“Magpie” World Premiere

Contemporary jazz, dance and video installation intertwine in Magpie, a passion suite for large ensemble created and led by vocalist and composer Sarah Jerrom. The story is set in a fairy-tale world inspired by the Canadian Rocky Mountain landscape. Highlighting themes of birds, feminism, infertility and grief, “Magpie” is dedicated to removing the stigma and taboo surrounding pregnancy loss.

The ensemble, conducted by Christian Overton, features four voices alongside seventeen instruments, two dancers and live graphic video. Featured soloists include some of the most in-demand professional musicians in the Canadian jazz scene. Dancers Savannah Neudorf and Nicole Decsey interact artfully with the music, and live video projections by Yesim Tosuner tackle themes from the multi-movement suite. Directed by Micaela Morey, these visual and musical elements work together to bring the story of Magpie to life.

Having been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this world premiere performance of Magpie is several years in the making. Taking place in the beautiful theatre at 918 Bathurst in Toronto, co-presented by the Music Gallery, Magpie is an exciting multimedia performance not to be missed.

Ensemble personnel:

Sarah Jerrom (voice, compositions, narrative)

Laura Swankey (voice)

Galen Sedlak (voice)

Jackson Welchner (voice)

Laura Chambers (flutes)

Chieh-Ying Lu (oboe)

Tara Davidson (alto saxophone)

Mike Murley (tenor saxophone)

David French (tenor saxophone)

Shirantha Beddage (baritone saxophone)

James Rhodes (trumpet)

Kevin Turcotte (trumpet)

Brian O’Kane (trumpet)

Olivia Esther (French horn)

William Carn (trombone)

Karl Silveira (trombone)

Emily Ferrell (trombone)

Tom Richards (bass trombone)

Nancy Walker (piano)

Rob McBride (bass)

Ernesto Cervini (drums)

Tickets