Performers

(Or listings for: All Artists involved in QAF 2011 | Facilitators | Performers | Visual Artists | Writers)

Alexander Cannon

Al Cannon

Performing in the opening night Art Party, July 26

Alexander Cannon, trumpet soloist, chamber musician, and educator, is a dedicated student of music and committed advocate of the Arts. Al has performed at the International Trumpet Guild Convention in Dallas, TX (2003), Las Vegas Music Festival (2003), Lake Placid Institute in New York (2003), Dublin International Festival in Ireland (2004), International Trumpet Guild Convention in Bangkok, Thailand (2005), Chaiyi International Band Festival in Taiwan (2006), Coleman Chamber Ensemble Competition in Pasadena, CA (2006), Pierre Monteux School in Hancock, ME (2007), Fischoff Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, IN (2008), and with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2008). From 2007-2009, Al was the Acting Principal Trumpet with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and he has appeared as a soloist across North America and in various parts of Asia.

Barry Truax

Composer Barry Truax

Truax’s work Love Songs from Powers of Two: The Artist, will be performed by William George in Short Shorts, August 7

Barry Truax is a Professor in the School of Communication at Simon Fraser University where he teaches courses in acoustic communication and electroacoustic music. He worked with the World Soundscape Project, editing its Handbook for Acoustic Ecology, and has published a book Acoustic Communication dealing with sound and technology. As a composer, Truax is best known for his work with the PODX computer music system which he has used for tape solo works and those with live performers or computer graphics. In 1991 his work, Riverrun, was awarded the Magisterium at the International Competition of Electroacoustic Music in Bourges, France.

Berend McKenzie

Performing in nggrfg, July 26-27

Berend McKenzie lives in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. He is an award winning actor, writer and producer. Berend’s film and television credits include Andromeda, Cold Squad, Catwoman with Halle Berry and Life or Something Like It with Angelina Jolie.

Beth “Buzy B” Allen

Beth Allen

Performing in Electrosexual: SucK iT uP! July 30

Beth “Buzy B” Allen moved to Vancouver 9 years ago to pursue music.

Since her move she has completed a Jazz/contemporary vocal diploma from Vancouver Community College. She has held weekly DJ night’s around Vancouver at Lick nightclub and currently at The Reef resturant. Also she has been involved with great festivals such as the Sista’ Hood festival and The International Queer Flim festival.

Bill Richardson

Writer Bill Richardson

Writer, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Bill Richardson is a writer and broadcaster. He lives in Vancouver where he hosts weekend classical music programming for CBC Radio 2. “Do You Want What I Have Got?” a revue he co-wrote with Veda Hille, will be performed at the Arts Club Revue stage early in 2012. He was recently fired as a columnist (not communist) by Readers Digest.

Bluelight

Performing at Art Party! July 26 and Electrosexual: SucK iT uP!, July 30

Electronic duo Bluelight formed in 2008, releasing their debut four track EP on Boomsmack Records. A string of live shows and periods of concentrated song-writing saw the band intensify momentum culminating in their full length album ‘On The Edge’ set for release in July 2011. The band is elated to be releasing their first video ‘I See Fine’, directed by Lorna Richards of All Out Media to coincide with their new website and album release.

Christopher Cook

Author, Clean Sheets 2011: The Better Parts of Mourning

For 69 seconds with Christopher Cook, go to gayvancouver.net

Christopher is a Vancouver based writer and performer. He received his theatre training from Concordia University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Daelik

Facilitator for Law of Proximity youth dance (contact improvisation ) workshop August 2-6

Dancer with MACHiNENOiSY, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Daelik has been performing for over 20 years. He began acting in Toronto in the mid 1980s, performing in Grotowski-inspired physical theatre productions. In 1990 he moved to Vancouver where dance through Contact Improvisation. Daelik has performed across Canada and internationally, spending two years living in Berlin.

Darah Teitel

Darah Tietel

Author, Clean Sheets 2011: Marla’s Party Aug 2

Darrah Teitel is an award winning playwright, whose work has been produced nationally and internationally. Teitel is also performer, dramaturge and community theatre facilitator. She is the founder of Rabiayshna, a company dedicated to radical theatre and community projects. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and the National Theatre School.

