Nadia Francavilla is one of Canada’s leading performers and advocates of new contemporary music. The Montreal-born violinist is an accomplished recitalist and outstanding chamber musician who has performed internationally in North America, Europe, and Japan.
Mrs. Francavilla’s driving interest in new music has led her to commission and premiere new works from Canadian and international composers. She particularly enjoys working with young composers, nurturing their innovative spark. Meanwhile, explorations of improvised works and frequent collaborations with visual and multimedia artists have shaped her study of music.
Since 2009, Mrs. Francavilla is UNB’s Musician-in-Residence where she curates leading-edge concert series which challenge audiences to explore new sounds and musical experiences. The NB Contemporary Music Festival, curated by Mrs. Francavilla each year since its inception in 2019, exclusively features music from emerging and established women composers.
Mrs. Francavilla’s production company, On The Edge Productions Inc, promotes new, ground-breaking experimental music, fostering collaboration among emerging and established musicians and multidisciplinary artists.
An experienced educator and facilitator, Mrs. Francavilla takes an interactive and exploratory approach to knowledge sharing in lectures, masterclasses, and workshops. She teaches violin at Mount Allison University and leads courses on women in music and music in film at the UNB. She is often asked to adjudicate at music festivals around the country.
Mrs. Francavilla’s projects have received financial support from Canada Council for the Arts, the New Brunswick Arts Board, SOCAN, the Province of New Brunswick, the NB Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Fredericton Playhouse.
Richard Hornsby is an active conductor, educator and performer on clarinet, bass clarinet, basset horn and saxophone. He has played with the Toronto Symphony, National Arts Centre Orchestra, New Music Concerts of Canada, and has recorded for CBC Radio. As an experienced chamber musician, he has toured with the Contemporary Winds Woodwind Quintet as well as the Canadian Saxophone Quintet. Richard was appointed Director of Music at the University of New Brunswick in 1992, where he now conducts various musical groups and teaches at the university level.