SweetWater turns the spotlight to the piano with Keys of Life, a festival filled with piano‑centred programmes, including multiple dazzling two‑piano showcases, intimate chamber concerts, and genre‑bending collaborations across Owen Sound, Leith, and Thornbury.

Over six days, audiences can:

Immerse themselves in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition for two pianos with Philip Chiu and Janelle Fung, paired with paintings by Paula Arcienega.
Feel the heat of Payadora’s fiery tango at Heartwood, with Drew Jurecka and Joe Phillips igniting an unforgettable night of rhythm and groove.
Experience Celestial Harmonies at Historic Leith Church, where harp, clarinet, and strings shine in Mozart, Beethoven, Mahler, and Ravel—capped by our legendary post‑concert after party.
Bask in Return of the Light, a 70‑minute no‑intermission journey featuring Debussy’s L’après‑midi d’un faune for two pianos, a luminous new two-piano commission by Collingwood composer Ian Cusson, and Elgar’s expansive Piano Quintet.
Spend an intimate evening with Sarah Slean, four‑time Juno‑nominated singer‑songwriter‑composer‑pianist, at the Harmony Centre.
Close the festival with Carnivals & Rhapsodies: a two‑piano spectacular with Chiu and Fung in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Saint‑Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, enriched by new Indigenous‑themed movements by William Rowson.

Join us this September as SweetWater’s Keys of Life celebrates the piano in all its colours — from shimmering impressionism and rich Romanticism to tango, jazz, and beyond.

Festival Passes On Sale Now!

Your festival pass includes all 6 ticketed concerts for only $200.

All concerts are general admission seating except for Friday, September 19 Celestial Harmonies at Historic Leith Church.

Single tickets go on sale on June 2.

PURCHASE YOUR PASSES AT THE ROXY BOX OFFICE

Contact the Box Office: 519-371-2833, boxoffice@roxytheatre.ca
Box Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-2pm, Saturday-Monday Closed

The Concerts

Paintings at an Exhibition

Wednesday, September 16 7:00pm
Georgian Shores United Church
997 4th Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
Immerse yourself in Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition in a dazzling two‑piano performance and musical chat by Philip Chiu and Janelle Fung, paired with paintings by artist Paula Arcienega.
Payadora

Thursday, September 17 7:00pm
Heartwood Hall
939 2nd Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
Payadora lights up Heartwood with fiery, soulful tango. Join award‑winning musicians Drew Jurecka and Joe Phillips for an unforgettable night of Argentinian‑inspired rhythms, lush melodies, and irresistible groove in an intimate club setting.
Celestial Harmonies

Friday, September 18 7:00pm
Historic Leith Church
419498 Tom Thomson Ln, Annan, ON
Mozart Clarinet Quintet
Beethoven String Quartet Opus 59 #3
Mahler Adagietto
Ravel - Introduction and Allegro
Experience celestial harmonies featuring the harp, clarinet and strings in the intimate beauty of Historic Leith Church. Your ticket includes our legendary SweetWater post‑concert after party for the entire audience!
Return Of The Light

Saturday, September 19 4:00pm
Georgian Shores United Church
997 4th Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
SweetStrings
L’apres midi du’un faune (two pianos)
Ian Cusson: Return of the Light - New commission
Elgar Piano quintet
Bathe in the glow of Debussy’s L’après‑midi d’un faune for two pianos, a luminous new commission; Return of the Light by internationally renowned Collingwood composer Ian Cusson, and Elgar’s expansive Piano Quintet.
Sarah Slean

Saturday, September 19 8:00pm
Harmony Centre
890 4th Ave E, Owen Sound, ON
Canadian singer‑songwriter, composer, and pianist Sarah Slean brings her unmistakable voice and storytelling to SweetWater, joined by Bret Higgins on bass and Ryan Granville‑Martin on drums, for an intimate, genre‑defying evening at the Harmony Centre. Sarah Slean is a four‑time Juno‑nominated Canadian singer‑songwriter, composer, and pianist often described as a modern‑day “Renaissance woman.” Signed to Atlantic/Warner at 19, she has since released 11 albums in over 10 countries, blending cabaret, pop, and orchestral colours with vividly poetic lyrics.
Carnivals & Rhapsodies

Sunday, September 20 3:00pm
Thornbury Grace United Church
140 Bruce St S, Thornbury, ON
Dive into Carnivals & Rhapsodies, a two‑piano spectacular featuring Philip Chiu & Janelle Fung performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Saint‑Saëns’ Carnival of the Animals, enriched with newly composed Indigenous‑themed movements by William Rowson.

