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In July, I moved to Montreal to start my doctoral studies in composition with Philippe Leroux. I’m really looking forward to being a student again and being able to concentrate full-time on all my creative activities.
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Being in Montreal also means new creative collaboration opportunities, with both those musicians who are good friends already, and all of those I have yet to meet.
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Montreal has a very vibrant experimental and improvisation scene, and I’m looking forward to hearing everything that is going on.
onwards and upwards – a doctorate in Montreal
August 28th, 2010flocking patterns – coming together
August 28th, 2010
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The second wave of the Bird on a Wire project is underway. This time, the theme is “flocking patterns.” For a full description of the project and the composers involved, please look here.
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The premiere of these pieces will be very exciting! Stay tuned for more information very soon.
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We are lucky to be generously supported both by the Alberta Creative Development Initiative and the New Music Project Grant of the Canada Council for the Arts.
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undressing a past
August 28th, 2010
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This spring, I wrote a piece for the wonderful pianist, Luciane Cardassi. It is the second piece I’ve written this year that has been inspired by my recent research into my family history.
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The piece is dedicated to my grandma. It can be played with recordings of poems written by my grandfather, Jan Vladislav, between the movements. They are some of his last poems, and I chose the ones that related somehow to my grandmother. This is how we played it both at The Banff Centre, where I wrote it, and here in Montreal at the Sonnez-Ici Festival.
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You can listen to a recording of it here.
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NOTAM debriefing
May 16th, 2010
Earlier this month, I spent a lovely week in Oslo, working with the technical experts at NOTAM. Hans Wilmers and I worked on creating a working connection between the “bowsense” he had designed and my computer. This involved calibration and programming, but we managed to get it up and working for a lovely intimate concert at The Sound of Mu at the end of our workshop week.
Both of us look forward to continuing our collaboration and to create a system that will be of interest to both researchers and performers.
Stay tuned for sound samples from the concert and updates on the research activities!
Video from SpaceMelt in Banff (January 24, 2010)
February 12th, 2010Click here to see the complete video of our SpaceMelt show in Banff!
SpaceMelt @ the Happening Festival
December 9th, 2009The Improvisation Pool at Open Sound
September 11th, 2009Playing on Saturday at with The Improvisation Pool at Open Sound in Boston.

The Improvisation Pool:
Jorrit Dijkstra – alto sax, lyricon, synth
Terri Hron – recorders, electronics
Andrew Neumann – laptop
Esther Kurtz – oboe
James Coleman, Theremin
Saturday, September 12, at 8 PM (doors open at 7:30) suggested donation $8
Upcoming shows in Montreal and Boston
August 22nd, 2009
A nomadic few months brings me the opportunity to play with friends I don’t see very often, but who inspire me no end. Three shows coming up:
with Transverse Doppler Effect (Adam Kinner, saxophone, Terri Hron, recorders, Ryan Butler, guitar and Mark Nelson, drums) at L’Escalier in Montreal on September 2nd.
with
North American Adventure: Summer 2009
July 27th, 2009
So I’m back on this side of the pond since July 24th, first for a couple of weeks in New York, then off to Montreal, with a few side-trips in between.
So far the schedule is (roughly):
July 27-August 7: Summer Intensive Workshop @ the School for Improvisational Music, Brooklyn
July 27 & August 1: concerts with Dan Blake in Brooklyn
August 8-9: recording with treelet (Curtis Macdonald and Daniel Porter)
August 17: playing highlights of Bird on a Wire at the ICMC 2009 in Montreal
September 2: Transdoppler Effect Reunion in Montreal
September 4: sharing an evening’s concert with Kinny K Blaze in Montreal
September 17-20: Montreal International Recorder Competition 2009
more shows and mischief are in the works, but are less confirmed. Check back to find out more details. For times and locations, please see the Agenda!
The Sinking of the Titanic
June 10th, 2009
I’m playing a beautiful version of Gavin Bryars’ The Sinking of the Titanic, led by Bob Gilmore as part of the Klank Kleur Festival. Come sink to new depths! Friday, June 12th at 10 pm. in the Uilenberger Synagoge Amsterdam.
Bird on a Wire about to be pressed for posterity
June 7th, 2009
here it is — almost! i sent the files off to the manufacturer today. so many thanks to everyone, especially rachel for her beautiful artwork! i’m so looking forward to having it in my hot little hands!
Egg of Sand Video
May 1st, 2009
There are new videos on the Egg of Sand website. Check them out!
Back in the Lowlands
April 7th, 2009So it’s back from the six-month stay up in the high altitude of Banff. I will try to post some of the many goodies that came out of that intensive working period here, as well as finish bringing the website back to its fully operational state. There is not so much time left after I’ve finished scheming for the day, but it will happen within the next little while.
Until then, here is a taste of FACEMELT with the extraordinary Sam Davidson. Thanks to Will Howie for a great evening in Telus Studio recording this stuff! I’ve named this one Brontosaurus Brunch>
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makingkingdom Banff version
March 23rd, 2009listen here to the recording made at The Banff Centre for the Arts of makingkingdom. recorded live.
Sam Davidson, clarinet
Dani Oore, soprano sax
Cliodhna Ryan, violin
Cheryl Law & Henk Guittart, viola
Nick Alvarez, cello
Kerry Haberkern, bassoon
Cecilia Lee, prepared piano
Terri Hron, conductor & text
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PIDGOYOMON takes off!
March 1st, 2009
catherine thompson and i are performing our new show, PIDGOYOMON at the banff centre march 8. come hear all our new songs and stories in this staged musical work. for more on the show, see egg of sand
Rolston Recital Hall
The Banff Centre
8 pm Sunday, March 8, 2009
Getting down to business with Sam
February 9th, 2009
Clarinettist/EWI virtuoso Sam Davidson and I will be hosting a concert of improvised music.
guests: Michael Markowsky, visuals; Brennan Saul, percussion; Mark Nelson, drums; Pat Reid, double bass; Erika Christou, electric bass; Catherine Thompson, guitar; Dani Oore, saxophone and others.
Bentley Chamber Music Studio
The Banff Centre
Tuesday, February 10 at 9 pm
Bird on a Wire album’s in the can
February 8th, 2009I had an amazing time recording my new album at The Banff Centre with the very talented Daniel Porter. He made the experience so smooth and enjoyable, I couldn’t believe it! We recorded all the new pieces in 2 days and had an extra day to record all kinds of improvisations and an impromptu bonus track with saxophonist/sound-designer Curtis Macdonald.
Here is a sample: my piece a little bird told me.
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I’ll be mastering the album this week, so it’ll be ready to go very soon!
O Rosa Bella
February 8th, 2009
I wrote a new piece for three residents who inspired me:
pianist Rosabel Choi, saxophonist Adam Kinner (aka Kinny K Blaze) and bassist Jake Leckie. It’s based on the 15th-century chanson O Rosa Bella by John Bedingham (originally it was attributed to Dunstable). The piano preparations I was working with at the time made their way into the piece: magnets, chopstics, coat hangers, etc.
Have a listen to the recording of the concert December 10th at The Banff Centre.
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Fall Creative Residency at the Banff Centre
February 8th, 2009I was in residence at The Banff Centre for 7 weeks this past fall. It was a very intense experience, working towards the premiere and tour of Bird on a Wire and the recording of the album of the same name. I spent three weeks preparing for the tour and then another 4 weeks after the tour recording and mixing and getting involved in projects with other residents at the centre. You can read about Bird on a Wire in the projects section, but I’d like to share some of the highlights of my time there with you here.
