Archive for the ‘Company/Staff’ Category

Tapestry receives $250,000 anonymous gift!

Friday, January 15th, 2010

Tapestry has just received its largest individual gift to date, $250,000 from an anonymous donor to fund the Leadership Legacy Programme. Over the next three years, 6 mid-career arts professionals will be given the opportunity for a 3-month residency at Tapestry as Associate Managing Artistic Director, a position which is intended to grow the company’s artistic capacity and to provide leadership succession for the future.

“My interest in human resource management is an extension of the deep and trusting relationships I have built with musicians and singers from an early age. By extension, that is how I try to manage my business relationships, beginning with the staff and board and by extension to my colleagues in other companies around the world. Further, the invention of a vocabulary to make the development of new operas practical and successful has been built over 20 years of relationships with playwrights and composers, directors, designers, and of course the performers.  It is truly a collegial world I inhabit.  We hope that through this programme we will identify a future leader who will welcome the rare opportunity to join a well-established organization where they will be enabled to realize both their artistic vision and the business practice that will make it possible.” Wayne Strongman

Read the full media release here.

Photo © Brian Mosoff, 2009

Wayne Strongman appointed to the Order of Canada

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

On December 30, 2009 Her Excellency The Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, appointed Wayne Strongman, Tapestry Managing Artistic Director, as a Member of the Order of Canada for his innovative contributions as the founding artistic director of Tapestry new opera works; as the long-time volunteer choral director for the Regent Park School of Music; and as a champion of Canadian composers.

“It is such an honour to be recognized by one’s country, especially in the arts. Those of us who are called to such creative activity don’t really do it for the praise! But for me it is especially warming to have the work of so many Canadian artists recognized: writers, composers, performers, designers, directors, stage directors and managers, administrators and an army of volunteers. They must all feel validated by this recognition that new Canadian operas are profoundly affecting our society, and this award is truly an affirmation of all our work.” Wayne Strongman

The new appointees include 25 Officers (O.C.), and 32 Members (C.M.). These appointments were made on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. Mr. Strongman and his fellow appointees will be invited to accept their insignia at a ceremony to be held at a later date.

Read the full press release from the Governor General’s office here.

Read Wayne’s full bio here.

Wayne Strongman to be recognized at CMC 50th Anniversary Event

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

2009_10_28_waynestrongman_cmc_50th_event

There are a lot of anniversaries this year, including Tapestry’s 30th. Our friends a the Canadian Music Centre are proudly celebrating 50 years! To honour the milestone anniversary the CMC has partnered with the National Arts Centre and its orchestra for a special concert and birthday reception, November 9th at the NAC in Ottawa.

The birthday event will recognize 50 performers and conductors “who have played exceptional roles in shaping the Canadian music scene and raising the profile of Canadian music. The CMC is pleased to honour these individuals at this event”.

Tapestry Managing Artistic Director Wayne Strongman is one of them!

Click here to read more about the event.

Click here for a full list of the 50 honourees.

Click here for ticket info. on the November 9th event.

Happy Birthday to the CMC!

Librettist Taylor Graham on her Tapestry experience, Dora Nomination and the theatre community

Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

Scott Belluz & Krisztina Szabo in "The Virgin Charlie", Photo (c) Michael Cooper

Taylor Graham, librettist for The Virgin Charlie (part of Opera to Go 2009), has blogged about her experience working with Tapestry and the effect of her Dora Award Nomination on her life and career.

Click here to read her candid thoughts on the Tapestry creative process, the awards ceremony, and her career in the theatre/opera community.

Artists Featured: Scott Belluz & Krisztina Szabo in “The Virgin Charlie” (Opera to Go 2009)
Photo © Michael Cooper, 2009

Sanctuary Song wins Best New Opera/Musical at Dora Awards!

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song. Photo (c) John Lauener, 2008

Congratulations to librettist Marjorie Chan & composer Abigail Richardson and everyone at Tapestry, Theatre Direct and Luminato who worked on Sanctuary Song, winner of Best New Opera/Musical at the 2009 Dora Mavor Moore Awards!

Artists Featured: Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song
Photo © John Lauener, 2008

6 Dora Nominations for Tapestry!

Thursday, June 4th, 2009
Artists Featured: Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song Photo © John Lauener, 2008 -->

Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song. Photo (c) John Lauener, 2008

Great news yesterday: Tapestry productions have received 6 Dora Award Nominations. Winners will be named at an awards ceremony June 29, 2009 at the Wintergarden Theatre in Toronto. Congratulations to all the nominees!

