Measha Brueggergosman
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Measha Brueggergosman
Motivated and hungry for new experiences, Measha Brueggergosman’s career effortlessly embraces the broadest array of performance platforms and musical styles and genres.
Measha began her career predominantly committed to the art of the song recital and has presented innovative programs at Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, both the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Madrid’s Teatro Real, as well as at the Schwarzenberg, Edinburgh, Verbier and Bergen Festivals with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Simon Lepper.
On the opera stage, her recent highlights include the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Elettra in Idomeneo, Jenny in Weill’s Mahagonny, Emilia Marty in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos, Hannah in Miroslav Srnka’s Make No Noise, and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the concert platform last season she returned to Carnegie Hall with the New World Symphony, performed Elettra in Idomeneo at Opera Atelier, Toronto, and gave a recital at the Barbican Center, London. She has also recently worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony Orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and Daniel Harding.
Her first recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Surprise, includes works by Schoenberg, Satie and Bolcom and is one of the most highly regarded debut albums of recent years. Her subsequent disc Night and Dreams, which features songs by Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert, Debussy, Duparc and Fauré won several awards and her recording of the Wesendonck Lieder with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra earned her a Grammy nomination.
Off the stage, Measha is just as active: she recently released her memoir Something Is Always On Fire published by Harper Collins, she appears regularly on primetime TV (most recently advocating on behalf of contemporary Canadian literature); and leading Canadian children across the country in song, in celebration of the nationwide campaign for music education.
Measha Brueggergosman champions the education and involvement of new audiences and holds several honorary doctorates and ambassadorial titles with international charities.
International award-winning Soprano Measha Brueggergosman’s episode is a rediscovery of her Black Loyalist heritage in Nova Scotia, evoking the Maritime traumatic experience, and pairing together themes such as generational poverty and unquenchable hope. She collaborated with hip-hop artist Jay Vernon, violinist and composer/arranger Edwin Huizinga, and composer/arranger Aaron Davis to create poignant new works where opera meets hip-hop.
Motivated and hungry for new experiences, Measha Brueggergosman’s career effortlessly embraces the broadest array of performance platforms and musical styles and genres.
Measha began her career predominantly committed to the art of the song recital and has presented innovative programs at Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, both the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Madrid’s Teatro Real, as well as at the Schwarzenberg, Edinburgh, Verbier and Bergen Festivals with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Simon Lepper.
On the opera stage, her recent highlights include the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Elettra in Idomeneo, Jenny in Weill’s Mahagonny, Emilia Marty in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos, Hannah in Miroslav Srnka’s Make No Noise, and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the concert platform last season she returned to Carnegie Hall with the New World Symphony, performed Elettra in Idomeneo at Opera Atelier, Toronto, and gave a recital at the Barbican Center, London. She has also recently worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony Orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and Daniel Harding.
Her first recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Surprise, includes works by Schoenberg, Satie and Bolcom and is one of the most highly regarded debut albums of recent years. Her subsequent disc Night and Dreams, which features songs by Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert, Debussy, Duparc and Fauré won several awards and her recording of the Wesendonck Lieder with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra earned her a Grammy nomination.
Off the stage, Measha is just as active: she recently released her memoir Something Is Always On Fire published by Harper Collins, she appears regularly on primetime TV (most recently advocating on behalf of contemporary Canadian literature); and leading Canadian children across the country in song, in celebration of the nationwide campaign for music education.
Measha Brueggergosman champions the education and involvement of new audiences and holds several honorary doctorates and ambassadorial titles with international charities.
International award-winning Soprano Measha Brueggergosman’s episode is a rediscovery of her Black Loyalist heritage in Nova Scotia, evoking the Maritime traumatic experience, and pairing together themes such as generational poverty and unquenchable hope. She collaborated with hip-hop artist Jay Vernon, violinist and composer/arranger Edwin Huizinga, and composer/arranger Aaron Davis to create poignant new works where opera meets hip-hop.
Motivated and hungry for new experiences, Measha Brueggergosman’s career effortlessly embraces the broadest array of performance platforms and musical styles and genres.
Measha began her career predominantly committed to the art of the song recital and has presented innovative programs at Carnegie Hall, Washington’s Kennedy Center, London’s Wigmore Hall, both the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, Madrid’s Teatro Real, as well as at the Schwarzenberg, Edinburgh, Verbier and Bergen Festivals with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake, and Simon Lepper.
