past seasons
In more than two decades of touring, Prairie Debut has featured over 142 artists and touched diverse communities across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Yukon.
2023-24 | Stéphane Tétreault
Vigour and tenderness unite in expressive piano and cello featuring the works of Haydn, Schubert and Brahms.
2023-24 | La Fiammata
Road Trip returns! La Fiammata is the electric piano 4 hands partnership of Linda Ruan and Charissa Vandakis.
2023-24 | Huu Bac Quintet
East meets West in a musical dialogue weaving classical and jazz with traditions from Peru, China and Vietnam.
2020-21 | Regard Persan Trio
New sounds of Persian music bridging tradition and modernity
2020-22 | Duo Beija-Flor
An ethno-classical flute and guitar pairing inspired by traditional and folkloric music
2020-22 | Cicchillitti-Cowan Duo
Contemporary and classical guitar performance by two critically acclaimed Canadian artists.
2020-22 | Bouey-Doucet Duo
Innovative piano and shimmering violin combine in the Bouey-Doucet Duo.
2018-19 | Dominguez & Fung
Revel in the fanciful worlds created by music as cellist Chloe Dominguez and pianist Janelle Fung take you on a sublime and mystical journey inspired by fable.
2018-19 | Rolston String Quartet
2016 BISQC Laureate winners The Rolston String Quartet have been named among CBC’s 30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30.
2019-20 | Trio Saint-Laurent
Clarinet, viola and piano combine in a display of acoustic poetry.
2019-20 | OKAN
Afro-Cuban group OKAN offers global music in a quartet of spice and soul.
2018-19 | Ladom Ensemble
Piano, accordion, cello and percussion combine in a distinct yet accessible sound with influences drawn from Italy, Greece, Balkan, Russia, Arabian Peninsula, and Asia.
2019-20 | meagan&amy
Meet pianist Meagan Milatz and violinist Amy Hillis, the first winners of the Pan-Canadian Tour.
2018-19 | VC2
Discover how VC2 are pushing the boundaries of classical cello performance in their program, Beethoven’s Cellists.
2018-19 | Avan Yu
Share in Avan’s adventures as an award-winning pianist, including milestone pieces from his major performances.
2017-18 | Proteus Saxophone Quartet
The Proteus Saxophone Quartet is redefining the traditional saxophone chamber music experience with their high energy, intense, and diverse performances. Named after the god of the sea, modular and versatile, the Proteus Quartet explores the numerous instrumental combinations of the saxophone family through the creation and performance of chamber music.
2017-18 | Henderson-Kolk Duo
Canada’s own Henderson-Kolk Duo has built their audience’s loyalty with their choice of repertoire, stage charisma and what Wholenote Magazine describes as “a warm and intimate sound.” Since their formation in 2004, they have quickly become one of North America’s premier guitar duos.
2017-18 | The Chooi Brothers
Brothers Nikki and Timothy Chooi are united by a profound understanding and genuine passion for the violin, which renders their musical union extraordinarily rich. Together, they have an intrinsic musical partnership that makes their duo artistry unique and interesting.
2016-17 | Duo Milot & Bareil
Since 2006, harpist Valérie Milot and violinist Antoine Bareil have offered performances marked by an exceptional artistry both through their live performances and their recordings.
2016-17 | Flûte Alors!
Dynamic and versatile, Flûte Alors! is composed of four new-generation recorder players. Since 1999, this award-winning quartet has received distinction for the audacity of their programs and the excellence of their performances.
2016-17 | Duo Fortin-Poirier
Duo Fortin-Poirier, featuring pianists Amélie Fortin and Marie-Christine Poirier, has been heralded as one of the most promising of its generation.
2015-16 | Duo Rendezvous
Duo Rendezvous unites two leading Canadian performers, violinist Jasper Wood and guitarist Daniel Bolshoy. This duo was formed as a response to great demand for a refreshing and passionate chamber ensemble with a strong dedication to outreach and education.
2015-16 | Luis Mario Ochoa Cuban Quartet
This acoustic quartet features the romantic rumba, to the lively samba, the pulsating bolero to the swaying waltz and cha cha. Traditional songs like “Canto Siboney”, “La Flor De La Canela”, and “El Carbonero”, bring Cuba home.
2015-16 | Marie-Josée Lord
Marie-Josée Lord soprano with piano and violin In 2005, soprano Marie-Josée Lord gained national recognition when she was awarded recipient of the prestigious Prix d’Excellence de la Culture from the Fondation de l’Opéra de Québec, and in that same year, was selected...
