Join the Florian Hoefner Trio for a launch of their album 'First Spring'! Born  and raised in Germany, trained in New York City and now based in Canada, jazz pianist and composer Florian Hoefner draws from a myriad of influences that culminate in his unique brand of modern jazz. Praised as a “composer-bandleader of insightful resolve” by the New York Times and a “harmonically daring pianist reaching toward new sonic territory” by Downbeat, Florian Hoefner has made his mark as an…

HCA gratefully acknowledges our concert sponsors: Dr. Waldemar Pieczonka, Nadine and Les McLean, Peter and Helene Hunt.  Brett Polegato, baritone: Brett Polegato's artistic sensibility has earned him the highest praise from audiences and critics: “his is a serious and seductive voice” says The Globe and Mail, and The New York Times has praised him for his “burnished, well-focused voice” which he uses with “considerable intelligence and nuance.” He appears regularly on the world's most distinguished stages including those of Lincoln Center,…

Valerie Tryon is a world-renowned concert pianist. Born in England, the youngest student to be admitted to the Royal Academy of Music in London, she still travels to Europe annually to perform, and manages an extraordinary schedule, in North America and abroad, of recitals, recordings, master classes and teaching. Valerie’s repertoire is vast and diverse, with particular renown for her interpretations of the Romantic composers. Retiring with an honourary docorate from McMaster University, where she was Artist-in-Residence and Associate Professor for…

Pianist André Laplante is a commanding recitalist, a chamber musician of distinction, and a concerto soloist of formidable virtuosity guided by a rare musical intelligence. Hailed as one of the great romantic virtuosos, he has performed extensively throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and has released a series of ever more impressive CDs. He garnered international attention after winning prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions and capturing the silver medal at the International Tchaïkovsky Competition in Moscow…