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Reggae Roots

NACO Pops Series

Feb 23, 2023

Southam Hall 1 Elgin Street Ottawa Canada

Family programming Music Classical music Pops Vocal Singer/Songwriter Roots music

In-person event
Ages 12-17
Approx. 1 hour

Performance options	Start time	Language	Availability
Thursday, February 23, 2023	11:00 am	bilingual	Seats available

Learn about the people, sounds, and stories of Reggae

Experience the evolution of Jamaica’s most famous export in Reggae Roots, and discover the people, sounds, and stories of the musical movement that grew to influence music around the globe.

Hailed as reggae-roots royalty, Jamaica-born, Halifax-based vocalist Jah’Mila finds her groove with conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra in a program that reflects on the social, cultural, and spiritual importance of the magical musical genre that has shaped Jamaica and touched the world.

Presented in association with the NAC Orchestra's POPS series.

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FREE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS

In advance of attending the Reggae Roots student matinee concert, be sure to access the free six-part video on-demand learning series that includes free study guides and a classroom teaching aid!

Reggae Roots Orchestra | National Arts Centre (nac-cna.ca)

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Let your students experience one of the most outstanding ensembles of its kind in the world!

The NAC Orchestra boasts many of the finest musicians in the country who enthusiastically share the common goal of bringing music to young people. Perfectly suited to both the novice student and musical apprentice, this weekday matinee is bound to delight students and teachers alike!

This event has passed

This event ended on: Feb 25, 2023

Adults & chaperones

1 Free adult per 15 students

Free admittance for special needs assistants

$ 9 (HST included) for additional chaperons At the discretion of the National Arts Centre

Payment deadlines

3 weeks before the performance

Full payment is required by the payment deadline. The NAC reserves the right to cancel any orders submitted but not paid for by the payment deadline.

Seating

There are no reserved seats for NAC student matinee performances.

Instead of tickets you will receive a letter of admission and groups will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis at the performance.

The letter of admission will be issued upon receipt of full payment.

If you have any questions, please contact us at education@nac-cna.ca

Artists

conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser
conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser

A passionate communicator, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser brings clarity and meaning to the concert hall, fostering deep connections between audiences and performers. He is concurrently the Principal Youth Conductor and Creative Partner of the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Principal Education Conductor and Community Ambassador of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador of Symphony Nova Scotia, and Resident Conductor of Engagement and Education of the San Francisco Symphony.

Daniel served as Assistant Conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Associate Conductor of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra. He has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and was Cover Conductor with the Washington National Opera in 2020.

Daniel is the host of Canadian Broadcasting Company’s (CBC’s) nationally broadcast weekly radio show Centrestage.

He was also the subject of an award-winning, full-length CBC documentary called Disruptor Conductor, focussing on his concerts for neurodiverse, prison, African diaspora, and LGBTQ2S+ populations.

Daniel earned his Bachelor degrees in Music Performance and Education from the University of Calgary, and his Master of Philosophy in Performance from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England.

Communicateur passionné, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser apporte clarté et sens à la salle de concert, tissant des liens profonds entre le public et les interprètes. Il œuvre actuellement comme premier chef des concerts jeunesse et partenaire de création de l'Orchestre du Centre national des Arts, premier chef des concerts éducatifs et ambassadeur communautaire de l’Orchestre symphonique de Toronto, artiste en résidence et ambassadeur communautaire de l’ensemble Symphony Nova Scotia, et chef résident des concerts éducatifs et de rayonnement de l’Orchestre symphonique de San Francisco.

Il a œuvré comme chef d’orchestre adjoint de l’Orchestre symphonique de Kitchener-Waterloo et chef d’orchestre associé de l’Orchestre symphonique de Thunder Bay. Il s’est produit avec l’Orchestre symphonique de Vancouver, l’Orchestre symphonique d’Edmonton, l’Orchestre philharmonique de Calgary, et a été chef d’orchestre substitut avec le Washington National Opera en 2020.

Il anime l’émission de radio hebdomadaire Centrestage de la Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), diffusée à l’échelle nationale.

Il a également fait l’objet d’un documentaire primé de la CBC intitulé Disruptor Conductor, portant sur ses concerts destinés aux populations neuroatypiques, aux détenus, à la diaspora africaine et aux membres des communautés 2SLGBTQ+.

