show: Saturday 21 February, 2pm

Toronto-based junctQÍn (pronounced 'junction') consists of pianists Elaine Lau, Joseph Ferretti, and Stephanie Chua. The name of the collective is taken from junctio -- the Latin word meaning to join, and from QÍn -- the Chinese character for keyboard instrument. Self-proclaimed "keyboard geeks," the members of junctQÍn consider the group a vehicle to introduce audiences to contemporary keyboard repertoire. Through collaborations with living composers, innovative programming, interactive performances and outreach programs, junctQÍn's goal is to present new music with one of the most accessible instruments -- the piano.

Throughout their short history, junctQÍn has worked closely with emerging Canadian composers to expand Canadian keyboard repertoire from works for piano six-hands to those including electronics, toy pianos and melodicas. Composers commissioned by the ensemble include Alex Eddington, Aaron Gervais, Susan Greisdale, Chad Martin, Monica Pearce, Hiroki Tsurumoto, and members of the Toy Piano Composers. junctQÍn has been featured at the 2009 spOtlight Festival (Kitchener-Waterloo), the Canadian Opera Company's Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts (Toronto), Open Ears Festival (Kitchener-Waterloo), New Adventures in Sound Art's Sound Travels Festival (Toronto), Artsweek Peterborough, Toronto's Scotiabank Nuit Blanche, the Colours of Music Festival (Barrie), University of Toronto's Hart House Sunday Concerts, and Wilfrid Laurier University's Music at Noon series. The ensemble was also featured in an interview and week-long special broadcast on Rondo Classic FM (Helsinki, Finland) reaching audiences in Armenia, Hungary, and Kyrgyzstan.

junctQÍn has been able to conduct community outreach and has seen first hand the impact of artistic education for all age groups on an enthusiastic and positive level. These activities have included a toy piano improvisation workshop at the spOtlight Festival, a children's concert at Cambridge Galleries, as well as participation in the Toronto (new music) Marathon at Yonge-Dundas Square, Culture Days, and in the New Music 101 Series at the Toronto Public Library.

junctQÍn wishes to acknowledge the generous support of both the Toronto and Ontario Arts Councils.

junctqin.com

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