ASL 2015: Pianist, Corey Hamm

Returning for a fourth year, we're thrilled to welcome back pianist Corey Hamm for Art Song Lab 2015.

A champion of new music, Corey is considered to be one of the leading interpreter's of Rzewski's The People United Will Never Be Defeated! and has even edited a publication of Rzewski's piano music.

It is an understatement to say that he is an avid commissioner; having commissioned, premiered, and recorded over 200 works from composers around the world. In a recent project, he and Erhu virtuoso, Nicole Li have endeavored to premiere and record a collection of newly composed pieces for piano and erhu, including pieces by 7 composers who have participated in Art Song Lab.

A fuller bio can be found on the UBC website, where he is an Associate Professor of Piano and Chamber Music.

Here is a recording of Corey performing at ASL2014.

ASL 2015: Guest Poet, Fred Wah

Fred Wah has been active in the international poetry scene since the 1960's, with a collection of publications and honours that is second to none.

He has won awards for his poetry, essays, short fiction, and literary criticism; notably the Dorothy Livesay Prize, and the Governor General's award. He served as Canada's fifth Parliamentary Poet Laureate and has been named an Officer of the Order of Canada.

While these credentials might make him seem untouchable, Fred is kind and approachable, with a passion for Canada's thriving literary culture, collaboration and cross-disciplinary work.

We're honoured that Fred is on board with Art Song Lab, and are thrilled to be presenting a participant workshop with Fred Wah as part of ASL 2015.

Apply today at www.artsonglab.com!

ASL 2015: Guest Composer, Neil Weisensel

photo credit: Aaron Kostuik

Neil Weisensel is a composer, conductor, and sound designer whose career is the essence of collaboration. He has written for opera, theater, film and television, and of course art song!

Most recently, Neil was commissioned by Vancouver Opera to compose Stickboy, in collaboration with spoken-word artist Shayne Koyczan. Weisensel's score incorporated spoken-word recordings of Shane, with live sung text, while the production blended traditional staging with stunning animation and video design.

It's clear that Neil is working at the cutting edge of where words meet music - exactly what we want to explore at ASL 2015!

Apply today at www.artsonglab.com. 

ASL 2015: Pianist, Rachel Iwaasa

After taking a year off from ASL to direct Vancouver's Queer Arts Festival, we're excited to have pianist Rachel Iwaasa back for her third year at ASL 2015. Check out her website for more info, but this quote speaks for itself.

"Pianist Iwaasa quite simply pulls no punches, attacking each composer's work with passion, intensity and the nuanced playing she's acclaimed for. . . she manages to instill a sense of dynamic tension and pull to every note."
-Stuart Derdeyn, The Province

 Here is a recording from Rachel's performances at ASL 2013.