BELLA MUSICA TRIO
BOOK THIS CONCERT PROGRAMME TODAY:
If Trees Could Sing!
Bella Musica Trio performs a program inspired by nature. This engaging and entertaining program will transport the audience with music from Handel, Saint-Saens and Vaughan-Williams to music inspired by Mohawk-Canadian poet Emily Pauline Johnson.
The audience is transfixed by King Xerxes singing to a tree, delighted by Paul Nero’s portrayal of a “Hot Canary”, and carried away by the passionate “Violins of the Night” composed by French composer Camille Saint-Saens.
Calvin Dyck, virtuoso violinist and concertmaster of the Vancouver Island Symphony is joined by the spine-tingling voice of soprano Alison Nystrom and the masterful accompanying skills of Carmen Hollett.
Contact: Calvin Dyck
[email protected]
(604) 551.8041
Bella Musica Trio performs a program inspired by nature. This engaging and entertaining program will transport the audience with music from Handel, Saint-Saens and Vaughan-Williams to music inspired by Mohawk-Canadian poet Emily Pauline Johnson.
The audience is transfixed by King Xerxes singing to a tree, delighted by Paul Nero’s portrayal of a “Hot Canary”, and carried away by the passionate “Violins of the Night” composed by French composer Camille Saint-Saens.
Calvin Dyck, virtuoso violinist and concertmaster of the Vancouver Island Symphony is joined by the spine-tingling voice of soprano Alison Nystrom and the masterful accompanying skills of Carmen Hollett.
Contact: Calvin Dyck
[email protected]
(604) 551.8041
HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING:
What a great musical feast the whole concert was. There were some wonderful humorous pieces interjected with profound repertoire to keep the audience guessing and alert!
(Powell River concert review - Oct 2023)
(Powell River concert review - Oct 2023)
ARTISTS:
ALISON NYSTROM, SOPRANO
Alison Nystrom, soprano, is a much sought after performer, teacher and adjudicator and is noted for her expressive singing. Her opera credits include: Pamina in The Magic Flute, Diana in Orpheus in the Underworld, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, and the Woodpecker and Innkeeper’s wife in The Cunning Little Vixen. She has performed as a soloist in Mozart’s Requiem, Schubert’s Mass in G, Bach’s Coffee Cantata, Haydn’s Nelsonmesse, Finzi’s In Terra Pax, Rutter’s Mass of the Children, Bevan’s Nou Goth Sonne Under Wode, Vivaldi’s Gloria, Handel’s Messiah, Brahm’s Requiem, Mendelssohn’s St. Paul, Mozart’s Coronation Mass, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, and Poulenc’s Gloria. Ms. Nystrom has collaborated with VISI, Vancouver Opera, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Whatcom County Chorale, and the Vancouver Bach Choir. After studying Kinesiology in her undergraduate degree, Ms. Nystrom earned a Master of Music in Opera at the University of British Columbia. Post graduate studies have included singing at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, a Meisterkurs für Liedgestaltung in Husum, Germany and teaching as a NATS Intern at the University of North Carolina. She also holds an A.R.C.T. in Singing Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. For many years, Ms. Nystrom has taught at the UBC Summer Vocal Workshop and at and Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She currently teaches voice at Trinity Western University. She has a passion to see young people discover their voices and use them in a healthy way.
CARMEN HOLLET, PIANO
Carmen Fast Hollett’s love for accompanying began in grade 8 when she auditioned for her High School music teacher Larry Nickel. Completing her ARCT (Royal Conservatory of Music Toronto) at age 18, she went on to receive her B.A. in music from Trinity Western University, and M.Mus from California State University Los Angeles.
Currently on the faculty at TWU in the School of the Arts, Media and Culture (SAMC), Carmen frequently collaborates with musicians and choral ensembles across the Lower Mainland.
She has acted as rehearsal accompanist for conductors Bramwell Tovey, Jon Washburn, Larry Nickel, Calvin Dyck, Wes Janzen and Joel Tranquilla.
Carmen calls Abbotsford her home, along with her husband Rodney and four children: Jack, Sam, Lucy and Annie.
Currently on the faculty at TWU in the School of the Arts, Media and Culture (SAMC), Carmen frequently collaborates with musicians and choral ensembles across the Lower Mainland.
She has acted as rehearsal accompanist for conductors Bramwell Tovey, Jon Washburn, Larry Nickel, Calvin Dyck, Wes Janzen and Joel Tranquilla.
Carmen calls Abbotsford her home, along with her husband Rodney and four children: Jack, Sam, Lucy and Annie.
CALVIN DYCK, VIOLIN
Concert violinist Dr. Calvin Dyck wears many hats (literally and figuratively). He is in his 25th season as Concertmaster for the Vancouver Island Symphony (Nanaimo), and is in demand as an adjudicator for music festivals across the country. Calvin is the Artistic Director for Oceanside Classical Concerts, the Artistic Director of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra, has a teaching studio with 25 students, and is a busy producer with his company Songs, Strings and Steps Events Ltd. In his spare time he runs a Christmas tree farm in Mission.
Calvin has his Doctor of Musical Arts (in violin performance) from the University of Southern California with minors in conducting, music education and music history. He has produced 4 CDs which help raise money for Communitas, a charity which supports people living with disabilities.
Highlights from the past few years include producing concerts with the Celtic Tenors, Barrage, and Cirque Musica. In 2012 Calvin was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to the community and in April 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities by Trinity Western University. In 2024 Calvin was awarded the “Order of Abbotsford” to recognize his work with youth.
Calvin has his Doctor of Musical Arts (in violin performance) from the University of Southern California with minors in conducting, music education and music history. He has produced 4 CDs which help raise money for Communitas, a charity which supports people living with disabilities.
Highlights from the past few years include producing concerts with the Celtic Tenors, Barrage, and Cirque Musica. In 2012 Calvin was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for service to the community and in April 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities by Trinity Western University. In 2024 Calvin was awarded the “Order of Abbotsford” to recognize his work with youth.