past events
Ye elves
July 17-22, 2024 | Vancouver Playhouse
A performance of Ye elves during Music on Main's The Tempest Project.
Performed by Aram Bajakian, guitar; Paolo Bortolussi, flute; Julia Chien, percussion; Dailin Hsieh, zheng; Saina Khaledi, santour; Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, piano; Jonathan Lo, cello; Julia Ulehla, vocals; with spoken text by Prevail and David Pay.
Originally commissioned by Music on Main
Kindertotenlieder
August 3, 2023 | Helsingin Ritarihuone, Helsinki, Finland
A performance of the arrangement of Gustav Mahler's Kindertotenlieder at Kamarikesä, Helsinki's Summer Music Chamber Festival featuring soprano Aurora Marthensia.
Performed by Aurora Marthensia (voice), Enna Puhakka (flute), Klaara Vasara (clarinet), Tim Crawford (violin), Annariina Jokela (viola), and Saima Malmivaara (cello).
Originally commissioned by Nu:BC Collective
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 14 & 15, 2022 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver BC
A repeat performance of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, in a programme that included music by Caroline Shaw, Franz Schubert, Robyn Jacob, Rodney Sharman, and J.S. Bach.
Performed by Robyn Jacob (vocals & piano), Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (piano), Asitha Tennekoon (tenor), Jonathan Lo (cello).
Originally commissioned by Music on Main
Sounds of Time & Distance
November 25, 2022 | ASA Records - ASA03
Album release by ASA Records
A new album of music for guitar, electronics and flute, featuring music by Alfredo Santa Ana and Steve Reich's seminal work for electric guitar, Electric Counterpoint.
"...an impressive, beautiful performed and recorded example of where new music for the (mostly) electric guitar is heading in 2022. "
-Tim Brady
Composer / Guitarist / Artistic Director of Bradyworks
Commissions by McGregor-Verdejo Duo, Made in Canada Duo, and Redshift Music
light space
July 7, 2022 | Roundhouse, Vancouver BC
A performance of light space by Driftwood Percussion, presented by Redshift Music Society in partnership with the Canadian Music Centre in BC as the culmination of the R. Murray Schafer Spatial Music Workshop. This free concert invited audience members to walk throughout the space to experience the music from multiple angles.
Other works featured in this concert included pieces by Jocelyn Morlock, Jordan Nobles, and Dubravko Pajalic.
Originally commissioned by Redshift Music in 2012
Ye elves
November 9, 2021 | Roundhouse, Vancouver BC
A performance of Ye elves by The Tempest Ensemble
The world premiere of "Ye elves" during Music on Main's 10th Modulus Festival, a new work for "The Tempest Project", an immersive music event that will premiere in 2024 generously supported by the Royal Bank of Canada as funding partner.
Commissioned by Music on Main
Scratches of the Wind
November 3, 2021 | Redshift Records
Album release by Mark Takeshi McGregor on Redshift Records
A new solo album from from Classical Artist of the Year, 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards, flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor featuring Notgnirrac for solo flute. A continuing exploration of music and identity showcasing international composers who live in, or originate from Pacific Rim countries.
Commissioned by Mark Takeshi McGregor
Nightscape
October 5, 2021 | ASA Records - ASA01
An album of dark chamber-like electronic music miniatures featuring poetry and spoken word by Alfredo Gonzalez Bouret, Colin Browne, Alisen Santa Ana, and the 2014 Los Angeles poet laureate Luis J. Rodriguez.
"Nightscape is a visionary piece, in orbit on a journey unknown..."
Chloey Hoy, The Permanent Rain Press
"moody and gripping...a dynamic and highly palatable story, which nicely breaks expectation regularly."
Michael Red - sounds / la fe / chambers / low indigo
Available on most streaming platforms: here
The River of Hellos and Goodbyes
April 30, 2021 | digital broadcast
A performance of The River of Hellos and Goodbyes by musica intima
Presented by musica intima, "the beginning of song" was a digital broadcast featuring works by Germaine Konji, Ann-Sofi Söderqvist, Kathleen Allan, Veljo Tormis, Leslie Uyeda, Michael Oesterle, and Maja Ratkje. A concert about connection and isolation, about distance and intimacy; about longing for closeness — and how these themes intertwine despite physical limitations.
Commissioned by musica intima
Notgnirrac
October 6-11, 2020 | Vancity Lab at The Cultch, Vancouver BC
A performance of Notgnirrac for solo flute by Mark Takeshi McGregor.
Presented by Music on Main's As dreams are made and inspired by the magic of musicians in live performance, this 15-minute production was created specifically for one audience member and one performer to connect safely in an immersive environment that is at once intimate and comforting, inventive and dreamlike.
Commissioned by Mark Takeshi McGregor with support from the Canada Council for the Arts
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 11 & 12, 2019 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver BC
A repeat performance of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, in a programme that included music by Rodney Sharman, Caroline Shaw, Gabriel Kahane and Arvo Pärt.
