Composer Andrew Balfour brings stories of Indigenous soldiers to BU as Artist-in-Residence

Award-winning Cree composer Andrew Balfour brings his Truth and Reconciliation project Nôtinikêw (Going to War) to Brandon University (BU) this week as Artist-in-Residence.

Telling the stories of forgotten Indigenous soldiers through music, Nôtinikêw will feature the Brandon University Chorale, directed by Andrée Dagenais and accompanied by Balfour, Leanne Zacharias (cello), Cory Campbell (songkeeper) and Nolan Kehler (tenor). The week will feature a series of open rehearsals, culminating with a performance on Sunday at 3 p.m., at Brandon City Hall.

Balfour will also present an Out of Bounds Lecture Series talk on today (Tuesday, Nov. 21) from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., in the Kinsmen Rehearsal Hall (Room 1-20) of the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building. The topic of Balfour’s Out of Bounds talk will be “Storytelling Through Music.”

There is no admission charge for any of the events.

Schedule of Events:

Open Rehearsal: Monday, Nov. 20, 4 — 5:40 p.m., Lorne Watson Recital Hall

Out of Bounds Lecture Series: Tuesday, Nov. 21, 12:30 — 1:30 p.m., Kinsmen Rehearsal Hall (Room 1-20, Music building)

Open Rehearsal: Wednesday, Nov. 22, 4:30 — 5:40 p.m., Lorne Watson Recital Hall

Open Rehearsal: Saturday, Nov. 25, noon ­— 2 p.m., Brandon City Hall

Nôtinikêw performance: Sunday, Nov. 26, 3 p.m., Brandon City Hall

About Andrew Balfour:

Andrew’s works have been performed and/or broadcast locally, nationally and internationally. He has been commissioned by the Winnipeg, Regina and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, Ensemble Caprice, Groundswell, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, the Winnipeg Singers, the Kingston Chamber Choir, Roomful of Teeth, Tafelmusik and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, among others. Andrew is also the founder and Artistic Director of the innovative vocal group Dead of Winter (formerly Camerata Nova), now in its 25^th year of offering a concert series in Winnipeg. With Dead of Winter, Andrew specializes in creating “concept concerts,” many with Indigenous subject matter (Wa Wa Tey Wak) [Northern Lights], Medieval Inuit, Fallen). These innovative offerings explore a theme through an eclectic array of music, including new works, arrangements and inter-genre and interdisciplinary collaborations. Andrew has become increasingly passionate about music education and outreach, particularly on northern reserves and inner-city Winnipeg schools, where he has worked on behalf of the National Arts Centre, Dead of Winter, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) and various Winnipeg school divisions. Andrew was Curator and Composer-in-Residence of the WSO’s inaugural Indigenous Festival. In 2017 he was awarded a Gold Medal by the Senate of Canada for his contribution to Canada’s Indigenous and music communities.

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