The core quintet is Catherine Wilson, piano/artistic director; Corey Gemmell, violin; Norman Hathaway, viola; Tom Mueller, cello; George Koller, bass. Regular collaborators include Aysel Taghi-Zada, violin; Liza McLellan, cello; Kevin Turcotte & Alex Brown, trumpet; Mike Murley, Allison Au and Tara Davidson, sax; Virginia MacDonald, clarinet; Juan Carlos Medrano, Latin percussion; Adrian Bent (drummer from Drake’s band) and many others.
Through the well-established registered not-for-profit charity, EUTERPE: MUSIC IS THE KEY, ENSEMBLE VIVANT has created and conducted LIVE and VIRTUAL interactive, fun, educational performance programs of Classical, Jazz and related musical styles for CHILDREN, particularly those in underserved communities. These life-enhancing, evidence-based music education performance programs are known to have a tremendously positive impact on children of diverse cultural backgrounds. These unique, invaluable programs have been endorsed by the scientific community. Euterpe was awarded a generous 3-year Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant in 2020 to bring Euterpe: Music Is The Key’s music education performance programs to 37 underserved schools in the GTA. In 2021 Euterpe: Music Is The Key was awarded a significant grant from The Canada Council For The Arts to create 6 music education performance videos for Canadian school children.
Inspired by Euterpe: Music Is The Key’s programs, numerous children from underserved schools have reached out to Euterpe musicians asking for a chance to play the instrument of their choice.
Euterpe’s MUSIC MENTORSHIP PROGRAM began in 2012 when young ISMAEL PARIS, a grade 6 student from an underserved school in Scarborough, reached out to pianist Catherine Wilson after experiencing Euterpe’s live program at his school. Euterpe took Ismael under its wing and today Ismael is the YOUTH AMBASSADOR for Euterpe: Music Is The Key. Here is the link to updates for Euterpe’s Music Mentorship Program as well as the link to the profile on Ismael Paris.
Through EUTERPE, SENIORS are also among those whose lives have been significantly enriched by wonderful stylistically diverse performance programs provided by Ensemble Vivant, whose fun and engaging rapport with the residents accompanies the superb music making. The benefits of these opportunities are well-documented, and EV’s unique performance programs richly fulfill the tremendous need for live musical stimulation for seniors.
In 2022 EUTERPE: Music Is The Key was awarded a grant from the Levante Foundation for Ensemble Vivant to perform at 9 Levante Living Homes in Ontario. These performances received critical acclaim and in 2023 Levante Foundation awarded EUTERPE: Music Is The Key a grant for Ensemble Vivant to perform at 12 Levante Living Homes in Ontario.
In 2022 EUTERPE: Music Is The Key was awarded grants from the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, Canada to record and film music for seniors’ homes. In 2023, Euterpe: Music Is The Key was awarded a grant from the Ross Mitchell Family Foundation for Ensemble Vivant to film performances of classic traditional Christmas carols and other beautiful repertoire for the Christmas Season for widespread distribution at seniors homes.
Ensemble Vivant is dedicated to Euterpe’s mission and has been enriching the lives of children, seniors and their respective families and communities for well over 15 years. Euterpe’s invaluable musical initiatives are supported by Dr. Catherine Wilson’s research on Music and Healing and have been endorsed by leading neuroscientists on music and the mind.
“Ensemble Vivant’s music-making is absolutely stirring and heart achingly beautiful… Catherine Wilson and her merry band of fellow world-class musician sparkle, pulsate, yearn, beckon, move, tango and haunt in gorgeous (and often sexy) pieces by Piazzolla, Jobim, Lecuona, Guarnieri, Nazareth, Albeniz, Anderson, Dwyer, Burke…this is chamber music at its evocative best!” – The WholeNote Magazine, Sharna Searle (For the complete March 2020 review – Click Here)
“(Latin Romance)…wonderful collection by Ensemble Vivant. The music leaps off the page in these performances, which are joyful, attentive to detail, and interpretively clairvoyant. The musicians in the ensemble are individually brilliant and, collectively, greater than the sum of their parts. Thank you Catherine Wilson and Ensemble Vivant…” – Phil Dwyer C.M. (noted Canadian Jazz Musician)
“Catherine Wilson and her stalwart band of Ensemble Vivantists have ‘hit it out of the park’ again. Combining incisive, emotional playing with challenging material, they strike a compelling tone that never lets up. A grand success!” – Rick Wilkins, C.M., Jazz Icon – musician, composer, arranger
“Ensemble Vivant…what you get is absolute magic… familiarity of old friends…yet their playing always retains a sense of gracious etiquette associated with the noble chamber ballroom… sincere and poised… great warmth and swing.” – The WholeNote Magazine
“To my heart, your rendition of Piazzolla’s ‘OBLIVION’ is the most touching I have ever heard: Bravo!” – François Paré, Radio Classique, Montréal
“Ensemble Vivant does a fantastic job with the nuevo tango of Astor Piazzolla… captures the passion as well as the verve… Catherine Wilson’s piano gives this music unerring drive and plenty of sparkle… beautiful, poised performances…reveal the deep musicianship and light interpretive touch of these Toronto-based musicians.” – John Terauds, Toronto Star
“…precisions of sonority, dynamics and rhythm that Ensemble Vivant, led by pianist Catherine Wilson, fully deliver…Burke’s intricate ensemble writing is performed magnificently…a moving experience…Wilson’s playing is evocative.” – Roger Knox, The WholeNote Magazine
“Ensemble Vivant, one of the best small chamber groups out there…is led by pianist extraordinaire Catherine Wilson… (Homage to Astor Piazzolla) is an exciting and vibrant album that is a sure-fire hit.” – Maxwell Fletcher, Amazon.com (USA)
“Catherine Wilson’s affinity for Anderson’s music is much in evidence in this delightful recording…her sensitive piano playing shines.” – (re: CD ‘The Music of Leroy Anderson’) Joseph So, La Scena Musicale
“A thoroughly enjoyable album.” – (re: CD ‘The Music of Leroy Anderson’) Boston Herald, USA
“Thanks again for a great performance and wonderful program…molti bravi to Ensemble Vivant… please have Ensemble Vivant return very soon!” – David Bullard, Artistic Director, de Blasiis Chamber Music Series at the Hyde, Glens Falls, NY, USA
“Led by a remarkable pianist, Catherine Wilson, Ensemble Vivant boasts a collection of musicians whose abilities and qualifications are second to none…a diversity of beautifully played music and sound (with vibes…Don Thompson, O.C.) from Bach to Piazzolla to Widor… wonderful interpretations… highlight of the Kelowna Community Concert Association series. I had the pleasure of spending time with the group after the concert and they are a fun, humble and inspiring group of musicians…such tremendous mutual talent and respect within the ensemble…Merci Ensemble Vivant!” – Neville Bowman, musician, composer for BC Arts
