The Isabel 2024/25 Brochure

24 

25 

THE 

ISABEL 

AT 10 

INSPIRATION 

AND ALLIANCES 

SEASON BENEFACTOR 

Estate of Alexander Murray Jeffery 

PERFORMANCE BENEFACTOR 

Jennifer Velva Bernstein Memorial Fund

THE ISABEL AT 10—INSPIRATION AND ALLIANCES 

Meta4 

Imani Winds 

Nicolas Altstaedt 

Fazil Say 

Melissa White 

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queensu.ca/theisabel 

We are delighted to present the Isabel’s upcoming 2024-2025 tenth 

anniversary season which promises to be a truly exciting celebration. The 

season has been curated around the theme of “Inspiration and Alliances,” 

the intent of which is to celebrate inspirational retrospectives from the 

past ten years, and to explore perspectives for innovative future directions 

in programming at the Isabel over the next ten years and beyond. 

Building on “Inspiration and Alliances,” the season includes performances 

by returning artists, along with new and diverse artists. We are thrilled 

to welcome back to the Isabel in June and July 2024 the National Youth 

Orchestra of Canada for their residency and concert on July 18, which 

officially launches their national tour, and is a bonus event for Early Bird subscribers. Other returning 

ensembles in the coming season are Les Violons du Roy with soprano Karina Gauvin and contralto 

Marie-Nicole Lemieux, and Tafelmusik, in a special concert dedicated to Tricia Baldwin, beloved 

former Director of the Isabel. We are also delighted to welcome back the legendary Branford Marsalis, 

pianists Angela Hewitt and Bruce Liu, alongside a debut performance by pianist Misha Dichter. 

In addition, we are proud to present debut performances by a diverse array of artists: pianist 

Megumi Masaki, cellist Nicolas Altstaedt with pianist Fazil Say, violinist Melissa White with pianist 

Pallavi Mahidhara, pianist Michelle Cann with the Imani Winds, the Viano String Quartet with 

guitarist MILOŠ, The Kingdom Choir, singer Andrea Baker and composer, conductor, and keyboard 

player Howard Moody, VOCES8, Meta4, Près de votre oreille, and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain. 

A highlight of the coming season will be a three-day residency and performance by the Vancouver 

Chamber Choir in March, followed by a performance at the end of that month by the Vancouver 

Symphony Orchestra. 

Indigenization continues to be an important priority in the upcoming season with September 

performances by Inuk opera singer Deantha Edmunds with Inuit throat singers, Sylvia Cloutier 

and Nancy Mike with the New Orford String Quartet, followed by Jeremy Dutcher featuring music 

from his new recording. 

We are especially pleased to announce the re-naming of the Isabel’s Karen Hitchcock Rehearsal Hall 

as the Karen Hitchcock Recital Hall, which will align with the increased use of this wonderful space 

for performances as well as rehearsals. In the upcoming season, the Isabel will offer a new Friday series 

of four concerts featuring local artists performing in this intimate setting. 

Viano String Quartet 

Over its first ten years, the Isabel’s series programming has expanded and this growth has embraced 

the increasingly critical realities of Indigenization-Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism. 

In the words of the Isabel’s first Director, Jerry Doiron in the Fall of 2014, “The Isabel will become 

a consummate storytelling space—stories that will reveal the human condition for what it is: 

complex, often confusing and ever beautiful.” 

We are ever grateful for the gift of this special place, its traditions, and exciting potential for the 

future as we highlight inspirations and alliances in the Isabel’s tenth season. 

Gordon E. Smith, Interim Director 

Bruce Liu 

queensu.ca/theisabel 3

WE GRATEFULLY APPRECIATE THE GENEROSITY OF 

OUR SUPPORTERS AND CHAMPIONS WHO HAVE 

MADE THIS SEASON EXTRAORDINARY. 

SEASON BENEFACTOR 

Estate of Alexander Murray Jeffery 

PERFORMANCE BENEFACTOR 

Jennifer Velva Bernstein Memorial Fund 

IMAGINE ARTS 

INCUBATOR 

SUPPORTERS 

THANK YOU TO 

Joan Tobin and the Ballytobin Foundation 

for the donation of the Hamburg Steinway Piano and the 

support of many community artists and groups using the Isabel. 

CONCERT UNDERWRITERS 

Shelagh and David Williams Music Programming Fund 

Caroline and Simon Davis 

THANK YOU TO Moira Hudgin for her donation 

of the Yves Beaupré Harpsichord 

Performances and events 

across the season dedicated 

to Truth and Reconciliation. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

VIRTUOSI SOLOIST SERIES 6-9 

Misha Dichter 

Melissa White with Pallavi Mahidhara 

Bruce Liu 

Nicolas Altstaedt with Fazil Say 

Angela Hewitt 

ENSEMBLE SERIES 10-13 

Michelle Cann with Imani Winds 

Les Violons du Roy 

Viano String Quartet with MILOŠ 

VOCES8 

Meta4 

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT CONCERTS 14-25 

National Youth Orchestra of Canada 

Deantha Edmunds with The New Orford String Quartet 

Jeremy Dutcher 

Megumi Masaki 

The Kingdom Choir 

Près de votre oreille—Blessed Echoes 

Andrea Baker with Howard Moody —Tales of Transatlantic Freedom 

An Evening With Branford Marsalis 

Vancouver Chamber Choir 

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra 

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain 

Tafelmusik 

INDIGENOUS ARTS SUPPORTERS 

R. Howard Webster 

Foundation 

The George H. Stedman 

Estate Foundation 

Neil Jacoby and Karen Brown 

FRIDAY NIGHTS IN THE RECITAL HALL 26-27 

Tiny Horse 

Kasador 

Alex Mundy 

Chris Brown and Kate Fenner with Tony Scherr 

CHILDREN'S CONCERTS 29 

Shoestring Opera— The Shoestring Magic Flute 

Splash'N Boots 

THANK YOU TO THE 

Joseph S. Stauffer Foundation 

George Taylor Richardson Memorial Fund 

for their support of special projects at the Isabel. 

