A Halloween Special: Wood-Shredding Cellists

About

Twenty cellists and cello friends let loose for a wildly entertaining evening that leaps from Beethoven’s drama to The Beatles’ iconic melodies. This playful Halloween celebration brings together works by Grieg, Ravel, and Piazzolla, plus a brand new world premiere by Métis composer Karen Sunabacka, who will also narrate her new work. Get ready for classical music with energy and edge.

Pre-Concert Event

Cello Chat: A Conversation with A Festival Artist

6:45-7:15 PM - St. John's Anglican Cathedral

Join festival host Andrea Ratuski for a glimpse behind the scenes with Inbal Segev. Hear captivating stories and experience the passion that drives world-class musicians. This rare opportunity offers music lovers unprecedented access to the minds and hearts of cello virtuosos—expect revelations, laughter, and perhaps a musical surprise or two.

Artists

Matthias Bartolomey, cello

Elie Boissinot, cello

Colin Carr, cello

David Liam Roberts, cello

Cameron Crozman, cello

Denise Djokic, cello

Alban Gerhardt, cello

Paul Marleyn, cello

Raphael Weinroth-Browne, cello

Jacob MacDonald, cello

Zander Howard-Scott, cello

Minna Rose Chung, cello

Leanne Zacharias, cello

William Voth, cello

Natalie Wong, cello

and the cellists of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Futaba Niewaka, piano

Program

Edvard Grieg – From Peer Gynt Suite no. 1 (arr. S. Cheng) for 3 cellos & piano

Morning Mood

Ase Death

In the Hall of the Mountain King

Alban Gerhardt cello, Cameron Crozman cello, Paul Marleyn cello, Futaba Niekawa piano

Karen Sunabacka – Water, Reeling & Kin for 8 cellos and narrator, with text by Joyce Clouston ** Canada Council Commission World Premiere **

Karen Sunabacka narration, Denise Djokic cello, Cameron Crozman cello, Leanne Zacharias cello, Zander Howard-Scott cello, Minna Rose Chung cello, David Liam Roberts cello, Elie Boissinot cello, Jacob MacDonald cello

Josef Rheinberger arr. V. Despalj - Evening Song

Melli Celli - The Cellists of the WSO:
Elie Boissinot cello, Sean Taubner cello, Ethan Allers cello, Samuel Nadurak cello, Alyssa Ramsey cello, Arlene Dahl cello

Maurice Ravel arr. J. Barralet – Bolero for 4 cellos 15’

Paul Marleyn cello, Denise Djokic cello, Cameron Crozman cello, Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello

Intermission

L. v. Beethoven arr. C Crozman – Adagio Cantabile from the “Pathetique” Sonata

Cameron Crozman cello, Denise Djokic cello, Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello, David Liam Roberts cello

Matthias Bartolomey – Preikestolen for 4 cellos

Matthias Bartolomey cello, Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello, Jacob MacDonald cello,
Paul Marleyn cello

Matthias Bartolomey - Herz for 6 cellos

Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello, David Liam Roberts cello, Zander Howard-Scott cello, Denise Djokic cello, Matthias Bartolomey cello, Leanne Zacharias cello

Raphael Weinroth-Browne – Aftermath for 12 cellos

Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello, Matthias Bartolomey cello, Denise Djokic cello,
Jacob MacDonald cello, Alban Gerhardt cello, Natalie Wong cello, Cameron Crozman cello, Zander Howard-Scott cello, Leanne Zacharias cello, David Liam Roberts cello, Paul Marleyn cello, William Voth cello

Lennon/McCartney arr. W. Muller – Yesterday for 12 cellos

Colin Carr cello, Paul Marleyn cello, Natalie Wong cello, Alban Gerhardt cello, Denise Djokic cello, William Voth cello, Matthias Bartolomey cello, Leanne Zacharias cello, David Liam Roberts cello, Cameron Crozman cello, Jacob MacDonald cello, Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello

Astor Piazzolla arr. J. Carli - Fuga y Misterio for 12 cellos

Paul Marleyn cello, Alban Gerhardt cello & Natalie Wong cello; Colin Carr cello, Denise Djokic cello & William Voth cello; Matthias Bartolomey cello & Leanne Zacharias cello; Cameron Crozman cello & David Liam Roberts cello; Jacob MacDonald cello & Raphael Weinroth-Browne cello

Program Notes for Water, Reeling and Kin for 8 celli and narrator

A cello encompasses the range of the human voice, from bass through soprano and has a warmth that reflects the relationships formed between peoples from different continents. The cello can also mimic the sounds of a fiddle, an instrument that became a central figure in each gathering of the Métis peoples and was a prominent soundscape in my own childhood. I learned to fiddle, on a violin, with my grandfather. I also learned to play bass-lines on my cello with my grandmother who always chorded on the piano. During the piece you will hear bass-line chording figures with fiddling realized by the cello ensemble.

The spoken text was written by my mother Joyce Clouston and is based on our ongoing historical research. This piece tells a general story of the ancestors of my English Métis family. The tender ties formed between my Scottish/Orkney ancestors and their First Nation wives is the reason I exist. 

The music is inspired by my own experience with Northern lights, water, rap-ids, wind and paddling rivers and lakes. Along with this I include excerpts of fiddle tunes by Métis fiddler Andy De Jarlis – Moccasin Reel, Jack Pine Trail and Surveyors Reel. This is to covey families gathering and growing with fiddling, singing, and dancing. 

Composer Karen Sunabacka often finds inspiration from puzzles, stories and her Métis and mixed European heritage. She has deep roots in the Red River Settlement (what is now known as Manitoba, Canada) and feels a strong con-nection to the Métis, Scottish, Swedish and Finnish cultures. This mix of cultural connections sometimes creates conflicts and new perspectives which she finds both interesting and challenging. Her music reflects this cultural mix through the exploration of the sounds and stories of the Canadian prairies.

Karen often collaborates with her Métis mother, Joyce Clouston. Together they have completed numerous works that explore family stories and the intersections of Indigenous -Settler relations and philosophies. 

Joyce Clouston is a writer, an Indigenous Cultural Carrier, and social worker. Her childhood in a Métis community near Selkirk, Manitoba informed editing five books and numerous resources affirming Indigenous spiritual traditions in the Anglican and United churches, as well as authoring Journey from Fisher Riv-er. In clinical practice with special needs children in Winnipeg, and as an artist, her work affirms and offers insight into the inclusive worldviews of her heritage.