We are happy to share that Hyacinth by Cecilia Livingston will be added to the ACNMP syllabus for voice. Please check out her bio and website linked below!

Known for music that asks “slow burning, sometimes fiery questions” (The New York Times), Cecilia Livingston specializes in composing for voice. She is composer-in-residence at the Canadian Opera Company (2022-) and was composer-in-residence at Glyndebourne (2019-22). Her music is driven by melody, mixing styles to create work that is lyrical and unsettling, and her work has been heard at Glyndebourne, Teatro Colón, Teatro Carlo Felice, Bang on a Can’s summer festival, Toronto’s Nuit Blanche festival, in recital at Carnegie Hall, the Barbican, and the Kennedy Center, with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Tafelmusik, and Soundstreams, and is available on recording from Deutsche Grammophon. Cecilia is represented by Stratagem Artists in New York.

We are pleased to add Jodi Penner’s work Urban Summer to the updated version of the ACNMP’s vocal syllabus!

Jodi Penner has performed extensively in opera, musical theatre and solo recitals as well as BBC radio dramas and TV. She is an accomplished soloist and actor with many performing credits around the world including United States, Canada, Scotland, Russia, Italy, Austria, and Bolivia. Jodi, originally from California, just finished the Doctorate of Music in Choral Conducting and Voice Performance at the University of Alberta studying with Timothy Shantz and John Tessier researching Bolivian Baroque music from the Jesuit missions. She obtained her Master of Music in voice at the University of Alberta (2011) and her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Liberty University, VA, (1997).

She has sung the National Anthem at Candlestick Park for the Giants in 1992 and 1993 July 4th games and also was featured as a young artist with the Redwood Symphony in California singing Chants d’ Auvergne. She has performed roles with Opera Roanoke, Operafestival di Roma, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Rosebud Theatre, and has sung with Canadian Chamber Choir, Edmonton Opera Chorus, i Coristi, Pro Coro, Bella Baroque, Entrecantos, Orquesta Filarmónica, Trio Internaciónal and Bachfest in Bolivia.

She has performed in Cotton Patch Gospel, A Funny Thing Happened…, St. Nick’s Magical Mystical Mystery Tour, Candide, as well as the roles of Romilda in Handels’ Serse, Papagena and First Lady in the Magic Flute, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Valencienne in the Merry Widow, Rosabella in The Most Happy Fella and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. 

Ms. Penner is also active as a recitalist and has collaborated with pianist Connie Canfield and Mezzo-Soprano Caitlin MacRae in a recital tour of Alberta and British Columbia, pianist Jeremy Spurgeon, pianist Robin Philips (South Africa), pianist Magda Adamek, pianist Alicia Torrea (Spain), classical guitarist Alberto Puerto (Cuba), pianist Yuliya Ogurstova (Ukraine), and Trio Internaciónal. Jodi also premiered a song cycle by Chilean composer Raimundo Gonzales based on his music research in the Amazon rainforest.

Ms. Penner is a recipient of several NATS regional competition awards, the Beryl Barnes Award, Johann Strauss Award, Carol Mallet Award, The Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship and Canada Council for the Arts Grant, she also had the honour to attend the Franz Schubert Institute in Austria for the advanced study of Lieder. 

Her teaching credits include Prairie Bible College, Rosebud School of the Arts, Interim Head of Music at Rosebud School of the Arts, University of Alberta, Universidad Evangelica de Bolivia as well as being co-founder of Arts Alive in Kneehill.

Jodi’s solo albums entitled Tree in a Storm (2007) and Cielos Azules de Ensueños (2018) have both received great reviews. 

Recently, she has directed The Santa Cruz International Community Choir, Escuela de Music de Santiago de Chiquitos, and Coro Filarmonica de Santa Cruz.

Jodi has been teaching voice for 24 years in U.S., Canada and Bolivia, choral Teaching Artist with YONA-Sistema in Edmonton, Assistant Conductor with Richard Eaton Singers, and conducted the Voces Alegres Choir and Ensemble in Edmonton. She is also active in the National Association of Teachers of Singing- Edmonton Chapter.

Our annual general meeting will be held on Sunday, September 15th at 6pm Eastern Time. This is when you can get updates on the activities of the past year, give feedback, and if you are interested in becoming more involved with ACNMP you can! This year the meeting is completely online.

Send an email to info@acnmp.ca for your link or if you have any questions!

Now and Then, a new solo piano work by composer John Estacio was commissioned by Contemporary Showcase Edmonton Society with the assistance of an anonymous donor to recognize the incredible contributions of Gladys Odegard.  Odegard was a founding member of Edmonton CS and through her many years of service, has fostered Canadian music and promoted its development and enjoyment.

Gladys’ vision was to have a work written to highlight and honour the extensive efforts of students, parents and teachers to maintain music studies throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The work is in 3 movements to show the three stages of pandemic life: before; during; and in better days ahead.

“John Estacio was the first clinician for the Young Composers’ Program which was organized in Edmonton in 1994 and continues to this day.  His ability to create a positive learning environment for young students and his ability to show them how to use the entire keyboard in their compositions was breath-taking.  He was a natural choice to be the composer for this commission.  We owe him our deep gratitude and thanks for accepting the commission request.”                                                        -Gladys Odegard, March 2022

The copyright states that the score of Now and Then may be downloaded for use at this year’s 2022 Contemporary Showcase Festivals.  After that, the work will be available through the Canadian Music Centre.

The level of this multi-movement work is as follows:

– any single movement: Grade 6. (Note that the 3rd movement would need an advanced, motivated Gr. 6 student)

Jean Collins, a dedicated ACNMP Board Member and member of Contemporary Showcase Toronto’s Festival Committee, passed away on February 3, 2022 at Kelowna General Hospital.

ACNMP President Jill Kelman and the Board Members are very sorry to hear of Jean’s passing. Please visit here for her obituary. 

Jean Collins was one of ACNMP  Contemporary Showcase’s strongest and enthusiastic advocates . I met Jean while we both served on ACNMP’s board and later part of Toronto Centre’s festival committee. I will fondly remember Jean’s boundless energy, warm smile and sparkling eyes. Her sage advice regarding the growth and expansion of our organization was much appreciated by all who were in her presence. Although dear Jean has not actively participated these past few years, her positive impact on ACNMP will remain permanent.  -Janet Fothergill (CSF- Toronto Centre festival committee)

Jean was a warm and steady presence in ACNMP/Contemporary Showcase Toronto Centre for many years.  Reliable and committed, Jean was happy to be in the background doing the important and hard work that comes with volunteerism.  I will remember the many conversations we had as we travelled downtown to 20 St. Joseph Street and the RCM, together.  She was a strong advocate for Canadian music and for creating opportunities for those less advantaged. Her humbleness and dedication to lifelong learning are an inspiration. – Wendy Potter (CSF -Toronto Centre Festival committee)