{"id":113946,"date":"2025-04-30T13:53:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T17:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=113946"},"modified":"2025-05-02T11:58:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T15:58:29","slug":"preview-etobicoke-philharmonic-orchestra-celebrates-spring-concert-humber-polytechnic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/04\/30\/preview-etobicoke-philharmonic-orchestra-celebrates-spring-concert-humber-polytechnic\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra Celebrates Spring In Concert & A New Relationship With Humber Polytechnic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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L-R: Soprano Natalya Gennadi (Photo courtesy of the artist); Music Director Matthew Jones conducts the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra (Photo courtesy of EPO); EPO Music Director Matthew Jones (Photo courtesy of EPO)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There may still be a chill in the air in Toronto, but the Etobicoke Philharmonic will be celebrating spring with a concert. Ukrainian-Canadian soprano Natalya Gennadi performs as a soloist in the mixed program.<\/p>\n

The concert, titled Jubilations of Spring, takes place on Friday, May 9 at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, with a Saturday matinee on May 10 at the brand-new Humber Cultural Hub Recital Hall.<\/p>\n

We spoke to EPO Music Director Matthew Jones and bassoonist Dorothy Ward, along with soprano Natalya Gennedi, about the upcoming concert, and the new relationship with Humber Polytechnic.<\/p>\n

EPO & Humber Polytechnic<\/h3>\n

EPO is developing a relationship with Humber Polytechnic, whose Lakeshore Campus is in the midst of a transformation into a centre for arts and culture. While the revitalization project is still underway, EPO’s Saturday afternoon concert will take place in its brand new recital hall.<\/p>\n

Eventually, the Humber Cultural Hub<\/a> will offer film, media and other performances for audiences, as well as becoming a centre for fostering the next generation of talent. The development comes as a refreshing contrast at a time when many other educational institutions<\/a> are drastically cutting back and even eliminating music and other arts programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Humber Polytechnic, already known for its jazz department, is expanding its orchestral music offerings. EPO Music Director Matthew Jones was instrumental in bringing Humber and the orchestra together to discuss EPO becoming the in-house orchestra for a new concert hall (yet to be built), among other details.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom my side of things, from the orchestra’s side of things, we’re always looking not only to develop our audience but our future players,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n

The proposed relationship would offer students performance and other opportunities while showcasing EPO and its work. \u201cWe get to go into their environment,\u201d he says. \u201cI love things that are win-win.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re very nascent in this relationship,\u201d adds EPO bassoonist Dorothy Ward. The orchestra has already worked with Humber and its students for a few years on specific projects, including for a 2023 performance titled Cultural Cabaret. As she points out, it\u2019s not only about making musical intersections, but about fostering a sense of community. A Venezuelan student created arrangements for the 2023 performance that saw the symphony perform with a rap artist, and others have worked on marketing initiatives for EPO.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe musical intersections have already started,\u201d Ward says.<\/p>\n

Jones says a proposed larger concert hall which would become EPO\u2019s new home will be a multifunctional space, encouraging collaborations with disciplines outside strictly music, including video, multimedia, and theatre.<\/p>\n

Jones also sees the discussions with Humber as allowing the orchestra to move forward. He points out that orchestras are, on average, somewhat behind the curve when it comes to using technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe access to the technology that Humber wants, will also move us forward as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been in touch with Humber as the work progresses. \u201cWe were very pleased and impressed with what’s going on,\u201d he says of the work so far at Humber. \u201cI think EPO deserves a new place to play,\u201d he adds. \u201cI’m really, really pleased to see this one coming.<\/p>\n

Natalya Gennadi<\/h3>\n

Ukrainian-Canadian soprano Natalya Gennadi earned a Dora Mavor Award nomination for her debut in Tapestry Opera\u2019s Oksana G in 2017.<\/p>\n

As the 2024 recipient of the New Voices mentorship program grant with Soundstreams, Natalya produced, performed, and also designed video, sound, and costumes, for a piece titled Grandma\u2019s Shawl<\/a>, which explored the connections between Ukrainian and Indigenous people in Canada in the early 20th century.<\/p>\n

Earlier this year, she sang the role of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus with the Stratford Orchestra, and in June, she will sing soprano solo in Verdi\u2019s Requiem with the Kindred Spirits Orchestra, Orpheus Choir of Toronto, and Resound Choir.<\/p>\n

During her time as the 2023 Civic Engagement Artist in Residence with Pacific Opera Victoria, Natalya produced a number of multimedia digital and live projects, including an autobiographical short film Natalya with a Y, which became a finalist in the Noteworthy Project nomination at the Opera America Digital Excellence Awards 2024.<\/p>\n

Her own experiences in the world of opera so far have reinforced the importance of multimedia collaborations, like her Natalya with a Y<\/a> short film, which used puppetry, AI, CGI, and stop motion animation, among other elements. \u201cI wanted to try many things,\u201d she says of the experience.<\/p>\n

The autobiographical film touches on themes of immigration, motherhood, and what success truly looks like. \u201cIt’s funny, it’s sad,\u201d she says. In the film, a young immigrant comes to Canada with dreams of becoming a big opera star. \u201cYears later… she’s holding sweaters in a retail shop,\u201d she laughs.<\/p>\n

But, it points to the notion that success means being who you are with a sense of authenticity, and to sing for your people.<\/p>\n

\u201cI live in Etobicoke, and I sing in this place,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Repertoire<\/h3>\n

At Spring Jubilation, Gennadi will be performing Adele’s Laughing Song, and Kl\u00e4nge der Heimat (Sounds of my homeland) from Johann Strauss\u2019 Die Fledermaus<\/strong>, along with \u2018We\u2019ll Gather Lilacs in the Spring\u2019 by Welsh composer Ivor Novello<\/strong>, from the musical romance Perchance to Dream and \u2018There will be a Storm Tonight\u2019 from Filumena<\/strong>, a Canadian-made opera composed by John Estacio<\/strong>, with a libretto by John Murrell<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Natalya\u2019s looking forward to the concert. \u201cI am in the spring mode,\u201d she says. \u201cI call it a journey,\u201d she says of the repertoire she\u2019ll perform, which ranges from Vienna to Saskatchewan and places in between.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe centre of gravity for the program is Schumann,\u201d Jones says.<\/p>\n

The composer himself dubbed his first symphonic work a \u201cFr\u00fchlings Symphonie\u201d (Spring Symphony), and he completed it within a month. It was composed between January and February \u2014 anticipating spring, in other words, rather than revelling in it fully. It premiered on March 31, 1841.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is a pretty robust piece of music,\u201d Jones adds. \u201cIt’s quite joyous.\u201d<\/p>\n

The last EPO concert, he points out, featured Shostakovich\u2019s Symphony No. 10, a piece full of the composer\u2019s fears and bitterness over the Stalin regime.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn’t want to leave them for the summer with Shostakovich 10,\u201d he laughs. Schumann\u2019s No. 1, while essentially a more upbeat piece, also explores spring in all its often messy glory. \u201cIt’s complicated music,\u201d Matthew adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is his first symphony. A lot of first symphonies aren’t as refined as this one out of the gate \u2014 I think it’s an amazing premonition of what is to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

Composer Alice Ho<\/strong> will be on hand to hear the orchestra perform her piece Jubilations of Spring. The piece is inspired by a Chinese legend, and is scored for strings and percussion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we’re really lucky that she’s joining us,\u201d Jones says.<\/p>\n