Dear Music Lovers,

Welcome to Scotia Festival of Music 2024! I look forward to sharing this feast of chamber music with you all very soon.

This year, our festival is dedicated to the memory of our founding Artistic Director, Chris Wilcox; you will see Chris's favourites sprinkled throughout these programs. We will honour him with a special free concert on Sunday June 2 at 2:30 p.m. He and I talked about the program just before he died, and he really wanted a concert as a memorial rather than a funeral. Please join us for this very important event.

In no particular order, here are some things that have me excited this year:

• Beloved conductor Alain Trudel returns to conduct our orchestral gala, with music by Mozart, Stravinsky, Ravel and Evangelista.

• CBC host Tom Allen is back too, with a new show about J.S. Bach's early days, containing all the elements of a great story: fights, a quest for knowledge, and love!

• A special outdoor performance on the Northwest Arm, featuring a soundscape created by up-and-coming cellist India Gailey.

• We welcome three brilliant Canadian musicians to the festival for the first time this year: pianist Louise Bessette, who spent several years studying with the great Yvonne Loriod-Messiaen; accordionist Joseph Petric, who has tirelessly created a repertoire for his instrument with dozens of commissions; and Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, who you may have seen in the 2021 film, Messiah Complex, singing Handel in Innutitut.

• Returning favourites include violinists Kerson Leong, Mark Fewer, and Gwen Hoebig; violist Sharon Wei; cellists Cameron Crozman and Blair Lofgren; pianist John Novacek, clarinettist Dominic Desautels, and many more!

• Architek Percussion will join us for several concerts, including Steve Reich's seminal work Drumming, more of an occasion than a piece of music—a deep dive into the world of pure rhythm, and a revelation.

• The first appearance at Scotia Festival by Halifax's international operatic superstar, Jane Archibald.

There are so many ways to enjoy our festival. We offer Pick-4, Pick-8 and Full Festival Passes, which represent great value. Also, check out our dress rehearsal pass, and come to our many masterclasses, which are free this year.

I am always astounded by the dedication and generosity of all the individuals and organizations who help make our festival happen: our staff, Board, volunteers and donors, our billets, our concert sponsors, and our government funders. Thank you all!

After over a year and a half of preparation, we are ready. See you soon!

Simon Docking
Managing and Artistic Director