2018 Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (E-Gré) Winner violinist Amy Hillis began a 12-concert tour across Canada with pianist Katherine Dowlingon October 24 in Yellowknife NT.  This was the first time the tour has included a stop north of 60! A co-presentation between Black Ice Sound and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, the concert was warmly received by the northern audience. 

Comments from listeners:

"I'm really grateful that Carmen Braden is bringing fabulous new music to Yellowknife. Superb concert tonight at NACC - Eckhardt-Grammate winners Amy Hillis and Katherine Dowling - so inventive and stimulating!"

"Showstopper at NACC folks. That Carmen Braden just keeps outdoing herself. And the Eckhardt-Gramatté competition winner. Technically stunning."

"An exceptional concert last night." 

Each concert on the tour will feature my 2018 commissioned work – Foxy Fox’s Musical Games. Other Canadian works to be performed are by Jeffrey Ryan, R. Murray Schafer, Nicole Lizée, Dinuk Wijerante, and Alice Ping Yee Ho.

The following venues are included on the E-Gré Winner’s Tour:

  • October 24 – Yellowknife, NWT – 7:30 p.m. Northern Arts Cultural Centre

  • October 26 – Sackville, NB – 7:30 p.m. Mount Allison University

  • October 30 – Montréal, QC – 12 Noon Schulich School of Music of McGill University

  • November 2 – Kingston, ON – 7 p.m. Queens University

  • November 4 – Toronto, ON – 3 p.m. Hart House

  • November 6 – Thunder Bay, ON – 12:30 Lakehead University

  • November 7 – Sudbury, ON – 7:30 p.m Cambrian College of Applied Arts and Technology

  • November 13 – Regina, SK – 7:30 p.m. University of Regina

  • November 14 – Vancouver, BC – 12 Noon University of British Columbia

  • November 16 – Calgary, AB – 12 Noon University of Calgary

  • November 18 – Winnipeg, MB – 3 p.m. Women’s Musical Club (Winnipeg Art Gallery)

  • November 20 – Brandon, MB – 7:30 p.m. Brandon University

The E-Gré National Music Competition is an annual event focusing on the exceptional performance of contemporary music by Canada’s top emerging artists. Created as a tribute to composer and pianist/violinist S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté, the competition and tour highlights Canadian music. It is held annually at the Brandon University School of Music, alternating between Piano (2019), Voice (2020), and Strings (2021). The 2019 E-Gré deadline for Piano is on December 10.