On the opera stage, her recent highlights include the roles of Giulietta and Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Elettra in Idomeneo, Jenny in Weill’s Mahagonny, Emilia Marty in Janáček’s Věc Makropulos, Hannah in Miroslav Srnka’s Make No Noise, and Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. On the concert platform last season she returned to Carnegie Hall with the New World Symphony, performed Elettra in Idomeneo at Opera Atelier, Toronto, and gave a recital at the Barbican Center, London. She has also recently worked with the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and New World Symphony Orchestras and conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Michael Tilson Thomas, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Andrew Davis, Gustavo Dudamel and Daniel Harding.
Her first recording for Deutsche Grammophon, Surprise, includes works by Schoenberg, Satie and Bolcom and is one of the most highly regarded debut albums of recent years. Her subsequent disc Night and Dreams, which features songs by Mozart, Brahms, Strauss, Schubert, Debussy, Duparc and Fauré won several awards and her recording of the Wesendonck Lieder with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra earned her a Grammy nomination.
Off the stage, Measha is just as active: she recently released her memoir Something Is Always On Fire published by Harper Collins, she appears regularly on primetime TV (most recently advocating on behalf of contemporary Canadian literature); and leading Canadian children across the country in song, in celebration of the nationwide campaign for music education.
Measha Brueggergosman champions the education and involvement of new audiences and holds several honorary doctorates and ambassadorial titles with international charities.
Hailing from Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, audio-visual artist Jay Vernon is the co-founder of ‘Music Over Matter Entertainment’, a company built with the intention of making ‘Music without borders’ and creating opportunities for local artists to display their gifts by shining an international light on the often-underrepresented talent that exists within the province of Nova Scotia.
Jay’s creativity has seen him, mix, master and co-executive produce the Capitol Record’s distributed Delicious Vinyl album, Traveling Salesman by Frank Nitt (2018 release), produce and write records for 2pac’s group The Outlawz, the legendary MC EIHT, Grammy-nominated 'AZ' (of The Firm), Masta Ace, and many more U.S. artists along with Nova Scotian hip hop outfit MadCraz, and the late local hip hop legend/pioneer, Short Shane.
As a performer, Jay has collaborated and shared the stage with some of Canada’s most celebrated artists such as Classified, Kardinal Offishall, Skratch Bastid, The Rascalz, and alongside U.S. heavy weights: Edo G, eMC, Slaughterhouse and Pharoahe Monche to name a few.
Jay Vernon sound designed the entire first season (even played 6 characters) and voice-coached, the popular children’s YouTube cartoon series, FGEETV: Derpy Bacon & Meagz and as a visual composer, produced video ads for brands such as ADIDAS' X 'EXOS'(L.A.), Sugarlash Pro (Canada), and Private White VC (U.K.), to name a few. Jay has also produced nearly 30 live concert productions for world-renowned opera singer Measha Brueggergosman.
Jay Vernon prides himself on his ability to cultivate visuals & sounds that represent the worlds around him, drawing inspiration from his personal experiences and various genres.
As of late, Jay is collaborating with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, co-writing A Symphony of his original songs to be presented as a documentary series episode entitled, Forgotten Coast debuting on CBC GEM, August 20, 2021.
Over the last decade, Edwin Huizinga has crossed many borders and boundaries as an artist around the world. Finding new and unique ways to connect with audiences performing in different genres, on different stages and platforms, and always striving to commit and connect with the community. Huizinga is a founding member of ACRONYM a world-renowned baroque ensemble, and Fire & Grace, which gives him the opportunity to share modern baroque premieres, new arrangements, and compositions with the musical community.
Huizinga has recently become the Artistic Director of the Sweetwater Music Festival and is also on the Artistic Leadership team of the Carmel Bach Festival. Huizinga loves to compose and works with a vast number of artists in the world of rock and roll, the world of ambient music, as well as working with Baroque Opera company, Opera Atelier on some contemporary compositions that contain a certain amount of reverence to that of the baroque as well.
Larnell Lewis is a GRAMMY Award-winning musician, composer, producer, and educator. A Toronto native, Larnell has quickly established himself as one of the most diverse and in-demand drummers currently on the music scene. Along with his long-standing position behind the drums in Snarky Puppy, Larnell has led many highly successful groups of his own and toured the globe with some of the most well known names in music, including Etienne Charles, Gregory Porter, Benny Golson, Lalah Hathaway, John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Lisa Fisher, Kurt Elling, Gary Burton, and more.
