Musical Magic from a Modern Enchantress

Ottawa, Toronto, Mississauga, December 9, 2014 (Newswire.com) - Phenomenal Canadian multi-talent, Margaret Maria, is an extraordinary musician and cellist who creates musical magic in and out of the production studio.   A travelling artist, she splits her time between Toronto and Ottawa on a weekly basis, to follow her dream of scoring for film and teaching children through OrKidstra and The National Capital Suzuki School of Music.

Being recognized as a ‘Leading Women Building Communities Award’ recipient by the Government of Ontario for her work in the Ottawa community and a Kick Ass Canadian, Margaret Maria continues her work with OrKidstra as an Honorary Board Member and as a guest teacher and conductor coming back to the Bronson Centre to work with the kids!  Margaret Maria will be participating in the OrKidstra’s Holiday Concert at the Bronson Centre (211 Bronson) on December 18, at 6:30pm.

‘Enchantress’ is her newest album release (official release date: December 10, 2014 on CDBaby and itunes) combining Classical, New Age and Cinematic Genres into incredible creations that are all composed, self-produced, and recorded in her recording studio ‘Enchanten Productions’ in Toronto.  One of Canada’s foremost cellists, Margaret Maria brings her virtuosic cello playing into the production studio with stunningly brilliant results!

‘Enchantress, my 6’th album, has been an incredible project to put together.  It is a culmination of a full year’s work and represents so many facets of my life and my personality.  Everything around me finds its way into the music.  My love of 20’th Century Russian music and my current challenges of composing for films and production music libraries, has me constantly on my toes and in a state of heightened creativity and connectivity to everything around me and within me.  I just can’t be detached from my music, it is not something I just do; it is everything that I am.   It is equally scary, but fantastic to be able to share this with my fans and all the great people who support me in my musical journey!‘ –Margaret Maria.

‘The music on Enchantress goes from super energetic, frenetic, fantastical explosions of energy, to some flashy Vivaldi-esque pieces that are all fiery bow work and pure joy to create and produce, to some gorgeous sweeping cello lines that are pure heavenly cinematic colours.  From some dark film score inspired tracks, to crazy insomniac moments, to the edge of infernal pain, and then a bit more kick ass cello!  I can only describe it as an intense emotional listening experience that sizzles, is brilliant, emotive, dark and sparkly! The music says it all-you just need to take a listen!’ –Margaret Maria.

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Backgrounder:

Margaret Maria- Enchanten Productions                              

Margaret Maria is a dynamic, versatile, and multi-faceted artist. In 2011, she resigned from her professional post as cellist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra to follow her dream of composing and producing her own music.  Enchanten Productions proudly released ‘Enchanten’ (2012) which received a 55′th Grammy Entry Nomination, ‘Enchanten Rising’ (2013), her web-collaborative album ‘Piancelle’ (2013), with her 6’th album due to be released  December 10, 2014.  Working in the contemporary Classical, New Age, Instrumental, Cinematic, and Steampunk genres, Margaret Maria creates stunning new music with her phenomenal cello playing at the heart of it all! Her 2 children’s albums, ‘A Cello for Chelsea’ (2005) and ‘Zara the Maggini’ (2006) were her first creative musical stories that incorporate her narration, musical compositions, and arrangements, into delightful performances that sparks the imagination of children and adults alike.  Margaret Maria is currently scoring music for film and is a member of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada.  She has had her music performed at the National Arts Centre and you can hear her music on CBC Galaxie Spa Channel, itunes, and is available for licensing in music publishing libraries in Toronto and Los Angeles.  

Born in Toronto, Margaret Maria began playing the cello at the age of twelve and was admitted to the University of Toronto to study with Daniel Domb when she was sixteen. Margaret received her Bachelor of Music in Performance in 1992 and continued, on full scholarship at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she studied with David Soyer. She was also the recipient of three consecutive Canada Council Grants for study abroad. Following her graduation from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1994 with an Artist Diploma, she immediately won a position with the Vancouver Symphony, and was a member of the National Arts Centre Orchestra from 1999-2011.

She is sought after as a first class chamber musician and has performed at many internationally prestigious Chamber Festivals in North America and Europe, including: the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival in Germany, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Le Domaine Forget in Quebec, the Festival of the Sound in Parry Sound, Ontario, the Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival, Ottawa’s newest Music and Beyond Festival, the Lanaudiere Festival, and the McGill Chamber Orchestra series.

Margaret Maria is passionate about teaching and has given master classes in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. She has taught at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, the National Arts Center's Summer Music Institute and currently teaches at the National Capital Suzuki School of Music.

Margaret Maria co-founded The Leading Note Foundation’s OrKidstra Youth Music Program in Ottawa (an El Sistema inspired program) in 2007 along with two of her musical colleagues, Tina Fedeski and Gary MacMillen, to bring musical opportunities to children who would otherwise be unable to participate. It has grown from 27 children to over 300 children singing and playing music together, with 94% learning at no cost, from professional teachers and on donated instruments.

 “The heart of The Leading Note Foundation’s work  in Ottawa is to share
the passion of music with children, and in the process, create a
transformation, not only in the children, but in their families,
their community, and ultimately in a betterment of our collective
future society.“  Margaret Maria- OrKidstra Artistic Director Emeritus

In 2012, Margaret Maria is a recipient of the Leading Women Building Communities Award by the Government of Ontario for her work in the Ottawa community, is an Honorary Board Member of the OrKidstra’s Leading Note Foundation and is also recognized as a Kick Ass Canadian!

Contact:

Margaret Maria

(613)261-6968

enchanten.com