Wellington, Prince Edward County, April 14th, 2025 – Johannes Debus (Co-founder and Artistic Director) and Elissa Lee (Co-founder and Executive Director) of BIGLAKE are thrilled to announce their exciting Summer Season, once again bringing internationally acclaimed and interdisciplinary artists from across the globe to Prince Edward County. 

The season officially launches on July 26 with an inventive nod to the silent film era, and will close with the highly anticipated annual festival – this year called HIDDEN GEMS, which runs from August 15-23. This year also marks the fifth year anniversary of this beloved annual music festival. Tickets are on sale on April 26 at: www.biglakearts.com.

SPECIAL SCREENING EVENT | JULY 26TH:

The season kicks off on July 26th on an entertaining high note by celebrating Buster Keaton’s classic silent comedy, The General in SILENT MOVIE IN THE BARN. Not only will this film be screened in its original 35mm format, it will be accompanied by the remarkable award-winning Ilya Poletaev who will masterfully improvise a soundtrack on piano. This unique one-of-a-kind experience is a fundraising event, and limited tickets are available.

HIDDEN GEMS MUSIC FESTIVAL | AUGUST 15-23

“This year’s festival theme is HIDDEN GEMS,” says Elissa Lee, Co-founder and Executive Director. “We’ve curated a dazzling lineup of immersive musical experiences—from fresh interpretations of beloved classics to striking contemporary works, all woven together with stunning, lesser-known treasures. We can’t wait for audiences to uncover the magic of ‘new’ music drawn from a rich and storied past.”

The festival launches with the aptly-named, HIDDEN GEMS, on August 15th featuring legendary Canadian pianist, Christina Petrowska Quillco, recent recipient of the Order of Canada. She will perform a delightful selection of hidden gems that celebrate works by accomplished female composters along with brilliant unknown works with a jazz influence.

Other captivating festival highlights include:

• COMMUNITY JAM – Members of the community will be invited to Wellington Rotary Park to join in a public performance of a fun improvisational piece called In Sea together with SHHH!! Ensemble and musicians Annelise Noronha, Sandro Perri, Alex Whyte and Diana Lam.

 

• Due to popular demand, the marathon is back! Only this year, the day-long HIDDEN GEMS MARATHON will delve deeply into the remarkable worlds of Dohnányi, Enescu and Hahn to learn about what influenced their magnificent work. Featuring Ensemble Made in Canada (Elissa Lee, Trey Lee and Philip Chiu with guest violist  from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Sebastian Krunnies), Mihaela Martin, Ilya Poletaev, Alain Coulombe and Johannes Debus.

 

• Also back by popular demand is the CANDLELIGHT CONCERT: STARRY NIGHT. This remarkable musical experience is set in a historical barn and will be performed by SHHH! Ensemble (Zac Pulak and Edana Higham) who will take us on a journey through a dreamscape of beautiful and unexpected sounds, reflecting on the night sky evoking a sense of wonder at the vastness of space. 

 

• Jazz Enthusiasts this year will be treated to the Juno award-winning AVATAAR, led by renowned saxophonist Sundar Viswanathan, whose work is inspired by the deep musical traditions of India, African and Brazil and rooted within the framework of modern Jazz.

 

• World-renowned artist, multi-instrumentalist and Indigenous Knowledge keeper, DAVID R. MARACLE (Tehanenia’kwe:tarons) of the Bear Clan, will share inspiring and captivating messages by expressing the sounds of animal life and elements of the indigenous forest through his remarkable musical style of indigenous fusion.

 

• Prepare to stomp your feet along with the electrifying foursome known as THE FRETLESS & MADELEINE ROGERS. Trent Freeman, Karrnnel Sawitsky, Ben Plotnick and Eric Wright (AKA The Fretless) will be joined by singer Madeleine Rogers as they transform fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, multi-layered arrangements with an exciting and distinctive contemporary percussive sound. This is Biglake’s first co-production with The Regent Theatre.

 

• The exceptionally talented CHENG² DUO — cellist Bryan Cheng, performing on the remarkable 1696 “Bonjour” Stradivari (on generous loan from the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank), and pianist Silvie Cheng —return to BIGLAKE as part of the 5th anniversary celebration. Their stunning program unveils hidden gems by Ravel, Falla, and Tsintsadze, juxtaposed with popular works by Debussy and Shostakovich, promising an unforgettable musical experience.

 

• It’s a party – Viennese Style! Come out and raise a glass with Elissa, Johannes and the 16 piece BIGLAKE Chamber Ensemble to wish BIGLAKE a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY! – an opportunity to celebrate five years of curating exceptional music experiences here in beautiful Prince Edward County with colourful party music from the 18th century.  

 

The summer season will conclude with OCTETS, what will surely be an unforgettable evening featuring eight incredibly talented artists performing exceptional gems composed by Enescu and Mendelssohn in their youth. 

For the full festival lineup, click HERE.

This year’s list of attending artists includes:

Ilya Poletaev, Christina Petrowska Quilico, Annelise Noronha, Sandro Perri, Alex Whyte, Diana Lam, Zac Pulak, Edana Higham, Elissa Lee, Sebastian Krunnies, Trey Lee, Philip Chiu, Mihaela Martin, Ilya Poletaev, Mihaela Martin, Alain Coulombe, Johannes Debus, Sundar Viswanathan, Bryan Cheng, Silvie Cheng, David Maracle, Trent Freeman, Karrnnel Sawitsky, Ben Plotnick, Eric Wright, Madeleine Rogers, Blues Zhang, Sophie Leung and Helen Yu.

Tickets for BIGLAKE Summer Season are available as of April 26th at www.biglakearts.com and bundle pricing is available. 

For more information and to view the full schedule of events, please visit www.biglakearts.com

About BIGLAKE: 

A dynamic cultural institution co-founded and co-directed by Johannes Debus, critically acclaimed and esteemed Music Director for the Canadian Opera Company and Juno Award-winning and internationally renowned violinist, Elissa Lee. Through diverse programming and year-round initiatives – BIGLAKE fuses tradition and innovation by weaving a variety of musical genres, cultural influences and modern elements to curate unique, diverse and intimate musical experiences in Wellington, Prince Edward County, Canada.