Louise Campbell

Louise Campbell clarinetist

Eclectic in her tastes, clarinetist Louise Campbell performs works in genres ranging from classical, contemporary and jazz to klezmer and swing, and practices improvisation in a variety of styles. Her interest in artistic collaboration and the live experience has led her to participate in multidisciplinary projects with dance, theatre and film artists.

Among these projects are films with Jeanette Pope, of which Berson Boys (2008) was presented by Cannes Festival 2009, theatre music such as Hear Me Out which she wrote and performed for NeXtfest Festival for Emerging Artists, and installations such as l'envoyer à mars pour y trouver la quiétude with writer Annie Abrahams and director Rebecca Barnstaple. This unique artistic path is defined by her desire to interrogate and renew the traditional concert format and her zest for creating new works.

Campbell holds a Master's in Performance with a minor in Jazz from Indiana University and a Master's in Arts from McGill University. She has been a fellow at the Bang on a Can Summer Music Institute, Banff Centre for the Arts, Orford Arts Centre and Domaine Forget. Her primary influences include clarinetist James Campbell, jazz pedagogue and composer David Baker, movement coach Valerie Dean, and the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre Company. Grounded in the art of performance, Campbell is interested in movement for musicians and communication between performer and audience.

Through her performances, she seeks to share her enthousiasm for music with others by creating concert programs that engage the listener in the process of making music.

In addition to ensemble In Extensio, Campbell is also co-founder of the Maenad Ensemble and the Umbrella Ensemble with whom she seeks to bring music to diverse audiences through workshops and concerts in schools, seniors' residences, homeless shelters and other unusual venues. In Montreal, she has performed in the seasons of Codes d'accès, Up to your Ears, Société de musique contemporaine du Québec and Chappelle historique du Bon-Pasteur. Among her community activities, she is Quebec representative on the board of the Canadian New Music Network and has been member of the board for Codes d'accès.

Maenad Ensemble
© Peter Holmes
 
Maenad Ensemble
© Peter Holmes

Maenad Ensemble

Founding members:

In Greek mythology, the Maenads roamed the countryside in a state of frenzied madness, playing music and dancing wildly. In this spirit of irreverent fun, the Maenad Ensemble, featuring clarinetist Louise Campbell, pianist Amy Zanrosso, and cellist Elise Pittenger, seek to share our love of music with others. Exploring repertoire for our instruments as a trio as well as in various combinations, we perform works from across genres and eras, ranging from the classical era to new music commissions, in settings that range from traditional concerts in formal concert halls to educational programs in school auditoriums and community outreach in church halls and private living rooms.

The Maenad Ensemble is the parent organization to the clarinet/cello duo, Two Part Inventing, which presents educational programs at schools. These workshops are designed to encourage listeners to practice active listening and to participate in the decision-making that is part of interpreting a piece of music. Through our programs in all their forms, we hope to convey and share our understanding of music as something living, spontaneous, and flexible.

 

 

Umbrella Ensemble
© Jill Goldberg

Umbrella Ensemble

Founding members:

The Umbrella Ensemble is a wind reed trio featuring oboist Catherine Lee, clarinetist Louise Campbell and bassoonist Alexandra Eastley. The ensemble grew out of the desire of the three founding members to establish a creative ‘umbrella' under which they can explore mutual artistic interests. Each member brings diverse interests and talents to the ensemble, giving unique interpretations and perspectives on works including 20th century music, folk influences, and early music. The Umbrella Ensemble presents concerts which demonstrate the wide palette of instrumental colours and sonorities unique to the wind reed trio in a manner that is light-hearted and engaging.