Larnell’s immense talent, fierce creativity, and continually evolving musical style is what has kept him at the top of the list as a musical collaborator for artists across the globe. In June 2018, Larnell released his highly anticipated debut album In The Moment, which featured ten original compositions in a variety of musical styles.
Larnell’s talents can be seen worldwide via his various social media platforms, which have a combined total of over 100,000 followers. His reach to fans and musicians of all generations is proof that he not only possesses undeniable talent, but a spirit unlike any other that excites, inspires, and encourages music fans of all ages to further explore their musical tastes and the follow him on the road he has paved for himself.
Larnell Lewis is endorsed by Yamaha Drums, Zildjian, Promark, Evans, D’Addario, and Latin Percussion.
“Sure, the Toronto-born drummer has ridiculous technical skill. His work with the Brooklyn instrumental jazz-funk collective Snarky Puppy won him a share of two Grammys and put his face on the cover of a lot of drummers’ magazines. But his versatility has landed him gigs in many other settings, including with the NAC Orchestra, and there’s a bright optimism to his playing that keeps him from being just a jaw-dropping technician. Although he’s definitely also that.” — Paul Wells
Toronto-born electric bassist Rich Brown has established himself as an incredibly versatile artist. Along with being one of the most called upon electric bass players in Canada, Rich is additionally a composer, producer, bandleader, educator and clinician, broadcaster, and voiceover artist. He has recorded three albums as a leader, and appears as a sideman on a plethora of recordings ranging from Jazz to Funk to traditional Arabic and Asian music. Brown has performed with a wide variety of artists including Rudresh Mahanthappa, Steve Coleman, Angelique Kidjo, Kurt Elling, and James Blood Ulmer among many others. He leads two groups—rinsethealgorithm and The Abeng—and was nominated for a JUNO Award in 2016 for his latest album Abeng.
Aaron Davis is an eclectic composer, arranger and pianist who has worked with many of Canada’s finest musical talents. He was a founder of world-beat band Manteca, for whom he wrote and played keyboards for 12 years. He is a founding member of the Holly Cole Trio and has been playing, recording and touring the world with Holly since 1986. Aaron has also collaborated with Measha Brueggergosman and has co-produced four CDs with her and music directed her film Songs of Freedom. Aaron has also composed film scores for over 120 movies and has done orchestral and chamber arrangements for many artists, including the Art of Time Ensemble, Alison Krauss, Natalie McMaster, Eliana Cuevas, Leahy, the Canadian Brass, Quartetto Gelato, Kevin Breit, Kuné, Canada’s Global Orchestra and the Iseler Singers.
Aaron has also released three CDs of his own compositions. He is the recipient of two JUNO Awards, two Gemini awards and numerous Genie and Gemini award nominations.
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.
Alexander Shelley succeeded Pinchas Zukerman as Music Director of Canada’s NAC Orchestra in September 2015. The ensemble has since been praised as being “transformed... hungry, bold, and unleashed” (Ottawa Citizen) and Shelley’s programming credited for turning the orchestra into “one of the more audacious in North America” (Maclean’s).
Shelley is a champion of Canadian creation; recent hallmarks include the multimedia projects Life Reflected and UNDISRUPTED,and three major new ballets in partnership with NAC Dance for Encount3rs. He is passionate about arts education and nurturing the next generation of musicians. He is an Ambassador for Ottawa’s OrKidstra, a charitable social development program that teaches children life skills through making music together.
Alexander Shelley is also the Principal Associate Conductor of London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and, starting with the 2024–2025 season, Artistic and Music Director of Artis-Naples and the Naples Philharmonic in Florida, USA. In the spring of 2019, he led the NAC Orchestra on its critically acclaimed 50th Anniversary European tour, and in 2017, he led the Orchestra in a tour across Canada, celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary. Most recently, he led the Orchestra in its first performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 30 years.
He has made seven recordings with the NAC Orchestra, including the JUNO-nominated New Worlds, Life Reflected, ENCOUNT3RS, The Bounds of Our Dreams, and the acclaimed Clara, Robert, Johannes four-album series, all with Canadian label Analekta.
The Music Director role is supported by Elinor Gill Ratcliffe, C.M., O.N.L., LL.D. (hc)
Special thank you to: Black Loyalist Heritage Centre and Africville Museum
Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund
The National Arts Centre Foundation wishes to acknowledge and thank the donors who have made Undisrupted possible: