Something Extra Special: World Premiere Performances During 2026 Festival
Submitted by Sarah Pratt-Parsamian,
Artistic Director, Music on the Bruce
Music on the Bruce (MOTB) is back for a sixth season of chamber music concerts August 24-30, 2026, with a little something special that we are very excited to share with you!
Thanks to a grant from the SOCAN foundation, and to the generosity of our private donors, MOTB has commissioned a brand new work, that will have its world premiere performances during the 2026 festival! The work is a set of songs for string quartet and voice, with music by Toronto-based composer Frank Horvat, and text by acclaimed Canadian poet and Neyaashiinigmiing resident, Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm.
The actual world premiere performance will take place during our concert at the bandshell in Cape Croker Park, Friday, August 29, 7:00pm. Come and be a part of history in the making – hear a world premiere performance, as we present this new work, dedicated to the Saugeen/Bruce Peninsula.
Featuring a roster of Canadian musicians who perform throughout the year in leading orchestras across Canada and the United States, MOTB Festival offers two unique chamber music programs, each performed three times, with each concert in a different community. This allows you plenty of opportunity to find the locations nearest to you, and take in both programs!
Violinists Sarah Pratt-Parsamian and Shane Kim, violist Caitlin Boyle, and cellist Rachel DeSoer form the string quartet for the first program, featuring string quartets of Beethoven and Ravel, and three etherial works of Frank Horvat from his work “Music for Self-Isolation”. The quartet will be joined by mezzo-soprano Joanna Diindiisikwe Simmons for the second program, which will feature the new work, as well as a set of songs by American composer Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979), and Schubert’s epic string quartet in d-minor, “Death and the Maiden”.
The full schedule is below:
• Monday, August 24 – Red Bay Lodge rehearsal day. (These are not open to the public, but if you are in the neighbourhood you will hear the music all day!)
• Tuesday, August 25, 6:30pm – Open Rehearsal at Pike Bay Community Centre
• Wednesday, August 26, 7:00pm – Program 1 at Tobermory United Church
• Thursday, August 27, 7:00pm – Program 1 at Oliphant Campers Church
• Friday, August 28, 7:00pm – Program 2 at Cape Croker Park (WORLD PREMIERE)
• Saturday, August 29, 2:00pm – Program 1 at St. Andrews Presbyterian, Southampton
• Saturday, August 29, 7:00pm – Program 2 at Harbourside Stage, Lion’s Head
• Sunday, August 30, 2:00pm – Program 2 at St. John’s United, Wiarton
Music on the Bruce concerts are made possible by grants from the Ontario Arts Council Music Production and Presentation program, Bruce Power Community Grant program, the Town of South Bruce Peninsula Community Grant program, and generous individual donors.
Full artist bios, composer bios, ticket info, rain locations for outdoor concerts, and much more can be found at our website www.musiconthebruce.com. You can also follow us on facebook and instagram, and visit our youtube channel to see videos of past performances.
