Ali Garrison
Known as a powerful singer who “embodies the soul projected through her voice” and “palpably lives the sound”, American-born, Toronto-raised mezzo-soprano Alexandra “Ali” Garrison, dares to sing any music from around our planet.
A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music Vocal Performance Program, she has performed a huge variety of operatic/theatrical roles with regional companies and is a frequent concert/church soloist with numerous ensembles and choirs in Canada and the U.S.
She co-founded the acapella jazz trio, the Waverlies and is proud to be a founding member of the renowned professional chamber choir, the Nathaniel Dett Chorale, which was Canada’s “gift” to President Obama’s Inauguration festivities.
Ali is a seasoned voice teacher and enjoys working in tandem with composers, improvisers, and artists of all disciplines to foster new works and promote music for a more harmonious world. She is also a member of ACTRA and a Gemini Nominee.
Ms. Garrison currently leads the “Why the Sea is Salty Project”, an interdisciplinary collaboration of four female artists which will hold its mythic extravaganza in 2012.
Stay tuned for her debut recording, entitled “Mosaic” to be released next year!
"Worth listening to was Ali Garrison's lusty mezzo-soprano."
~The Globe and Mail
"Alto Ali Garrison stands out all the way through the evening, embodying the soul projected through her voice, palpably living the sound."
~Donna-Michelle St. Bernard for afrotoronto.com
“Alexandra Garrison’s vivid mezzo-soprano complemented her on-stage presence.”
~Sybille Forster-Rentmeister for Echo Germanica
UPCOMING EVENTS
MOSAIC
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 8 pm, Gallery 345, 345 Sorauren, s. of Dundas, E. of Roncesvalles
Inspired by a profound, technicolour dream vision of lapis lazuli, amber, jade and other colourful semi-precious stones in their natural imperfect splendor, Ali Garrison has created this year’s annual vibrant and compelling solo concert from richly varied song influences. The inaugural performance of ‘Mosaic’ takes place on Saturday, March 5, at Gallery 345, a jewel itself on Toronto’s happening west side.
Singing in Korean, French, English, German and Italian, Ms. Garrison will blend opera, jazz, and folk idioms. “Each set of unique, seemingly unrelated songs contributes to an interlocking whole, through different subtle connections”, says the singer. “‘Mosaic’ is an aesthetic and a spiritual journey, an exploration of personal and collective energy and impressions that builds into a larger portrait.”
Selected composers include Tosti who was a turn-of-the-century salon composer and voice instructor of the royal family, Kurt Weill, Duke Ellington, famous French jazz force Michel Legrand and Anthony Davis who composed the opera “X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X”. Other works include operatic arias by Virgil Thomson with words by Gertrude Stein, and a set of songs featuring the poetry of Langston Hughes who was one of the Harlem Renaissance’s foremost poets.
Expanding the evening’s mosaic dimension are three noteworthy guest performers. Pianist Joy Brown brings marvelous depth from accompanying the Toronto Mass Choir and the Nathaniel Dett Chorale. Contemporary dancer Claudia Moore is an acclaimed interpretive choreographer whose MOonhORse Dance Company has won awards and recognition for dramatic human expressiveness. Ina Henning is a virtuosic accordion scholar from Germany taking her Ph.D. at the University of Toronto under progressive accordion world superstar Joe Macerollo.
Tickets: $25 / $20 Seniors& Students - Limited general seating
For concert information and seat reservations please contact:
info@musicvillage.ca or info@gallery345.com
Ali Garrison
Music Village © February, 2011