Performed by Caroline Shaw (violin), Gabriel Kahane (voice), and Rachel Iwaasa (piano)
Commissioned by Music on Main
Notgnirrac
November 22, 2019 | Museo Leonora Carrington, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
The Mexican premiere of Notgnirrac. Performed by Mark Takeshi McGregor at the Museo Leonora Carrington in San Luis Potosí, Mexico.
Commissioned by Mark Takeshi McGregor with support from the Canada Council for the Arts
Notgnirrac
April 26, 2019 | Orpheum Annex, Vancouver BC
The world premiere of Notgnirrac. Performed by Mark Takeshi McGregor in a programme that included music featuring composers from the Pacific Rim for his project "Lutalica"
Commissioned by Mark Takeshi McGregor with support from the Canada Council for the Arts
The River of Hellos and Goodbyes
April 12, 2019 | St. James Community Centre, Vancouver BC
The world premiere of The River of Hellos and Goodbyes, featured in musica intima's CRIES, a programme that included music by Jocelyn Morlock, Arvo Pärt, Knut Nystedt, and Pavel Chesnokov.
Commissioned by musica intima
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 19 & 20, 2018 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver
A repeat performance of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, featuring Corey Payette and a programme that included his works along with music by Jocelyn Morlock, Jennifer Butler, Nicole Lizée and Caroline Shaw. Performed by Corey Payette (voice), Julie McIsaac (voice), Rachel Iwaasa (piano), and Karen Gerbrecht (violin).
Commissioned by Music on Main
Music for a Night in May
May 4, 2018 | Vancouver East Cultural Centre, Vancouver BC
A one-night only event of luminous music for words and string quartet. Music by Alfredo Santa Ana & Words by Colin Browne. The world premiere of NIGHT SONNETS, PETAL, and ENTR'ACTE
Performed by Carla Huhtanen (voice), Colin Browne (reader), Nicholas Wright (violin), Karen Gerbrecht (violin), Andrew Brown (viola), and Olivia Blander (cello)
Under An Orange Sky
November 7, 2018 | Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver BC
The premiere of Under An Orange Sky in a production by Redshift Music as part of the ISCM World New Music Days 2017. A premiere and performance that included works by Tim Brady, James Maxwell, Lisa Miller, Jordan Nobles, Benton Roark, and Rita Ueda.
Commissioned by Redshift Music Society with support from the Canada Council for the Arts and the BC Arts Council
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 15 & 16, 2016 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver
A repeat performance of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, in a programme that included works by Rodney Sharman, Nicole Lizeé, Veda Hille, and Music on Main’s Composer In Residence Caroline Shaw.
Originally commissioned by Music on Main in 2014
Ocaso
November 26 & 28, 2016 | Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver BC
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performed Ocaso, Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3, and Sibelius's Symphony No. 5 conducted by Anu Tali.
Commissioned by NYO Canada

100 Very Good Reasons Why ____
November 6, 2016 | Roundhouse Community Centre, Vancouver BC
Performer in Tim Brady's piece for 100 guitars honouring the legendary player Les Paul. Presented by Music on Main during their 2016 Modulus Festival.
Guitar performance
I should bring them water
May 28, 2016 | Orpheum Annex, Vancouver BC
A program focusing on music for voices and percussion that will include I should bring them water, a piece written in collaboration with Michael Springate that pays tribute to the 1980 popular uprising in Gwangju, South Korea.
Commissioned by Tom Cone's Opera Project
O Superman
April 17, 2016 | Orpheum Annex, Vancouver BC
A performance of my arrangement of Laurie Anderson's O Superman at the Orpheum Annex. Performed by Standing Wave Ensemble & Veda Hille.
Watch a video of the performance here.
Commissioned by Standing Wave Ensemble
Kindertotenlieder
March 9, 2016 | UBC School of Music, Vancouver BC
A performance of my arrangement of Mahler's Kindertotenleder at the UBC School of Music. Performed by the Nu:BC Collective; & mezzo-soprano Kristin Hoff, along with Cris Inguanti, clarinet; Marcus Takizawa, viola, and Edmund Chung, violin.
Commissioned by Nu:BC Collective
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 11, 2015 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver
A repeat performance of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, in a programme that included works by James Maxwell, Ann Southam, and Music on Main’s Composer In Residence Caroline Shaw.
Commissioned by Music on Main
Ocaso
August 3-10, 2015 | Montréal, Vancouver, Edmonton
In 2015 the NYO Canada put together a programme of massive orchestral pieces including Ocaso, and Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances, Strauss's, Don Quixote, Holst's Planets, and a new work by fellow Canadian composer Emilie LeBel.
Commissioned by NYO Canada with support from the Canada Council for the Arts
Seven For Six
May 17, 2015 | Pyatt Hall, Vancouver BC
World premiere of Seven For Six in "Towards Chaos" a concert of contemporary chamber music infused by thrash metal, horror movies, and obsessive behaviour. Towards Chaos featured music by Nicole Lizée, Edward Top, Gordon Fitzell, Philip Glass, and Alfredo Santa Ana.