2014-15 | Kang-Mercer-Park
United by a shared love of the great classical and romantic chamber music repertoire, Judy, Rachel and Angela, three of Canada’s exciting artists, combine their broad-ranging individual knowledge and worldwide concert experience to offer dynamic and compelling performances as the Kang-Mercer-Park Trio.
2014-15 | Ensemble Caprice
Under the artistic direction of Matthias Maute and Sophie Larivière, Ensemble Caprice is renowned for its innovative interpretations of baroque music, receiving national and international acclaim for more than twenty years.
2014-15 | Fung-Chiu Duo
Established pianists in their own right, Janelle Fung and Philip Chiu have come together to present concerts that challenge the traditional boundaries of one piano four-hands.
2013-14 | Guy Few & Nadina Mackie Jackson
Known internationally as soloists, chamber musicians, recitalists and fashionistas, Guy & Nadina are “completely engaging from the moment they walk on stage” (THE CHRONICLE, Oliver BC).
2013-14 | Yadong Guan Trio
Hailing from Beijing, Yadong Guan is a true musical ambassador who brilliantly masters the pipa, a traditional Chinese instrument that is over 2,000 years old.
2013-14 | musica intima
Internationally renowned for their warm and engaging stage presence, impeccable musicianship, and unique perspective on ensemble singing, musica intima has earned a reputation as Canada’s most exciting vocal ensemble.
2012-13 | Georgy Tchaidze
Georgy Tchaidze, First Laureate of Calgary’s Honens International Piano Competition (2009), is a native of St Petersburg, Russia. His Honens win allowed him to bring his artistry beyond Russia for performances throughout Europe and North America.
2012-13 | Cecilia String Quartet
Praised for their “extraordinary commitment and maturity” and “talent, passion and mastery”, the Cecilia String Quartet is one of Canada’s most exciting young ensembles today.
2012-13 | Kornel Wolak and Chris Donnelly
Armed with a clarinet, a piano and their personable stage presence, Kornel Wolak and Chris Donnelly present a remarkable blend of classical and jazz music rarely heard in live performance.
2012-13 | Couloir
Two of the West Coast’s exceptional musicians, harpist Heidi Krutzen and cellist Ariel Barnes, have formed Couloir, a new and unexpected duo dedicated to collaboration with Canada’s leading composers, performing modern art music at the highest level of excellence, and presenting engaging new music concerts in non-traditional settings.
2011-12 | Alexander Sevastian
With three first prize wins at the International Accordion Competition to his credit, Alexander Sevastian truly commanded the world’s attention as one of the best.
2011-12 | Sharon Wei & Angela Park
Canadian musicians Sharon Wei and Angela Park have captivated audiences around the world through their unique interpretations of the viola and piano repertoire from Bach to new creations.
2011-12 | TorQ
Awarded a MARTY for “Best Emerging Performing Arts Group – 2009” by the Mississauga (ON) Arts Council, TorQ was formed in 2004 by four young, enthusiastic Toronto-area percussionists looking to add new energy to percussion repertoire and performance
2010-11 | Martha Guth, Tyler Duncan and Erika Switzer
Soprano Martha Guth has been acclaimed for her “’thrilling top range, rare breath control and an awesome legato. Singing along with Baritone Tyler Duncan, with “that rare mixture of elegant phrasing and resonant power’, and Erika Switzer, pianist, widely known for her brilliant, expressive, and technically confident playing.
2010-11 | Alessio Bax & Lucille Chung
Not very often do two young and celebrated concert pianists get together on stage on a regular basis and build an extensive repertoire. They have performed together on many of the world’s most prestigious platforms.
2010-11 | Jorge Miguel Flamenco Ensemble
“Passion” is a word that applies to the latest work by Jorge Miguel, to the music and to his commitment to explore the roots of the tradition and to find within that depth the seeds of new possibilities for the ancient art of Flamenco.
2009-10 | The Schumann Letters
The Schumann Letters is a concert format performance presenting some of the most beautiful piano and vocal music of Robert Schumann. It is exquisitely narrated through a spectacular story of his life and love for Clara Wieck and his personal triumphs and tragedies.
apply to tour with prairie debut
Each year, we invite emerging and established Canadian musicians to showcase and tour with Prairie Debut. World-genre and classical musicians who consider music to be their professional career are invited to apply to be part of our 2020-21 season.
Applications open in January 2019.
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