The Equilibrium Initiative

Founded by soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan, Equilibrium focuses on young musicians who have finished their training and are in the first substantial phase of their professional career, with special attention to singers. Equilibrium is suited for musicians who already have professional solo experience.

Composition 2024

2024 Faculty:
Roydon Tse, Matthias McIntire, Dinuk Wijeratne, Amy Brandon

This Academy brings together some of the most innovative creative voices of today and tomorrow. The Academy offers a blend of master classes, collaborative learning opportunities, hands-on writing and score workshops. It culminates in a concert of world premieres written by participants and inspired according to pre-set themes and instrumentation. In recent years, themes have included new music inspired by poems from Sue Goyette's Masterworks-winning anthology OCEAN, the vibrant visual art of painter Craig Rubadoux and the poetry of three-time award winning author and interdisciplinary artist Michelle Sylliboy.

French Opera with Bénédicte Jourdois
and Isabelle David

Le domino noir is an opéra comique by the French composer Daniel Auber, first performed on 2 December 1837 by the Opéra-Comique at the Salle de la Bourse in Paris. The libretto to the three-act piece is by Auber's usual collaborator, Eugène Scribe. It was one of Auber's most successful works, considered by Félix Clément to be the composer's “wittiest score, the one in which he most abandoned himself to his charming imagination and melodic grace”. A comedy of the ‘present day’, of balls and bachelor parties, of housekeepers and porters.

The Equilibrium Initiative

Founded by soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan, Equilibrium focuses on young musicians who have finished their training and are in the first substantial phase of their professional career, with special attention to singers. Equilibrium is suited for musicians who already have professional solo experience.

Equilibrium aims:

• to mentor young professional musicians in the early years of their careers through intense workshops and performance opportunities

• to cultivate awareness and skill towards optimum enjoyment and generosity in music collaboration

• to address preparation, stamina, focus, mistake recovery and peak performance we have joined hands with author and performance coach Jackie Reardon. Coming from a professional tennis background she has developed unique concentration exercises combined with meditation techniques to develop mental strength through kindness. See www.friendlyeyes.com

• through a strong and consistent social media, film documentary, and promotion, to welcome audiences into the heart of our work, using music as an example of beautiful collaboration and community spirit

• to elevate the level of total musicianship and discipline to the highest level, in which singers’ awareness of the total musical picture is an absolute necessity, and not a rare exception

• to welcome musicians and audiences alike into the complete picture and sound world of music making, and genuine interest in every aspect of the preparation, rehearsal and performance process

• to facilitate a channel of communication and understanding between singers, composers, and instrumentalists

Who Should Apply?

Equilibrium is for singers & instrumentalists who:

• have a specific interest in Barbara Hannigan’s approach to music-making

• have a sense of individual passion, discipline and drive
  want to connect with other professionals in a very real working experience

• are naturally curious, hard-working, open-minded and flexible

• have a high-level of musicianship

• already have professional solo experience

Tuition

There is no tuition to attend EQ2023 at Lamp. The artists who are chosen will have their tuition, flights and accommodation costs covered. In addition, attending artists will receive a $60 per day stipend to assist with cost of living.

How to apply

Vocal applicants may submit an application to Lamp no later than 3 March 2023. Vocal applications may also be submitted directly to the Equilibrium Project - visit the EQ website for more information. Vocal applications submitted to Lamp will be forwarded to Barbara Hannigan.

Instrumental applicants must submit their application to Lamp (only) no later than 15 March 2023. Please complete Lamp’s online application form, including a motivational letter, current curriculum vitae and a letter of reference from current or most recent teacher/coach, as well as any recent audio/visual files you have preferably including recent unedited video performances of two contrasting works.

For information/inquiries please contact us at +1 902 634 8667 or info@lampns.ca.

Places in Barbara Hannigan’s EQ Programme are limited and competition is extremely high. We are unable to accept every applicant. Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent within two months of the application deadline.

Born in amiskwaciwâskahikan (Edmonton, Canada), Jonathon Adams is an Indigenous (Cree-Métis) baritone. This will be Jonathon’s second appearance at Lamp, having lead the Female Composers of the Italian Baroque Academy in 2021. Coming with their incredibly gifted faculty, this opportunity to learn from (and perform with) someone of their caliber is not something to be missed.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

In the Syntagma Musicum academy, we will examine the ideas presented by Praetorius in his writings, and explore the largely overlooked music of his enormous output. We will also look at the music of his contemporaries, in particular of his friends Heinrich Schütz and Johann Hermann Schein.