HOTEL SPONSOR 

Photo by Doublespace Photography 

EVENTS 30-31 

My Experiments in Hope by Evan Sharma: Exhibit and Artist Talk 

The Isabel and Alfred Bader Lecture in European Art 

SEASON CALENDAR, SUBSCRIPTION 32-35 

AND TICKET INFORMATION 

4 queensu.ca/theisabel 


MISHA DICHTER 

Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 2:30pm 

Isabel 

Debut 

Virtuosi 

Soloist 

Series 

Misha Dichter 

Photo by Sarah Blesener 

Pianist Misha Dichter, now performing in the sixth 

decade of a distinguished international career, 

remains one of America’s most popular artists, 

extending a musical heritage from the Russian 

Romantic School and the German Classical 

style. At the age of 20, while enrolled at The 

Juilliard School in New York City, he won the 

Silver Medal at the 1966 International Tchaikovsky 

Competition in Moscow, which helped launch 

an enviable concert career. Later, he made his 

New York Philharmonic debut under the baton of 

Leonard Bernstein. Appearances with the Berlin 

Philharmonic, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw 

Orchestra, the principal London orchestras, and 

every major American orchestra soon followed. 

He makes his Isabel debut with works by Brahms, 

Schubert, and Debussy. 

BRUCE LIU 

Friday, January 17, 2025 at 7:30pm 

First prize winner of the 18th Chopin Piano 

Competition 2021 in Warsaw, Bruce Liu’s 

“playing of breathtaking beauty” (BBC 

Music Magazine) has secured his reputation 

as one of the most exciting talents of his 

generation and contributed to a “rockstar 

status in the classical music world” 

(The Globe and Mail). He makes his 

much-anticipated return to the Isabel. 

MELISSA WHITE WITH 

PALLAVI MAHIDHARA 


Debut 

Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 7:30pm 

American violinist Melissa White has 

enchanted audiences and critics around 

the world for her “warmly expressive 

and lyrical…glittering” playing (Chicago 

Classical Review) and for “making her 

violin sing elegantly” (Aspen Times). 

Ms. White’s rapid rise as a soloist has 

captured the attention of orchestras and 

audiences worldwide, many of whom 

already know her for her successes 

as a founding member of the Grammy 

Award-winning Harlem Quartet. 

Photo by Jan Botha 

Melissa White will make her Isabel 

debut with Pallavi Mahidhara, 

Indian-American pianist who has 

appeared in solo and orchestral 

concerts across five continents, and 

has performed at important festivals 

such as the Gstaad Menuhin Festival, 

Marlboro Music and Verbier Festival. 

Pallavi Mahidhara 

The program will include works by 

Amy Beach, Fritz Kreisler, and 

Johannes Brahms. 

Photo by Bartek Barczyk 


Melissa White 

Bruce Liu queensu.ca/theisabel 7


Debut 

Virtuosi 

Soloist 

Series 

Nicolas Altstaedt 

Photo by Marco Borggreve 

Photo by Richard Termine 

Angela Hewitt 

Photo by Fethi Karaduman 

Fazil Say 

NICOLAS ALTSTAEDT 

WITH FAZIL SAY 

Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30pm 

Cellist Nicolas Altstaedt, called “compelling” 

(The New York Times) and praised as one of the 

most sought-after and versatile artists today, 

partners with Fazil Say, Turkish pianist and 

composer. Say has an international reputation 

for his versatility as a performer and his 

innovative approach to classical music 

composition. Altstaedt and Say make their 

Isabel debut with a program featuring one of 

Fazil Say’s compositions, in addition to works 

by Britten, Barber, and Brahms. 

ANGELA HEWITT 

Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 2:30pm 

Celebrated Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt 

brings her elegant technique and musicality 

to the Isabel with a performance featuring 

J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations on the 

occasion of the 50th anniversary of her 

first performance of this iconic work. 



Ensemble 

Series 

Photo by Shervin Lainez 

Photo by Atwood Photographie 


Imani Winds 

LES VIOLONS DU ROY 

Jonathan Cohen, conductor 

Karina Gauvin, soprano 

Marie-Nicole Lemieux, contralto 

MICHELLE CANN 

WITH IMANI WINDS 

Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:30pm 


Debut 

Lauded as “exquisite” by The Philadelphia 

Inquirer and “a pianist of sterling artistry” 

by Gramophone, Michelle Cann has become 

one of the most sought-after pianists of her 

generation. Her honors include the Sphinx Medal 

of Excellence, the Andrew Wolf Chamber Music 

Award, and she was recently named the first 

Christel DeHaan Artistic Partner of the American 

Pianists Association. She is joined on stage by 

the dynamic, Grammy Award-winning wind 

quintet Imani Winds in a program featuring 

works by Francis Poulenc, Viet Cuong, and 

Valerie Coleman. 

