Tobin Stokes

Tobin David Stokes (born 1966) is a Canadian composer, notable for his work in opera, choral music and television. His classical works have been performed by many organizations including City Opera of Vancouver, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, and the Victoria Symphony. He also writes extensively for television including scores for documentaries by the BBC, ABC, and PBS.^[1][2][3]

Early life and career

Stokes was born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He studied the piano from the age of three and became a charter member of the Powell River Boy's Choir at age seven, performing, competing and touring internationally with them until he was fourteen. After high school he was accepted to the University of Victoria School of Music studying percussion and computer music. He went on to complete a BMus in percussion at the University of Victoria in 1989. Stokes has been composer in residence at the biannual International Choral Kathaumixw Festival in Powell River, British Columbia, B.C. since 1994, creating large oratorio works often with First Nations themes, stories, elders, dancers, and soloists, performed with massed choirs and orchestra.^[4] He has written numerous massed choir pieces, including the Spacious Firmament, and the Kathuamixw Anthem. He became a composer in residence with the Victoria Symphony in 2006 and for three years wrote and arranged numerous works. In 2004 he became composer in residence for the Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific.^[5] He is currently Composer In Residence for both the Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy in Powell River B.C., and past composer of the Urban Youth Choir Festival in Orebro, Sweden.

Stokes has composed several operas: Pauline, The Vinedressers, Rattenbury, Nootka, and Fallujah. Pauline, a chamber opera in two acts with a libretto by Margaret Atwood, premiered on 23 May 2014 at Vancouver's York Theatre. Commissioned by City Opera of Vancouver, the opera is set in Vancouver in March 1913 during the final days in the life of the Canadian writer and performer Pauline Johnson.^[6][7]

References