Season Lineup

Saturday, October 17, 2026    7:30 p.m.

Elmer Iseler Singers
Lydia Adams C.M. – conductor and artistic director
Shawn Grenke – piano

The Elmer Iseler Singers, one of Canada’s premier professional chamber choirs, is launching its Fall Eastern Canada Tour with a concert in Almonte. Conductor Lydia Adams will lead the choir in a festive program including selections from Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Mendelssohn, and George Frideric Handel, and various international and Canadian composers, as well as folk and popular songs from the Maritimes.

Photo by Karen Reeves

Saturday, December 5, 2026     7:30 p.m.

Mirelle Asselin – soprano
Carson Becke – piano
Laurence Wall – narrator

Frederick Forsyth’s novella The Shepherd has aired on CBC Radio every Christmas Eve for nearly 50 years, making it a cornerstone of the Canadian holiday experience. Come hear this evocative wartime story recited live by beloved local CBC broadcaster Laurence Wall, set to a musical soundscape provided by pianist Carson Becke and Almonte’s own, soprano Mireille Asselin. 

Photo by Tam Photography

Sunday, January 24, 2027    2:00 p.m.

Ember Ensemble

Richard Strauss’ iconic Vier letzte Lieder, known as a concert hall classic, will be brought to life in a stunning new chamber arrangement by Ember Ensemble, sparking the flame of concert hall masterpieces on the chamber music stage. Acclaimed Canadian soprano Elizabeth Polese joins forces with distinguished musicians Katelyn Emery (violin), Florence Rousseau (horn), and Christopher Gaudreault (piano) in a programme that also features works by Robert and Clara Schumann, as well as Johannes Brahms’ beloved Horn Trio in E-flat major.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience these timeless works in an intimate setting, where themes of love, longing, and farewell are explored with breathtaking immediacy and emotional depth.

Photo by Brenden Friesen

Saturday, March 6, 2027     7:30 p.m.

CC Duo

From the lyricism of Edvard Grieg and Maurice Ravel to the introspective melodies of Erik Satie and the clarity and wit of Germaine Tailleferre, Lyrique offers a unique portrait of 19th- and 20th-century piano music arranged for two guitars. CC Duo (Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan) transports us to this era through the rich tonal palette, nuanced capacity for expression, and intimate nature of their instrument, bringing new life to these iconic works.

Photo by Brent Calis

Saturday, April 3, 2027     7:30 p.m.

Members of the National Arts Centre Orchestra:

Jessica Linnebach – violin
Carissa Klopoushak – viola
Leah Wyber – cello
Max Cardilli – bass
Joanna G’froerer – flute
Charles Hamann – oboe
Sean Rice – clarinet
Darren Hicks – bassoon
Lauren Anker – horn
Pianist TBA                                      

Some works are born from a commission, others from a spark of inspiration. Jean Coulthard’s Pas de deux for flute and bassoon grew from a gesture of friendship, written as a wedding gift for two musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. This charming work opens a program that celebrates connection and the joy of making music together.

From the intimate dialogue of Coulthard’s duet, the concert expands into the elegance and lyrical beauty of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Quintet for Piano and Winds, a work the composer himself regarded as one of his finest achievements. Its soaring melodies and operatic spirit allow each performer to shine while showcasing the art of musical conversation.

Lastly, Louis Spohr’s magnificent Nonet brings together strings and winds in a rare and captivating ensemble. By turns serene, mysterious, and exuberant, the work gives each of the nine instruments a distinct voice, weaving them together in a rich tapestry of colour and expression.

The Gift of Music celebrates friendship, generosity, and the shared experience of chamber music. Through works that highlight conversation, individuality, and artistic partnership, this program reminds us that music itself is one of the finest gifts we can offer one another.