Michelle Cann 

Photo by Steven Mareazi Willis 

Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7:30pm 

Celebrating their 40th season, Quebec’s 

chamber ensemble Les Violons du Roy make 

their anticipated return to the Isabel with 

“one of the world’s leading Baroque sopranos” 

(Opera News), Karina Gauvin, and renowned 

contralto, Marie-Nicole Lemieux, who has 

graced the world’s biggest stages. 

Karina Gauvin 

Marie-Nicole Lemieux 

Photo by Genevieve LeSieur 

10 queensu.ca/theisabel queensu.ca/theisabel 11

Ensemble 

Series 

VOCES8 

Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 7:30pm 

Combine the 

Virtuosi Soloist 

and Ensemble 

subscriptions 

and save 12%! 


Debut 

VIANO STRING QUARTET 

WITH MILOŠ 

Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 2:30pm 

Praised for their “virtuosity, visceral expression, 

and rare unity of intention” by the Boston 

Globe, the Viano String Quartet is one of the 

most sought-after performing young ensembles 

today, having won First Prize at the 2019 Banff 

International String Quartet Competition and 

currently in-residence at the Chamber Music 

Society of Lincoln Center Bowers Program. 

They are joined on stage with one of the world’s 

most celebrated classical guitarists, MILOŠ, in 

a program exploring themes of migration and 

immigration, with works by Vivaldi, Piazzolla, 

The Beatles, and more. 


Viano String Quartet 

MILOŠ 

Photo by Christoph Kostlin Photo by Kevin Condon 

Photo by Andy Staples 

Photo by Tero Ahonen 


Debut 

“The singing of VOCES8 is impeccable 

in its quality of tone and balance.” 

—Gramophone Magazine 

The 2023 Grammy Award-nominated British vocal 

ensemble VOCES8 inspires people through their 

music and their joy of singing. Their performances 

are praised for their meticulous timing and tuning, 

impressive blend, and radiant sound. The program 

will include seasonal mixed repertoire 

featuring works by Praetorius, Rachmaninov, 

and others, as well as arrangements 

by John Rutter and Blake Morgan. 

Meta4 

META4 

Sunday, February 23, 2025 at 2:30pm 

VOCES8 

One of the most internationally successful Finnish 

string quartets, Meta4 creates music that exists 

in a timeless dimension where folk, early, and 

contemporary blur their boundaries and engage 

in mutual interaction. First prize winners of the 

International Shostakovich Quartet Competition 

in Moscow, the International Joseph Haydn 

Chamber Music Competition in Vienna, and a 

BBC New Generation Artist, their program 

features works by Leoš Janáček, Sally Beamish, 

and Robert Schumann. 


Artist Spotlight 

Concerts 

Photo by Dahlia Katz 



The New Orford String Quartet 

SUBSCRIBERS GET 

PRIORITY ACCESS TO 

ALL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 

CONCERTS 

NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA 

OF CANADA 

Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 7:30pm 

For over six decades NYO Canada has enjoyed 

a reputation as this nation's pre-eminent 

pre-professional orchestral training institute, 

providing an essential bridge to the profession 

for Canada's finest young musicians aged 16-28. 

Witness the exceptional talent of these musicians 

as they tackle beloved classics such as Bartók's 

Concerto for Orchestra and Sibelius' Symphony 

No. 2 in D Major. Discover fresh voices through 

Charles Ives's “The Unanswered Question” and 

Paul Hindemith’s “Symphonic Metamorphosis 

of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber.” 

"In our 2024 season, we'll delve into pieces that 

have shaped music history, building upon the 

legacies of past composers while also gesturing 

towards the future.”—Naomi Woo, the first woman 

conductor in the NYO’s history. 

DEANTHA EDMUNDS WITH 

THE NEW ORFORD STRING QUARTET 

Inuit Connections 

Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 2:30pm 

Inuk soprano Deantha Edmunds, recently appointed 

a member of the Order of Canada, shares original 

selections from her award-winning Indigenous 

classical album, Connections. Performing alongside 

one of Canada's finest chamber music ensembles, the 

New Orford String Quartet, Deantha will sing sacred 

selections in Inuktitut from her album “Pillorikput 

Inuit: Inuktitut Arias for All Seasons,” as they were 

sung in Nunatsiavut 200 years ago. This program will 

give audiences a glimpse into who Edmunds is, how 

she walks through this world, and who and what she 

carries with her. Accompanying her are internationally 

renowned throat singers, Sylvia Cloutier and Nancy 

Mike. They will raise their voices in this ancient tradition, 

weaving in and out of Deantha’s original music. 

Deantha Edmunds 

Photo by Jennie Williams 



September 20 

marks 10 years 

since the Isabel 

opened it's doors 

to the public. Join 

us in celebrating 

this anniversary. 

Bonus: Subscriber 

Early Add-On Concert 

JEREMY DUTCHER 

The Motewolonuwok 

Tour 

Friday, September 20, 2024 at 7:30pm 

Artist Spotlight 

Concerts 

Five years after rising to international acclaim with 

his seminal, award-winning album Wolastoqiyik 

Lintuwakonawa, Jeremy Dutcher returns to the 

stage with a new band and pivotal new music. On 

the Motewolonuwok tour, Dutcher invites audiences 

to be transformed by music that is more personal 

and intimate than ever, yet pushes the boundaries 

of his unique sonic landscape. 

