Barrie Concerts & Georgian Music

American violinist Andrew Sords maintains a prolific touring schedule with both his piano trio and as soloist with orchestras. Having appeared on four continents and in nearly all of the 50 states, his performances have been cited for combining visceral virtuosity and ravishing tone, while international critics have endorsed Sords as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald). In 2018, an appearance at Festival Bravissima in Guatemala was heralded by the Prensa Libre: "Sords demonstrated what it means to be an artist. He paired maximum delicacy with fire and brilliance, and had a subtle handling of sonority - clearly audible even in his softest and sweetest moments." Sords has received numerous awards and distinctions reflecting his career trajectory, including the Pittsburgh Concert Society’s Career Grant; was profiled by NPR's "Morning Edition", XM's "Derek and Romaine Show", and STRINGS Magazine (covering his residency in Trinidad and Tobago); and has recently made débuts for the Ravinia Festival, Québec's Lakeshore Chamber Festival and Hudson's Série de musique de chambre, and with orchestras in Scotland, Australia, the Caribbean, Canada, and Poland. The 2022/23 concert season features return appearances in Montréal, Beverly Hills, Toronto’s Glenn Gould Theatre, Cleveland’s Trinity Cathedral, the Norton Museum Series in West Palm Beach, and concerti by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Bruch, Wieniawski, and Bologne.

Joseph Johnson has been heard throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. His festival appearances include performances in all classical genres at the American festivals of Santa Fe, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Bard, Cactus Pear, Grand Teton, and Music in the Vineyards as well as the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan, and the Virtuosi Festival in Brazil.

Highlights of Joseph Johnson's 2022/2023 season include concerto performances of the Brahms Double Concerto with Symphony Nova Scotia in the Fall, CPE Bach Concerto in a minor at U of T in January, and the Canadian Premiere of a new concerto, Devonte Hynes's: Origin - Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, with the Toronto Symphony, in May. Recent recital and chamber music appearances include performances at the Faculty of Music Walter Hall series at the University of Toronto, the Chatter series in Albuquerque, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, as well as the Shostakovich Cello Concerto with the Niagara Symphony. Principal cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since the 2009/2010 season, Mr. Johnson previously held the same position with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Principal Cellist of the Santa Fe Opera, and during the 2008-2009 season, was acting Principal Cellist of the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Johnson has also performed as guest Principal Cellist with the Detroit Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Trondheim Symphony, and this year will serve as guest Principal Cellist with the San Francisco Symphony for their Carnegie Hall/Europe Tour in the Spring.

Cheryl Duvall is a multi-faceted musician and pianist. She is extremely active as a soloist, collaborative pianist, teacher and adjudicator and has toured and performed throughout Canada, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland, the Netherlands, England, Argentina and the U.S. She is especially passionate about contemporary music, which has led her along with friend and violinist Ilana Waniuk, to co-found the Thin Edge New Music Collective, now in their eleventh season. Thin Edge completed their first Canadian tour in winter 2013, was guest artists in residence at the SoundSCAPE Festival of New Music in Maccagno, Italy in 2013 and at Le Pantographe in Moutier, Switzerland in 2014 and has undertaken a Canadian tour with Montreal's Ensemble Paramirabo throughout 2015. To date, they continue to be responsible for the commissioning and premieres of new works.

An experienced choral accompanist, Ms. Duvall is the pianist for the Toronto based Bell Arte Singers and the internationally renowned Oakville Children's Choir, to which she has toured and competed internationally with gold standings as well as recorded albums of Canadian choral repertoire and Seasonal Music.

One of our core values is to promote and foster education and to this end, the Silver Band has for several years sponsored and administered the Hannaford Youth Program. Young musicians between the ages of eight and 24 perform in three vibrant ensembles: The Hannaford Junior Band, The Hannaford Community Band and the Hannaford Street Youth Band. Each year over 100 young musicians from across the GTA and beyond enroll in this dynamic and continually growing program.