Literary guests in interview and a special event to Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day will launch the 2024-25 season at Toronto’s Koerner Hall.
Alexander Brose, who takes over as the Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory, comments in a release, “As I embark upon my first official year as the Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory, it is incredibly exciting to present our newest season of thrilling performances.”
The Performances
“It is humbling to realize that Koerner Hall will celebrate its 15th birthday on September 25. On that date in 2009 (also the 76th birthday of our most famous alum, Glenn Gould), we opened the doors to one of the great concert halls in the world. Led by the combination of willful persistence of Dr. Peter Simon, the steadfast insistence on excellence of Michael and Sonja Koerner, stunning architecture by Marianne McKenna, and brilliant acoustic design by Robert Essert, the hall remains the venue of choice for hundreds of the world’s greatest musicians from all genres of music and serves as the best classroom on the planet for the students of The Royal Conservatory,” said Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts.
“Since 2009, over 1,300 performances have taken place drawing a combined audience of 1.5 million music lovers. We are also proud to partner with so many arts organizations such as Tafelmusik, Toronto Jazz Festival, Esprit Orchestra, the CBC Massey Lectures, the Giller Prize, Toronto Summer Music, and so many more who make us their home.”
Tanya Talaga: The Knowing (September 23)
Tanya Talaga is an award-winning Anishinaabe author. She is launching her new book, The Knowing, in this event co-presented with RamsayTalks.
In the book, Tanya retells the history of Canada through the lens of the Indigenous peoples, woven into her family history, and the ways that historical oppression still resonates in their communities. She begins with the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter and her family, following their experiences with systemic oppression through the decades.
Mark Sakamoto, author of Forgiveness: A Gift from My Grandparents will interview Talaga to discuss the book in detail.
MSNBC’s Ali Velshi presented in partnership with RamsayTalks (October 15)
Award winning Canadian journalist Ali Velshi is a senior correspondent on economic and business issues for NBC News, and an anchor for MSNBC. He’s also a weekly economics contributor for the NPR show Here And Now. As such, he’s covered many major news events and stories, including several US elections, and war zones from Ukraine and across Central and Eastern Europe during the Russian invasion, among others.
He’ll talk about his book Small Acts of Courage in an interview format. The book tells the story of his own family’s trek from apartheid South Africa to Uganda to Toronto.
Ali will also lend his unique perspective as an insider to the US political scene with a Canadian angle to issues like the current US election, and the future of democracy.
- Both authors will also answer questions from the audience.
Special event to Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation Day (October 1)
Music, stories, drums, dance, and healing laughter will fill the hall as Indigenous artists gather to reflect on the past and give hope to the future for survivors of residential schools. The evening has been curated by Denise Bolduc, with host and storyteller, CBC’s Falen Johnson. The event is part of Culture Days.
The talent lineup is impressive, and includes: Inuk throat singer Tanya Tagaq, performing Qiksaaktuq, from the Inuktitut word for grief — a piece commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Dedicated to missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls, the work was written by Tagaq, Christine Duncan, and Jean Martin.
Also on the bill are soprano Emma Pennell (accompanied by Glenn Gould School faculty pianist David Eliakis), the Manitou Mkwa Singers, and the Royal Conservatory Orchestra conducted by Jennifer Tung.
The Native Canadian Centre will host an Indigenous marketplace in the lobby of Koerner Hall.
- Find out more about Tanya Talaga: The Knowing [HERE], MSNBC’s Ali Velshi [HERE], and Commemorate Truth and Reconciliation with Tanya Tagaq [HERE].
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