This next sonic journey is rooted in an ancestor 

quote: Tan qiniw iyuwok wasis kpomawsuwinuwok, 

'tankeyutomon-oc kihtahkomikomon. "As long as there 

is a child among our people, we will protect the land." 

Photos by Kirk Lisaj 




Artist 

Spotlight 

Concerts 

Photo by Bill Braden 

THE KINGDOM CHOIR 

Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 7:30pm 


Debut 

The Isabel is delighted to welcome London’s 

The Kingdom Choir, founded in 1994 by awardwinning 

conductor Karen Gibson. Drawing from 

various Christian traditions, the group is dedicated 

to creating a sound that reflects the community they 

share through their warm energy and enthusiastic 

performances. They attracted the world’s attention 

when they performed their show-stopping 

performance of "Stand By Me" in front of a worldwide 

television audience of over two billion at the 

Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 

in May 2018. Since then, the Choir’s infectious joy 

and spirit, matched only by their raw Gospel spiritual 

style, has taken them around the world. 

Photo by Robert Hechler 

Megumi Masaki 

MEGUMI MASAKI 

Hearing Ice 

Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 2:30pm 

Megumi Masaki is a pianist, multimedia, and 

interdisciplinary performing artist. For over thirty 

years, she has established an international reputation 

as a leading interpreter of Canadian and new music, 

and as an innovator that reimagines the performer, 

the piano and the performance space. Her artistry 

explores new models of interaction and integration 

of sound, image, text, and movement in multimedia 

works through new technologies. 

Her work responds to Truth and Reconciliation calls 

to action, and examines how human rights and 

environmental issues can be communicated through 

music and multimedia performances to create 

narratives that speak truth to power. Her work fosters 

dialogue, promotes action, and positive change to 

seek more inclusive, sustainable and just societies 

across all communities and borders. 



Bonus: Subscriber 

Early Add-On Concert 

Photo by Marion Bertin 

Artist 

Spotlight 

Concerts 

PRÈS DE VOTRE OREILLE 

Blessed Echoes 

Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 2:30pm 


Debut 

Created in 2017 by viola da gambist, Robin 

Pharo, Près de votre oreille (“Close to your ear”) 

ensemble strives to bring a range of music from 

different eras to audiences. The program Blessed 

Echoes is a fresco of Elizabethan songs, bringing 

together some of the most beautiful works from 

that period, including homage to the great 17thcentury 

English musical tradition of lute songs. 

As seen in the typical scoring of the period, 

this performance features the Renaissance 

lute, viola da gamba, virginal, and cittern. 

Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson 

Près de votre oreille 

Branford Marsalis Quartet 

ANDREA BAKER WITH 

HOWARD MOODY 

Tales of Transatlantic Freedom 

Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 7:30pm 

KAREN HITCHCOCK RECITAL HALL 

From across oceans and centuries, this moving and 

awe-inspiring musical journey reminds audiences of 

our shared humanity, our cultural interconnectedness, 

and our potential for healing and true reconciliation. 

Tales of Transatlantic Freedom is the creation of 

Andrea Baker, one of the most prominent mezzosopranos 

of our times, in collaboration with awardwinning 

international composer Howard Moody, 

directed by John Paul McGroarty and produced 

by Yard Heads International. 

Heart-wrenching, reconciling, inspiring, elating. This 

performance promises to be a glorious exploration 

of the richness of spirituals, jazz, blues, gospel, 

opera, and the songs of Robert Burns. 

AN EVENING WITH 

BRANFORD MARSALIS 

Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:30pm 

The NEA Jazz Master and three-time Grammy Award-winner 

returns to the Isabel with his formidable quartet. 

From his initial recognition as a jazz performer, Branford Marsalis 

has expanded his vision as an instrumentalist, composer, bandleader, 

and educator, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an 

unwavering creative integrity. Marsalis formed his own quartet 

in 1986 and it remains his primary performance vehicle. Known 

for its unrivaled spirit in both live and recorded performances, 

the Branford Marsalis Quartet has long been recognized as the 

standard to which other ensembles of its kind must be measured. 

Branford is also a frequent classical soloist with acclaimed 

orchestras around the world, and his legendary guest performances 

with the Grateful Dead and collaborations with Sting have made him 

a fan favorite in the pop arena. His work on Broadway has garnered 

a Drama Desk Award and Tony nominations. As a composer for 

film and television, his many screen credits include original music 

composed for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom starring Viola Davis and 

Chadwick Boseman, Rustin starring Colman Domingo, and the 

EMMY nominated Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre. 



Artist 

Spotlight 

Concerts 

Photo by Michelle Doherty 



VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR 

Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 7:30pm 

The Vancouver Chamber Choir, led by Artistic 

Director Kari Turunen, is one of Canada’s premier 

professional choral ensembles. Honoured with the 

Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence by 

Chorus America, the choir has performed countless 

concerts and broadcasts, released 36 recordings, 

and received numerous awards. Foremost 

supporters of Canadian music, they are responsible 

for commissions and premieres of 334 choral works 

by 145 composers and arrangers, most of whom 

are Canadian. The Isabel is thrilled to welcome 

the Vancouver Chamber Choir for their debut 

performance and residency. 


Debut 

VANCOUVER SYMPHONY 

ORCHESTRA 

Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 7:30 pm 

Otto Tausk, conductor 

Vadim Gluzman, violin 

Marion Newman, mezzo-soprano 


Debut 

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is one 

of Canada’s leading symphony orchestras. In 

their first ever Kingston appearance, they come 

to the Isabel performing Marcus Goddard’s 

“Mountain Visions,” Brahms’s Violin Concerto, 

and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. 




