News

Orchestra will kick off 2023-24 season with performance at Tis The Season Christmas extravaganza

Nov. 17, 2023: The dynamic talents of Tutta Musica Orchestra, New Brunswick’s newest professional orchestra, will bring a new depth and sound to The Riverview Arts Centre in 2023-24 when the 60- member group showcases their musicality with three feature performances.

Tutta Musica Orchestra, comprised of the teaching artists of Sistema New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, will play several pieces and accompany other performers at the Tis The Season event to kick off the season. The curtain will rise at 2 p.m. on Nov. 26.

Antonio Delgado, conductor for both Tutta Musica and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, said the Christmas concert will be a great display of the versatility of the adult orchestra.

“We will add new colour to this show, a tradition at the Riverview Arts Centre. The concert will sound different as the orchestra plays with each artist,” Delgado said. “The name Tutta Musica means all music. We love to play and experiment with different musical forms.”

Tis The Season will also feature fiddle legends Ivan and Vivian Hicks and the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers; Fundy Ceilidh’s unique blend of traditional Celtic, modern, and creative pieces; Canadian contemporary folk singer-songwriter Cameron Molloy; Shane Douthwright’s rich, country-inspired voice and original music; and Samantha Robichaud, a prolific recording artist known for her spirited fiddling, brilliant vocals, and engaging stage presence.

Delgado welcomed the chance to perform in front of an audience that might not atend a traditional classical music performance.

“It’s an honour to be playing with these artists. Ivan (Hicks) is already a living legend. I know Samantha (Robichaud), she’s an amazing artist... the Fundy Ceilidh performs incredible Celtic music. It’s going to be a very entertaining concert and we are eager to add our flavour to the mix.”

Tutta Musica’s instructors create opportunities for over 1,000 young musicians throughout the province. The performers’ “day job” of encouraging musical talent gives the musicians the ability to collaborate across genres, making live orchestral music accessible, engaging, and relevant to their audience.

The founders of Tis The Season event, Ivan and Vivian Hicks, are eager to perform with the orchestra.

“This is the first time the Sussex Avenue Fiddlers have played with an orchestra,” Hicks said. “I have played with Tutta Musica before... We ‘re an old-time fiddle group, it’s great to see and hear an orchestral flavouring to our music.”

The veteran musical performer said recordings don’t compare to the spectacle of live music.

“There’s a difference between a live show and something you see on video.... Music is the greatest communicator you can have,” Hicks said.

Julie Hopkins, executive director of the Riverview Arts Centre said Tutta Musica’s involvement in Tis the Season will bring a new level to a beloved and anticipated Christmas tradition.

“It’s a fabulous way to get into the Christmas spirit.... These are all New Brunswick artists, and I think it’s important to support our own arts and culture,” Hopkins said.

Tickets are available at the Riverview Arts Centre website (riverviewartscentre.ca). Concert goers are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to local food banks.

Tutta Musica tributes to Broadway musicals and classic film music are planned for April and May at the Riverview Arts Centre.

-30-

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/tuttamusicanb

The following individuals are available for interviews:
Jim Tranquilla, Tutta Musica Orchestra General Manager
Tony Delgado, NBYO and Tutta Musica Conductor & Music Director