705 416-1317 [email protected]
Ian Cusson

Ian Cusson

Ian Cusson

COMPOSER

Ian Cusson is a composer of art song, opera and orchestral work. Of Métis (Georgian Bay Métis Community) and French Canadian descent, his work explores Canadian Indigenous experience including the history of the Métis people, the hybridity of mixed-racial identity, and the intersection of Western and Indigenous cultures. 

He studied composition with Jake Heggie (San Francisco) and Samuel Dolin, and piano with James Anagnoson at the Glenn Gould School. He is the recipient of the Chalmers Professional Development Grant, and grants through the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, the Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council and the Toronto Arts Council. 

Ian was an inaugural Carrefour Composer-in-Residence with the National Arts Centre Orchestra for 2017-2019 and was Composer-in-Residence for the Canadian Opera Company for 2019-2021. He was a Co-artistic Director of Opera in the 21st Century at the Banff Centre and the recipient of the 2021 Jan V. Matejcek Classical Music Award from SOCAN and the 2021 Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize. Ian is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers.

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US

Lydia Adams

Lydia Adams

Lydia Adams

COMPOSER

Lydia Adams, hailed by the Canadian Music Centre as “the new leading exponent of the Canadian choral composer,” has dedicated her career to Canadian choral music. She is Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers, national leaders in commissioning, premièring, and recording Canadian choral works. In 2016, she was appointed director of the Western University Singers.

A native of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, she studied at Mount Allison University, the Royal College of Music, and the National Opera Studio in London. She has conducted works by leading Canadian composers and toured extensively, recently leading the world’s first Cree opera, Pimooteewin: The Journey. An innovative programmer, she has championed over 50 new commissions in 13 years.

Ms. Adams has been recognized by the City of Scarborough, the Ontario Choral Federation, and the Women’s International Network. She holds honorary doctorates from Mount Allison University and Cape Breton University. Among her many accolades, she won the Ontario Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Arts (2013), the Parks Canada CEO Award for Excellence (2016), and the Roy Thomson Hall Award of Recognition (2012).

2023 marked her 25th anniversary as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Elmer Iseler Singers. On June 30, 2023, she was awarded the Order of Canada for her distinguished contributions to arts and culture.

 

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US

Geoffrey James

Geoffrey James

Geoffrey James

RECORDING ARTIST

Third Development was born out of a burning desire to create art at a time where there was (is) nowhere to go but ‘within’. Lead band member Geoffrey James sat down to compose and perform what became Third Development’s debut album, The Thought of Tomorrow, a blend of 80s infused synth and 90s inspired electronica to create a soundtrack for a life of optimism and hope. It may be a dreamer’s goal but at the very least, the songs set out to provide a few moments of reprieve from the stress and chaos of the outside world, an idyllic state for both the mind, body and soul.

“There are so many divisions in our world right now and I want to break down some of those barriers through music.” says James, “We are all human, we are one species and in my own small way, I can show that through music, we can all come together.” 

The album quickly lays down a mood that is introspective and often exotic. It ebbs and flows between instrumental beats and atmospheric vocals from Manchester-based @kintsuku; floating between upbeat and hopeful to downtempo and thought-provoking. The album’s arc touches on the emotions and questions we feel deep within ourselves. Lyrically it unpacks feelings of fear, doubt, and discomfort. Poetically it portrays the discovery of joy, comfort, and the complexities of the human spirit. “Music brings people together. I want my music to be shared because I want to extend the message of happiness; to share a positive feeling in the face of uncertainty and help listeners find escape in the music… if only for a few moments”.

Geoffrey began reaching out to artists in North America and Europe to collaborate on lyrics, vocals, and production; creating a sound that is both powerful and rich. Motivated by the band’s aspirations, Third Development has inspired artists to connect and collaborate; building a beautiful repository of performance art through song, dance, illustration and more. These artists have been stirring to the sounds of light and gravitating towards the creative energy that is Geoffrey James and the Third Development platform.

So far, Third Development has worked with talent such as Grammy-Winning, and 3-time 2020 Grammy-nominated Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar, NYC, Mix Engineer & Producer Sara Fedi, Italy, and vocalist, Kintsuku, U.K.. The surreal, fantasy-like, album artwork is by artist Eden Redpath, Houston, Texas. Compelled to reach further, Third Development continues to create with new artists, expanding their reach globally with one goal: inspire and be inspired by providing a platform to create and collaborate. And while his contributing artists may change, and the sounds may differ, he will continue on his optimistic mission of unity; helping others find their inner light and connection through music. 

THE MISSION

Third Development’s music is meant to be shared, to travel far and be heard by many.

Visit ThirdDevelopment.com for more information.

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US

Gail Nemetz Robinson

Gail Nemetz Robinson

Dr. Gail Nemetz Robinson

SPEAKER

Dr. Gail Nemetz Robinson, (Ph.D., Stanford University), is Professor of Linguistics, San Diego State University, and was Founding Director of its Language Acquisition Resource Center as one of the nation’s first three National Language Centers funded through the U.S. Congress. Her international experience as former Language Research Specialist with SONY, Japan, and the New South Wales Dept. of Education, Australia, lend broad perspectives to communication dilemmas and solutions, with a focus on promoting peace. Her most recent book is: Peaceful Conversations: Preventing Conflict in Communication. For a sample of her other publications & contact information, click: https://gailnemetzrobinson.com/

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US

Cris Derksen

Cris Derksen

Cris Derksen

ELECTRIC CELLO

Juno nominated Cris Derksen, originally from Northern Alberta, Canada, is an internationally respected Indigenous cellist and composer. Derksen braids the traditional and contemporary, weaving her classical background and her Indigenous ancestry together with new school electronics to create genre-defying music. As a composer she has her foot in many worlds working in choral, symphonic, film, theatre and dance, with a new commission from the Calgary Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra premiering in 2020. As a performer Derksen performs nationally and internationally. Recent destinations include Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, Europe, Mexico and a whole lot of Canada: the place Derksen refers to as home.

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US

Daniel Mehdizadeh

Daniel Mehdizadeh

Dr. Daniel Mehdizadeh

COMPOSER

Dr. Daniel Mehdizadeh (DMA, University of Toronto) is currently based in the Greater Toronto Area and is the Composer-in-Residence for the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO). He has been involved in both national and international festival series. He is regularly commissioned and holds numerous performances in Europe and North America. His works have had global exposure and have been broadcasted across Canada and the US including appearance as guest composer on CBC Radio. Mehdizadeh is the founder and artistic director of East Chamber Music (ECM), an international Emerging Composer Festival Series, focusing on mentorship and intensive writing skills for early and mid-career composers. For more visit www.danielmehdizadeh.com

Collingwood Music Festival
115 Hurontario St. Suite 200
Collingwood, ON
L9Y 2L9
[email protected]

Office: (705) 416-1317

Charitable Registration
#749171088RR0001

WE'RE SOCIAL FOLLOW US