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York University

What the rose foretold

I don’t consider myself particularly superstitious, but maybe I should reëvaluate that assessment. I do hold to certain ritual acts, especially on New Year’s Eve, when coins must be tossed out the front door, and a dark stranger is admitted bearing gifts of coal, gold and whiskey to bring warmth, good fortune, and happiness for the new year. These rituals are ‘performed’ annually, more to amuse guests than to appease the Fates. But listen. Growing in my garden is something peculiar, almost preternatural –  a plant that has become a mysterious oracle – a rose that is seemingly able to… Read More »What the rose foretold

Steph at black board

Ma fin est mon commencement

Today I am starting something new. I’m launching this new website! With the help of expert web designer Mary Bella the new site launches with current photos (of my mature self) , a refreshed blog where you can read and leave your own thoughts and comments, a complete catalogue of compositions with links to publishers, and a gallery of videos, recordings and photographs. You can check out Mary’s company Maestra Web Design on her website. I can highly recommend her work. She is thoroughly skilled in web design, and she’s also very patient with someone who is just learning :… Read More »Ma fin est mon commencement

Tate Pumfrey

Unusual Times.03: Tate Pumfrey

We all know that young musicians have been struggling to have their voices heard this year. But undaunted Tate Pumfrey, a York University graduate student in composition, has been busily creating new music, and has found some excellent collaborators across the globe to perform and disseminate his work.  Tate composes for many genres, but extensively for the organ. What better instrument to perform, record and post on social media during a worldwide pandemic? There are no complicated COVID protocols to implement since one, solitary performer executes all the complex counterpoint and harmony all by themselves, in a large, well-ventilated church… Read More »Unusual Times.03: Tate Pumfrey

Requiem mvt I

Where to find it

Best wishes for those going back to school, church choir, community singing – whatever your thing is, I hope you feel all the energy and goodwill that singing brings. Occasionally an email or FB message will come my way from a distraught music director looking for repertoire. Sometimes they are even looking for my music! So this blog is a guide of where to find my published pieces. Cypress Choral Music in Vancouver was my first publisher, and your first stop for sacred choral music like Four Motets, my little Mass for three voices, Kontakion and Hear my Prayer. Secular… Read More »Where to find it

BABEL – the poem by Cori Martin

Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses to my last post. Your overwhelming kindness and support humbles me. Many of you have requested to read the poem “Babel” by Cori Martin in advance of the performance. You’ll need to print out all 4 pages and sit down with a cup of coffee and devote some time to this. The body of the poem runs alongside marginalia taken from diverse, existing poetry in many languages. Keep the notes on page 4 handy – you’ll be looking up classical verse, German poetry, Dante, Milton and the Bible etc. etc. Actually you might even want… Read More »BABEL – the poem by Cori Martin

An open letter to students boycotting my work

Rehearsals are underway for the first performance of my choral symphony at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo. I am saddened to hear that some students are boycotting my work since they consider it “blasphemous.” I believe a Canadian university must be a safe place to discuss controversial topics and respect differences – a haven for critical thinking, experiment and inquiry – and I hope every student pouring their hard work and musicianship into this project can feel safe and proud performing my piece. I post this open letter not to judge, but to invite reflection and reconciliation. Dear Students, Love… Read More »An open letter to students boycotting my work

Museum of Human Rights

Why Winnipeg?

Some have asked, “Why was the Royal Canadian College of Organists’ annual convention held in Winnipeg?” Winnipeg, an ancient meeting place at the intersection of two rivers, is richly layered with history and culture, boasting many fine organs, choirs and orchestral players who provided us with a thrilling week of workshops and concerts this July. The organizers of this year’s RCCO convention brilliantly linked our small musical fellowship with the wider urban community, connecting our festival with the world-class Museum of Human Rights, recently opened right around the corner from the Via Rail train station. The Museum is a thought-provoking… Read More »Why Winnipeg?

The JUDITH team

One of the great things about a big project like Parry’s oratorio JUDITH is bringing alot of people together. Our performance will require 100 adult singers, 43 orchestra players, four professional soloists, four boys and their understudies, and an audience of 900 listeners. If we are able to raise enough funds we will release a DVD recording of the concert, and then our audience could be several thousand people. One choir member told me she was sorry her grandmother could not come to hear JUDITH since she is not mobile and can’t leave the house. So, our recording of JUDITH… Read More »The JUDITH team

WholeNote magazine: November’s child

WholeNote magazine is a Toronto treasure. The monthly must-have publication is put together by a group of talented, selfless, hardworking individuals who keep our musical network connecting, informing, and spreading the word about our vibrant underground classical community. I’m catching up with an article that tells a bit of my own story. It’s called November’s Child. It came out in print last month, but there’s a longer interview online. Here’s one of the secrets revealed in the piece- an embarrassing childhood musical memory: “What was my most embarrassing experience as a child learning music? I was entered in a sight-reading… Read More »WholeNote magazine: November’s child

Pax Christi Chorale

Blest pair of sirens

Stand on a street corner in Toronto and you may see architectural vestiges of our Victorian past; extravagantly crafted stone treasures, surrounded by modern towers of concrete, glass and steel. In a similar musical landscape, Pax Christi Chorale commissions new music, but in a fast-changing world, we take a second look at pieces once unjustly judged as unfashionable. On Sunday October 19 at 3pm, we will blow the dust off this seminal repertoire at Grace Church on-the Hill in Toronto. Our choral scholars, orchestra, and special guests, the Aslan Boys Choir will be joined by actor Emilio Vieira, who will… Read More »Blest pair of sirens