Détenteur de baccalauréats en Musique (interprétation) et en Éducation de l’Université de Calgary, il a obtenu sa maîtrise en Philosophie (interprétation musicale) du Royal Northern College of Music de Manchester, en Angleterre.
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Singer-songwriter  Jah’Mila
Singer-songwriter  Jah’Mila

Wrapped in the roots of the Reggae family tree, Jah’Mila makes music that is creatively crafted and deeply inspiring. She has toured with towering Reggae bands like The Wailers, Groundation, Black Uhuru among many others. Equipped with over a decade of Reggae industry experience, and also with the amazing support of her musical team, she is poised and prepared to stand in the center of every stage.

She has been carrying the torch for roots Reggae music in the Maritimes, and she channels her art into a service of advocacy for the systemically oppressed and marginalized. Her single ‘Chant Their Names’ is a cry for change in a system that has failed the black community repeatedly. The lyrics beg for police accountability and implores us to keep the memory of these victims alive by chanting their names out loud. She is passionate about matters of equity and believes that a positive future is possible through community, diversity and inclusion.

Bien enracinée dans la famille du reggae, Jah’Mila crée une musique habilement conçue et profondément inspirante. Elle a tourné avec d’imposantes formations de reggae, telles The Wailers, Groundation et Black Uhuru. Ayant à son actif une décennie d’expérience dans l’industrie du reggae, elle a tout ce qu’il faut pour briller sur scène avec le soutien de son équipe musicale.

Elle promeut le reggae dans les Maritimes, et met son art au service des personnes victimes de marginalisation et d’oppression systémique. Sa chanson « Chant Their Names » est un appel au changement dans le cadre d’un système ayant laissé tomber la communauté noire à de nombreuses reprises; elle réclame l’imputabilité policière et nous invite à entretenir la mémoire des victimes en chantant leur nom tout haut. Jah’Mila se passionne pour l’équité et croit qu’un avenir meilleur est possible par l’entremise de la communauté, la diversité et l’inclusion.
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Host Keithy Antoine
Host Keithy Antoine

Keithy Antoine works across art, radio, television, and web as a socially-committed entrepreneur, visual artist, and animator. Since 2015, she has been the founder and co-owner of Espace Urbain Montreal, the largest Afro-Urban-Canadian boutique with a vital societal mission. And also the Director of the organization Union Urbaine, that coordonate the Festival Afro Urbain. She is an active member of Wecan Collective, to promote afro-canadian artists. In 2022, she co-host the new web series Pa T’Mentir, on ICI Tou.tv by Radio-Canada.

Keithy Antoine travaille à travers l’art, la radio, la télévision et le web en tant qu’entrepreneure, artiste visuelle et animatrice engagée socialement. Depuis 2015, elle est la fondatrice et co-propriétaire d’Espace Urbain Montréal, la plus grande boutique afro-urbaine-canadienne avec une mission sociétale essentielle. Et aussi Dg de l’Obnl Union Urbaine qui coordonne la tenue du Festival Afro Urbain. Elle est membre active du Collectif Wecan, d’artistes afro descendants. En 2022, elle co-anime la nouvelle série web Pa T’Mentir, sur ICI Tou.tv de Radio-Canada.
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Featuring NAC Orchestra
Featuring NAC Orchestra

Since its debut in 1969, the National Arts Centre (NAC) Orchestra has been praised for the passion and clarity of its performances, its visionary educational programs, and its prominent role in nurturing Canadian creativity. Under the leadership of Music Director Alexander Shelley, the NAC Orchestra reflects the fabric and values of Canada, reaching and representing the diverse communities we live in with daring programming, powerful storytelling, inspiring artistry, and innovative partnerships.

Alexander Shelley began his tenure as Music Director in 2015, following Pinchas Zukerman’s 16 seasons at the helm. Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and former Chief Conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra (2009–2017), he has been in demand around the world, conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic, DSO Berlin, Leipzig Gewandhaus, and Stockholm Philharmonic, among others, and maintains a regular relationship with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie and the German National Youth Orchestra.

