MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
On behalf of the City of St. John’s, I am pleased to extend warm greetings to the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra as you launch your 2025/2026 season, Obsessed, Onstage, Onfire.
This year’s theme reflects the passion, dedication, and energy the NSO brings to our community year after year. Through inspiring performances, meaningful education programmes, and steadfast community engagement, the NSO continues to ignite a love of music that enriches the cultural fabric of our city.
My sincere thanks go to the musicians, staff, volunteers, patrons, and sponsors who make each season possible. Your commitment ensures that the symphony not only thrives, but also continues to inspire audiences of all ages.
On behalf of Council, I congratulate the NSO on another exciting season and wish you every success as you share your extraordinary talent with our community.
Warm regards, Danny Breen Mayor of St. John’s
Message from the Lieutenant Governor
As Honorary Patron of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, it is my great pleasure to extend greetings and very best wishes for the 2025-2026 season.
The NSO is a wonderful orchestra, which has served to cultivate and profile many of the exceptional artists we have in our province. The gift of the NSO’s rich orchestral music has become an integral part of the cultural fabric of Newfoundland and Labrador. Again this year, a variety of performances are planned, sure to delight audiences and inspire us all.
This season is the first under the artistic leadership of Music Director Simon Rivard. Congratulations on your new role, and welcome!
I hope you will enjoy the performances the NSO has in store this year. To everyone involved: the musicians, staff, crew, and all who have a hand in producing this season, I thank you and wish you the best.
Joan Marie J. Aylward, O.N.L Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador
We acknowledge the province of Newfoundland and Labrador as the traditional territory of diverse Indigenous groups, and we acknowledge with respect the distinct histories and cultures of the Beothuk, Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit of this province. We strive for respectful relationships with all the peoples of this province as we search for collective healing and true reconciliation and honour this beautiful land together.
Our Annual Fundraiser ExxonMobil BIG TICKET STEVEN PAGE
February 27, 2026 • St. John’s Arts & Culture Centre
Simon Rivard, conductor
Steven Page with Craig Northey, Kevin Fox
STEVEN PAGE
Steven Page is a Canadian singer-songwriter best known as a cofounder and former frontman of Barenaked Ladies, launching a solo career in 2009. His latest album, Excelsior, is his first full-length release since 2018 and was written and produced by Page, drawing heavily from songs developed during his popular Live From Home virtual concert series. He has toured extensively with the Steven Page Trio, shared stages with artists such as The Who, and created commissioned works including Canada Loves You Back for Ryan Reynolds. A member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, Page is celebrated for his songwriting, distinctive voice, and lasting connection with audiences.
Craig Northey is a founding member of renowned Canadian rock band “Odds”. Formed in 1987 they crossed over into radio success, platinum awards and Juno® nominations during the mid 1990s and have maintained their vitality to this day. Craig is also known for his work as a film and TV composer (Kids in the Hall, Corner Gas, Hiccups, Young Drunk Punk, This Blows). Some of the people he has toured with, and/or made albums with, and/or written songs with are: Steven Page, Warren Zevon, Strippers Union, Rosanne Cash, Colin James, Gin Blossoms, Glen Phillips, Jimmy Rankin, Adam Levy, Wide Mouth Mason, Jeremy Fisher and the Waltons.
Kevin Fox is a Halifax-born multi-instrumentalist, composer/arranger, music director, and recording artist, widely respected for his versatility and expressive musicianship. A cellist first and foremost, Fox has performed with and/or provided arrangements for artists including Celine Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Steven Page, Jim Cuddy, Avril Lavigne, Cowboy Junkies, Justin Bieber, and the Art of Time Ensemble, among many others. He has released three solo albums—Come Alive, Songs for Cello & Voice, and Set Right—which showcase his soulful approach to the cello and his distinctive voice as a recording artist.
