MCO 4 / Sojourn

Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
Janna Sailor, conductor
David Braid, piano
Mark Fewer, violin

After stays in Hollywood, Armenia, and everywhere in between, Braid arrives triumphantly to MCO’s stages with rock-star composers Reich, Lizée, Montgomery, and Dessner.

Steve Reich
Clapping Music

Nicole Lizée
Another Living Soul

Steve Reich
Triple Quartet

Jessie Montgomery
Strum

David Braid
Joya concerto

Bryce Dessner
Aheym

^{Program subject to change}

David Braid

David Braid is “one of his country's true renaissance men” (Ottawa Sun). The composer, improviser, and pianist is a ten-time JUNO nominee and four-time recipient. To single out a few more accomplishments: his chamber music album, FLOW, is “an exceptional work” (Los Angeles Examiner), while his spectacular compositions for Ethan Hawke’s Born to Be Blue surely explain why it’s considered one of the top jazz films of all time. From Hollywood to New York’s coolest jazz clubs, from Armenia to Canada’s most illustrious classical stages, this musical wanderer has clearly been everywhere – except the MCO. This will soon change in spectacular fashion.

Mark Fewer

Mark Fewer has performed around the world to critical acclaim in virtually every role asked of a violinist, and then some. In a career that now spans over three decades, he’s graced Carnegie, Wigmore and Salle Pleyel, performed with Stevie Wonder, and appeared with major orchestras all over the world. Fewer has presented the premieres of over 200 works – some may recall his mind-blowing Canadian premiere of John Adams’ "The Dharma at Big Sur” for 6-string electric violin and orchestra a few years ago. The “genre-bending” (National Post) virtuoso is just as at home in early baroque as he is in jazz and the avant-garde. His collaboration with Braid will be something special. 

Janna Sailor 

Janna Sailor is an acclaimed conductor, violinist, and visionary in the Canadian music scene. As the newly appointed Director of the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region, she is recognized for her commitment to inclusivity and innovation. She founded the Allegra Chamber Orchestra, a groundbreaking ensemble of female-identifying musicians with a mission to champion underrepresented voices and create change through music. Janna’s work emphasizes community engagement, including music programs for disadvantaged youth and initiatives supporting immigrants. She was named to Women in Music Canada’s “Honour Roll – 10 Female Artists to Watch” in 2023 and received the Betty Webster Award for Orchestral Innovation. Under her direction, Allegra recently premiered The IndigiDivas, spotlighting Indigenous opera singers. Janna is also pursuing an Executive MBA with the Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation, focusing on social entrepreneurship and community development.