Artists
BOXWOOD NEW ZEALAND 2012
The Boxwood Festival and Workshop in New Zealand returns with world-class artists for a week of classes, performances, sessions and social dancing. The deep connections between traditional music, song, and dance - as well as a deeper understanding of 18th style are at the heart of our program as we welcome David & Barry.
David GREENBERG - Cape Breton violin, Baroque violin
David Greenberg's double career as both a baroque violinist and traditional fiddler began at an early age. David studied baroque violin with Stanley Ritchie at Indiana University's Early Music Institute, and moved to Canada in 1988 to join the Toronto-based baroque orchestra Tafelmusik. With Tafelmusik for 10 years, David performed orchestral, chamber, and solo roles in North America, Europe, and the Far East, and on more than forty recordings. David also plays the vielle (medieval fiddle). He won first prize at the Erwin Bodky International Early Music Competition in 1988 with the Medieval Quintet, and he recorded vielle soundtracks for Atom Egoyan's film The Sweet Hereafter. David has gained the reputation in Cape Breton music circles as being one of the few people from outside the Nova Scotia island to have achieved a fluent command of the Cape Breton music idiom. With his wife, Kate Dunlay, he published Traditional Celtic Violin Music of Cape Breton, The DunGreen Collection.
Chris NORMAN - flutes, pipes, songs
Born in Halifax, NS into a music loving family, Chris' influential work for the past 30 years as performer, composer, recording artist and teacher has won him worldwide recognition. His busy performing schedule includes solo engagements and concerts with a variety of ensembles, appearing frequently as soloist with orchestra and touring with his own Chris Norman Ensemble. In years past Chris has also appeared worldwide as a member of the international folk trio, Helicon, the all-star Celtic fusion group, Skyedance, the acclaimed early music group, The Baltimore Consort and across Europe with Concerto Caledonia.
Norman's flute playing can be heard featured on the Oscar winning soundtrack of Titanic and other Hollywood films including, Soldier, and the Stone of Destiny. His solo CD releases have received unanimous praise from critics and audiences alike and appeared on Billboard's crossover charts. He has produced documentary programs for Inside the Music broadcast nationally on CBC Radio One in Canada and is also active as a composer and arranger. Chris' most significant contribution may be his work as founder and artistic director of the Boxwood Festivals and Workshops taking place in Canada, New Zealand, Europe, and Asia which have inspired thousands of musicians of all ages.
Barry PHILLIPS - cellist, composer, arranger, producer
A musician of astounding breadth and versatility, Barry is a cellist, arranger, composer, and recording engineer based in Santa Cruz, California. He tours as cellist with sitarist Anoushka Shankar and recently arranged and played cello for guitarist Martin Simpson in England and fiddler Sarah-Jane Summers in Scotland. He received a master of music degree in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has been musician, arranger, and producer of recordings of Celtic/American folk music for the Gourd Music label since the 1980s. Recordings include three discs of American Shaker tunes with guitarist William Coulter; a recording of colonial American tunes, The World Turned Upside Down; his first solo recording of mainly Celtic music, Cello; and his second solo release, Tråd, featuring Scandinavian tunes for bowed strings. Since 1996 Barry has been a student of Ravi Shankar and has assisted him in several compositions including music for cellist Mstislav Rostropovich and for the Concert for George (George Harrison celebration at the Albert Hall), where Barry also played cello.