Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

In this UVic faculty concert, violist Joanna Hood is joined by guests Christi Meyers (violin) and Amy Laing (cello) to perform Dmitry Sitkovetsky’s innovative arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach's famous Goldberg Variations.

Originally composed for harpsichord, this arrangement was created by the Russian violinist and conductor Sitkovetsky in 1984 to mark the 300th anniversary of Bach's birth. It is often praised for its ability to showcase Bach’s genius in a new light, emphasizing the timeless and adaptable nature of his music.

The string trio version allows for expressive phrasing and dynamic contrasts that are different from those possible on the keyboard. Each instrument in the trio takes on different roles, from leading melodic lines to providing harmonic support, making the piece highly interactive and engaging.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Joanna Hood was the violist of Canada’s Lafayette String Quartet, comprised of the four original members for thirty-seven years. As Associate Professor at UVic, she teaches viola and chamber music and leads the school’s baroque ensemble. Hood plays with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, is principal violist with the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and is a co-founder of the Victoria based new music ensemble Tsilumos. She was the violist of the Loma Mar Quartet and the DNA Quintet, frequently played with The Orchestra of St. Luke's (in New York City) and was a founding member of the LA based new music quartet, Eclipse.

Originally from Nanaimo, BC, cellist Amy Liang earned her Bachelor of Music from the HARID Conservatory and a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Before returning to Vancouver Island in 2020, she was Principal Cellist of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and played with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, and others. Amy has performed with pop artists like Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder. Now on Vancouver Island, she plays with the Victoria Symphony and Victoria Baroque and teaches at the Nanaimo and Victoria Conservatories of Music.

Christi Meyers, an accomplished violinist in both modern and baroque styles, has been Assistant Concertmaster of the Victoria Symphony since 2001 and regularly appears as a soloist. She co-founded Victoria Baroque, plays with Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and is first violinist of the Odyssey String Quartet. Christi also teaches at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Since 2021, she has been the Artistic Director of Township Classics, a chamber music series supporting young musicians in Victoria. Born in Montreal and raised in Alberta, she holds music performance degrees from McGill and Western Universities.

Tickets: Pay What You Can $12-$35