{"id":116684,"date":"2025-08-11T14:06:27","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T18:06:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=116684"},"modified":"2025-08-11T16:35:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T20:35:56","slug":"interview-co-founders-johannes-debus-elissa-lee-talk-biglake-festivals-5th-anniversary-launching-august-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/08\/11\/interview-co-founders-johannes-debus-elissa-lee-talk-biglake-festivals-5th-anniversary-launching-august-15\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Co-Founders Johannes Debus & Elissa Lee Talk About Biglake Festival\u2019s 5th Anniversary Launching August 15"},"content":{"rendered":"
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L: Romanian-born violinist Mihaela Martin; M: Festival Co-founders Johannes Debus & Elissa Lee; R: Multi-instrumentalist David Maracle (Photos courtesy of the artists)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Biglake Festival in Ontario\u2019s Prince Edward County kicks off this Friday with a concert by pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico<\/a>. The theme of the concert is part of the larger theme that runs through the 5th anniversary iteration of the Festival \u2014 \u201cHidden Gems\u201d.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a way to explore both traditional and contemporary classical repertoire, with a focus on bringing lesser known composers and works to the fore.<\/p>\n

LvT caught up with Johannes Debus (Co-founder and Artistic Director) and Elissa Lee (Co-founder and Executive Director) for a quick chat before the festival begins.<\/p>\n

Biglake Festival Co-Founders Johannes Debus & Elissa Lee: The 5th Anniversary Season<\/h2>\n

\u201cWell to be honest, when you start off a venture, everyone was advising me […] give yourself three years,\u201d Elissa says. That rule of thumb is said to be a guideline for turning the road towards success, whether it\u2019s a for profit or non-profit endeavour. \u201cI wasn’t thinking anything beyond that to be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s inception, though, the Festival has become a meaningful and impactful partner with the local economy and town. \u201cPeople are invigorated by the concerts,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s a huge sense of pride. We’re very happy with where we are.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she points out, setting up a festival in a largely rural locale with little (if any) infrastructure for music or events was a challenge. \u201cWe had to pivot,\u201d she says. \u201cIt’s been a very creative process.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say it was all smooth sailing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI’ll also be very honest, just like anyone who had those dreams,\u201d Elissa adds, \u201c[…] if I had known how much work it would be, I might have hesitated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Putting on a festival involves an enormous amount of detail and multitasking that, ideally, the average festival-goer will be completely unaware of.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe amount of work that goes on behind the scenes…\u201d Elissa says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s enormous. It really does take a village,\u201d Debus adds. If you\u2019re fortunate, there will be a supportive village waiting to help.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been very lucky,\u201d Elissa says.<\/p>\n

Programming<\/h3>\n

Where does the inspiration come from?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that’s a hard question to answer. It’s a creative process,\u201d Elissa explains. \u201cYou get inspiration from a whole bunch of different areas.\u201d That includes musician friends, connections made, and even life experiences.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ideas percolate over the years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christina Petrowska Quilico<\/strong> has a history of showcasing the work of women and other lesser known artists, and took to the theme immediately.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe’s such a gem herself,\u201d Lee says. \u201cIt’s a bit of her specialty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among other things, the Festival program underscores the connections between music and culture from JUNO Award winning jazz ensemble Avaatar<\/strong> to Haudenosaunee multi-instrumentalist David Maracle.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we are always trying to create a varied program,\u201d Lee says.<\/p>\n

She says she met David Maracle<\/strong> a couple of years ago, and was struck by him both as a person and as an artist. \u201cHe was extremely inspiring as a person,\u201d she says. Maracle will be on stage August 20 in a performance incorporating music and storytelling.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really try not to be entertainment, we want to be a cultural attraction. We want to challenge audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sometimes, that means offering concerts that step outside what is traditionally considered \u201cclassical\u201d. Maracle\u2019s performances of Indigenous fusion lean on his Mohawk Haudenosaunee roots, and incorporate animal and natural sounds like rain, thunder, and the cry of the loon.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome things are outside of the box, but we like to shake things up sometimes,\u201d Lee says.<\/p>\n

Singer-songwriter Madeleine Rogers<\/strong> and The Fretless<\/strong> (Trent Freeman, fiddle\/viola; Karrnnel Sawitsky, fiddle\/viola; Ben Plotnick, fiddle\/viola; Eric Wright, cello) turn the idea of a string quartet on its head, performing intricate arrangements of fiddle and folk tunes with a percussive edge. The show on August 21 is a co-production with Regent Theatre.<\/p>\n

The Festival\u2019s programming mix offers audiences a range of ensembles in different sizes in a variety of venues likewise differing in scale.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s all pretty organic,\u201d Lee says.<\/p>\n

Notable Artists<\/h3>\n

\u201cI would like to focus on Mihaela,\u201d Lee says. \u201cI also found her hugely inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Romanian-born Mihaela Martin<\/strong> is known as both a virtuoso violinist and dedicated educator. She took 2nd Prize at the Tchaikovsky Competition at the age of 19, and went on to a 1st Prize win at the Indianapolis Competition. Her professional career was launched, and has seen her perform on the world\u2019d most renowned states, including Carnegie Hall, appearances with \u00a0the BBC Symphony, the Royal Philharmonic, the Orchestre symphonique de Montr\u00e9al, the Salzburg Mozarteum,\u00a0among others, and at chamber music festival across Europe over the last four decades or more. She has served as a jury member at the Indianapolis, Enescu, and Tchaikovsky competitions, and has taught at the Musikhochschule in Cologne, the Kronberg Academy and the Barenboim-Said Akademie of Berlin, and many other distinguished institutions.<\/p>\n

Elissa says Mihaela is a master when it comes to the work of George Enescu. Martin will be part of the ensemble performing his Octet, Op. 7 to close the Festival on August 23<\/strong>, along with Mendelssohn\u2019s Octet, Op. 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cI approached her because Enescu was a composer who was elusive to me,\u201d Lee says. \u201cI have great respect for the work but I also feel like I don’t understand the language very well,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

Programming a festival can create opportunities for musicians \u2014 and festival organizers \u2014 alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of our missions is also to create playgrounds with the artists as well,\u201d Elissa says. \u201cHer leading the Enescu Octet is something I’m personally looking forward to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johannes Debus will be performing at this year\u2019s festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis will be part of the marathon concert,\u201d Johannes says.<\/p>\n

The Hidden Gems Marathon<\/strong> takes place on August 17<\/strong>, and offers a full day of music from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. It\u2019s broken into three concerts, each featuring a different composer.<\/p>\n