The academy is open to singers, and to players of all the instruments called upon and discussed by Praetorius, but particularly cornetto, trombone, violin, recorder, viol, lute, and keyboard. The faculty will consist of Bruce Dickey, Catherine Motuz, Charles Daniels and Hank Knox. There will be time for theoretical discussions, practical exercises, ensemble work, and more.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

British clarinetist Sarah Watts studied at the Royal Academy of Music with Angela Malsbury and Victoria Soames Samek (bass clarinet). Having decided to specialise in bass clarinet she continued her studies at the Rotterdam Conservatorium bass clarinet with Henri Bok and has gained an international reputation as an artist, teacher and researcher on the instrument. Sarah is Director Performance at the University of Sheffield, where she also teaches clarinet and bass clarinet.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Our incredibly popular Composition Academy returns - this year’s amazing faculty includes Roydon Tse and Composer in Residence Matthias McIntire, as well as guest faculty members Dinuk Wijeratne, Ana Sokolović, Philippe Leroux and Sarah Watts. Final works to be performed by Lamp residents including the Verona Quartet.

Deadline for application is 31 March 2023.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$1,000 CAD

Lamp quartet in Residence the Verona Quartet return to lead a Spring residency program at Lamp. Hailed as “outstanding” by The New York Times, the Verona Quartet won the 2015 Concert Artist Guild competition and has performed in such famed venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall. In 2020, the ensemble was honored with Chamber Music America’s Cleveland Quartet Award. Staunch supporters of new music, the Verona Quartet is a string quartet for the 21st century. Jonathan, Dorothy, Abigail and JD champion the rich breadth of the string quartet repertoire from the time-honored canon through contemporary classics.

Tuition for three week residency
(does not include accommodation)
Single: $1500 CAD
Duo: $2250 CAD ($1125 pp)
Trio: $2700 CAD ($900 pp)
Quartet: $3000CAD ($750 pp)

Steven Isserlis CBE is a British cellist who has led a distinguished career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, author and broadcaster. Acclaimed for his profound musicianship, he is also noted for his diverse repertoire, command of phrasing, and distinctive sound which is deployed with his use of gut strings.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Canadian orchestral hornist and conductor James Sommerville is the current principal hornist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and former Conductor and Music Director of the Hamilton Philharmonic, in Hamilton, Ontario. This week-long academy will focus on incorporating horns into chamber music.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Jane Coop is one of Canada’s most prominent and distinguished pianists and music pedagogues. An internationally recognized concert pianist, she will come to Lamp in April 2023 for a week-long program focusing on chamber music.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

We are extremely excited to announce that American/Armenian violist Kim Kashkashian has agreed to come to Lamp to lead a program in Chamber Music. Recognized as one of the world’s top violists, Kim will come to Lamp for four intensive days working and performing with trios, quartets and quintets. For anyone studying the viola, this is truly a remarkable opportunity.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

The Verona Quartet, Lamp’s quartet in residence, are strong advocates of new music. A string quartet for the 21st century, the Verona Quartet champions the rich breadth of the string quartet repertoire from the time-honored canon through contemporary classics. Notable commissions and premieres include works by composers Julia Adolphe, Sebastian Currier, Corey Dundee, Texu Kim, as well as Michael Gilbertson’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated Quartet. Join Jonathon, Dorothy, Abigail & JD for the second of two chamber music academies at Lamp this Autumn. Both academies will include live performances in our concert hall.

Tuition for two week residency
(does not include accommodation)
Single: $1000 CAD
Duo: $1500 CAD ($750pp)
Trio: $1800CAD ($600pp)
Quartet: $2000 CAD ($500pp)

Canadian pianist, Michael Shannon, is quickly earning a reputation as one of the most sought-after vocal coaches, répétiteurs, and recital partners in a new generation of Canadian opera professionals. Michael has assisted in many academies here at Lamp and we are excited to have him lead this programme, aimed at young and emerging artists wanting to perfect their performance technique.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Nova Scotian coloratura soprano Jane Archibald’s career trajectory has taken her from Canada to San Francisco to the Vienna State Opera and other major opera houses on both continents. Currently in demand internationally, Ms Archibald will take aspiring vocal performers on an in-depth exploration of performance technique and some of the easily avoided pitfalls which might be holding them back.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Born in Paris, France, Bénédicte Jourdois is currently on staff with both the Metropolitan Opera and Juilliard School of Music. Ms. Jourdois has performed in numerous venues in Europe and in the United States, including Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington and is coming to Lamp this Autumn to work with highly skilled vocal artists wishing to spend an intense period focusing on French repertoire, and finishing up with a live performance on Friday, October 21.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Uri Caine is a world renowned American classical and jazz pianist and composer famed for his ingenious weaving together of the classical and jazz traditions. He is coming to Lamp for a week where attending artists will delve into improvisation – he likes to tailor his programmes to the people he is working with so everyone can be sure to have the perfect academy specifically for them.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

