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Rimouski, Quebec

A River Without End / Un fleuve sans fin

There’s a new collaboration I’m very excited about: composing music for the renowned Canadian pianist, David Jalbert! When David and I started discussing the foundation of our collaboration, he spoke about his spiritual connection to the St. Lawrence River. Having been born and raised in Rimouski, Quebec, Le Fleuve Saint-Laurent holds a special place in […]

Helsinki Tram (photo by Tapio Haaja)

Summer in Europe

Well, I feel like the most fortunate person on this planet these past 2 months. Not only did I get a chance to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime Arctic expedition/residency, but I was then able to follow it up with the most wonderful travel adventure with my everything partner, Lisa, in northern Europe. Following my departure […]

Iceberg off the coast of Svalbard

Arctic Circle Expedition Recap

To say that my Arctic Circle Expedition/Residency was a life-changing experience feels like an understatement. As my fellow artists and I returned to Longyearbyen from our odyssey aboard the tall-ship, Antigua, I have been struggling to find the right words to write this post. Visiting the top of the Earth is something that goes beyond […]

Soprano, Pam Patel joins bass clarinetist, Kathryn Ladano, for the premiere of Frank Horvat's 'Anatomy of the Recovering Brain'

Special People, Special Concert

Hi Everyone, it’s Lisa here. Frank may be having fun in the Arctic but I was truly fortunate to be able to attend NUMUS‘ final concert of the season. NUMUS’ Artistic Director and brain injury survivor, Kathryn Ladano premiered Frank’s new composition, ā€˜Anatomy of the Recovering Brain’. This composition couldn’t have happened without a lot […]

Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Arctic Residency/Expedition Underway!

Wow, what an honour and privilege it is to be in this special and unique corner of our planet….welcome to Longyearbyen! Along with other international artists, educators and innovators, this is where I begin a 3-week journey living and composing on-board a Tall Ship while sailing the waters of the international territory of Svalbard, an […]

FRACTURES Recording - Brahm Goldhamer, Meredith Hall, Frank Horvat, Dennis Patterson

FRACTURES Recording

After a bunch of invigorating sessions the last 2 months, we are nicely wrapping up our recording of the Fractures song cycle! What an extreme pleasure it has been to make music with soprano, Meredith Hall, pianist, Brahm Goldhamer, and sound engineer, Dennis Patterson! ā¤ļø The idea to compose Fractures came in 2016 when I […]

Toronto's Historic Red Oak

Honouring Magnificent Roots

Very happy to announce that I have been commissioned by the acclaimed chamber orchestra, Sinfonia Toronto, to compose a new work in honour of their 25th anniversary season! When Nurhan Arman approached me to compose this concert overture, I immediately thought about how it would be fitting to base the composition on something positive and […]

NUMUS Premiere Announcement

Countdown to a Recovering Brain

One of the exciting projects I have been working on this year is a new large-scale composition focused on bringing awareness to the invisible health impacts and struggles of having a brain injury. I composed the piece for bass clarinetist, Kathryn Ladano, a brain injury survivor herself. All of our work will culminate in a […]

A Village of Landscapes album

A Village of Landscapes album May 12

I am very happy to announce that my album collaboration with the amazing bassoonist, SĆ©bastien Malette, will be released May 12! Here’s the official unveiling of the album cover… SĆ©bastien commissioned me to compose A Village of Landscapes, a 13-piece suite for bassoon inspired by photos of stirring natural landscapes in Canada. Each photo was […]

Zac Pulak, Frank Horvat and Edana Higham at Port William Sound

The Creative Last Days for the Last Days

Completing a project can always be an intense time in the creative process, especially when on the theme of climate change. But these past 2 days working with the piano/percussion duo, SHHH!! Ensemble, has been amazing and gratifying putting the final touches on the epic hour-long artivist piece they commissioned, An Auditory Survey of the […]

Post-Concert Chat

FRACTURES World Premiere

People often ask me, what is it like to listen to your music being performed? Honestly, it’s always this wonderful out-of-body experience. This was the case x 10 as I sat with such a great audience to experience the magic of vocalist, Meredith Hall, and pianist, Brahm Goldhamer, presenting the world premiere of my large-scale […]

Frank Horvat, Jean Martin and Sharlene Wallace

Growing 2 More Trees!

If someone ever tells you that making new music is a solitary endeavour, don’t believe them! Case in point, my collaboration with Sharlene Wallace – we recently found out that a group of Sharlene’s students had banded together to commission an Oak tree in our Trees.Listen project, one of the pieces that will make up […]

The Odin Quartet performing pieces from the album From Oblivion to Hope

Album Release with Odin Quartet

We had a wonderful time at the Canadian Music Centre celebrating this week’s release of From Oblivion to Hope, my album collaboration with the amazing Odin Quartet! From Oblivion to Hope has a serious and pessimistic tone to start. But, as we go from piece to piece, the tone evolves to something more optimistic, ending […]

Meredith Hall and Brahm Goldhamer performing Frank Horvat's composition, FRACTURES.

Update on the FRACTURES Journey

I was in awe and filled with exhilaration as I witnessed my good friend and acclaimed soprano, Meredith Hall present the first complete performance of all 13 songs from my large-scale cycle for voice and piano called Fractures. Joined by eminent collaborative pianist and vocal coach, Brahm Goldhamer, this was their final private presentation for […]

From Oblivion To Hope album cover

From Oblivion to Hope – new album March 31

I am very happy to announce that my album collaboration with the wonderful Odin Quartet will be released March 31! Come celebrate with us on March 29 at the Canadian Music Centre in Toronto! Here’s the official unveiling of the album cover designed by Matthew Maaskant… From Oblivion to Hope will have a serious and […]