The Tuckamore Festival is a

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small nu ...

festival in St. John's,

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

, Canada. It is traditionally held annually in August for two weeks. The festival was co-founded in 2001 by violinist

Nancy Dahn Nancy Dahn is a Canadian violinist. Alongside her husband, she co-founded the Tuckamore Festival in 2001 and is a University Research Professor of Violin and Viola at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Education Dahn studied at the New E ...

and pianist Timothy Steeves, classical musicians who perform together as Duo Concertante. Dahn and Steeves are the current artistic directors of the festival. This year's festival will be held online from August 8–21, 2022.

Programs

Young Artist Program

The Young Artist Program is composed of up to 25 musicians.

Violinist The following lists of violinists are available: * List of classical violinists, notable violinists from the baroque era onwards * List of contemporary classical violinists, notable contemporary classical violinists * List of violinist/compose ...

s, violists, cellists,

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboard bass or a low b ...

s, or

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

s are eligible to apply. Acceptance is based on artistic merit and instrument availability. The Artistic Directors select repertoire and form the

chamber ensembles Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small numb ...

prior to the Festival. During the course of the festival, the Young Artists participate in individual rehearsal, private lessons, chamber group rehearsal, chamber music coaching, performance opportunities, masterclasses, and body mapping sessions by a licensed Andover Educator. The festival has mentored more than 350 young musicians and composers through its 20-year history. Young artist alumni have won East Coast Music Awards and Juno Awards, and have performed with the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, Sybarite5, Vancouver and Calgary symphony orchestras, the Dardanelles and Hey Rosetta.

Young Composer Program

The Young Composer Program is composed of up to three emerging composers. Unlike the Young Artist Program, this program is one week in duration. During the week, the students' compositions are work shopped, rehearsed, and performed by the Young Artists and faculty. They also participate in masterclasses and score study.

Faculty

In 2020, resident faculty includes: *

, Artistic Director, Violinist * Timothy Steeves, Artistic Director, Pianist * Vernon Regehr, Faculty, Cellist *

Andrew Staniland Andrew Staniland (born 1977) is a Canadian composer and guitarist. He is currently a professor of Composition and Electronic Music at the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Biography Andrew Staniland was born in Red Deer, Alberta, in 1977. H ...

, Faculty, Composer

Guest Artists

The festival has presented over 150 guest artist performers throughout its 20-year history. Notable guest artist ensembles include the

Shanghai Quartet The Shanghai Quartet is a string quartet that formed in 1983. The quartet is made up of: first violinist Weigang Li, second violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, violist Honggang Li, and cellist Nicholas Tzavaras. On November 20, 2020 the ensemble announce ...

, St. Lawrence String Quartet,

Danish Quartet The Danish Quartet is a name which has been carried by four Danish quartets: Den Danske Kvartet 1935 the Danish Quartet (Danish: Den Danske Kvartet) was a quartet for flute, violin, cello and piano which was active 1935-1957. Members included: * ...

Fitzwilliam Quartet The Fitzwilliam Quartet (FSQ) is a British string quartet. The group was founded in 1968 by four Cambridge undergraduates. There have been a number of changes in personnel over the years, but Alan George from the original quartet is still a membe ...

, Gryphon Trio, Sybarite5, and pianists Marc-André Hamelin,

Jon Kimura Parker Jon Kimura Parker (born 25 December 1959) is a Canadian pianist. Early life and education Jon Kimura Parker was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the son of Keiko Parker and John Parker. He began his studies with his uncle, Edward P ...

André Laplante André Laplante, (born November 12, 1949) is a Canadian ( Québécois) pianist. He received a 2004 Juno Award for the 2003 recording ''Concertos: Music of Jacques Hétu''. He is considered to be a Franz Liszt specialist and is much associated wi ...

, Louis Lortie and

Janina Fialkowska Janina Fialkowska, (born May 7, 1951) is a Canadian classical pianist. A specialist of the Classic and Romantic repertoires, for more than thirty years she has appeared regularly with professional orchestras around the world, often performing the ...

Venues

The primary concert venues are located in the

Memorial University of Newfoundland Memorial University of Newfoundland, also known as Memorial University or MUN (), is a public university in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, based in St. John's, with satellite campuses in Corner Brook, elsewhere in Newfoundland and ...

's School of Music. Other venues in St. John's include: * Rocket Room, Rocket Bakery * St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, "The Kirk" * LPSU Hall * Gower St. United Church Other Areas of Newfoundland: * The Old Church in Admiral's Cove * St. George's Heritage Church in

Brigus Brigus is a small fishing community located in Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Brigus was home to Captain Bob Bartlett and the location of his residence Hawthorne Cottage.Canada travel guide. Lonely Planet 14th Edition (2020) ...

* Fisher's Loft, Port Rexton, Trinity Bay

References

External links

Tuckamore Festival
official website Recurring events established in 2001 Classical music festivals in Canada Music festivals in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador {{music-festival-stub