Virtuoso pianist and recording artist Catherine Wilson is one of Canada’s most interesting and innovative classical pianists. She has been repeatedly honoured for her exceptional artistry and sensitive musicality as well as for her unique, imaginative programming. Since the beginning of her performing career over 20 years ago, Catherine’s interesting and diverse programming has run the stylistic gamut from the genius of Bach, to the poetic beauty of Chopin, to the elegant delicacy of Debussy, to the syncopated rhythms of ragtime and tin pan alley, and the sensuous tangos of Piazzolla, to newly composed works in these diverse genres. Composers such as John Burke, Srul Irving Glick, Rick Wilkins, Claudio Vena, and Aldemaro Romero have all written works for Catherine and for her group, Ensemble Vivant.
Catherine with Skitch Henderson at Carnegie Hall
Catherine Wilson’s passionate dedication to music and her audience has included extensive research and the exciting discovery of works from the classical and jazz genres that have become obscure. She has re-introduced these newly found gems to audiences world-wide in concert and on recordings. No matter the genre, Catherine has won the hearts of fans and critics alike with inspired, soulful and virtuosic interpretations. Her renditions of Chopin (described as “exquisite” by the Toronto Star) have been compared to the great Artur Rubenstein. She has been equally applauded in the ragtime and jazz worlds, including accolades from jazz great and Order of Canada recipient Rick Wilkins, who said of Catherine’s playing, “no matter the genre, there is magic in her music making”.
Catherine’s debut at Carnegie Hall in April 2005, where she was the invited soloist of Maestro Skitch Henderson and the New York Pops, was a triumphant success. Performing to a sold-out hall, the audience included Mrs. Leroy Anderson and two of her sons, as well as the famed actor Richard Dreyfuss. Additionally, her performance of Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra was filmed by PBS and appears in the documentary on Anderson’s life, Once Upon a Sleigh Ride, which is frequently broadcast on PBS, Classic Arts Showcase and on Bravo internationally. Resulting from this success was the release of the unique 2-CD compilation The Music of Leroy Anderson, which includes Catherine’s performance of the Leroy Anderson Piano Concerto with the Toronto Symphony. Of her performances of this concerto, Skitch Henderson said: “Catherine Wilson brings great technical virtuosity and magical music making….she possesses rare depth combined with highly sensitive artistry that is tremendously refreshing.”
Catherine Wilson
Catherine Wilson is the founder, pianist and artistic director of the highly acclaimed group Ensemble Vivant, hailed as “Canada’s Chamber Music Treasure” by John Terauds of the Toronto Star. Catherine as a soloist or with Ensemble Vivant continues to perform to sold-out houses throughout North America and in Europe, and has been recording for over 20 years.
Ensemble Vivant, the core of which is piano, violin and cello has been a pioneer among classical piano trios. Championing a uniquely genre diverse repertoire in their concerts and recordings since the group first came on the scene in the late 1980s, Ensemble Vivant has received critical acclaim in the classical, ragtime and jazz-related worlds, including the nuevo tango of Astor Piazzolla. As well as performing the mainstream classical piano trio literature, Ensemble Vivant has introduced jazz related repertoire to classical audiences around the world with arrangements for piano trio that were written exclusively for the group by some of the greatest jazz composers of our time. These exclusive arrangements include the ragtime music of Scott Joplin and Joseph Lamb; repertoire from classic American composers Leroy Anderson and Geroge Gershwin, just to name a few; and repertoire of Astor Piazzolla, among others. Also, Ensemble Vivant frequently expands to perform larger chamber music in these diverse genres, such as: (1) Saint-Saens Septet, for piano, trumpet, 2 violins, viola, cello and double bass; (2) a quintet arrangement of the music of Charlie Chaplin for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass by jazz great Rick Wilkins; (3) The Old Toronto Klezmer Suite (the composition that Canadian composer Srul Irving Glick wrote for Ensemble Vivant) featuring a quintet of piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass; (4) Mendelssohn’s Sextet for piano, violin, 2 violas, cello and double bass; (5) exclusive arrangements by Piazzolla expert Julien Labro for piano trio with jazz bassist Dave Young – additionally, champion Argentine Tango Dancers, Roxanne and Fabian may also be featured.
Catherine Wilson and Ensemble Vivant recordings appear on many fine labels, including Fanfare, Pro Arte, Doremi, SPY and Opening Day/Universal and Opening Day Entertainment Group. Their recordings are heard on classical radio around the world. Catherine was invited to be part of an educational classical music series that was produced and directed by New York’s Peter Rosen. The five videos that became part of this series showcase some of the styles Catherine and Ensemble Vivant perform, and these continue to be broadcast frequently on Classic Arts Showcase and PBS.
Sharon Prator, Catherine Wilson, Erica Beston
The Year 2008 marked the twentieth anniversary of the release of Ensemble Vivant’s first recording, Palm Court Pleasures of which Music Magazine wrote, “The overall effect is joyous and compelling”. To celebrate this anniversary, Opening Day Records/Universal invited Ensemble Vivant to record Audience Favourites, which was released in June 2008 and showcases the wonderful variety of repertoire the group has available. John Terauds of the Toronto Star exclaimed, “this is a quality musical candybox.” Following in June 2009 was the release of the group’s CD, Fête française (Opening Day Recordings/Universal) featuring music of Debussy, Widor and Saint Saens. The Toronto Star’s John Terauds praised the recording as having “Beautiful, poised performances”. In April, 2011 Opening Day Entertainment Group released Ensemble Vivant’s Homage to Astor Piazzolla to rave reviews. Catherine had the privilege of collaborating with Piazzolla expert Julien Labro, who wrote arrangements especially for Catherine and Ensemble Vivant of Piazzolla’a dazzling music. Of this recording Labro said “this disc is a precious contribution to the roster of existing Piazzolla recordings… destined to become a classic.”
Catherine Wilson has performed for several heads of state, including Queen Elizabeth II. As a composer, Catherine has written for many CBC Radio productions and Ensemble Vivant recordings. Catherine is also the artistic director of EUTERPE, a not-for-profit charitable organization whose mandate is to provide free of charge, opportunities for disadvantaged groups such as abused children (her personal focus) to experience the healing and transformative effects of great music performed live. Catherine was an Assistant Adjunct Professor of Piano at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan for over five years, and since 2005 has been Course Director for such courses as the African American Musics Piano Performance Course at York University, which includes Ragtime, Boogie Woogie, Novelty Classics and Blues Piano repertoire. Catherine also teaches classical piano at York University and is completing her PhD at that institution.
