On Saturday, Feb. 20, the Nelson Overture Concerts Society will present Couloir, a duo formed in 2011 by harpist Heidi Krutzen and cellist Ariel Barnes.
A program including works by Debussy, Lizotte, Hersant and Kikta allows Couloir to explore their passion for creating fresh music using the exquisite sound world of harp and cello. Since coming together they have commissioned seven new works for cello and harp by outstanding Canadian and American composers, toured both Canada and the US, been broadcast nationally on CBC Radio and recorded two CDs.
“We are very interested in presenting music that is going to resonate with people right now, that they’re going to understand and be able to connect with,” the duo say on their website.
Krutzen has emerged as a leading musician in Canada. She’s celebrated for her solo, chamber music, and orchestral performances, for her collaborations with composers, and for her excellence as a teacher. In addition to her chamber music projects and solo concerts, she is a founding member of Vancouver’s Turning Point Ensemble, principal harpist of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and former principal harpist of the CBC Radio Orchestra.
Barnes currently holds positions as principal cello of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Opera Orchestra and co-head of the Vancouver Academy of Music Cello Department. He has toured extensively throughout North America and Mexico as a soloist and chamber musician and is a member of Vancouver’s innovative Turning Point Ensemble.
Students attending schools participating in the Nelson Overture Concerts Society school outreach program are granted free admission. These are Blewett Elementary, Trafalgar, St. Joseph’s School, Waldorf School, L.V. Rogers, Ecole des Sentiers-alpins, South Nelson, Wildflower and Hume.