About Jonathon Adams, the first EMV Artist-in-Residence
In 2021, EMV introduced the Artist-in-Residence programme with inaugural artist Cree-Métis two-spirit baritone Jonathon Adams (they/them).
Adams is representative of the new generation of classical performers. Gifted with an effortlessly rich, enveloping, and lyrical baritone voice, Adams fuses their vocal talents with their lived experiences as a non-binary Indigenous person. Their values and identity inform their work and the music they produce, exemplified by their solo performance in the internationally celebrated “MESSIAH / COMPLEX” produced by Against the Grain Theatre and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in late 2020. Adams advocates for inclusivity within early music and consistently proves that there is room to be both dedicated to historically informed performance practice while remaining authentic to who one is and what they believe.
Adams was born in Edmonton, Alberta and is currently based in Montreal. In concert, they have appeared as a soloist with Philippe Herreweghe, Sigiswald Kuijken, and Vox Luminis, among others. They were a fellow of the Netherland Bach Society in 2020 and perform regularly with Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir. Adams is a Britten-Pears Young Artist, a prestigious programme for a select group of young individuals who show outstanding promise. Recent career highlights include a solo début at the Bruges Concertgebouw and at Snape Maltings Concert Hall, and concerts with Amsterdam Baroque in China, Japan, and at the Château de Versailles.
Statement from Jonathon
“I am deeply honoured and incredibly excited to be EMV’s first official artist-in-residence,” said Adams. “The music of
Bach has long been close to my heart and I am thrilled to be performing his music, amongst other repertoire, with many
of my close friends from across Canada during the Bach Festival. As a Cree-Métis artist, I hope my time in residence will
help build bridges between EMV and Vancouver’s Indigenous communities while widening horizons of possibility for the
performance of historical musics.”
Watch Jonathon’s Essay
Watch Jonathon’s Interview with Artistic/Executive Director Suzie LeBlanc
Watch the first Artist-in-Residence Panel: Continuum: A conversation on historical musics & Indigenous resurgence
Produced by Early Music Vancouver’s 2021 summer artist-in-residence, Jonathon Adams. Panellists include mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, writer, artist and scholar Dylan Robinson, and multi-disciplinary theatre artist Reneltta Arluk.
This event was held on Monday, June 14 2021.