BUY YOUR PASS TODAY!

Meet the Musicians

Clarinetist
Dubbed “Canada’s premier clarinetist” by the Ottawa Citizen, James Campbell has performed as soloist and chamber musician in over 35 countries with over 60 orchestras including the Boston Pops, Montreal Symphony and the London Symphony. He has collaborated with Glenn Gould and Aaron Copland and toured with over 35 string quartets, including the Guarneri, Amadeus and Vermeer. Of his over 40 recordings, the BBC and the Times of London rated his recording of the Brahms Clarinet Quintet as the best available and his CD Stolen Gems (Marquis Records) won a JUNO. He has been named Canada’s Artist of the Year, awarded the Queen’s Gold and Diamond Jubilee Medal, an Honourary Doctor of Law, and the Order of Canada. James Campbell has been Artistic Director of the Festival of the Sound since 1985 and was Professor of Music at the famed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University from 1988-2019 and continues to give masterclasses worldwide.

Pianist
“A pianist-painter who transforms each musical idea into a beautiful array of colours” (La Presse), Philip Chiu is acclaimed for his brilliant pianism, sensitive listening, and a stage presence that eschews the hermit-pianist image in favour of dialogue, openness and authenticity. Soloist and chamber musician, he performs recitals and chamber music concerts across Canada, as well as France, Japan and the United States. Chamber music partners have included James Ehnes, Emmanuel Pahud, Regis Pasquier, Bomsori Kim and Johannes Moser. He has a long-standing violin-piano duo with violinist Jonathan Crow. He has recorded for ATMA Classique, Warner Music, Analekta, Leaf Music and CBC Music, and can be heard on BBC Radio, France Musique, ICI Musique, and CBC Music.
Philip is grateful for the support of Mécénat Musica, the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, and the Canada Council for the Arts. He also wishes to acknowledge his teachers and mentors: Marc Durand, Jenny Regehr, Susan Steele, and the late Peter Longworth.

Violinist
Praised for her “gorgeous, rich tone” and fresh, insightful interpretations, Canadian violinist Gabrielle Després has emerged as a compelling young artist, enjoying a diverse career as a soloist and chamber musician. As a recent finalist of the 2025 Sibelius International Violin Competition, she was also first-prize winner of the Irving M. Klein International String Competition and the Juilliard Concerto Competition, and a top prize recipient at the Michael Hill, Elmar Oliveira, and Washington International Violin Competitions.

Bassist
Jordan has performed worldwide with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. He is a former member of L’Orquestra Ciutat de Barcelona, and is a current member of the American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra. Jordan is Principal Bass of the Westchester Philharmonic, Little Orchestra Society, and the Carmel Bach Festival Orchestra. Jordan has also performed as Principal Bass with the St. Paul and Australian Chamber Orchestras, as well as the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Symphonies, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, among many others.

Pianist
Canadian pianist Janelle Fung has performed in concert from coast to coast in Canada, including tours with Prairie Debut and Jeunesses Musicales du Canada. Winner of the “Artist of the Year” award from the BC Touring Council in 2014, her international concerts have taken her to over twenty countries on five continents. An avid chamber musician, Ms. Fung has appeared in concert with the Ying Quartet, New York Woodwind Quintet, Mark Fewer and Matt Haimovitz.
Ms. Fung has been a prize winner in numerous national and international competitions, including the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, the Concours OSM-Standard Life, and the Canadian Music Competition. She has been featured on radio stations nationally and internationally including CBC, Radio-Canada, Classical 96.3 FM, NPR, and Radio France.
Ms. Fung’s interest in opera have led to collaborations with Nicole Cabell, Teresa Stratas, and William Warfield. She has toured twice as Touring Artistic Director for opera productions presented by Jeunesses Musicales du Canada and is currently on faculty at Highlands Opera Studio.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, Janelle Fung began her piano studies at the age of four. Her principal teachers have included Nelita True, Julian Martin and Marc Durand. Ms. Fung received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, her Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and her doctorate from l’Université de Montréal. She is grateful to the Canada Council for the Arts and Yamaha Artists for their continued support.