Darcy Michael

Performing in Darcy Michael: The Gayest Show on Earth; Part Deux, Even Gayer – July 26

Darcy Michael is considered one of Canada’s rising stars. Coming off his wildly successful debut at the prestigious Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, where the Montreal Gazette pegged him as one of their favorites; Darcy went on to film his first national stand up special for CTV and The Comedy Network which aired in June 2010. Darcy was also featured on a pre-taped segment for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Shortly after Darcy filmed a Gala set for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival in which he was nominated for a 2010 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Televised Performance. April 2010 saw Darcy featured as one of the final 8 in the Comedy Networks Great Canadian Laugh Off. In the fall of 2008 he recorded his first CD in conjunction with XM Radio called: “You’re Gay Now.”

David Bloom

Playwright, Director and Actor in Boulez Contra Cage, August 12

Playwright, director, actor and fight choreographer David Bloom is co-artistic director (with Linda Quibell) of Felix Culpa. Last season he performed in Tanya Marquardt’s Transmission for Chrysalis/Proximity Arts and Frost/Nixon for The Playhouse/Canadian Stage.

Delia Brett

Facilitator for Law of Proximity youth contact improvisation (dance) workshop, August 2-6

Dancer in MACHiNENOiSY, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Before professional dance, Delia worked as an actress in film and television.

Dianna David

Dianna DavidPerforming in the opening night Art Party! July 26

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, this first generation Filipino-Canadian started her performing career at the early age of 6 years old. Dianna has been actively involved for twenty years as a performer, choreographer and artistic director for the dance group The Philippine Barangay Performing Arts Society.

Evan Tsitsias

Author, Clean Sheets 2011: Unstuck, Aug 9

Evan trained at York University, Sheridan College, and has his professional Training Certificate in Theatre of the Oppressed from Cardboard Citizens in London, England, where he trained with Augusto Boal himself (still one of his favourite experiences). He is also an alumni and member of the Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab, the Tarragon Playwright’s Unit and the Co-founder/Artistic Director of the Directors Lab North.

Frédérik Robert

Tenor Frédérik Robert

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6

At only 24 years old, Vancouver based tenor Frédérik Robert has already sung over 20 roles and many concerts with professional companies and orchestras across Canada including: The Opera Project (Winnipeg / Edmonton / Vancouver), Edmonton Opera, Calgary Opera, Opera Nuova, Opera Saskatoon, Prince George Symphony, Dawson Creek Symphonette, Winnipeg Symphony, and National Arts Symphony Orchestra. Recent credits include Ferrando in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte with The Opera Project, Tenor Soloist in Saint Saens Christmas Oratorio, Monostatos/Armed Guard/First Priest/ and Tamino (Understudy) with National Arts Center Orchestra, and counter-tenor debut as the mischievous Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Opera NUOVA.

Hector

HECTOR

Performing in Electrosexual, July 30

HECTOR is a fracas of vigorous bass and drum grooves, mixed with digital din. Old-school rock and electro-pop meet with inexpungible lyrical hooks and melodies, the clamour is it’s own perpetual opiate. With re-enactments of affliction and anguish, HECTOR’s minimalistic rogue continues to engage longtime fans and win new ones.

Jef Leppard

DJ for the opening gala Art Party!

For over two years, JEF LEPPARD has found a home in the dimly lit rooms ofVancouver’s East Side ever-growing queer scene as resident deejay of parties likeSPIT, QUEER BASH, and APOCALYPSTICK (East Van’s Drag Show). He’s shared thedecks with the likes of DJ’s Lady Starlight and Colby B (NYC) and DJ Kasey Riot(Vancouver), specializing in songs that encourage arm-waving, sweat-producing andbooty-popping.
During his sets, disco-funk, electro-house, throwback tracks and hip-hop mergeharmoniously to leave you reaching for a throat lozenge while simultaneouslywondering why the night has to end.
He hopes that you like him.

Joel Klein

Photo Credit: Melissa Baker, courtesy of Vancouver Art Gallery

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6

Bass-Baritone Joel Klein most recently sang the role of Bart in Edmonton Opera’s February production of The Barber of Barrhead, a role he created in Vancouver Opera’s 2007/8 touring production of The Barber of Barkerville. Other recent performances include City Opera Vancouver`s Curlew River (Britten), Burnaby Lyric Opera`s Barber of Seville and Italian Girl in Algiers (Rossini), Thais (Massenet), Martha (Flotow), Manon (Auber), Bohemian Girl (Balfe), two Mozart Masses and Handel`s Messiah for the Handel Society, and world premieres of Poema Letkoho Mista (opera) (Jerry Senchychyn), Lake of Souls (oratorio) (Lloyd Burritt), and Au Revoir Maria Callas (Rodney Sharman). After recent success in France, Joel has been invited to return for a series of concerts throughout the Rhône-Alpes and Bordeaux regions.