Bonus: 

Subscriber 

Early Add-On 

Concert 

Artist 

Spotlight 

Concerts 

Photo by Stephan Mager 


THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN 

Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 7:30pm 


Debut 

A concert by the Ukulele Orchestra is an unforgettable experience. A witty, quirky, irreverent, 

joyful, foot-stomping combination of rock and roll and melodious light entertainment, all played 

on the “bonsai guitar.” Add to this a menagerie of voices, eccentric humour and post-punk 

energy, a wonderful night of entertainment is guaranteed. 

There are no pianos, backing tracks or banjos, no pitch shifters or electronic trickery, only an 

astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by different-sized ukuleles, 

vocal harmonies, and a bit of whistling. Prepare yourselves for a roller coaster ride through 

every musical genre. From Abba to ZZ Top, Tchaikovsky to Nirvana, whether it's soul, funk, 

classical, country, pop, rock, punk or folk, in the hands of the Ukulele Orchestra, musical 

alchemy unites and audiences are transported. 


TAFELMUSIK 

Concerti Virtuosi 

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 7:30pm 

Rachel Podger, director 

This program, by a signature Canadian ensemble and 

friend of the Isabel, features wonderful examples of 

baroque concertos, including Bach’s Concerto for Violin 

and Oboe in C Minor, Telemann’s Concerto for 3 Violins 

in F Major, and Corelli’s Concerto Grosso no. 1 in D Major. 

Tafelmusik’s vibrant colors combine in Vivaldi's vivacious 

Chamber Concerto in G Minor, and two blockbuster 

concertos by Vivaldi, shine the light on the orchestra’s 

bass-line players in what promises to be an inspiring 

performance infused with vitality and brilliance. 

This concert is dedicated 

to the Isabel’s beloved former 

Director Tricia Baldwin. 

Tafelmusik 


queensu.ca/theisabel 25

NEW THIS SEASON 

FRIDAY NIGHTS IN 

THE RECITAL HALL 

Formerly the Rehearsal Hall, the Karen Hitchcock 

Recital Hall is an accessible and creative space 

for the performing arts at the Isabel. 

This season, we’re proud to be presenting emerging and 

nationally renowned artists in the Karen Hitchcock Recital 

Hall on Friday evenings that feature a relaxed atmosphere, 

access to a cash bar, and affordable ticket pricing. 

Tiny Horse 

Alex Mundy 

TINY HORSE 

Friday, October 4, 2024 at 8:00pm 


Debut 

ALEX MUNDY 

Friday, January 31, 2025 at 8:00pm 

Photo by Ted Simha-Shuster 

Kasador 

To see and hear Kingston indie rock outfit 

Tiny Horse—led by guitarists and vocalists 

Ciara Roberts and Rae Corcoran—is to step 

into a place of possibility and freedom. 

Their performances are equal parts smalltown 

queer cabaret, ‘70s folk-rock rapture, 

and Bowie-ish extravaganza. Their music 

crackles with John Prine’s rich storytelling 

and winking humor, Patti Smith’s punkish 

abandon and revelry, and Haim and Taylor 

Swift’s melodic brilliance. 

KASADOR 

Friday, November 22, 2024 at 8:00pm 

Kingston band, Kasador, have never been 

scared of change. The three friends at 

Kasador’s core—Cameron Wyatt (vocals/ 

guitar), Boris Baker (bass), and Stephen 

Adubofuor (drums)—have been through a 

lot of it. Years of tumult through the band's 

mid-and late-20's have been woven into 

something powerful and real: a tight-knit, 

sincere, and caring rock and roll band 

hitting full sprint. The band has shared 

stages with Arkells, July Talk, Sam Roberts 

Band, and The Glorious Sons, among others. 

A roots-pop artist with a voice that has been 

hailed as “raw and powerful,” Alex Mundy has 

been writing and performing music for almost a 

decade. In 2019, she was selected as one of the 

winners of the Isabel’s YGK Emerging Musician 

Competition. In her own words: “When I have 

something to say, music is my megaphone. The 

writing process is my therapy…” Alex is set to 

release her debut album in 2024. Her first single 

from the album, Where We Are, was recently 

featured on WPBS, and the accompanying 

music video was featured in the 2023 Kingston 

Canadian Film Festival. With songs that exude a 

powerful nostalgic quality, indelible melodies, and 

lyrical honesty, Alex Mundy is ready to share her 

stories on the Isabel stage. 

CHRIS BROWN AND 

KATE FENNER WITH 

TONY SCHERR 

Friday, February 28, 2025 at 8:00pm 


Debut 

Chris Brown is a Canadian singer-songwriter 

and multi-instrumentalist who now calls Wolfe 

Island home. Brown has accompanied dozens 

of notable musicians on stage, including 

The Barenaked Ladies, The Tragically Hip, 

and B.B. King, among many others. 

As a duo, Brown is joined by the “lusty 

alternative Joni Mitchell” (New York Times) and 

“National Treasure” (CBC), Kate Fenner. Brown 

and Fenner have been making music together 

since their meeting as teenagers in Toronto. 

During high school and years following, they 

recorded and toured extensively with Toronto’s 

Bourbon Tabernacle Choir, whose diaspora 

contributes to music far and wide. 

They take to the Isabel stage for the first time 

alongside American jazz and folk rock bassist, 

guitarist, and singer-songwriter, Tony Scherr. 

