In a musical era far far away and a long time ago music lifted people out of their everyday lives. A thousand years later it’s still doing that. Early music is as relevant today as it was a thousand years ago. It is continually being refreshed and rejuvenated by successive generations of young artists who bring their unique perspectives and experiences to their interpretations. For anything to survive and thrive, it needs refreshing. That includes classical music. With this in mind, Early Music Vancouver created the Emerging Artist Programme to shine a spotlight on the up and coming young performers and expose audiences to their talent.
We are pleased to welcome, Soprano Ellen Torrie and Violinist Marie Nadeau-Tremblay as our first ever Emerging Artists. Their talent will be showcased as part of this summer’s Bach Festival at The Next Generation: Baroque Innovations at Pyatt Hall (August 3) and the Roedde House Museum (July 31). This concert will feature many works by Francesca Caccini, Barbara Strozzi Henry Purcell and J.H. Schmelzer. They will be accompanied by seasoned lutenist Sylvain Bergeron. Ellen and Marie have put together this programme because of their love of baroque and they are excited to present it in their Early Music Vancouver debut.
Ellen and Marie’s Statements About The Programme
“It’s such an immense honour for me to be able to come to Vancouver to play music for the very first time. I am absolutely thrilled and I can’t wait to make new friends and get inspiration from all the amazing early music artists I will get to hear and play with. Vancouver has been such an important centre for the Canadian Early music community and enthusiasts, and I am looking forward to be there and add a little piece of my own artistry to the big musical festivities!” – Marie Nadeau-Tremblay
“It is a privilege to be included in EMV’s inaugural Emerging Artist Series. I am grateful for EMV’S work in nurturing the next generation of artists by giving us opportunities to perform and to connect with our community. I am very excited to make music with my colleagues and friends in Vancouver this summer and to continue to develop my practice of radically inclusive storytelling through early music, with EMV’s support.” – Ellen Torrie
Meet our First Emerging Artists
Ellen Torrie
Ellen Torrie is an Ontario-born soprano and project maker living in Montreal, who recently completed a master’s degree in early music performance at McGill University under the tutelage of Dominique Labelle. Most recently, Ellen sang the title role in Charpentier’s oratorio, Judith, with ensemble Capella Antica and is lead soprano at Christ Church Cathedral, Montreal.
While studying music therapy at Acadia University, Ellen frequently appeared as a soloist with local ensembles, including Symphony Nova Scotia, and was lead soprano of the Manning Chapel Choir from 2014 to 2018. In 2017, Ellen was awarded the Canadian Federation of University Women scholarship which funded their participation in Accademia Europea Dell’Opera in Lucca, Italy, where they played Oberto in Handel’s Alcina. This experience motivated Ellen to pursue a career in performance, and upon graduation, Ellen moved to Montreal to study with soprano Suzie LeBlanc, C.M.
Ellen frequently returns to the Maritimes for solo recitals, collaborations, and residencies. Ellen also recently completed an artist residency at Banff Arts and Creativity Centre with Canadian tenor Kerry Bursey, as the newly formed early music/folk duo Kalliope. Ellen is currently exploring the practice of self-accompanying early music on baroque guitar. As a queer, non-binary musician, Ellen is inspired by the possibility that their queer ancestors had their own musical traditions and that through research, creative speculation, and performance, we can tell a more inclusive and rich story about music and humanity.
Click here to listen to them sing.
Ellen’s Art
Did you know that Ellen Torrie is also a visual artist? The piece below is from their musical mode collection.
“I create detailed pen and paper illustrations which take inspiration from ornamental details in medieval manuscripts, the traditional Hungarian folk art of my ancestors, and the local and seasonal flora of my home city, Montreal. My creative process is a personal meditation as I construct scenes with repetitive and precise line work.” – Ellen Torrie
Click here to see more of their art.
Marie Nadeau-Tremblay
During the final session of her undergraduate degree in violin performance at McGill University, Marie Nadeau- Tremblay decided to try her hand at the Baroque. She joined the university’s Baroque orchestra and fell head over heels in love! Transported by the beauty of this music— and finding resonance with its mode of expression— she decided to plunge headfirst into the Baroque world. After obtaining a Licentiate Degree, she pursued further studies under the tutelage of Hank Knox, Lena Weman, and Olivier Brault, receiving a Master’s Degree in Early Music Performance. After being awarded numerous prizes and scholarships at McGill — including the prestigious Mary McLaughlin prize, which she won four years in a row — Marie Nadeau-Tremblay received an Early Music America grant in 2017. More recently, in 2019, she swept the honour roll of the Concours de musique ancienne Mathieu Duguay with an unprecedented four awards: First Prize, the People’s Choice Award, the Festival Montréal Baroque Prize, and the Été musical de Barachois Prize.
Click here to listen to her play.
Watch Marie perform with our very own Suzie LeBlanc, C.M.
Marie’s Art
Did you know that Marie is also a visual artist? The piece below is from her portrait collection.
Click here to learn about and see more of her art.
Watch Marie Nadeau-Tremblay and Ellen Torrie’s interview with EMV’s Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator, Julia Halbert!
Click here to learn more about their concert and to purchase tickets.