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The end of an era! For the last four years, I had the distinct privilege of performing on an exquisite 1851 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume violin, generously on loan from the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank. I’m forever grateful for this incredible opportunity!
On Thursday, April 27th, Ottawa Chamberfest proudly teamed up with Carleton University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ottawa Branch, to present a concert in support of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. WATCH THE CONCERT HERE.
The Gryphon Trio joined Chamberfest Artistic Director and violinist Carissa Klopoushak, violinist Emily Kruspe, soprano Irina Medvedeva, actor Moriana Kachmarsky, Ukrainian village voice ensemble Kolizhanky, and Laurence Ewashko and his Ewashko Singers in a program celebrating Ukrainian music and culture, featuring Ukrainian chamber music, choral music, folk singing, and poetry.
[VIDEO] The unimaginable has happened… The war in Ukraine continues; the devastation grows. I joined violinist Lara St John and pianist Matt Herskowitz to record this rendition of Пливе кача по Тисині (Plyve Kacha) and Аркан (Arkan). Please share. Please donate. #СлаваУкраїні #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦❤️🇺🇦
After two years’ pause, Ritornello returns! Kerry DuWors, violin, and Katherine Dowling, piano, share a gorgeous and intimate program on Thursday, February 17, 7:30pm from Glass & Lumber in Saskatoon. Livestream tickets available now; in-person opportunities may be announced closer to the concert date. www.ritornello.ca for more info.
News Release: Thursday, March 25, 2021
Ottawa, Ontario – Ottawa Chamberfest is pleased to announce Carissa Klopoushak has been appointed Artistic Director for a 4-year term. Over the last six months, as Interim Artistic Director, Klopoushak has provided confident and innovative artistic leadership to Ottawa Chamberfest.
Carissa Klopoushak speaks with Lynn Saxberg of the Ottawa in a wide-ranging interview where they discuss Carissa’s background in music and her vision for Chamberfest.
Roman Borys announces plans to step down as Artistic Director of Ottawa Chamberfest. Violinist Carissa Klopoushak appointed Interim Artistic Director.
Yesterday, I learned of the passing of Myroslav Skoryk, the beloved Ukrainian composer, conductor, educator, and musicologist. Myroslav Skoryk was extremely prolific; in addition to a great number of works for orchestra, small ensemble, and film, he had written seven violin concerti, two violin sonatas, as well as many short works for the violin. I’ve uploaded my performance of his “Melody” from the film “The High Pass.”
Carissa speaks with Ryan Davis of The Upnote about maintaining a varied career, talks artistic practice in the time of COVID with Steve Andrusiak of Nasha Kasha, and hosts the 50th Anniversary celebration NACOcast.
3 weeks ago, I fell and broke a bone in my left hand. It’s a hairline fracture of the 5th metacarpal, and I’ve been seen by the best available specialists and know I’m being very well cared for. I anticipate my recovery to take some time, of course, but it’s going well so far. And now there’s this virus…
I’m excited to be performing the Canadian premiere of Vivian Fung’s first violin concerto next weekend in my hometown, Saskatoon. The concerto draws on the sights and sounds that Vivian Fung experienced on a trip to Bali. The opening measures sparkle and sing, but the ensuing sections take the listener on a wild ride through an unfamiliar but beautiful countryside. I’m loving sinking my teeth into this wonderful piece (and “playing like a rockstar!”)
Carissa is featured in the June edition of La Scena Musicale ahead of a busy summer of chamber music.
Carissa’s quartet, Ironwood, have become the new Artistic Directors of the Classical Unbound Festival. The 2019 edition is July 26-28 in Prince Edward County, Ontario.
On Saturday, November 10, Carissa Klopoushak joins John Kofi Dapaah in his second Studio Session at Ottawa Pianos & Keyboards. Repertoire includes Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” Sonata, John Adams’ Road Movies, “Blues” from Ravel’s Sonata No. 2 in G major, Myroslav Skoryk’s Melody, and some jazz.
Carissa Klopoushak thanks the Canada Council for the Arts Musical Instrument Bank for its support through the loan of the 1851 Jean Baptiste Vuillaume (Maggini model).
What happens when you take one JUNO Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, one National Arts Centre Orchestra violinist, one genre-defying contemporary dancer and one critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and see what they create? We're about to find out.
Carissa Klopoushak to co-compose, co-arrange, perform, and record ballet score for Ancestors & Elders, a one-act production by the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and a team of Indigenous artists.
It was such a pleasure to perform at Venturing Hills Farm Sunday afternoon as part of their Pontiac Enchanté concert series. Phil Chiu and I had another opportunity to reprise the repertoire of our recent SOUNDWORLDS disc, performing the entire album from start to finish.
Carissa’s 2017 summer festival season is about to ramp up - look for her at Music & Beyond, Capital Ukrainian Festival, Chamberfest (3 appearances), Arboretum, Classical Unbound, and Pontiac Enchanté.
Carissa performs Emily Doolittle’s violin concerto, Sapling, with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in March.
Carissa Klopoushak’s new album SOUNDWORLDS has been chosen as CBC Radio 2 In Concert Disc of the Week Sunday, January 15, 2017.
“This is an intelligent program - it's thoughtful, it's well thought-out, it's well put-together - and it's beautifully performed.” - Paolo Pietropaolo, CBC Radio 2 In Concert host
I am proud to announce that my album with Philip Chiu, SOUNDWORLDS, featuring the music of Janacek, Carrabré, Debussy, Vivier, and Willan is out now. Hear it here:
In Ottawa on March 18th, Alexandru Sura (cimbalom) and Thibault Bertin-Maghit (bass) join Carissa Klopoushak in a unique program that explores Eastern European folk music as it intersects with the classical tradition. You’ll hear some folk-inspired classical violin favourites, including Ravel’s Tzigane and Bartok’s Romanian Folk Dances - inspired by, reimagined, and rearranged in a folk tradition.
One of my favourite holiday traditions is ringing in the New Year with a New Year's Day concert with Prairie Virtuosi. It’s so wonderful to reconnect musically with my friends and colleagues in my hometown, Saskatoon.
Ironwood Quartet performs music by Philip Glass, Ana Sokolovic, Bryce Dessner, and Praetorius at The Record Centre. An intense set for a full house!
Ironwood, Ottawa's new "take-no-prisoners" string quartet, plays for the first time under the new moniker on Sunday, December 13th, 5pm, at The Record Centre.
Ironwood is Jessica Linnebach and Carissa Klopoushak (violins), Julia MacLaine (cello), and David Marks (viola), a quartet of curious musicians who spend most (but not all) of their musical time playing with the NAC orchestra.
As 2024 begins, I wanted to share a little excerpt from the Ukrainian composer Viktor Kosenko’s “Dreams,” performed with the incredible Illia Ovcharenko. It was a touching moment for me, and I hope you enjoy it. Слава Україні!