A young man with blonde hair and a beard holding a violin and a bow, standing by a window in a home interior.

Violist
Keith Hamm was principal violist of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra for eight seasons. In 2019, Keith joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as principal violist. Keith has performed at the Ravinia Festival, with the Royal Conservatory’s Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble, Toronto Summer Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Stratford Summer Music, Sweetwater Music Festival, Edmonton Recital Society and Music By The Sea in Bamfield, BC. Keith is Founder and Artistic Director of the Rosebud Chamber Music Festival in Rosebud, Alberta and co-founder of the Rosebud String Quartet.

A woman with dark curly hair smiling and holding a violin, standing near a window in a cozy room with natural light.

Cellist
In 2019, Julie joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra as Assistant Principal Cello. Previously, she held the same position in the Quebec Symphony Orchestra. Julie has been broadcast on CBC Radio 2 and Radio-Canada. Julie has performed in festivals across North America, including Music By The Sea in Bamfield, Sweetwater Music Festival, Rosebud Chamber Music Festival, Rendez-vous musical de Laterrière in Saguenay, and Rockport Music Festival. Julie is currently a member of the Polyphonie String Quartet and she cofounded The New Cohort, a viola and cello ensemble.

A man with long, curly blonde hair and a beard playing a violin against a dark background.

Violinist
Edwin Huizinga is an accomplished violinist, a fiddler, a composer, and an improviser. Along with his role as SweetWater Artistic Director (he assumed this position in October 2019), he performs regularly with the folk and baroque duo Fire & Grace and internationally-acclaimed early music, 12-piece baroque ensemble ACRONYM.
He has performed with orchestras and ensembles worldwide including Carmel Bach Festival, Amsterdam Conservatory, Baroque Orchestra, and Tafelmusik. Huizinga has released numerous recordings including Partita Americana, fusing classical and bluegrass music. He premiered a new composition commissioned by Opera Atelier for soprano Measha Brueggergosman in late October 2020.
This coming year he will premiere another composition commissioned by the National Arts Centre. Huizinga is also Baroque and Classical Academy Director for the Carmel Bach Festival.
Edwin Huizinga’s performances at SweetWater 2023 are generously sponsored by the SweetWater Music Festival’s Board of Directors.

Violinist
Kate Norine Maloney is a Canadian violinist celebrated for her bold artistry, immersive programming, and deeply expressive performances. Known for her vivid tonal palette and fearless musicality, she brings fresh life to both the classical canon and lesser-heard works while championing diversity and inclusivity in classical music through innovative concerts and collaborations. As second violinist of the internationally acclaimed Barbican Quartet, Kate quickly rose to international prominence when the ensemble won First Prize at the 71st ARD International String Quartet Competition in 2022, alongside several special prizes. Their debut album Manifesto on Love, released in 2024 with Genuin Classics, received widespread critical acclaim.
Beyond the concert stage, Kate is dedicated to reshaping how audiences experience classical music through thoughtfully curated programming, interdisciplinary projects, and direct audience engagement. Her upcoming solo debut album features works by visionary composers including William Grant Still and Missy Mazzoli. She has performed as soloist with orchestras across Europe and made her African debut in 2023 performing Violin Concerto No. 2 by Florence Price with the Nairobi Symphony Orchestra. A passionate collaborator, Kate has shared the stage with artists including James Ehnes and Quatuor Ébène at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Wigmore Hall.

Flutist
Stephanie Morin joined the NAC Orchestra as Second Flute and Piccolo in 2020 and is currently on faculty at the University of Ottawa. In addition to her teaching at uOttawa, Stephanie has been a guest speaker and teacher at programs such as OAcademy, Fluture Music Studio, and Flute On The Edge. She is also an active chamber musician and has performed in NAC chamber music concerts and at Ottawa Chamberfest.
Before her tenure at the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Stephanie was Assistant Principal Flute with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Principal Flute of the Laval and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean orchestras. She has also performed with ensembles such as Les Violons du Roy, the Orchestre Métropolitain, and the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Stephanie pursued her music studies in Montreal, first at Marianopolis College with Carolyn Christie, then at McGill University with Denis Bluteau, and finally at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal, where she completed a master’s degree in flute performance with Marie-Andrée Benny.
Stephanie is a prize-winner at the OSM, Canadian Music, Prix d’Europe, and Orchestra Toronto Concerto competitions.

