Leading up to our show at Celebration of Nations on September 7 we will be featuring each of our artists! Today’s first Artist Spotlight is oboist Colin Maier.

Born and raised in Calgary, Colin Maier graduated from the University of Calgary in 1997 with a degree in oboe performance studying with David Sussman. Since 2009, Colin has been the oboist for the internationally renowned and critically acclaimed ensemble “Quartetto Gelato” playing 50-70 international concerts a year. During that time he has been heard on international radio broadcasts, seen on the BRAVO network, received the 2010 INDIE award for best classical ensemble. He has released 3 albums with Quartetto Gelato and 2 solo albums and has been a guest lecturer/recitalist at universities in Canada, US, Mexico and Bahamas.

Outside of being a musician, Colin has also worked for over 20 years as a dancer, actor, stuntman, singer, choreographer, acrobat and martial-artist. Colin had the honor of playing the devil fiddler in the flying blue canoe for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies.” Colin had also been seen in; “Lord of the Rings” (Mirvish), Fire (CanStage), “Forbidden Phoenix” (LKTYP), “KA” (Cirque du Soleil), “Amadeus” (Alberta Theatre Projects), “That Dance Show” (Saltance Productions), “Cats” (Neptune Theatre), Joseph’s Dreamcoat (StageWest/Drayton), “A Chorus Line” (StageWest), Sarah Brightman’s World Tour, and TV’s “Honey I Shrunk the Kids!”.

This combination of music and theatre is quite unique and he continues to find new, exciting and ground breaking ways to combine his two passions.

Colin will be appearing in RADAR and Contraries: a chamber requiem as part of a presentation of Unsettled Scores at Celebration of Nations on September 7 starting at 7:30PM at FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

Tickets are $5 for high school students, $20 for adults, and can be booked by visiting the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre website.