Artists

Born and raised in Germany, trained in New York City and now based in Canada, jazz pianist and composer, Florian Hoefner, draws from a myriad of influences that cumulate in his unique brand of modern jazz. Praised as a “composer-bandleader of insightful resolve” by the New York Times and a “harmonically daring pianist […] reaching toward new sonic territory” by Downbeat, Florian Hoefner has made his mark as an inventive creator and performer of exciting contemporary Jazz.

In September 2017 he released “Coldwater Stories” (Origin Records), his first ever solo piano album with 10 original compositions and improvisations. Exploring a new process that interleaves composed with freely improvised sections it has been described as “sublimely evocative music” by The WholeNote Magazine. A two-time winner of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer Award, Hoefner’s compositions and arrangements can be heard on many commercial albums by artists including Till Brönner, Jasmin Tabatabai and Peter Fessler. His big band compositions have been performed by the New York Jazz Orchestra, the Lucerne Jazz Orchestra, the German Youth Jazz Orchestra and the DanJam Orchestra.

Juno-award winners Nancy Dahn and Timothy Steeves are Canada’s premiere violin and piano duo. Their name, Duo Concertante, defines their artistic relationship –  two performers as equal and dynamic voices. Together they have built an international career through outstanding performances in hundreds of recitals across North America, Europe, and China. They have released seven widely-acclaimed recordings, ranging from Bach to JUNO-award-winning Canadian repertoire and are recognized across the country for their outstanding work as musicians and educators. They recently received the designation of University Research Professors and were elected to the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists Royal Society of Canada in November 2016. Professors Dahn and Steeves are currently on faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland and serve as co-artistic directors of the Tuckamore Festival.

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Composer Andrew Staniland has firmly established himself as one of Canada’s most important and innovative musical voices. His music is regularly heard on CBC Radio 2 and has been performed and broadcast internationally in over 35 countries. As a leading composer of his generation, he has been recognized by election to the Inaugural Cohort of the College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists Royal Society of Canada in 2014. Andrew is the lead composer/educator with the Gryphon Trio’s Listen Up! education initiative, created and produced in collaboration with the Gryphon Trio and music educator Rob Kapilow. Andrew also performs himself, both as a guitarist and working with new media (computers and electronics). Andrew is currently on faculty at Memorial University of Newfoundland.