Ottawa Chamberfest will be back this summer, showcasing the beauty and breadth of chamber music from July 18 to July 27. Chamberfest looks to offer a wide range of interpretations of what the genre can be, bringing old and new, tradition and cutting edge innovation together.
The performers range from festival favourites like Julie Nesrallah, trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann Gryphon Trio, Cree cellist Cris Derksen, and Ottawa-born cellist Bryan Cheng with festival newcomers like Montréal-based jazz pianist Taurey Butler, legendary violinist Shunske Sato, British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six, and pianist-comedian Sarah Hagen.
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada also joins the festival lineup to celebrate their 65th birthday.,
“Chamberfest is a celebration of what makes Canada’s music scene extraordinary,” says Artistic Director Carissa Klopoushak in a statement. “This year, we honour our musical roots while championing bold ideas and fresh voices. It’s about legacy, collaboration, and a future that shines even brighter.”
Here’s a look at just some of the highlights.
The Ironwood Quartet perform with pianist Philip Chiu at Ottawa Chamberfest 2024:
Ottawa Chamberfest 2025: Highlights
Signature Series
The Signature Series features prominent Canadian and international artists in four cornerstone concerts that celebrate collaboration.
Torch Songs & Deco Dreams: Julie Nesrallah (July 19)
Mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah leads a program of torch songs from the 1920s to the 1950s, including French and South American repertoire in new chamber arrangements performed by an 11-piece ensemble. The Gryphon Trio and pianist Katherine Dowling will make a special appearance.
The Planets and their Musical Moons (July 23)
Mezzo-soprano Wallis Giunta, and pianists Suren Barry and Carson Becke were all born in Ottawa, and they return (from Vienna, Montreal, and Wakefield, respectively) for an unusual take on Gustav Holst’s The Planets. It includes a two-piano arrangement of Holst’s suite, together with art songs, opera excerpts, and works for voice and two pianos that express the astrological spirit of each planet.
Mozart & Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: Shunske Sato (July 26)
Based in The Netherlands, violinist, conductor, chamber musician, soloist and teacher Shunske Sato is renowned for his work in period ensembles, as well as with symphonic orchestras as a musician. He’s making his debut at Chamberfest to lead the Chamberfest Festival Orchestra and perform Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante.
Canadiana: Jens Lindemann, Taurey Butler & Friends play Oscar Peterson and more (July 23)
The program for this concert focuses on the ways that landscapes, culture, and a sense of invention influence music. It includes Haydn’s Trumpet Concert, which was inspired by Anton Weidinger’s then-new valved trumpet; David Bruce’s Gumboots, a chamber work inspired by South African dance; and Oscar Peterson’s Canadiana Suite. Pianist Taurey Butler joins Lindemann on trumpet.
Marina Kun Series
The Marina Kun Series showcases Canadian and international chamber musicians in intimate performances.
Gryphon Trio (July 19)
The Gryphon Trio — violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon, cellist Roman Borys, and pianist Jamie Parker — make a return to Chamberfest with a new program titled Breathe. They’ll be performing music by contemporary composers Reena Esmail and Paul Wiancko, along with Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D Minor as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.
National Youth Orchestra of Canada: 65th Anniversary Tour (July 20)
Led by conductor Naomi Woo, the NYO Canada performs a program that includes Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute, followed by Debussy’s La Mer and Mahler’s Symphony No. 5.
Introducing Schmaltz & Pepper (July 21)
Toronto-based Schmaltz & Pepper play original compositions that put together elements of klezmer, Yiddish Swing, jazz, and classical music. The ensemble was founded by Toronto Symphony Orchestra principal clarinetist Eric Abramovitz and violinist Rebekah Wolkstein, with Grammy-nominated violinist Drew Jurecka, JUNO-nominated bassist Michael Herring, and JUNO-winning pianist Jeremy Ledbetter,
Tchaikovsky & Brahms Sextets: Bryan Cheng, Theresa Rudolph and Ironwood Quartet (July 22)
Prize-winning cellist Bryan Cheng and TSO assistant principal violist Theresa Rudolph join the Ironwood Quartet for a concert of lush late-Romantic music.
Illia Ovcharenko with Ironwood Quartet (July 23)
2022 Honens Laureate Illia Ovcharenko joins the Ironwood Quartet for a concert of Ukrainian and German Romantic repertoire. It includes five Preludes by Ukrainian composer Boris Lyatoshynsky, followed by Beethoven’s 7th Symphony second movement (as arranged by Liszt) and Schumann’s Études, which were inspired by Beethoven. The finale will be Schumann’s virtuosic Piano Quintet in E-flat Major.
Montréal Guitare Trio (July 25)
Montréal Guitare Trio celebrates their new album honouring film composer Ennio Morricone. The program features their new arrangements of scores from The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, and others, along with old favourites from the guitar repertoire.
The Gesualdo Six: Wishing Tree (July 26)
British vocal ensemble The Gesualdo Six perform a program titled The Wishing Tree, which weaves together Renaissance choral works with contemporary music in a celebration of nature and love.
Chamberfringe Series
The Chamberfringe series takes an adventurous approach to performances that includes unexpected collaborations in a late night format.
Montréal Horn Stars (July 18)
Montréal Horn Stars are a brass quintet, and they’ll be offering up their own arrangements of classical, pop, and jazz music, including improvisations.
Bytown Sea Shanty Collective (July 19)
The Bytown Sea Shanty Collective is an Ottawa-based a cappella vocal quartet, and they’ll be performing both traditional and their own original sea shanties. Warning: a singalong may occur.
Awasowin: Cris Derksen & Friends (July 24)
JUNO-nominated cellist Cris Derksen has developed a unique voice by blending classical music training with Indigenous traditions, and electronic elements. She’ll be presenting a new project.
Comedy night with Sarah Hagen: Perk up, Pianist! (July 25)
Canadian pianist Sarah Hagen, a classical soloist, chamber musician, and comedian, blends works by Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt with laugh-out-loud stories gleaned from the life of a touring concert musician.
Jens Lindemann and friends: Tribute to Trumpet Greats (July 26)
Trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann blends classical and jazz repertoire in a tribute to icons of the instrument, including Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, and Doc Severinsen. He’ll be backed by a rhythm section.
More Music….
Ottawa Chamberfest includes many more events. Here’s a look at the other concert series in brief.
- Midday Matinée Series — Daytime concerts featuring a combination of emerging and established stars in local venues.
- Beechwood Series — Outdoor performances on Sunday mornings in the Sacred Space at Beechwood Cemetery.
- New Music Now Series — Shines a spotlight on Canadian voices in contemporary music, including premieres and celebrations, and the work of Vincent Ho, Kelly-Marie Murphy, Stephen Gellman and others.
- Prime Time Series — Up close performances in the National Arts Centre’s airy Rossy Pavilion featuring renowned Canadian artists. This series is designed especially for Pass Prime holders seeking a deeper festival experience.
- And… — There’s a host of free community programming, the Kids! series, pop up performance, masterclasses and much more.
Find tickets and more details about Ottawa Chamberfest [HERE].
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