Tag: Strings

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Leaf Music, Adam Cicchillitti, Steve Cowan and collectif9

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music and virtuoso guitar duo Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan announce the February 14 release of their new recording Re/String (LM298). Re/String features six new concertos commissioned for two guitars and strings, recorded with Montreal ensemble collectif9. The six composers include Canadians Amy Brandon, Kelly-Marie Murphy, Patrick Roux, Bekah Simms and Harry Stayflakis, alongside British composer Stephen Goss. These pieces were premiered in Ottawa in March of 2022 with Thirteen Strings under conductor Kevin Mallon.

The pieces are stylistically diverse, with some referencing the guitar’s roots in rock and metal, while others explore alternate tunings and innovative textures between the guitar and bowed strings. The music is virtuosic, mysterious, unsettling, and hauntingly beautiful.

Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan

Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan have set a benchmark in the guitar world with their award-winning recordings, orchestral commissions and competition performances. In addition to active international solo careers, the duo regularly tours North America, playing programs of original arrangements and new Canadian commissions. They won second (2023) and third (2021) prize at the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America’s International Ensemble Competition, arguably the world’s most important guitar competition. The ensemble’s discography includes three albums, including multiple prize nominations and the Classical Recording of the Year at the 2021 East Coast Music Awards.    

Known for its innovative programming and unique approach to chamber music, Montreal string nonet collectif9 has performed extensively across North America, Europe, and Asia. The ensemble is dedicated to the exploration of new repertoire and new artistic partnerships with composers, video artists, poets, lighting designers, and other inspired collaborators, creating multidisciplinary projects that come to life in acoustic or amplified settings. Collectif9 has released four albums and produced a series of film-concerts. The group has received two JUNO nominations for its recordings, among other awards and recognitions. 

Re/String was recorded in St. Augustin, Quebec, in September of 2024, and produced with assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec. Listen to Re/String on your favourite streaming platform. 

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nashville, Tennessee, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across Canada. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,  peggy@leaf-music.ca 

(902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

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Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan
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Leaf Music Distributes “Music for Strings… and Winds” with John Robertson

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music announces the distribution of new digital release in late September, John Robertson – Music for Strings…And Winds

John Robertson (johnrobertsoncomposer.com) is a New Zealand born Canadian composer of concert music and an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre, whose works have been heard in Canada, the US, Mexico, the UK, and many countries in continental Europe. Also of note, the Sofia Philharmonic performed one of his pieces on their twelve-city tour of China.

His new album (available in digital version only) presents an intriguing blend of his early and mature compositional voice. Music for Strings…and Winds features three distinctive pieces: one for string orchestra, string quartet and harp, another for string sextet and one for six winds and string bass. The music is performed by members of the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Armoré. With a style rooted in extended diatonicism and enriched by memorable melodies, this album offers a fresh and engaging listening experience for both connoisseurs and new listeners.  

Listen to Music for Strings…And Winds on your favourite streaming platforms now! leaf-music.lnk.to/jr2024

About Leaf Music:  Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across Canada. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada.

We acknowledge that Leaf Music’s work spans many Territories and Treaty areas, and that our home is in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,  peggy@leaf-music.ca (902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

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Leaf Music Distributes Nerve with Ian Foster

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music announces the distribution of a new digital recording, Nerve (IF10) with genre-defying composer/performer Ian Foster.  

Nerve takes us into the evocative world of contemporary classical crossover, featuring an intricate blend of piano, strings, and electronic textures. Ian Foster is a seasoned songwriter, film composer and music producer, and the album combines prepared pianos and strings with synthesizers, drum loops and a range of electronic instruments evocative of contemporary film scores and even contemporary ambient music. Intimate piano pieces and lush electronic atmospherics are presented in Nerve by this Music NL and ECMA winner, who continues to evolve and defy genres (visit ianfoster.ca to learn more). Thank you to the Canada Council for the Arts and Music NL for their support of this project, which was recorded in various venues in St. John’s.  

Listen to Nerve wherever you stream your music: https://leaf-music.lnk.to/if10

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across Canada. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt,  peggy@leaf-music.ca (902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell).

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Leaf Music Distribution Presents Emily Carr String Quartet and Portraits

(Halifax/Kjipuktuk, NS) Leaf Music announces the distribution of a new digital recording Portraits from the Emily Carr String Quartet. This new recording is being released on January 26.

