Orchid Ensemble
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Orchid Ensemble

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


""brightest blossoms on the world music scene""

"One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene is the aptly named Orchid Ensemble, whose exotic and beautiful sounds are rooted in the Chinese tradition but also incorporate elements of New Music and Jazz.¡¨ - Georgia Straight


""excercises of precision invoking the supernatural""

¡§The Orchid Ensemble arrangements are pristine but dreamy, their exploration of tempo and melodic themes excercises of precision invoking the supernatural.¡¨ - Hour, Montreal


"Welcome to Spirit of the East"

Their synthesis of style and mood is a fascinating tapestry of texture and colour.

"weave a sonic trance that takes us along several different points of Marco Polo's world".

"smooth and contemporary, without ever dimishing its solid origins in Chinese classical music. - Toronto Star


"Orchid Nurtures Improvisation"

"The musicianship combines the polish and precision learned through formal training with the expressive freedom acquired from improvisation". - Georgia Straight


Discography

"Road to Kashgar" , nominated for ¡¨World Album of the Year¡¨ by 2005 JUNO Music Award and Outstanding Instrumental Music by Western Canadian Music Award.

Debut CD ¡§Heartland", nominated for Best Global and Best non-Classical Instrumental Music by Westcoast Music Award in 2001.

Both CDs are regularly played on CBC Radio 1,2 and Radio Canada, and Canadian campus radios.

More samples are available at orchidensemble.com
or log on to see live performance at the Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts.

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Orchid Ensemble
Blending ancient musical instruments and traditions from China and beyond, creating a beautiful new sound that is both creative and distinct, the Orchid Ensemble has embraced a variety of musical styles to its repertoire, ranging from the traditional and contemporary music of China, World Music, New Music to jazz and creative improvisation.

Their energetic yet endearing performance style intrigues and delights its audiences, consistently receiving standing ovations. Acclaimed as ¡§rapidly rising stars in the mecca of multi-cultural music¡¨, the Orchid Ensemble has been tirelessly developing an innovative musical genre based on the cultural exchange between Western and Asian musicians.

As a touring ensemble, the Orchid Ensemble gives over 100 performances every year across North America from large cities to remote communities. Highlight of the venues/events include Canada Day Celebration, National Gallery and National Library in Ottawa, the Kennedy Centre for the Arts, Vancouver Folk Festival, Jazz Festival, and Children¡¦s Festival, Ottawa Blues Fest, Montreal¡¦s Centre Pierre ¡V Peladeau, Toronto¡¦s Harbourfront Centre, London¡¦s Sunfest¡K

In addition to appearances in concert halls, the ensemble gives many educational programs for students from elementary to post graduate levels. This has led the ensemble to become an official spokesperson for the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet) in Canada.

As a production organization, the Orchid Ensemble has produced numerous concerts in partnership with the Roundhouse, ProMusica Society, Vancouver Public Library, and Capilano College Theatre to collaborate with musicians from a wide variety of world cultures. Projects included ¡§A Contemporary Chinese New Year¡¨ -premiering new works by Asian Canadian composers, Chinese-Jewish Connection ¡V exploring the influences onto each other dated from 1000 years ago, Road to Kashgar- Silk Road Project with Persian santur player Alan Kushan, and ¡§Orchid Ensemble with Uzume Taiko¡¨. The ensemble actively commissions new works by Canadian and US composers for its unique instrumentation and receives assistance from the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council.

The Orchid Ensemble is currently working on a new production ¡§Road to Kashgar¡¨ in collaboration with the Roundhgouse, featuring its latest multi-media commission by artist Donna Szoke. The Orchid Ensemble will perform in an interactive immersive video and animated still imagery environment, a backdrop suggesting the unlimited space of the legendary Silk Road. The premiere is scheduled for 8pm September 16, 2005 at the Roundhouse¡¦s Performance Centre. www.orchidensemble.com

Their synthesis of style and mood is a fascinating tapestry of texture and colour. Toronto Star.

¡K the crowd was enthralled by the exotic nature of the music and the ability of the ensemble to transcend cultural differences to bring them a thoroughly enjoyable musical experience. Kalamazoo Gazette, MI, USA

¡§The Orchid Ensemble arrangements are pristine but dreamy, their exploration of tempo and melodic themes excercises of precision invoking the supernatural.¡¨ Hour, Montreal

¡§One of the brightest blossoms on the world music scene is the aptly named Orchid Ensemble, whose exotic and beautiful sounds are rooted in the Chinese tradition but also incorporate elements of New Music and Jazz.¡¨ Georgia Straight