Arraymusic is a Canadian organization specializing in the performance and the promotion of contemporary classical music. It presents its virtuosic 7-member chamber ensemble, The Array Ensemble, each summer season in a 3-month series of Toronto-based concerts.
Array was founded in 1971 by six young composers at the University of Toronto in Canada, to explore a new style of music that was rarely heard in Toronto. Since then, the ensemble has continued to unite musicians to deliver inspired virtuosic performances.
The Array Ensemble is widely considered one of Canada's finest creative musical groups. Each member possesses an education in the traditional art of classical music, along with the highly specialized skills and experience needed to perform today’s new music.
"[Arraymusic] leaves the audience speechless before they stand to break into applause. This ensemble is a model for all musicians – contemporary or not.”
– Bulletin de Collectif et Cie, Annecy
The Array Ensemble tours, commissions and records its music, and boasts an extensive library of scores written for the group by leading and emerging composers from around the world. As part of its long-running Young Composers’ Workshop and Concert, and its newer Young Performers’ Workshop and Concert, the ensemble mentors up-and-coming composers and musicians alike. In addition, Array Ensemble members provide instructional master classes within The Array Studio designed to keep composers up-to-date on the latest techniques for various instruments.
Over the years, Array’s ensemble has changed its instrumentation and enjoyed many highly accomplished guest artists, as well as the leadership of eight distinctive and distinguished artistic directors. These include: John Fodi (1972–1978), Marjan Mozetich (1976–1978), Douglas Perry (1979–1983), Henry Kucharzyk (1983–1988), Linda Catlin Smith (1988–1993), Michael J. Baker (1993–2000), Allison Cameron (2000–2005) and, currently, Bob Stevenson (2005–present). Throughout, The Array Ensemble has remained true to its mandate to commission, present and promote bold, risk-taking contemporary music.
“Their ensemble playing is of enviable precision… they function like a music machine, but above and beyond this they prevail and breathe life into the performance… Arraymusic musicians seduce with expansive, sensual sounds.”
– Basel, Switzerland
The Array Ensemble has recorded 7 compact discs, released on the Artifact label. Array Legacy, its most recent release in 2009, was a retrospective 2-CD set celebrating 35-years of music-making. This CD features the musical ‘picks’ of each of Array’s past artistic directors, representing the evolution of new music over four decades.
The Array Ensemble performs concerts for other presenters and has toured 7 times throughout Europe and Canada. In 2007 they performed on stage at Canada’s National Arts Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, as part of a 3-week music-theatre presentation featuring composer Allen Cole’s noir thriller The Wrong Son. In early 2008, The Array Ensemble performed in Montreal for the Quebec Contemporary Music Society and performed part of its 2008/09 season at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Experimental Media & Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in New York.
The Array Ensemble engages in interdisciplinary work and collaborates frequently with distinguished choreographers, dancers and visual artists, which have included Peggy Baker, Dancemakers, Studio GRAME (in Lyon, France), the Theatre Centre, and Toronto Dance Theatre.