A unique co-creation project that celebrates neurodiversity through music
The result of a groundbreaking partnership between Xenia Concerts and National accessArts Centre, Sound.colLAB is an unprecedented collaborative project in which seven neurodivergent artists co-create an original piece of music under the mentorship of nine professional musicians. With the support of Juno-award nominated composer Bekah Simms, the award-winning Rolston String Quartet, and NaAC and Xenia team members, participants are working together to co-create an original piece for string quartet and electronics, which will be performed on stages across North America in 2022-2023.
Meet the Participating Composers
Rory Berk – Location: Toronto
Thomas Sinclair – Location: Toronto
Maddux Ma – Location: Toronto
Nathan Neutel – Location: Toronto
Anthony Hodgetts – Location: Calgary
Laura LaPeare – Location: Calgary
Jamie Petit – Location: Calgary
Meet the Supporting Musicians
Bekah Simms — composer/workshop leader
Adam Scime – Electronics Director
The Rolston String Quartet — performers/workshop leaders
Paolo Griffin — composer/coach
Evan Lamberton — cellist/coach
Rory McLeod — violist/coach
Clayton Smith — coach
Project Overview
sound.colLAB was launched in November 2021 through a partnership with Xenia Concerts (Toronto) and National Access Arts Centre (Calgary). Through three workshops with composer Bekah Simms and the Rolston String Quartet, participants were introduced to the sounds of the string quartet. At the end of these workshops, each participant had developed text scores about a sound or sounds that they had recorded, and Bekah arranged these text scores into pieces of music for the Rolston String Quartet.
All seven participants’ pieces will be premiered on the Xenia Concerts stage as part of our sensory-friendly concert series. This concert will be open to the general public. Throughout 2022 and 2023 we will present this original work at music festivals across Canada. Watch our website for more details!
Click HERE to Read More about sound.colLAB
Upcoming Performance Dates
- May 7 2023 at Meridian Hall with the Thalea String Quartet
- July 22 2023 at Meridian Hall in partnership with Toronto Summer Music with the Rolston String Quartet
- August 4 2023 at Festival of the Sound with Quatuor Despax
Partners & Supporters
National accessArts Centre — program partner
TO Live — venue partner
Canada Council for the Arts and Unity for Autism — funding partners