Banff Centre: Communications » Music & Sound

Jill Barber discovers new sound — in Banff

Jim — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:05:03 +0000

Calgary Herald: “If you are going to radically reinvent yourself as a Canadian artist, the picturesque mountains of Banff seems as good a backdrop as any to help kick-start the metamorphosis.

“Singer-songwriter Jill Barber spent a few head-clearing, revitalizing winter weeks there as part of the Banff Centre’s Leighton Artist Colony nearly three years ago, writing many of the songs that would appear on her 2008 album Chances.

“In fact, her time in Banff — where she penned tunes with songwriter Ron Sexsmith and guitarist-producer Les Cooper, among others — proved so essential to the process that she did it again last March to prepare for her newest collection of songs….”

“You do it because you just love it” [BISQC]

Jim — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:40:57 +0000

The Globe and Mail: “Nine string quartets have converged on the Banff Centre this week to compete for more than $100,000 in cash, concert dates, recordings and matched bows. We asked the Canadian contenders – the Afiara and Cecilia quartets – about the thrills and chills of the 10th Banff International String Quartet Competition.”

California university-linked quartets vying in prestigious competition

Jim — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:27:35 +0000

SignOn San Diego: “The Cecelia String Quartet, which completed the two-year artist-in-redisence program at San Diego State University’s School of Music and Dance last year, is a finalist in a prestigious international competition in Banff this week. But it is competing against the Hausmann Quartet, which just moved to San Diego to take over the artistic residency.”

Music will “jump off the stage” as string quartets compete in Banff

Jim — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:23:30 +0000

Calgary Herald: “‘If you like music, you’re going to love this,’ says Barry Shiffman. That’s the way Shiffman, director of the prestigious event and its biggest one-man band, sees the triennial Banff International String Quartet Competition (BISQC), whose 10th edition … Continue reading →

Rolston’s spirit lives on in songs of strings [Banff International String Quartet Competition]

Jim — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 03:14:48 +0000

Calgary Herald: “A nurturing spirit is not what you would ordinarily associate with a music competition.

“But then, the Banff International String Quartet Competition, worth a cool $100,000 in cash and prizes to the three top foursomes, is not your run-of-the-mill, win-or-lose, gimme-my-money-and-I’m-outta-here kind of musical contest.

“On the contrary, thanks to the vision of Tom Rolston — who, together with his wife Isobel, was the longtime founding architect of music programsat the Banff Centre — the prestigious Banff competition (BISQC, for short) has become as renowned for its generosity of purpose as for the generosity in the heft of its purse.”

CBC notes John Adams, other summer music faculty

Jim — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:50:50 +0000

CBC News: “Composer John Adams will be at the Banff Centre for the Arts in July to work with young artists and conduct two of his most popular works…. Banff will host several other high-profile musical guests this summer….”

CBC takes note of BISQC competitors

Jim — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:23:23 +0000

CBC News: “Two Canadian finalists in Banff strings competition.”

Barry Shiffman appointed to The Royal Conservatory

Jim — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:42:01 +0000

LSM Newswire: “Canadian violinist, violist, and educator Barry Shiffman has been appointed Associate Dean of The Glenn Gould School and Dean of the Young Artists Performance Academy at The Royal Conservatory. He will begin his position on September 7, 2010.”

Jazz elite flock to Banff Centre

Jim — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:43:14 +0000

Edmonton Journal: “Influential workshop attracts some of the best talent from all over the world.”

John Estacio among composers winning National Arts Centre awards

Jim — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:25:43 +0000

CBC News: “John Estacio of Edmonton, Peter Paul Koprowski of Ottawa, and Ana Sokolovic of Montreal are the winners of the National Arts Centre Awards, which encompass musical commissions and residencies valued at $75,000 each.”

Estacio has been a faculty member at The Banff Centre and was composer of The Banff Centre opera commissions Filumena and Frobisher.