26 

Chris Brown and Kate Fenner 


Tafelmusik 

Create your own 

experience with 

Isabel Flex Packages! * 

Create your own fully customized 

season by choosing 5 or more concerts. 

Shoestring Opera 


Karina Gauvin 

Flex 5: Choose 5 or more concerts, get 5% off 



Available for purchase July 24, 2024 

*Concerts must be bought at the same time in order 

to receive the promotional discount. The National Youth 

Orchestra of Canada, Children's Concerts, An Evening 

With Branford Marsalis, and Friday Nights in the Recital Hall 

events are not included. Flex Packages are not subscriptions 

and seats cannot be renewed each year. 

MADE 

FOR KIDS 

MILOŠ 


CHILDREN'S CONCERTS 

IN THE JENNIFER VELVA 

BERNSTEIN PERFORMANCE HALL 

Splash'N Boots 

New at 

The Isabel 

Free Coat Check 

We are now pleased to offer free coat check 

at all Isabel events! Coat check is located 

beside the Box Office in the upper lobby. 

Merchandise 

Commission-Free Venue 

In support of artists, we are proud to be a 

merchandise commission-free venue. When 

you purchase merchandise at a show, 100% 

of the revenue goes directly to the artist. 

Free Parking 

Parking is now free in the upper and lower 

lots at the Isabel on weekday evenings after 

5pm and on weekends. 

Photo by Double Space Photography 

SHOESTRING OPERA 

The Shoestring Magic Flute 

Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 2:30pm 

In the whimsical story based on Mozart’s most famous 

opera, Allegra finds a golden flute on her way home 

from school. Blowing on it, her street turns into a dark 

forest. She blows again and out pops Papageno, a 

strange bird-catcher with a padlock on his mouth. 

Through the power of music and the magic of makebelieve, 

Allegra and Papageno embark on an adventure 

of sharing and self-discovery involving a four-legged, 

two-winged, fire-breathing dragon, and the scary 

Queen of the Night. How can Allegra help her new 

friend and get home in time for her music lesson? Join 

us in what promises to be a fun afternoon at the Isabel. 

Recommended for ages 4-12. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 

SPLASH'N BOOTS 

Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:30 pm 

Splash’N Boots are a beloved Canadian 

children's music duo consisting of Nick 

Adams (Splash) and Taes Leavitt (Boots). 

With 20 years of experience, Splash’N Boots 

have become a household name, creating 

music and concert experiences that bring 

happiness and joy to children of all ages. 

Recommended for children of all ages. 

Children must be accompanied by an adult. 


FREE 

EVENTS 

MY EXPERIMENTS 

IN HOPE 

BY EVAN SHARMA 

“One of Canada’s 

most talented 

young artists,” 

Nuvo Magazine 

“One of Toronto’s 

best Artists,” Toronto Life 

ARTIST EXHIBIT 

September 16–27, 2024 

Monday-Friday, 10:00am-4:00pm, 

Art & Media Lab 

ARTIST TALK 

Co-hosted by Blake Wynn, 

entrepreneur and art collector 

Sunday, September 22, 2024 

2:30pm, Performance Hall 

Evan Sharma is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist who 

works at the intersection of art and science. At the age of twelve, 

he was the youngest artist to be accepted into Canada’s largest 

juried art show. Evan has used his art to help others, including 

having funded over 140,000 meals for Kenyan children. His 

exhibit, including pieces from the 2050 Series, envisions the 

future of iconic landscapes, contingent on global adoption of 

green technologies. Evan's conversation with award-winning 

entrepreneur Blake Wynn delves into "My Experiments in Hope," 

his doctrine that positions art as a conduit for change. Join us for 

an event weaving creativity, social impact, and the language of 

hope into a remarkable tapestry. 

THE ISABEL AND ALFRED 

BADER LECTURE IN EUROPEAN ART 

Photo by Dan Renzetti 

with Dr. Stephanie Porras 

Dirk Valkenburg, Still Life with Caribbean Fruits, c. 1707, oil on canvas. 

Menil Collection, Houston. 

Friday, November 15, 2024 at 6:00pm 

In-Person and Online 

Jennifer Velva Bernstein Performance Hall 

Reception to follow 

Free, registration required 

Dr. Stephanie Porras 

The Dutch in the Americas 

With footholds in North America, 

the Caribbean, South America, and along 

the west coast of Africa, the Dutch played a vital, yet 

understudied role in the early modern Americas. Via the 

West India Company’s transatlantic traffic in raw materials 

(beaver pelts, pearls, sugar, gold), refined artistic products, 

and people (both willing settlers and enslaved laborers), 

the Dutch not only extracted desirable goods and materials, 

but imported and contributed to varied visual and material 

cultures of mapping and navigation, enslavement, plantation 

economies, architecture and city planning across North 

and South America, from what is now New York to North 

East Brazil. The “Dutch” in the Americas were not a uniform 

population but included French Huguenots, Swedes, 

Sephardic Jews, allied Indigenous groups and enslaved 

Africans. Outlining how the Dutch colonial project in 

the Americas both diverged and overlapped with their 

competitors, this talk considers the central role these “Dutch” 

artists, artworks and material goods played in the Americas, 

presenting an alternate view of the colonial Americas. 

This program is supported by the Bader Legacy Fund and is in partnership 

with Agnes Etherington Art Centre, in annual recognition of Bader Day 

on November 15. 