CONDUCTOR SIMON RIVARD
Simon Rivard is a Canadian conductor active across North America and Europe. The 2025/26 season marks the start of his tenure with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, where he will lead works including Haydn’s The Creation, alongside engagements with Edmonton Opera conducting Wagner’s Siegfried. He also debuts with the Lapland Chamber Orchestra in Finland in a world premiere by Kalevi Aho and appears with orchestras including Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and Orchestre Métropolitain. A former Resident Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Rivard studied at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and McGill University and will teach orchestral conducting at the Conservatoire beginning in 2025.
VIOLIN 1
Heather Kao (concertmaster)
Dominic Greene (asst. concertmaster)
Andy Kao
Anastasia Kiseleva
Whit Fitzgerald
Gabriel Brodeur
Amanda Yee (OCP)
Rachael Hammond
VIOLIN 2
Nancy Case-Oates (principal)
Carole Bestvater
Elena Vigna
Ilyas Duissen
Jacquelyn Redmond
Sofiia Terzioglu
Cathy Anstey
Stewart Gillies
Karen Hawkin
Cathy Beehan
VIOLA
Kate Read (principal)
Ema Shiroma-Chao
Chantelle Jubenville
Rosaura Aguilar
Mahina Graham-Laidlaw
Norma Noseworthy
Jonathan Stevenson
CELLO
Nathan Cook (principal)
Nulibeth Ortiz (asst. principal)
Amy Collyer-Holmes
Sandra Pope
Laura Ivany
Katherine Shipley
MUSICIANS
BASS
Frank Fusari (principal)
Denise Lear
Nick Howlett
Matthew Hardy
FLUTE
Donna Spurvey (principal)
Sarah Comerford
OBOE/ ENGLISH HORN
Annie Corrigan (principal)
Kathy Conway
CLARINET
Glenn Rice (principal)
Brenda Gatherall
BASSOON
Grant Etchegary (principal)
Nicole Hand
HORN
Emily Dunsmore (principal)
Doug Vaughan
Michelle Stevenson
David Natsheh
TRUMPET
Katie Sullivan (principal)
Jill Dawe
TROMBONE
Erin Sullivan (principal)
Jo Dashney
BASS TROMBONE
Andrew Cooper (principal)
TUBA
Catherine Tansley (principal)
PERCUSSION
Rob Power (principal)
David Kerr
Amy Parsons (OCP)
Jenna Grant
HARP
Sarah Veber (principal)
Help support the NSO by participating in the BIG GIVE-AWAY contest.
Your donation will help inspire students, nurture local talent, and ensure that world class symphonic music continues to thrive here at home.
To enter, donate $100 to the NSO. Each $100 donation is one entry. For more entries, donate in $100 increments (i.e. $500 is 5 entries).
The Prize ($1000+ value):
2 tickets to Big Ticket 2027
26/27 season Pops Concert subscription for two NSO swag for two ($300 value)
Scan the QR code below to donate or visit nsomusic.ca/support/individual-giving
Contest ends at midnight Monday, March 2
Winner will be announced Friday, March 6
UPCOMING CONCERTS
NSO Staff
Simon Rivard, Music Director
Martin MacDonald, Principal Pops Conductor
Hugh Donnan, CEO
Lynn Ann Pye, Patron Relations
Jennifer Brennan, Education & Outreach Coordinator
Susan Kelsey, Marketing & Event Manager
Dominic Greene, Personnel Manager
Steve Power, Production Manager/Video Production/Editing
Jenny Griffioen, Librarian
Kyle McDavid, Graphic Designer
NSO Board
Jessica Chapman (Chair)
Michelle Davis (Vice-Chair)
Tom Hickey (Past Chair)
Douglas Wright (Treasurer)
Robert Thompson (Corporate Secretary)
Philip Harrington
Eleanor Swanson
Heather McKinnon
Andrea Rose
Duncan Fitzpatrick
Glenn Colton
Robert
Jennifer
Jing
Karen
Chris
Amanda
Charlie
Andrii Shyshkin
Beth Porter