Kallisto

Performing at the opening night Art Party, July 26

This incredible trio sings a brand of a cappella that by far outstrips any other performers in recent memory. A wide and eclectic repertoire makes this an amazingly engaging group that keeps audiences spellbound.

Karen Lee-Morlang

Pianist Karen Lee-Morlang

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6, and with the No Shit Shirleys, August 4

Performer, educator and impresario, Karen Lee-Morlang has been recognized and remembered for her exquisite playing, boisterous stage presence as well as her freshly innovative programming. Karen taught as a Sessional Lecturer at the UBC School of Music for four years. During that time, she also won numerous international and local awards that enabled her to travel to Europe, Asia and other parts of North America. She has continued her work producing creative performances that incorporate music appreciation, theatrical elements and multi-disciplinary fields.

Leroy Wan

Leroy Wan

Reading in Queerotica, August 8

Leroy Wan (Leader Lovebot of “Leroy & The Lovebots”) on himself.

My name is Leroy Ngaitopelpetalian Tung Wan. I was born on November 26th, the year Freddie Mercury died. I’m just a person who woke up one morning and realized what I loved doing most in the world, and it just seems like a shame to not do that for the rest of your life.

Mark McGregor

Photo Credit: Jack McKeown

Exhibiting in Games People Play curated exhibition July 26-August 13, and performing in Boulez Contra Cage, July 28

Flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor is the winner of numerous honours, including the CBC Pacific Spotlight and Debut Young Artists competitions, and has collaborated with many respected musicians, from Stephen Isserlis to Björk. Described as a musician of “huge physical energy,” McGregor’s performances have been lauded by the press as “mind-blowing” and “verging on the superhuman.” He has performed in festivals and music series throughout Canada, Europe, Australia and Israel.

Mark Seán Kershaw

Mark Kershaw

Performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Mark Seán’s show biz career began in the 70s when, with the aid of a Sanyo portable tape recorder, he created “radio dramas” in which he played all the parts. He later produced a hand puppet version of The Poseidon Adventure with a ballroom set that could be turned upside down.

Noam Gagnon

Performing in Short Shorts, August 7, 2011

Noam Gagnon is the Artistic Director of Co. Vision Selective (www.visionselective.org) and the Director of Noam Gagnon’s Wellness Center/Beyond Pilates Inc. (www.beyondpilates.ca). Since its inception in 2006, Co. Vision Selective has produced several works including The Vision Impure, which premiered at The Cultch (Vancouver) in 2007. For his solo performance in The Vision Impure Noam received the Isadora Award for Excellence in Performance. In 2009, the work was remounted for a Canadian tour with new commissions by Daniel Léveillé and Nigel Charnock. 10 Things You’ll Hate about Me, a collaboration with playwright and director James Fagan Tait, premiered at The Cultch in 2010.

Rachel Iwaasa

Rachel Iwaasa

Performing in Boulez contra Cage July 28

Hailed in the press as a ”keyboard virtuoso” (Georgia Straight) with the “emotional intensity” to take a piece “from notes on a page to a stunning work of art” (Victoria Times Colonist), pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa has performed as soloist and chamber musician in Canada, the United States and Germany. Known for bold and innovative concerts, Rachel combines her warmth and curiosity to touch the hearts and minds of audiences, whether she is playing Beethoven and Schumann or Ligeti and Saariaho.

Rebecca Whitling

Performing in Short Shorts, Aug 7

Rebecca Whitling is a member of the first violin section of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and is Principal Second Violin of the National Broadcast Orchestra. A graduate of McGill and Indiana Universities and an alumna of the New World Symphony, Rebecca has appeared as a chamber and orchestral musician at Tanglewood, Schleswig-Holstein, Ojai, Cabrillo, and Mountain View music festivals. As a member of the prize-winning Plymouth String Quartet, she performed at festivals and concert series in the U.S., Europe, and South America. She has performed as soloist with the Vancouver Philharmonic, the Semiahmoo Strings, the Prince George Symphony and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

SAM

Performing with Bluelight, July 30

SAMs debut album has been released on itunes. The album features Jerome Mandrake’s lyrical writing and vocal performances along with James Sadoway’s musical compositions and lyrical co-writing. Mandrake who has opened for Deborah Cox and released his own album “Affirmation” previously, teamed up with Sadoway who has remixed Sarah McLaughlin’s song “First Noel”, and had written and produce a song featured on Bravo! a Canadian cable channel with its own music video.

Simon Webb

Pride in Art | Vancouver's Queer Arts Festival

Actor Simon Webb

Performing in Boulez contra Cage, July 28.

