“Portraits of Home” is a special project curated by Echo Chamber intended to illuminate the inseparable relationship between music and the land on which it was conceived. The musical centrepieces for this project are two works by Yellowknife composer Carmen Braden; “The Raven Conspiracy” and “I Can Finally Feel the Sun”. The latter will feature the work of Yellowknife choreographer Tomiko Robson. Other music on the program includes Benjamin Britten’s first string quartet, 'Blueprint' by Caroline Shaw, and ’The Lark Ascending’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams, with choreography by acclaimed dance makers Alysa Pires and William Yong. The featured performers are the Rosebud String Quartet (Aaron Schwebel and Sheila Jaffe, violins; Keith Hamm, viola; Leana Rutt, cello) as well as dancers Hannah Shikatani, Robert Stephen, and Christian Lavigne.
Echo Chamber biography
Echo Chamber is a Toronto-based performance series that intertwines live chamber music and dance in new choreographed works. Founded and directed by Aaron Schwebel, violinist and Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, Echo Chamber creates performances that offer a new lens through which both music and dance can be experienced, together as one integrated expression. Echo Chamber performances have featured choreography by some of Canada's leading dance makers, including Laurence Lemieux, William Yong, Alysa Pires, Hanna Kiel, Christopher Stowell, Liana Bellissimo, Tara Pillon, Robert Stephen, and Brendan Saye. Other artistic collaborations have included acclaimed Jazz pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, soprano Lauren Eberwein, the Rosebud String Quartet, dancers from the National Ballet of Canada, and various prominent Toronto-based contemporary dancers.
Echo Chamber has appeared at music and dance festivals around Ontario, including Fall for Dance North, Toronto Summer Music Festival and Ottawa Chamberfest. Echo Chamber is grateful for the support it has received to date from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts, as well as its artistic partnership with Chamber Factory. Support from the CCA Arts Across Canada program has enabled Echo Chamber to bring its “Homelands” project to Western Canada.