Each season, the NAC Orchestra features world-class artists such as the newly appointed Artist-in-Residence James Ehnes, Angela Hewitt, Joshua Bell, Xian Zhang, Gabriela Montero, Stewart Goodyear, Jan Lisiecki, and Principal Guest Conductor John Storgårds. As one of the most accessible, inclusive, and collaborative orchestras in the world, the NAC Orchestra uses music as a universal language to communicate the deepest of human emotions and connect people through shared experiences.

Depuis sa création en 1969, l’Orchestre du Centre national des Arts (CNA) reçoit des éloges pour la passion et la clarté de ses interprétations, pour ses programmes éducatifs novateurs et pour son apport à l’expression de la créativité canadienne. Sous la direction du Directeur musical Alexander Shelley, l’Orchestre du Centre national des Arts est le reflet de la diversité des paysages, des valeurs et des communautés du Canada, et est reconnu pour sa programmation audacieuse, ses contenus nrratifs marquants, son excellence artistique et ses partenariats innovants.

Alexander Shelley a amorcé son mandat à la direction musicale de l’Orchestre du CNA en 2015, succédant à Pinchas Zukerman, qui a été aux commandes de l’ensemble pendant 16 saisons. Premier chef associé du Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Shelley a été le premier chef de l’Orchestre symphonique de Nuremberg de 2009 à 2017. Demandé partout dans le monde, il a dirigé entre autres la Philharmonie de Rotterdam, DSO Berlin, le Leipzig Gewandhaus et la Philharmonie de Stockholm, et il maintient des liens avec la Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie et l’Orchestre national des jeunes d’Allemagne.

Chaque saison, l’Orchestre du met en vedette des artistes de réputation internationale, tels que notre artiste en résidence James Ehnes, Angela Hewitt, Joshua Bell, Xian Zhang, Gabriela Montero, Stewart Goodyear, Jan Lisiecki et le premier chef invité John Storgårds. L’ensemble se distingue à l’échelle du monde pour son approche accessible, inclusive et collaborative. Par le langage universel de la musique et des expériences musicales communes, il communique des émotions profondes et nous rapproche les uns des autres.
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Vocals   Kristine Kovacevic
Vocals   Kristine Kovacevic

Kristine has been working with Jah’Mila for over four years, and has been singing her heart out for the past 30. Growing up in a family of lead singers, Kristine had always enjoyed finding the elusive harmonies, unintentionally preparing her for an exciting career as a backing vocalist. Being quite new to the world of professional singing and performing, Kristine has managed to be featured on several albums, has performed with two orchestras and even toured in Jamaica.

Kristine Kovacevic collabore avec Jah’Mila depuis plus de quatre ans, et chante de tout son cœur depuis une trentaine d’années. Ayant grandi dans une famille de chanteuses et chanteurs, elle a toujours aimé les harmonies insaisissables, ce qui l’a bien préparée pour une carrière en accompagnement vocal. Bien qu’elle commence à peine une carrière dans le monde de la chanson, elle a déjà contribué à plusieurs albums, s’est produite avec deux orchestres et a tourné en Jamaïque.
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Drums  Tedmund ‘Teddy’ Skiffington
Drums  Tedmund ‘Teddy’ Skiffington

Teddy Skiffington has been performing and recording drums for over 15 years. His musical influences include Questlove, Carleton Barrett, and Brian Fraser-Moore among others. His interest in Reggae music and Jamaican culture led to two tours of Jamaica in 2017 and 2020 with Jah’Mila. Teddy now resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Teddy Skiffington se produit à la batterie, sur scène et sur disque, depuis une quinzaine d’années. Questlove, Carleton Barrett et Brian Fraser-Moore influencent son style musical. Sa passion pour la musique reggae et la culture jamaïcaine l’ont poussé à participer à deux tournées de Jah’Mila en Jamaïque (2017 et 2020). Il réside actuellement à Toronto.
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Bass Phil Williams

Bass Phil Williams

Phil Williams is a talented musician with a passion for music that began when he was a toddler, later teaching himself to play the bass from the young age of 11. He is known for his ability to play by ear and catch music quickly, and has had the opportunity to perform at various festivals in Jamaica, including the Jamaican Cultural Development Corporation Festivals, winning several gold trophies and medals. His favorite genres include Gospel and Reggae. He is currently studying music and performance arts at Centennial College, with the goal of becoming a world-renowned producer and bass player, and dreams of having his own studio and record label in the future.