The Verona Quartet, Lamp’s quartet in residence, are strong advocates of new music. A string quartet for the 21st century, the Verona Quartet champions the rich breadth of the string quartet repertoire from the time-honored canon through contemporary classics. Notable commissions and premieres include works by composers Julia Adolphe, Sebastian Currier, Corey Dundee, Texu Kim, as well as Michael Gilbertson’s Pulitzer Prize-nominated Quartet. Join Jonathon, Dorothy, Abigail & JD for the first of two chamber music academies at Lamp this Autumn. Both academies will include live performances in our concert hall.

Tuition for three week residency
(does not include accommodation)
Single: $1500 CAD
Duo: $2250 CAD ($1125 pp)
Trio: $2700 CAD ($900 pp)
Quartet: $3000CAD ($750 pp)

World renowned Rossini expert Maestro Gianni Fabbrini will return to Lamp this Autumn to lead a vocal academy focusing on Italian Repertoire. The academy culminates with a live performance in our concert hall on Sunday, October 2.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

Barbara Hannigan’s EQ has high expectations: it fosters a culture in which awareness of the total musical picture is an absolute necessity, and not a rare exception. It facilitates a channel of communication between singers and instrumentalists in both opera and concert repertoire. This remarkable programme is made available to top notch emerging artists, handpicked by Barbara and our own Burt Wathen, and all provided at no cost to the attending artists. The concert is always an amazing one, and this year features Barbara Hannigan as singer and conductor alongside thirteen extremely talented emerging artists.

Join our Early Music Academy - Guided by Voices with with faculty Bruce Dickey (cornetto), Catherine Motuz (trombone), Robert Mealy (violin), Elinor Frey (cello and viola da gamba), and Hank Knox (keyboards).

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

TorQ Percussion Quartet is Canada's premiere percussion ensemble and consistently brings new vitality to percussion repertoire and performance in every situation and opportunity. The TorQ Percussion Seminar is an opportunity for university-level percussionists to come together for an intense but rewarding week of rehearsals, discussions, masterclasses, creation and performance, under the direction of the TorQ Percussion Quartet (Richard Burrows, Jamie Drake and Daniel Morphy with Mark Adam standing in for Adam Campbell).

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

The second Spring residency for new and emerging quartets with the fabulous Verona Quartet.

Tuition (does not include accommodation)
Single $500 per week
Duo $800 per week
Trio $900 per week
Quartet $1,000 per week

Join Masters Bob Aiken, Dorothy Chang, Johannes Schöllhorn, Gavin Fraser, Dinuk Wijeratne and Ivan Fedele (virtually from Italy)with young artists for the world premieres of the compositions for the 2022 Academy inspired by the poetry of Michelle Sylliboy in her IVA 2020 award-winning book Kiskajeyi - I AM READY: a book of modern and hieroglyphic poetry celebrating the revitalization of the L'nuk language and the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages.

Application Deadline 31 March, 2022

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$1,000 CAD

Superstar tenor Richard Margison will be joined by collaborating pianist Michael Shannon to offer an intensive, two-week program for very advanced singers aspiring to a professional career in opera. Mo. Margison will be joined this year by Valerie Kuinka, well known Canadian dramatic and scene study coach, as we add a new dimension to his program. The academy will include group master classes and rehearsals, as well as individual coaching sessions studying and performing the world's most beloved opera: G. Puccini's La Bohème, with one of the greatest Puccini tenors of his generation.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$1,000 CAD

With a style emulated by oud players around the world, Syrian Canadian Nazih Borish returns to LAMP for the third time to share the Arabic, flamenco, blues, and jazz influences in his music. Nazih will be joined by jazz and world masters Roberto Occhipinti and Nick Halley.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

In our Bel Canto Academy, we seek to focus your attention on a small group of core bel canto skills, to help you assess your current level in each, and to define the ways you can work to raise that level. Everything we have to teach about musical style and performance practice is addressed in the context of these core skills, which form the building blocks of the Italian vocal tradition. To be lead by conductor, musicologist, and vocal coach Will Crutchfield.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
$500 CAD

An intense period of creativity awaits you as The Verona Quartet, one of the most sought after string quartets of its generation in the world, returns to LAMP for a one-month intensive study for new and emerging quartets.

Tuition
(does not include accommodation)
Single: $500 per week
Duo: $800 per week
Trio: $900 per week
Quartet: $1000per week