Commissioned by Standing Wave Ensemble
A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year
December 12, 2014 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver
World premiere of A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year, in a programme that included works by Arvo Pärt, Franz Schubert, Claude Debussy, Caroline Lizotte, Alfredo Santa Ana, and Music on Main’s Composer In Residence Caroline Shaw –winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Performed by Caroline Shaw (voice/violin), Steve Maddock (voice), Rachel Iwaasa (piano), Ariel Barnes (cello), and Heidi Krutzen (harp).
Commissioned by Music on Main
For Pity Divine
July17-20, 2014 | The Cultch, Vancouver BC
Music on Main presents "The Orpheus Project". An immersive journey filled witg musical and theatrical intrigue
Performance of For Pity Divine, with text by Colin Browne, was performed by Patti Allan (host), Veda Hille (piano/voice), Carla Huhtanen (soprano), Steve Maddock (baritone), Laura Barron (flutes), Mark Takeshi McGregor (flutes), Christopher Bagan (harpsichord), Matthew Davies (viola), Rebecca Wenham (cello).
Commissioned by Music on Main
Wall Soundscape 1
November 1, 2012 | Sheraton Wall Centre Plaza, Vancouver BC
A public intersection between music and dance, art and urban space, this outdoor experimental presentation re-imagined the way we engage with the performing arts. Performed by a 12-piece brass band conducted by Alexander Cannon with dancers from Arts Umbrella Dance Company choreographed by Emily Molnar.
Watch a video of this event here.
Commissioned by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at UBC
On Fairness
October 25, 2012 | The Roundhouse Community Centre, Vancouver BC
Fairness in Financial Markets Dance & Dialogue, featured a lecture on unfairness in the wake of the global financial crisis by the Institute's Director, Dr. Janis Sarra. The event includes a live performance by world renowned dancer, Margie Gillis, with music by Wall Composer In Residence, Alfredo Santa Ana.
Commissioned by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies at UBC
I should bring them water
September 22, 2012 | Vancouver BC
Initiated in 2011 by the late Tom Cone, this project brought together composers and librettists to collaborate and create short operas with a focus on contemporary issues and ideas. I should bring them water premiered as a 10-minute opera created with a libretto by Michael Springate, featuring sopranos Siri Olesen & Melanie Adams, and percussionist Martin Fisk.
Commissioned by Tom Cone's Opera Project
Produced by Colin Browne, Karen Matthews, David Pay, and Carol Yaple
Eleven Dialogues
May 17, 2012 | UBC Institute for Computing, Information and Cognitive Systems Atrium, Vancouver BC
As Wall Composer In Residence, Alfredo Santa Ana presents a concert/talk with David Gillham & Rebecca Wenham o n his work Eleven Dialogues for violin and cello.
Original commission by the Karen Gerbrecht & Olivia Blander
F.C. after François Couperin
March 20, 2012 | The Cellar Jazz Bar, Vancouver BC
World premiere of F.C. for harpsichord and flute. Performing baroque music and new Canadian works written especially for them, flutist Mark Takeshi McGregor and keyboardist Christopher Bagan commissioned new music by composers Jocelyn Morlock, Cassandra Miller, and Edward Top.
Commissioned by the Mark Takeshi McGregor & Chris Bagan
On Fairness
January 19, 2012 | Sheraton Wall Centre
A talk by dancer and choreagrapher Margie Gillis, 2011 Laureate of the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards for Lifetime Artistic Achievement; and a performance of Alfredo Santa Ana's new work On Fairness as the inaugural Peter Wall Composer in Residence.
Commissioned by the Peter Wall Institute of Advanced Studies at UBC
Borrar de la Memoria
October 13-17, 2011 | Morelia International Film Festival, Morelia, Michoacán - México
World premiere of the feature-length film Borrar de la Memoria, directed by legendary Mexican director Alfredo Gurrola with an original score by Alfredo Santa Ana.
Watch all of Jamie Travis's short films on his Vimeo channel here
Short film retrospective
August 16, 2011 | Cineplex Odeon, Vancouver BC
Presented by the Queer Film Festival & UBC Alumni Affairs, "Parallel Lives: A Jamie Travis Retrospective" was a presentation of the filmmakers work, showcasing 4 short films scored by Alfredo Santa Ana.
Watch all of Jamie Travis's short films on his Vimeo channel here
Through the Burrow
June 23-29, 2011 | National Arts Centre, Ann Southam Hall, Ottawa ON
World premiere of Through the Burrow during the National Arts Centre's Summer Institute Composers Programme. Gary Kulesha, Peter Paul Kaprowski, and Colin Matthews composer advisers.
Performed by the Orchestre de la Francophonie with Jean-Philippe Tremblay, cond.
On The Bridge
January 23-25, 2011 | Heritage Hall, Vancouver BC
Presented by Music on Main during the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, Terminal City Soundscape included the world premiere of On The Bridge, as part of All, a live film/music installation directed by Mina Shum. Watch a short video on the production of this project here.