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About the Orchestra
Nota Bene Period Orchestra was founded in 2001 by Daniel Zondervan, Michael Purves-Smith and Richard Cunningham. The intention was to perform music from the 17th and 18th century with special attention to the performance practices of the time. Nota Bene Period Orchestra was renamed to Nota Bene Baroque Players in the Fall of 2011. This change was made so that the name clearly reflected the orchestra's identity as Kitchener-Waterloo’s professional Baroque group.
Finally, in 2021, wishing to expand on the growing repertoire of historical informed performances across the eras, the Nota Bene Baroque Players changed its name once more to that of the Nota Bene Players & Singers, bringing to its audience performances on authentic or replica instruments, and stylistically coming as close as possible to recreating what the composers from these earlier eras intended us to hear.
About the Singers
The Nota Bene Singers, celebrating it's 8th season, following their inaugural concert of the Messiah on Palm Sunday 2014, have established themselves as a leading professional chamber choir. Ranging in size from 16 to 18 singers, all of whom are soloists in their own right, this accomplished ensemble has presented impressive performances of some of the most demanding repertoire from the Baroque era. Under Howard Dyck’s dynamic leadership, the Nota Bene Singers' concerts are eagerly awaited throughout southwestern Ontario.
About Howard Dyck, Artistic Director, Conductor
Howard Dyck is the Artistic Director of Nota Bene Players & Singers as well as Artistic Director Emeritus of the Grand Philharmonic Choir and Conductor Emeritus of the Bach Elgar Choir. His international conducting career has taken him to twenty countries on three continents. He is known to music lovers across Canada as the former programme host of Choral Concert and Saturday Afternoon at the Opera on CBC Radio.
Howard Dyck has received numerous honours for his contributions to musical culture, both nationally and internationally. He holds honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, and is an Honorary Professor of Music at the Yunnan Arts University (Kunming, China). Howard Dyck is a Member of the Order of Canada, and a recipient of the Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals.
Land Acknowledgement
It is a privilege for us to be here, on the traditional lands of the confederacies of the Wendat ‘People of the Island,’ the Anishinaabeg ‘Original People,’ and the Haudenosaunee ‘People of the Longhouse.’ We acknowledge this land as the home of the Mississaugas of the Credit, ‘River of the north, of many mouths.’
We acknowledge the wisdom of the Dish with One Spoon treaty between the Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee: The ‘Dish’ represents what is now known as southern Ontario. We all eat out of the dish with only one spoon, ensuring that our dish is never empty. This symbolizes our ongoing roles and responsibilities of sustaining the land and treating each other and all living things with equity and respect.
Today, Tkarón:to, which in Kanien’kéha means 'the place in the water where the trees are standing’ is home to many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples from across Turtle Island. We acknowledge the history of this place. We recognize that we must live in right relations, abiding by the wisdom of this land and its traditional stewards. We commit to listening, witnessing and activating a bond of resurgent healing, honour, and solidarity with our indigenous hosts.