Artiste de talent, Phil Williams se passionne pour la musique depuis qu’il est haut comme trois pommes. Plus tard, à 11 ans à peine, il a appris seul à jouer de la basse. Phil est d’ailleurs connu pour sa capacité de jouer à l’oreille et de retenir les notes rapidement. Il a eu l’occasion de se produire souvent dans les festivals en Jamaïque, dont ceux de la Jamaica Cultural Development Corporation, et a remporté plusieurs trophées et médailles d’or. Ses genres de prédilection sont le gospel et le reggae. À l’heure actuelle, il étudie la musique et les arts de la scène au Centennial College. Il nourrit le rêve de devenir un producteur et un bassiste de renommée mondiale ainsi que de fonder un studio et une maison de disques à son nom.

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Keys Andru Branch

Keys Andru Branch

Award-winning singer-songwriter, percussionist and keyboard player Andru Branch has been called a reggae juggernaut for his contribution to the reggae music fraternity in Canada. Andru grew up amidst a vibrant Rastafarian community in Toronto, and went on to be mentored by some of the most celebrated Jamaican reggae musicians in the business. He recorded his Juno-nominated debut album with members of The Wailers and is currently producing his eighth album with his group Halfway Tree, based in Halifax. Andru has played percussion for almost 40 years, backing many reggae superstars including Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Freddie McGregor and Marcia Griffiths and is delighted to be collaborating with his friend and colleague Jah'Mila.

Percussionniste, claviériste et compositeur-interprète primé, Andru Branch est considéré comme un géant de la musique reggae pour ses contributions au rayonnement de la fraternité reggae au Canada. Ayant grandi à Toronto parmi la rumeur d’une communauté rastafari, il a eu pour mentors certains des plus grands musiciens de reggae jamaïcain dans l’industrie. Son premier album, enregistré avec un membre des Wailers, a été sélectionné pour un prix Juno. En ce moment, il travaille sur son huitième disque avec son groupe Halfway Tree, basé à Halifax. Andru, qui joue des percussions depuis presque 40 ans, a accompagné nombre de vedettes du reggae : Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffiths… Il est emballé par cette collaboration avec son amie et collègue Jah’Mila.

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Backup Vocals, EWI, Saxophone, Percussion Sean Weber

Backup Vocals, EWI, Saxophone, Percussion Sean Weber

Born and raised in Halifax, Sean began playing music at a young age and started learning saxophone in school band. He joined a jazz combo and a ska band in high school which would be his first gigging experience. After some time at Dalhousie and McGill’s music programs he left school to play in bands around Halifax; including the reggae outfit Verbal Warnin, The Synchronics, Jah’Mila and The Mellotones.

Né et élevé à Halifax, Sean Weber a commencé à jouer de la musique à un jeune âge et a appris le saxophone avec l’orchestre de son école. Au secondaire, il a commencé à monter sur la scène lorsqu’il a intégré un groupe ska-jazz. Après avoir étudié quelque temps en musique aux universités Dalhousie et McGill, Sean a quitté les bancs d’école pour se produire avec d’autres musiciens de Halifax, notamment l’ensemble reggae Verbal Warnin, The Synchronics, Jah’Mila et The Mellotones.

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Guitar Pascal Richard

Guitar Pascal Richard

Born in Joliette Lanaudière, Pascal has been a known figure on the Quebec music scene as a guitar playing sideman and teacher in just about any genre there is. From pop, country, jazz and classical he’s done it all having played with the likes of Renée Martel, Antoine Gratton, Bourbon Gautier, and Marc Hervieux amongst others. Pascal is also one of Canada’s premier resophonic guitar player with is own original band called Spooky Ride. As a music educator, he’s been teaching guitar at Cegep Marie-Victorin in Montreal for close to 20 years.

Né à Joliette dans la région de Lanaudière, Pascal est une figure connue de la scène musicale québécoise en tant que guitariste accompagnateur et enseignant actif dans une multitude de styles allant du pop, country, jazz ou classique. Il a entre autres partagé la scène avec Renée Martel, Antoine Gratton, Bourbon Gautier et Marc Hervieux. Pascal est également un des guitaristes résophoniques les plus en vue au Canada avec sa formation originale nommée Spooky Ride. En tant qu’enseignant en musique, il oeuvre au Cégep Marie-Victorin à Montréal depuis près de 20 ans.

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