Contemporary Chamber Ensemble
Payadora is an award-winning chamber music ensemble that performs original compositions and arrangements drawn from Argentinian and Uruguayan tango and folk traditions. Made up of players who are each musical powerhouses in their own right, this “superstar group” combines deep knowledge of tango with classical, jazz, and world music backgrounds to create something entirely new.
Founded in 2013 in Toronto, the ensemble has performed sold-out concerts across Canada, the United States, South America, and Europe — from the National Arts Centre to the Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, with a sold-out 2023 European tour that included a live-to-air BBC performance.

Singer‑Songwriter/Composer/Pianist
Signed to Atlantic/Warner Records at the tender age of 19, four-time Juno nominee and modern-day Renaissance woman Sarah Slean has since released 11 albums in over 10 countries worldwide – but perhaps the most astonishing aspect of her artistry is its breadth. Over her 25-year career, Slean has published two volumes of poetry, starred in short films and a movie musical (spawning two Gemini Award nominations), penned two string quartets and other chamber works, held numerous exhibitions of her paintings, and shared the stage with 10 of the country’s professional orchestras. Classically trained from the age of 5, she routinely collaborates with cutting-edge contemporary classical ensembles like The Art of Time, and has been invited to sing world premieres by Canada’s leading living composers. She composes orchestral arrangements for her own music as well as for her pop colleagues (Dan Mangan, Hawksley Workman) and her recent collaborative recording with the Symphony Nova Scotia was just nominated for both an East Coast Music Award and a Juno Award in the Classical Album category (2021). Sarah is also a recent alumna of the prestigious Canadian Film Centre's screen composing residency (2017-8) and just earned her first Canadian Screen Award (2021).
Citing such diverse influences as Leonard Bernstein, philosophy, Joni Mitchell, Buddhism and Bach, her music borrows aspects of cabaret, pop, and orchestral: all knit together by the startling poetry of her lyrics, unique arranging and piano-playing, and that voice, described by the CBC as “a 19th century Kate Bush”. In addition to headlining theatres across Canada, Sarah has also toured Europe, the US and Scandinavia and has opened internationally for such artists as Bryan Ferry, Rufus Wainwright, Alanis Morissette, Andrew Bird, Feist, Ron Sexsmith, and Chris Isaak. Her 11th solo recording "Metaphysics", released in 2017, is described as a "breathtaking amalgamation of Slean’s dramatic orchestral arranging and her signature take on songwriting". In 2021-2022, Sarah will be composing the music for the stage musical adaptation of the award-winning film "Maudie".

Four musicians playing string instruments on a stage, with a music stand and a microphone stand nearby, under stage lights.

A young man with glasses, wearing a maroon t-shirt, sitting with a violin in his hand, on a dark stage.

A woman with glasses playing a cello during a practice or performance, with a music stand and sheet music in front of her, in a dark room.

Two people hugging on stage, one with long hair and the other with short white hair, in a dark setting.

Three smiling older adults, two women and one man, standing together at an indoor conference or event. The woman on the left has white hair, glasses, and wears a multicolored patterned blouse. The woman in the middle has curly gray hair and wears a m

A man and woman smiling and posing for a photo in an indoor setting, with other people in the background, and a wooden door or partition behind them.

A group of people at an art gallery event, with one woman raising a framed certificate or award, while others hold drinks and look on.

Group of people socializing at an art gallery, including a man with glasses and curly gray hair, a woman with braided hair, and a man holding a glass of red wine.

People at a bar holding glasses of wine, with a bar menu and a brochure on the table.

Young woman playing the cello during a performance in front of an audience in a wood-paneled room.

A man playing the violin and a woman singing in front of an audience in a wood-paneled room.

Group of people smiling and talking at a social gathering with artwork on the wall in the background.

Group of people at an art gallery, looking at artwork and engaging with each other.

A man with long hair and a beard holding a microphone and speaking, wearing a bright blue Hawaiian shirt with a floral and animal print, standing in front of a wooden wall and a landscape painting.

Music stand holding sheet music and a smartphone in a dark auditorium with blurred audience in the background.

A young man playing a grand piano with a violin resting nearby, concentrating as he plays.

Audience of elderly people sitting and listening at an indoor event.

A person with long, curly hair holding a microphone and singing or speaking on stage in a dark setting.