Portraits (CD02), by the Emily Carr String Quartet (ECSQ), features works by Tobin Stokes, Jocelyn Morlock, Jared Miller, and Iman Habibi. The album was produced by Karen Wilson and co-produced and engineered by Paul Luchkow. The compositions are inspired by the writing and paintings of Emily Carr, who was herself inspired by the landscape and Indigenous people of the West Coast of Canada. Marion Newman, mezzo-soprano of Kwagiulth and Stó:lō First Nations, joins the Quartet in singing Canoe from Stokes’ Stories from Klee Wyck.  Another movement of this work, Friends, references a version of the 1951 publication of Klee Wyck in which sections of the original story (where Carr described a Parson’s attempt to persuade her to help remove children from their home and send them to residential school) were edited out.

Formed in 2006 by members of the Victoria Symphony, the Emily Carr String Quartet (emilycarrstringquartet.com) has established itself as one of British Columbia’s finest chamber music ensembles, renowned for its passionate and inspiring performances. They’ve participated in residencies at Stanford University and the Banff Centre and collaborated and recorded with artists such as the Lafayette String Quartet, Lorraine Min, Marion Newman, Jamie Parker, and Arthur Rowe. The quartet has been presented by concert events such as the International Society for Contemporary Music’s 2017 World Music Days, Music in the Morning and Music on Main concert series in Vancouver, the Ankara Music Festival in Turkey, Hornby Festival, and the Victoria Summer Music Festival. The ECSQ was featured on CBC radio’s “North by Northwest” and their debut CD Hidden Treasure was nominated for the 2012 Classical Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Quartet members are Müge Büyükçelen (Violin 1), Cory Balzer (Violin 2), Mieka Michaux (Viola) and Alasdair Money (Cello).

Listen to Portraits wherever you stream your music: https://leaf-music.lnk.to/cd02.

Leaf Music is an independent recording label based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, making and distributing high-quality classical music recordings by artists and composers from across Canada. Our growing catalogue of solo, orchestral, and chamber music is distributed by Naxos of America to the world’s most important music retailers, download providers, and streaming services. Leaf is also a provider of professional audio and video production, post-production services and integrated music marketing and distribution in Canada.

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MEDIA CONTACT:  

For more information/photos or to arrange interviews, please contact Peggy Walt, peggy@leaf-music.ca (902) 422-5403 (office) or (902) 476-1096 (cell). 

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Leaf Music and Music Nova Scotia Proudly Presents “Orchestrated Neighbours”


Orchestrated Neighbours brings together 16 African Nova Scotian and Indigenous youth artists, aged 16-28 from across Nova Scotia, to compose original music with each other in a team setting. Four songwriting teams collaborated with professional arrangers, performance artists and session musicians to perform and record their songs.

This is the second project from Orchestrated Neighbours, being released through Music Nova Scotia and Leaf Music. This project is a “mash-up” of various Urban contemporary (hip-hop, R&B, soul, etc) and Classical genres, that combines artistic and community goals through outreach, creation, and collaboration.

Download or Stream Orchestrated Neighbours HERE

The Orchestrated Neighbours project endeavours to braid artistic and community goals through outreach, collaboration and partnerships to improve Music Nova Scotia’s representation and service in African Nova Scotian and Indigenous music communities.

Orchestrated Neighbours is presented by ANSMA, the L’nuta’ql: Find Your Talk Music Showcase, The Province of Nova Scotia, Leaf Music, Music Nova Scotia, and the National Arts Centre.

1. Together We Can – Zamani Millar (vocal), Jhamelila Smith (vocal), Todd Googoo (vocal); Bela String Quartet (ensemble) arr: Andrew Jackson
2. Can’t Get Up – Edwin Hull (vocal); Mitchell Paquette (vocal); Chudi Harris (vocal); Bela String Quartet (ensemble) arr: Karlene Francis
3. Two Ways – Shay Pitts (vocal); Wolfcastle (vocal); Paollo13 (vocal); Bela String Quartet (ensemble) arr: Karlene Francis
4. Ghost – Jody Upshaw (vocal); Jericoe States (vocal); Jade Bennett (vocal, guitar); Bela String Quartet (ensemble) arr: Andrew Jackson


This project is funded in part by FACTOR, the government of Canada and Canada’s private radio broadcasters.
Ce projet est financé en partie par FACTOR, le gouvernement du Canada et les radiodiffuseurs privés du Canada.