Simon is proud to be representing such a massively influential artist as John Cage, proud to be working with such skilled colleagues, and proud to be participating in his first Queer Arts Festival.

Tiffany Tamaribuchi

Performing with JODAIKO, August 5

Leading Taiko Drumming Workshop, August 6

Tiffany Tamaribuchi, an internationally recognized taiko master, has achieved a level of acclaim in trailblazing fashion.

In the traditional taiko realm, of Japanese born and trained male performers, she creates a new powerful voice with her multicultural heritage, youth, and feminine perspective. Ms. Tamaribuchi’s determination and perseverance, through long hours of grueling practice in her initial studies, transformed her sense of life’s possibilities, which she now does for others.

Tiresias

**Flute/piano duo, in Boulez Contra Cage, July 28**

Hailed by the Globe and Mail for their “tremendous flair and intensity,” the flute/piano duo Tiresias was formed by flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor and pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa in 2002. A blind seer from Greek mythology, Tiresias was transformed from man to woman and back again by supernatural means. S/he symbolizes what Iwaasa and McGregor have set out to accomplish: to speak from two very different perspectives with a single voice, to provide fresh perspectives and insights into conventional chamber music programmes, and to anticipate the future trajectories of the chamber music genre through working with composers and artists from various disciplines.

Vancouver Men’s Chorus

Vancouver Men

Performing in Big Gay Sing July 31

The Vancouver Men’s Chorus is one of Canada’s premier singing ensembles and Canada’s first gay chorus. For more than 25 years, we’ve delighted audiences locally and abroad.

Read more on Vancouver Men’s Chorus…

>Filed under: Artists, Performers

William George

William George

Performing in Short Shorts, August 7

William George has performed with musical organizations around the world, including Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Savonlinna (Finland) Festival, the Aldeburgh (England) Festival, the Stockholm Tonsättarfestival, Philippines Symphony and at Carnegie Hall. He has toured the country as Count Almaviva with New York City Opera, and as Don Ottavio with Western Opera Theater. Recent performances include an appearance at the Elysium festival in Germany and New York singing Kurt Weill, concerts with contemporary music ensemble New Music New York, Carmina Burana with City Opera Vancouver, Messiah with Abbotsford Symphony, works by Vancouver electronic composer Barry Truax, and concerts with Erato Ensemble in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Zack Singer

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6

Zack Singer is a multi-instrumentalist and singer who loves to compose and perform many different styles of music. As a graduate of the UBC Bachelor of Music program, Zack has had years of experience studying the art of music performance and composition, giving his music a very unique edge. His instrument arsenal is extensive, including saxophone, piano, guitar, harmonica, various wind instruments and recently added weapon of choice, accordion. Some of Zack’s recent performance endeavors have been Galiano Island singer-songwriter Tamara Nile in her T Nile Band and with Karen-Lee Morlang and Katy Hedalen in various Koncert Kontinuum series concerts. In the folk music world, Singer has been writing and performing his own songs for over a year throughout the city with his good friend Sarah McGrath, as an indie-folk duo called The Grath Singers. This year, The Grath Singers plan to release their first album. Zack Singer loves to experience and learn new genres of music and is excited to continue discovering, creating, and performing wherever his life may take him.

Performers

Truax’s work Love Songs from Powers of Two: The Artist, will be performed by William George in Short Shorts, August 7

Performing in nggrfg, July 26-27

Performing in Electrosexual: SucK iT uP! July 30

Writer, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Performing at Art Party! July 26 and Electrosexual: SucK iT uP!, July 30

Facilitator for Law of Proximity youth dance (contact improvisation ) workshop August 2-6

Dancer with MACHiNENOiSY, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Playwright, Director and Actor in Boulez Contra Cage, August 12

Facilitator for Law of Proximity youth contact improvisation (dance) workshop, August 2-6

Dancer in MACHiNENOiSY, performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Dianna DavidPerforming in the opening night Art Party! July 26

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6

Performing in Electrosexual, July 30

Performing in Glitter and Be Gay, August 6, and with the No Shit Shirleys, August 4

Mark Kershaw Performing in Short Shorts, August 7

Performing with Bluelight, July 30

Performing in Boulez contra Cage, July 28.

Performing with JODAIKO, August 5

Leading Taiko Drumming Workshop, August 6

Flute/piano duo, in Boulez Contra Cage, July 28

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Mark Kershaw

Performing in Short Shorts, August 7

**Flute/piano duo, in Boulez Contra Cage, July 28**