An avant-garde showcase at the OAG—10.17.24–10.18.24 – Apartment613

By Pune Media On Oct 11, 2024 30

Ottawa’s newest music festival, the Ottawa New Music Festival, isn’t just looking to showcase contemporary music. It’s aiming to make a statement. From its bold world premiere centred around the housing crisis to a lineup of boundary-pushing performers, ONMF is positioning itself as more than a music festival.

Organized by the Ottawa New Music Creators, a non-profit led by Artistic Directors Zac Pulak and Edana Higham (known as SHHH!! Ensemble), this debut festival offers a platform where art and activism collide.

**Oct. 17: Almost Homeless — Music inspired by Ottawa’s housing crisis**

The festival’s opening night on Oct. 17 lands poignantly on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, making it a fitting stage for the world premiere of Frank Horvat’s Almost Homeless. Performed by the SHHH!! Ensemble, along with violinist Hanna Williamson, this piece merges live music with recorded interviews from residents grappling with Ottawa’s housing crisis.

Horvat’s reputation for weaving social commentary into his compositions makes this project stand out, especially as housing affordability becomes a growing concern in the city. The musical performance turns personal stories of struggle into a larger reflection on economic disparity, and the program also includes works from Canadian composers Jocelyn Morlock and Harry Stafylakis, creating a thought-provoking event that’s as timely as it is musically daring.

Oct. 18: A triple header of experimental sounds

The festival’s second night promises a striking contrast with its three-part program. Halifax cellist India Gailey, Montreal percussionist David Brongo, and harpist Michelle Gott share the stage in a showcase of sonic experimentation. Gailey’s work is known for blending improvisation with composed music, while Brongo’s innovative percussion style surprises audiences. Gott, an internationally recognized harpist based in Ottawa, rounds out the evening with a series of performances spotlighting contemporary Canadian composers.

This program is all about forward-thinking music, with Gailey and Brongo bringing improvisation to the forefront, while Gott will draw on the energy of Canada’s most daring composers.

Charting new territories in the Ottawa music scene

For anyone keen on witnessing the forefront of Canadian new music, the festival’s two-day run is more than a concert experience—it’s a chance to reflect on how music and art intersects with the city’s pressing issues.

As Ottawa’s cultural scene continues to recover and evolve post-2020, the Ottawa New Music Festival sets a bold precedent for how the arts can engage with contemporary issues. By offering a diverse lineup of world premieres, multimedia works, and performances that question the status quo, this festival presents as more than just a music event. It’s a catalyst for conversation, urging audiences to rethink what they expect from their cultural institutions.

The inaugural Ottawa New Music Festival is taking place at the Ottawa Art Gallery on Oct. 17–18, 2024. Visit onmc.info for tickets and more information.

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