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Concert Details
Two Requiems
Artistic Director: Jean-Sébastien Lévesque
(www.jeansebastienlevesque.com)
November 19, 2022 @ 7:00 pm
Fulford Hall, Salt Spring Island
Programme
W. A. Mozart - Requiem in D minor K.626
Intermission
Luigi Cherubini - Requiem in C minor
Bach on the Rock chamber orchestra and choir members are excited to present their first
concert of the season, featuring two beautiful requiems: the Mozart Requiem in D minor, and
the Requiem in C minor written by his contemporary, Luigi Cherubini.
It takes place at Fulford Community Hall on Saturday, Nov. 19, beginning at 7 p.m.
As BOTR’s new artist director Jean-Sébastien Lévesque explains, Mozart’s Requiem is the
most known, respected and performed in current times, but the Cherubini Requiem held that
honour 200 years ago.
“The Mozart Requiem was commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg to pass it off as his
own composition. Had Mozart been given enough time to complete it, Franz von Walsegg
could have been successful and the work would have fallen into oblivion. Because of it, a lot
of mysteries, theories, unanswered questions and myths exist about the piece.”
Jean-Sébastien says Cherubini was a contemporary of Mozart’s, a friend of Haydn’s and a
most respected composer of his time. Beethoven considered Cherubini the greatest
composer alive, and saw his Requiem in C minor as the only model he would use if he had to
write one of his own.
Professional vocal soloists for the Nov. 19 evening are Gwen Jamieson, soprano; Deanna
Sills, mezzo-soprano; Adam Dyjach, tenor; and Louis Dillon, bass.
Tickets for the show are $25 for adults and $5 for youth, and available at the link below and at the door.
Gwen Jamieson, soprano
Gwen Jamieson’s passion for early music is reflected in her frequent solo appearances in Victoria. In February, 2021, she was featured by the Early Music Society of the Islands in a videoed mainstage performance, “Airs de Cour and Courtly Airs”, accompanied by Douglas Hensley and Martin Bonham. Gwen has appeared regularly with the Ancient Music Society of Victoria, including a gala concert in 2019 with Benjamin Bagby. She has also performed a number of times as part of the annual UVic Medieval Conference and has been a member of the medieval-folk ensemble Banquo for several years. Gwen has appeared in the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Oratorio and Advanced Vocal Performance Programs, including solo work in Handel’s Solomon. She has two CD recordings to her credit.
Gwen’s evident talent and interest in early music attracted the attention of the late Michael Jarvis, who invited her to become a Choral Scholar with St. Barnabas Anglican Church. In that position, under the new directorship of Marco Vitale, she continues to be immersed in sacred Renaissance polyphony.
In 2019, Gwen made her debut as solo soprano in Handel’s Messiah, with the Bach on the Rock choir and orchestra under the direction of Michael Jarvis. Her performance earned a review that singled out her performance, saying, “The soprano soloist’s voice and wonderfully expressive face was one of the highlights of the performance.”
Gwen has a bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Victoria, and a Diploma in Vocal Performance from Camosun/Victoria Conservatory of Music.
A native of Waterloo Ontario, Adam commenced his musical education at Wilfrid Laurier University in Voice Performance under the direction of Kimberly Barber. He now resides in Victoria, BC where he completed his Masters in Voice Performance with Benjamin Butterfield at the University of Victoria.
Adam has performed as a tenor soloist with various groups on Vancouver Island and the mainland including the Vancouver Island Symphony, Victoria Baroque Players, the Handel Society of Music, Bach on the Rock, Via Choralis, Sooke Philharmonic Choir, Victoria Baroque Festival, La Modestine, Victoria Choral Society, North Island Choral Society, Malaspina Choir, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Oceanside Concert Choir and the Cowichan Consort.
Adam currently sings at Fairfield United and St. John Henry Newman churches, with the Linden Singers and Capriccio choirs. In addition to performing, Adam teaches music lessons out of his home studio AD Music and at the Taber Music School. He is also a lead instructor for the online teaching platform Singdaptive. To find out more about Adam go to adamdyjach.com
Adam Dyjach, Tenor
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Deanna has performed Mozart’s Requiem with the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra and Handel’s Messiah with both Bach on the Rock and with Victoria Baroque. As well, she recently was the 2021/22 season’s alto lead for SING THE NORTH, the Canadian virtual choir founded and directed by Kathryn Whitney.
After having a family and an administrative career in social sciences, Deanna decided to come back to her love of classical singing in 2018. She has been coached by a number of illustrious artists including Nancy Argenta, Ingrid Attrot, Mel Braun, Benjamin Butter eld, Anne Grimm, Daniel Taylor, and Kathryn Whitney. She was featured in the 2020 Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Spark to Flame concert and has participated in several VCM vocal programs including the 2021 Summer Intensive Program Advanced Singers Course.
Deanna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice Performance from the University of Victoria where she studied with Susan Young. She is currently coached by Nancy Argenta.
Contact Deanna at sills@shaw.ca
Deanna Sills, Mezzo Soprano
Bass-baritone Louis Dillon first discovered his abilities and love of singing when his mother, a voice teacher, made him choose between voice lessons or paying rent after high school. He made the wise choice to sing and hasn’t stopped learning since. Originally from Halfmoon Bay, BC, he currently resides in Victoria where he completed his Diploma in Music Performance at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.
Spurred on by mentors Ingrid Attrot and Nancy Argenta, Louis is eager to share his love of music through performance and teaching students of his own. He fell under the spell of opera early on, first joining Pacific Opera Victoria’s chorus in 2015 and appearing in various comprimario roles, most recently as Guccio in their 2019 production of Gianni Schicchi. He has taken the stage in operas, oratorios, recitals, churches, care facilities, and—on one memorable occasion—paddling a kayak in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. This concert will be Louis’s sixth appearance with Bach on the Rock.