Introducing… Our New Executive and Artistic Director, Lavinia Kell Parker
Lavinia’s use of improvisation with traditional compositional elements has earned her the New Genre Award from the International Alliance of Women in Music, as well as top prizes in choral composition, including from the New York Treble Singers, Vancouver Bach Choir, Choral Canada, and the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition.
Lavinia loves the creative aspect of customizing music that fits both her artistic vision, and which also carefully showcases the strengths of performers. Among her recent collaborations, she has especially enjoyed writing for the Allegra Chamber Orchestra, Penderecki String Quartet, Guitarist Iliana Matos, Clemson University carillonneur Linda Dzuris, as well as works for both elite and community choirs. Her choral works have been performed by choirs internationally and broadcast on CBC radio and PBS television.
An educator of over 20 years, Lavinia has focused on bringing the joy of music to children and is the founder of Coulee Composers, a composition club for youth in southern Alberta. She is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and an Instructor at the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music.
Her music is published with ECS, Galaxy Music, CMC, and Cypress Publishing and can also be obtained by contacting the composer through her website.
Introducing…Our New Assistant Artistic Director, Tanner Lapoint
Tanner is a performer, educator, and conductor who holds both a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) and a Bachelor of Education (Music Education). He has brought a wide range of characters to life from across opera and musical theatre, including from The Magic Flute, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, The Gondoliers, Candide, and Transformations, as well as numerous concert performances across Alberta and British Columbia.
As a concert soloist, he has been featured in concert works including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio – his choral work engagements have been broadcast on CBC Radio, in both live and recorded formats.
Tanner is also one half of Tan & Jam, a vocal duo dedicated to presenting high-quality, community-focused concert experiences. In the 2024/2025 season, they presented 17 concert performances across Southern Alberta. The duo has partnered with organizations such as the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, Lethbridge Pridefest, University of Lethbridge, Concerts in Care Alberta, and more…
Equally active as a conductor and educator, Tanner has led school, community, and chamber choirs and has served as a music director and assistant music director for theatrical productions throughout the region. He teaches private voice through the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music and serves as the Program Coordinator for the Share Your Voice! Musical Theatre Camp, where he encourages students to explore the relationship between personal identity, expression, and vocal artistry.
Tanner is thrilled to be joining the Centric Music Festival as Assistant Artistic Director and looks forward to contributing to Centric’s commitment to inspiring performances, innovative programming, and meaningful community engagement.
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Our Festival
Since its inaugural event in 2014, Centric MusicFest has become a permanent fixture in the City of Lethbridge's flourishing art and music scene. Building upon the success of its founder, Jesse Plessis, the annual summer classical and art music festival has grown under the stewardship of Artistic Director Ryan Kolodziej to feature a combination of local and visiting world-class Canadian and international musicians from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Read more...
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