Mount Royal Conservatory co-presents Dame Evelyn Glennie to celebrate Land's End Ensemble

In 2017, the sold-out concert with acclaimed percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie left audiences awestruck and critics raving, calling it “a turning point not only for new music in Calgary, but for all the performing arts.” It was a historic performance that left a significant impact on our cultural community. 

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, Grammy-award winner Dame Evelyn Glennie returns to the Bella Concert Hall for a special concert celebrating Calgary’s Juno-nominated contemporary music group Land’s End Ensemble’s 25th anniversary. As the world’s premier percussionist, Glennie is thrilled to present the new works by composers she carefully selected for this event.

Glennie’s hearing began to decline from the age of eight and has been profoundly deaf since the age of 12. The deafness does not inhibit her ability to perform as she taught herself to hear with parts of her body other than her ears. Glennie is the first person in history to sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist, performing worldwide with the greatest orchestras and artists.

The concert programme includes the world-premiere of new works by four critically acclaimed award-winning composers: Tiny Shattered Pieces (amplified violin & percussion) by Eugene Astapov (CAN); Fragility (cello & percussion) by Dorothy Chang (CAN/USA); Nostalgia (vibraphone & piano) by Vincent Ho (CAN); and Incinerate (piano trio, percussion & digital media) by Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis (CAN/USA).   

 The programme also includes Piano Trio, mvt. IV by Reena Esmail (USA), Reflect (solo cello) and Kintsugi (piano trio) by Salina Fisher (NZL), Sandman's Castle (tam-tam & music boxes) by Vincent Ho (CAN), Prim (snare drum) by Askell Masson (ICL), and Clapping Music (percussion) by Steve Reich (USA).

Composers Eugene Astapov (CAN), Dorothy Chang (CAN/USA), Salina Fisher (NZL), Vincent Ho (CAN), and Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis (CAN/USA) will be in attendance.

The concert will take place on Saturday, Oct. 1 at the Bella Concert Hall in the Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts on Mount Royal University campus. The concert will be presented both in-person and via live-stream. For more information or tickets, visit tickets.mru.ca. 

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Since 1911, Mount Royal Conservatory has built a reputation as the most trusted provider of musical education in Calgary. More than a century later, we continue to be a leading force behind the introduction, development, exploration and mastery of the performing arts.

Calgary’s Land’s End Ensemble is dedicated to introducing audiences to new music by Canadian and international composers, performing landmark chamber works and continually creating legacy projects with living composers.