$15 STUDENT TICKETS 

FOR ISABEL 2024/25 

SEASON CONCERTS 

From Inuk throat singers to classical 

orchestras, the Isabel is a creative 

and inclusive place on Queen’s 

campus for experiencing the 

performing arts. 

CELEBRATING 10 SEASONS— 

WE COULDN'T HAVE DONE IT 

WITHOUT YOU—OUR SUPPORTERS! 

When you support the Isabel, you enable us 

to attract the best artists in the world so we 

can engage and inspire audiences of all ages, 

from Queen’s students to members of the 

wider Kingston community and beyond. 

Every donation makes a difference. 

Learn about opportunities for giving at 

queensu.ca/theisabel/giving 


YOUR GIFT MATTERS. 

1-800-267-7837 or 613-533-2060 

gifts@queensu.ca 

30 queensu.ca/theisabel queensu.ca/theisabel 31 

Photo by Curtis Perry 

Photo by Curtis Perry

24/25 CALENDAR JULY–DEC 

24/25 CALENDAR DEC–MAY 

Chronological Isabel Performance and Event Listings 

See full 2024/2025 calendar at: queensu.ca/theisabel 

JULY 2024 

EARLY BIRD CONCERT/ 

CLASSICAL 

NATIONAL YOUTH 

ORCHESTRA OF CANADA 

Thurs, July 18, 2024, 7:30pm 

SEPTEMBER 2024 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT/ 

LISTENINGS 

DEANTHA EDMUNDS 

WITH THE NEW ORFORD 

STRING QUARTET 

Sun, Sept 8, 2024, 2:30pm 


LISTENINGS 


Fri, Sept 20, 2024, 7:30pm 

ART EXHIBIT AND TALK—FREE 

MY EXPERIMENTS IN HOPE 

BY EVAN SHARMA 

ART EXHIBIT: Sept 16-27, 2024, 

M-F, 10:00am-4:00pm 

ARTIST TALK: 

Sun, Sept 22, 2024, 2:30pm 

OCTOBER 2024 



TINY HORSE 

Fri, Oct 4, 2024, 8:00pm 

ENSEMBLE/CLASSICAL 

MICHELLE CANN 

WITH IMANI WINDS 

Sat, Oct 19, 2024, 7:30pm 

CHILDREN'S CONCERT 


Sun, Oct 20, 2024, 2:30pm 

ENSEMBLE/BAROQUE 

LES VIOLONS DU ROY 

Fri, Oct 25, 2024, 7:30pm 

NOVEMBER 2024 


LISTENINGS 

MEGUMI MASAKI 

Sun, Nov 10, 2024, 2:30pm 

SPECIAL LECTURE—FREE 

THE ISABEL AND ALFRED BADER 

LECTURE IN EUROPEAN ART 

Fri, Nov 15, 2024, 6:00pm 


VIANO STRING QUARTET 

WITH MILOŠ 

Sat, Nov 16, 2024, 2:30pm 



KASADOR 

Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 8:00pm 

VIRTUOSI/CLASSICAL 

MISHA DICHTER 

Sun, Nov 24, 2024, 2:30pm 


GOSPEL 

THE KINGDOM CHOIR 

Sat, Nov 30, 2024, 7:30pm 

DECEMBER 2024 


BAROQUE 

PRÈS DE VOTRE OREILLE 

Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 2:30pm 

ENSEMBLE/CHORAL 

VOCES8 

Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 7:30pm 

JANUARY 2025 


MELISSA WHITE WITH 

PALLAVI MAHIDHARA 

Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 7:30pm 


BRUCE LIU 

Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 7:30pm 


NICOLAS ALTSTAEDT 

WITH FAZIL SAY 

Thurs, Jan 30, 2025, 7:30pm 



ALEX MUNDY 

Fri, Jan 31, 2025, 8:00pm 

FEBRUARY 2025 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT/JAZZ 

AN EVENING WITH 

BRANFORD MARSALIS 

Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 7:30pm 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT 

ANDREA BAKER WITH 

HOWARD MOODY (RECITAL HALL) 

Sat, Feb 15, 2025, 7:30pm 


META4 

Sun, Feb 23, 2025, 2:30pm 



CHRIS BROWN AND 

KATE FENNER WITH 

TONY SCHERR 

Fri, Feb 28, 2025, 8:00pm 

MARCH 2025 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT/CHORAL 

VANCOUVER 

CHAMBER CHOIR 

Wed, Mar 5, 2025, 7:30pm 


LISTENINGS 

VANCOUVER 

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 

Sat, Mar 15, 2025, 7:30pm 


ANGELA HEWITT 

Sun, Mar 23, 2025, 2:30pm 

APRIL 2025 

CHILDREN’S CONCERT 


Sat, Apr 12, 2025, 2:30pm 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT/POPULAR 

THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA 

OF GREAT BRITAIN 

Thur, Apr 17, 2025, 7:30pm 

MAY 2025 

SPOTLIGHT CONCERT/BAROQUE 

TAFELMUSIK 

Tues, May 6, 2025, 7:30pm 



STAGE 

SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW 

CALL 613-533-2424 

SINGLE TICKETS AND FLEX 

PACKAGES ON SALE JULY 24, 2024 

Photo by Suzy Lamont Photograpjy 

SUBSCRIBERS GET 

THE BEST SEATS 

IN THE HOUSE. 

