Amy Hills, violin Meagan Milatz, piano Canadian Guitar Quartet Tuesday, April 23 12PM Ottawa City Hall Led by guitar teachers from both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, it is no surprise that the acclaimed Canadian Guitar Quartet has a passion for bringing classical guitar to new audiences. “Fantastic, spirited playing and sheer inventiveness” (Classical Guitar Magazine) will invigorate as this longstanding quartet plays Beethoven, Poulenc, and more. Louis Trépanier, guitar Julien Bisaillon, guitar Renaud Côté-Giguère, guitar Bruno Roussel, guitar Chorale De La Salle Tuesday, May 7 12PM Ottawa City Hall Recognized across Canada for drawing excellence and emotion from students, choral director Robert Filion leads Chorale De La Salle. Catch this remarkable young choir just before they fly to Italy to compete on the international stage. Robert Filion, choral director ABOUT CHAMBERFEST CITY SERIES Ottawa Chamberfest City Series concerts are free performances taking place in Ottawa’s historic City Hall, as a part of Chamberfest’s Community Engagement and Education program and its commitment to change lives through music. This spring concert series is generously supported by Cistel, and brings artists and audiences together to celebrate amateur and emerging professional performers with ties to the National Capital Region. The City Series concerts are free appetizers for the upcoming Chamberfest summer festival, in an atmosphere steeped in history. These family-friendly performances are perfect for those with a passion for classical music or for those interested in learning more. Ottawa Chamberfest Celebrating 25 years, Ottawa Chamberfest brings together the boldest names in small ensemble and solo performance for musical celebration in the nation’s capital throughout the year with a Concert Series and Community Engagement and Education programming, culminating in the Chamberfest summer festival. The world’s largest festival of its kind, the Ottawa Chamberfest summer festival is a 2018 Festivals and Events (FEO) Ontario “Top 100” and winner of seven consecutive Lieutenant-Governor’s Awards for the Arts.