“Ecclesia” combines the warmth of brass choir with the grace of ballet dancers. Canadian National Brass Project member Patricia Evans was on Morning Light! 

In partnership with Alberta Ballet, the Canadian National Brass Project’s (CNBP) latest digital release pays homage and thanks to all the frontline workers whose efforts have been tireless through the Covid-19 pandemic. 

“I found it so moving,” says CNMP member Patricia Evans, who also serves as principal horn of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Bringing together some of the nation’s finest brass players, the CNBP was founded in 2015 by renowned horn soloist and conductor James Sommerville.

Having performed with the CNBP since its inception, Evans notes the opportunity to perform with the brass supergroup is “so awesome.” 

“I knew most of the people in the ensemble going into it,” explains Evans. “Canada is a pretty small world musically — a lot of us went to school together and went to festivals together.”  

After being approached by Alberta Ballet, CNBP members recorded each of their parts locally in a stunning arrangement of Morten Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” for brass choir. A self-proclaimed ballet “fangirl”, the project was welcomed by Evans, who notes that it was one of the first opportunities for CNBP to perform since the start of the pandemic. 

Learn more about the Canadian National Brass Project in the full interview with Patricia Evans below, including: how many WSO musicians have been/are members of the CNBP; how a cross-country ensemble rehearses; and whether Evans prefers the original choral version or the brass choir arrangement of Lauridsen’s beautiful work. (SPOILER: you can probably guess which she picks!)