In the Best New Opera/Musical Category:

Sanctuary Song
Abigail Richardson, composer / Marjorie Chan, librettist

Opera to Go: The Perfect Screw
Alexis Diamond, librettist / Abigail Richardson, composer

Opera to Go: The Virgin Charlie
Taylor Graham, librettist / William Rowson, composer

Opera to Go: My Mother’s Ring
Marcia Johnson, librettist / Stephen Andrew Taylor, composer

In the Best Direction for an Opera/Musical Category:

Wayne Strongman (for Opera to Go)

In the Best Opera Production Category:

Sanctuary Song
Presented by Tapestry & Theatre Direct in partnership with Luminato

Each opera nominated is eligible for the Dora’s Audience Choice Award. You can vote for your favourite at www.nowtoronto.com

Artists Featured: Xin Wang & Alvin Crawford in Sanctuary Song
Photo © John Lauener, 2008

Tom Diamond takes the Toronto Star to St. Lawrence Market

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

Tapestry Resident Director Tom Diamond

Tom Diamond, Resident Director at Tapestry and director of the  The Shadow took the Toronto Star’s Rita Zekas to St. Lawrence Market in Toronto during his weekly shopping ritual to chat about his career and Tapestry’s upcoming world premiere.

From the Toronto Star:

It’s 4 p.m. on Saturday, one hour before closing time at St. Lawrence Market, and Tom Diamond, director of The Shadow, is a man on a mission.

He’s here for the deep discounts.

Click here to read the full article.

The Shadow premieres May 21-30, 2009 at the Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

Tickets
$20-$49

Box Office
416.368.3110
canstage.com
totix.ca

Photo: Tom Diamond (c) Meghan Hall, 2009

Production Shots from Opera to Go 2009

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Thanks to everyone who made it out to Opera to Go this year! Check out some production shots below.

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Tickets are on sale now for our next world premiere The Shadow by Alex Poch-Goldin & Omar Daniel – May 21-30 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

ARTISTS PICTURED: Scott Belluz, Sally Dibblee, Keith Klassen, Peter McGillivray, Krisztina Szabó

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Cooper, 2009

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Thanks to everyone who made it out to Opera to Go this year! Check out some production shots below.

Tickets are on sale now for our next world premiere The Shadow by Alex Poch-Goldin & Omar Daniel – May 21-30 at the Berkeley Street Theatre Downstairs.

Click here for more info.

ARTISTS PICTURED: Scott Belluz, Sally Dibblee, Keith Klassen, Peter McGillivray, Krisztina Szabó

PHOTO CREDIT: Michael Cooper, 2009

Watch Online – Tom Diamond’s Giulio Cesare at IU Opera Theatre

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

IU Opera Theater production of Giulio Cesare, 2009

We posted yesterday about Tapestry Resident Director Tom Diamond’s production of Giulio Cesare at renowned music school at Indiana University. Click here to stream the entire production in HD.

If you only have time for some ‘best of’ clips, may we suggest:

Feb 27 cast:

(at 47:00) – the memorable aria Va Tacito sung by the countertenor Daniel Bubeck followed by the young Pilipino Bass Adonis Abuyen making a strong impact with Tu Sei Il Cor. 15 minutes.

March 6 cast:

(at 67:30 min) - with the enchanting Jacqueline Brecheen (nothing short of a ‘babe’) as Cleopatra and countertenor Andre Rader as Caesar. Play it thru the duet with French violinist, Romuald Grimbert-Barre. A 10 minute clip!

Photo: cast of IU Opera Theater production of Giulio Cesare, 2009. -->

IU Opera Theater production of Giulio Cesare, 2009

We posted yesterday about Tapestry Resident Director Tom Diamond’s production of Giulio Cesare at renowned music school at Indiana University. Click here to stream the entire production in HD.

If you only have time for some ‘best of’ clips, may we suggest:

Feb 27 cast:

(at 47:00) – the memorable aria Va Tacito sung by the countertenor Daniel Bubeck followed by the young Pilipino Bass Adonis Abuyen making a strong impact with Tu Sei Il Cor. 15 minutes.

March 6 cast:

(at 67:30 min) - with the enchanting Jacqueline Brecheen (nothing short of a ‘babe’) as Cleopatra and countertenor Andre Rader as Caesar. Play it thru the duet with French violinist, Romuald Grimbert-Barre. A 10 minute clip!

Photo: cast of IU Opera Theater production of Giulio Cesare, 2009.

Great Review for Tom Diamond’s Giulio Cesare at IU Opera Theatre

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

tom_diamond_hs_cesare_review

Tapestry Resident Director Tom Diamond received a fantastic review from WIFU Public Radio for his February 2009 production of Handel’s Giulio Cesare at Indiana University Opera Theatre.

“Guest stage director Tom Diamond has done a fine job in both offering the singers plenty of space in which to sing and then enough business during the interludes to keep the drama in focus. There’s also plenty of action in this Giulio Cesare, some very clever staging of the conflict between Caesar and scheming Tolomeo and some just gorgeous scenes. The sets come from an earlier production, but Diamond’s use of them and the lighting by Michael Schwandt make them all very much a new experience.”

Click here to read or listen to the review as well as an interview of Tom and Conductor Gary Thor Wedow by Opera/Theater critic George Walker.