A woman in colorful clothing and red sunglasses standing on stage with a music score, surrounded by musicians in a dark concert hall.

A woman in colorful clothing stands on stage with a microphone, performing with a small orchestra including violinists. The stage is dimly lit, focusing on the performers, with a grand piano nearby.

Three musicians playing violins on stage during a concert with dark background and audience in foreground.

A woman with long, wavy hair, wearing red glasses, a colorful geometric patterned blouse, and orange pants, standing and speaking in a dimly lit room with a grand piano and a large window in the background.

A choir sings while a woman with long hair singing into a microphone performs on stage in a church with a seated audience, including musicians with a piano, violin, and cello.

String of musicians playing string instruments, including violins, viola, and cello, during a concert in a church or concert hall with an audience watching.

A young woman with long, wavy brown hair, holding a microphone and a violin, smiling on stage during a performance.

A woman playing the piano with a man sitting next to her and another person partially visible in the foreground.

A woman with curly hair, glasses, and a black shirt is singing into a microphone while playing a guitar. She is smiling and raising her right hand with her index finger pointing upward, in a room with beige walls and chairs in the background.

A woman with curly hair and glasses playing a ukulele and singing into a microphone during a performance, surrounded by an audience of older adults.

An orchestra performing in a concert hall with musicians playing violins, standing at music stands. Conductors and audience members are also visible.

A young girl sitting on the floor playing a cello, holding a bow in her right hand and looking thoughtfully into the distance.

Orchestra of musicians playing string instruments, including violins and cellos, during a rehearsal or performance in a concert hall.

A woman with glasses, wearing a light denim shirt, leaning on a wooden railing, smiling and looking down, surrounded by other people in the background, some clapping or taking photos.

Orchestra performing on stage in a concert hall with audience watching, decorated with drapery and white dove cutouts.

A woman singing passionately on stage with a violinist playing behind her, decorated with white dove cutouts and red and yellow drapes.

A group of six musicians performing on stage, with five playing violins and one playing a cello, while a young girl plays a grand piano. The stage is decorated with orange and red drapes, a green cloth with a cross, a wreath, and paper dove decoratio

Orchestra performing on stage in a church or concert hall, decorated with red and gold drapes, white doves, and a wreath, viewed through a decorative black grille.

A man in a gray suit and glasses playing a double bass on stage.

A man in a black suit and glasses playing a Yamaha drum set on stage with a music stand nearby.

A man in a black suit playing a grand piano on stage, with sheet music open on the piano, microphone stands nearby, and an audience watching.

A jazz band performs on stage with a pianist, a double bassist, and a drummer, while an audience sits in front of them watching the performance in an indoor venue.

A group of musicians with string instruments and wind instruments on stage in a church with stained glass windows and a large decorative backdrop featuring a design and religious symbols.

A man with glasses wearing a colorful patterned shirt playing a French horn, with another musician holding a violin in the background.

Woman playing violin, wearing glasses and a black lace dress, with another musician standing nearby.

Women playing violins in an orchestra, with a wooden decorative wall in the background.

A group of musicians playing string instruments during a performance in a venue with decorative woodwork and a blue background.

A classical orchestra performing on stage inside a concert hall, with musicians playing violins, cellos, clarinets, flutes, French horn, and a double bass.

A woman singing passionately on stage during a concert, with musicians playing violins behind her and a large wooden and teal artistic backdrop.

A group of 17 musicians posing with their instruments on a wooden stage in front of a large decorative wooden wall with blue panels.

Edwin Huizinga is an accomplished violinist, a fiddler, a composer, and an improviser. Along with his role as SweetWater Artistic Director (he assumed this position in October 2019), he performs regularly with the folk and baroque duo Fire & Grace and internationally-acclaimed early music, 12-piece baroque ensemble ACRONYM.

He has performed with orchestras and ensembles worldwide including Carmel Bach Festival, Amsterdam Conservatory, Baroque Orchestra, and Tafelmusik. Huizinga has released numerous recordings including Partita Americana, fusing classical and bluegrass music. He premiered a new composition commissioned by Opera Atelier for soprano Measha Brueggergosman in late October 2020.

This coming year he will premiere another composition commissioned by the National Arts Centre. Huizinga is also Baroque and Classical Academy Director for the Carmel Bach Festival.

Artistic Director Partner: Betty and Joe Gray Family Foundation