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Hard Rubber Orchestra

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The Hard Rubber Orchestra is a jazz band led by composer and trumpeter John Korsrud in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1990, it has a shifting membership of 15-30 musicians. It is known for spotlighting work by contemporary composers and won the Alcan Performing Arts Award in 2004.

History

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The Hard Rubber Orchestra was founded in 1990 by John Korsrud. It had instrumentation similar to a big band, but the music was "an unholy mashup of minimalism, free jazz, noise, and funk".[1]

In 1992, a non-profit "Hard Rubber Music Society" was created as a vehicle for funding the orchestra. It operates with a mix of private donations, city funding, and Canada Council grants.[2][3]

Notable commissions

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The Hard Rubber Orchestra is characteristically open to new music. It has commissioned over 40 works from 30 contemporary jazz and classical composers.[4] Here are some highlights.

  • John Korsrud, Giorgio Magnanensi, and Brad Turner contributed original compositions to the February 2005 multidisciplinary theatre piece, Enter/Exit.[5][6]
  • Ice Age 2010, where the Hard Rubber Orchestra played pieces by Peter Hannan, Brad Turner, Tony Wilson, and Bill Runge, while dancers and ice skaters performed on a hockey rink, was part of the Cultural Olympiad festival which accompanied the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[7]
  • Linda Bouchard, and Scott Good (Vancouver Symphony Orchestra composer-in-residence), contributed compositions to the Hard Rubber Orchestra's 20th-anniversary concert on May 14, 2011.[1]
  • Kenny Wheeler composed a 30-minute piece, which the orchestra premiered in Vancouver on October 19, 2013. The orchestra was joined by trumpeter Mike Herriott, singer Christine Duncan, and trombonist Hugh Fraser as conductor.[8]

Awards

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In 2004, the Hard Rubber Orchestra won the C$60,000 Alcan Performing Arts Award. This funded their February 2005 work, Enter/Exit, a multidisciplinary theatre piece featuring compositions by John Korsrud, Giorgio Magnanensi, and Brad Turner. Videographers HoneyBee Visuals, set designer Andreas Kahre, and director Kim Collier also contributed.[5]

Their album Iguana was a Juno Award nominee for Instrumental Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2023.[9]

References

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  1. ^ a b Varty, Alexander (8 November 2010). "Hard Rubber Orchestra celebrates 20 years with its greatest hits". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  2. ^ "Hard Rubber New Music Society". Hard Rubber Orchestra. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  3. ^ Andrews, Marke (27 June 2013). "Vancouver-based Hard Rubber Orchestra embraces tough challenges". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 30 March 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Hard Rubber Orchestra". Hard Rubber Orchestra. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Janet (4 March 2004). "Prize Lets Rubber Stretch Out". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 30 March 2014.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Varty, Alexander (24 February 2005). "Hard Rubber Enters a Rave New World". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  7. ^ Varty, Alexander (17 March 2010). "The Hard Rubber Orchestra's Ice Age 2010 hits the rink with athletes". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  8. ^ Varty, Alexander (30 October 2013). "Hard Rubber Orchestra fetes composer Kenny Wheeler". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Here are all the 2023 Juno nominees". CBC Music, January 31, 2023.
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