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.

Musical Ventures presents Winds of Moravia Tour

Featuring Atlantic Sinfonia Wind Octet (two french horns, two oboes, two bassoons, and two clarinets in the classical tradition)

In the late 18th century talented instrumentalists and composers from Moravia (in the present Czech Republic) flooded the musical capital of Vienna stocking their musical ensembles and contributing to the classical style in vogue at that time. A number of composers, now overshadowed by the likes of Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven, were both prolific and popular in their day. We will highlight the music of some of these forgotten, yet influential musicians.

Join us in February and March to hear works by Mysliveček, Krommer, Streicher, and Wranitzky.

Tickets available at door
General – $20 | Students 16 and under – free

Moncton
Feb. 16 – 7:00pm
Central United Church
150 Queen Street

Florenceville-Bristol
March 8 – 3:00 pm
Second Wind Music Centre
16 Curtis Road

St. Andrews
March 28 – 7:30pm
Wesley United Church
77 William Street

kershaw-y-2007American-born bassoonist Yvonne Kershaw has a wide range of performance experience in both Canada and the U.S. She played with the Cascade Symphony in Washington and has participated in the Sandpoint, Idaho, and Bayview , Michigan music festivals. Her extensive teaching experience includes instructing instrumental music in Seattle area music schools and working as a graduate instructor of bassoon at Indiana University.

Yvonne now resides in Fredericton, where she adjudicates music festivals and teaches bassoon, flute and oboe at the UNB Centre for Musical Arts.  She teaches courses in music theory and music appreciation at UNB as well. She is a regular faculty member of UNB’s Summer Music Camp. She performs regularly with Symphony New Brunswick. She recently released a CD of bassoon and guitar music with guitarist Stephen Peacock which was nominated for  ECMA Classical Recording of the Year in 2005. Yvonne performed at the International Double Reed Society’s 2006 Convention in Muncie, Indiana.  She annually attends the Glickman Popkin Bassoon Camp in North Carolina.

Hrvoje Tisler

Hrvoje Tisler began his music career at an early age as both a teacher and performer. He obtained a bachelor degree in violin instruction and performance with distinction from the Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia, and Herzegovina in 1973. He began teaching violin at the Mladen Posaic School in 1972, and from 1984 to 1992 he taught conservatory level violin in Sarajevo. From 1976 to 1992 he appeared in over one hundred performances as a member of the Sarajevo Philharmonic, and from 1979 to 1986 performed in over thirty performances as a member of the Sarajevo Chamber Orchestra. In 1992 Hrvoje became a member of the Sarajevo String Quartet, where he performed until his departure for Canada. In Canada Hrvojehas performed as a member of Symphony New Brunswick (1996 – 2001), and is currently teaching and performing in New Brunswick. Among other accomplishments, he has performed in some 200 concerts with Symphony NB and 30 with the Fredericton Chamber Players. In addition to having taught privately more than 100 students from beginning to advanced levels, he has instructed numerous students and coached and directed award-winning junior and youth string orchestras at the NB Conservatory.

Aida Tisler

Aida Tisler obtained her bachelor degree in violin teaching and performance with
distinction from Music Academy of the University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1980. She accepted a violin teaching position at “Mladen Posaic” elementary music school in 1978 and held it until 1983, when she took a position of a violinist with the Sarajevo’s Symphony Orchestra. In addition to performing and recording music with the Symphony Orchestra, Aida performed regularly with the Sarajevo’s Philharmonic Orchestra and Sarajevo’s Chamber Orchestra until her departure for Canada in 1994.

After 18 month of language schools, violin teaching and one university
course in Toronto, Aida arrived to Fredericton with her husband Hrvoje and 2-year old daughter Sabina. Since then, Aida has obtained B.Ed with distinction from UNB, has taught violin to close to one hundred private students and has coached chamber groups and student orchestras at UNB Music Camp, New Brunswick Conservatory and several elementary schools. Since becoming a member in 1997, Aida performed over 150 concerts with the Symphony New Brunswick. In addition, Aida performs regularly with Fredericton Chamber Players and Atlantic Sinfonia.

Sara Liptay

Sara LiptayA native of New Brunswick, violinist Sara Liptay has been studying and performing violin throughout Canada for several years. She was the winner of Memorial University’s “Pilat” violin competition and led the Memorial University Chamber Orchestra as concertmaster during their 2004-2006 seasons. Sara currently performs with Symphony New Brunswick and the Atlantic Sinfonia and conducts the Fredericton High School Orchestra. She teaches, adjudicates and holds masterclasses throughout southern New Brunswick.

Sara graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Ottawa and a Master of Music in Performance and Pedagogy at Memorial University of Newfoundland where she studied with Nancy Dahn. In May 2007, she completed a certificate with the Tafelmusik Orchestra in Baroque Violin Performance at the University of Toronto where she studied with Jeanne Lamon.

Andrew Miller

Andrew MillerAndrew R. Miller is a bass player and composer from Fredericton NB. Andrew is founder and director of Motion Ensemble, a post-classical group which presents concerts in NB, has toured much of Canada and has recorded on New York label Mode Records. He is principal bass of Symphony NB, Opera NB, Atlantic Sinfonia and teaches part-time at Université de Moncton. He has played with The Canadian Opera Company, the National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Andrew has written music for orchestra, dance, chamber music, film, theatre and performance art.

Sonja Adams

Sonja AdamsBefore earning her Bachelor of Music in Performance degree from the University of Toronto in 1985, Sonja Adams was actively involved in the flourishing Vancouver music scene.

She has incorporated the same interest in her new home in New Brunswick with an impressive private studio province wide, coaching youth orchestras, faculty at summer music camps and extensive in-school concert programs.

Christopher Buckley

buckley-chrisChristopher Buckley, a native of New Brunswick, studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. His current activities include artist in residence at the University of New Brunswick Saint John, playing with the Saint John String Quartet and Principal for Symphony New Brunswick and Atlantic Sinfonia. Before returning to Canada Chris performed with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, Northern Ireland and was the violist for the resident quartet in Bermuda (Menuhin Foundation).

Richard Hornsby, Artistic Director

richard-hornsbyRichard 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.