YOUR ISABEL 

SUBSCRIPTION 

BENEFITS: 

BECOME A 

SUBSCRIBER 

—IT'S EASY! 

1. Choose all your series 

and your seating section. 

2. Make a donation to the Isabel 

Did you know that your tickets cover only a portion of the 

cost of bringing these great artists to you? Help us bring the 

very best programming to the Isabel by donating today. 

Queen’s University will send a tax receipt for the full donation 

amount. Thank you for your generosity! 

3. Choose your booking method: 

• Fill in our order form and mail it back to us: 

Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts 

390 King Street West, Room 123, Kingston ON K7L 3N6 

Please make all cheques out to Queen’s University. 

Thank you! 

• Call or drop by the Isabel Box Office, 

open Monday-Friday, 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm 

613-533-2424 

390 King Street West, Kingston 

LEFT BALCONY 

LEFT ORCHESTRA 

• Purchase online at 


FRONT 

ORCHESTRA 

REAR 

ORCHESTRA 

BALCONY 

RIGHT ORCHESTRA 

RIGHT BALCONY 

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES 

(price per subscription series / includes HST) 

VIRTUOSI SOLOIST SUBSCRIPTION 

(5 CONCERTS) FR ORCH R ORCH BALCONY 

General Public $360 $332 $315 $290 $265 $244 

Faculty/Staff $335 $324 $290 $284 $245 $239 

ENSEMBLE SUBSCRIPTION 



Faculty/Staff $335 $324 $290 $284 $245 $239 

COMBINATION VIRTUOSI AND 

ENSEMBLE SUBSCRIPTION 

Save 

12%! 



& Faculty/Staff 

COMPOSE YOUR OWN FLEX PACKAGES 

(CHOOSE 5, 10 or 15)* 

Flex 5: Choose 5 or more concerts, save 5% on single ticket prices 



*Available for purchase July 24, 2024. Flex packages are not subscriptions 

and seats cannot be renewed each year. Concerts must be bought at the 

same time in order to receive the promotional discount. National Youth 

Orchestra of Canada, Children's Concerts, An Evening With Branford Marsalis, 

and Friday Nights in the Recital Hall events are not included for these packages. 

SINGLE TICKET PRICES — NON-SUBSCRIPTION 

(price per ticket, per concert / includes HST) 

Below are non-subscriber individual ticket prices 

VIRTUOSI SOLOIST AND ENSEMBLE CONCERTS 

FR ORCH R ORCH BALCONY 

General Public $72 $63 $53 

Faculty/Staff $67 $58 $49 

Student $35 $15 $15 

AN EVENING WITH BRANFORD MARSALIS 



and Faculty/Staff 

TAFELMUSIK, VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 




Student $35 $15 $15 





Student $35 $15 $15 

DEANTHA EDMUNDS WITH 

THE NEW ORFORD STRING QUARTET 




Student $35 $15 $15 

NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF CANADA 

All Tickets $30 

• Best seats—enjoy your 

preferred seats for every 

concert date in your series 

• Best price—save up to 12% 

• Enhanced seating access 

• Keep your seats year after year 

• Early access to single tickets 

• Discounted ticket offers 

• Access to ticket exchanges 

JENNIFER VELVA BERNSTEIN PERFORMANCE HALL 

Photo by Doublespace Photography 

Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Queen’s University 

390 King Street West, Room 123, Kingston ON K7L 3N6 

All ticket pricing includes HST. 

Artists and programming are subject to change. 

The Isabel welcomes patrons with 

disabilities and their Support Person. 

In order to assist patrons who require 

a Support Person, the Isabel is proud 

to be a part of the Access 2 Program. 

This provides free admission to Isabel 

Presentation events for one Support 

Person accompanying a person with 

a permanent disability, who is a valid 

Access 2 cardholder. 

Charitable Registration Number (BN) 10766 8705 RR0001 

MEGUMI MASAKI, 

ANDREA BAKER WITH HOWARD MOODY 

General Public $40 

Faculty/Staff $37 

Student $15 

THE KINGDOM CHOIR, 

VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR 



Student $15 

PRÈS DE VOTRE OREILLE, 

THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN 



Student $15 

TINY HORSE, KASADOR, ALEX MUNDY, CHRIS 

BROWN WITH KATE FENNER AND TONY SCHERR 






Back Cover Photo by Suzy Lamont Photograpjy 



VIRTUOSI SOLOISTS: 

Misha Dichter 

Melissa White with Pallavi Mahidhara 

Bruce Liu 

Nicolas Altstaedt with Fazil Say 

Angela Hewitt 

ENSEMBLES: 

Michelle Cann with Imani Winds 


Viano String Quartet with MILOŠ 

VOCES8 

Meta4 

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT CONCERTS: 


Deantha Edmunds with The New Orford String Quartet 


Megumi Masaki 


Près de votre oreille 

Andrea Baker with Howard Moody 

An Evening With Branford Marsalis 




Tafelmusik 

FRIDAY NIGHTS IN THE RECITAL HALL: 

Tiny Horse 

Kasador 

Alex Mundy 

Chris Brown and Kate Fenner with Tony Scherr 

PLUS 

Evan Sharma Art Exhibit and Talk 

Special Lecture 

Children's Concerts 

and more! 

2024/25 SEASON 

SUBSCRIBE: 

Call 613-533-2424 


Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts 

Queen’s University, 390 King Street West 

Room 123, Kingston ON K7L 3N6 

613-533-2424

The Isabel 2024/25 Brochure

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