Nancy DiNovo
A former member of the St. Louis, Toronto and Boston Symphony Orchestras and founding concertmaster of the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, violinist Nancy DiNovo is comfortable in styles ranging from period to contemporary. Her playing has been described as “stunning – a superlative mix of virtuosity and earthy vigour” (Victoria Times Colonist), and “simply astonishing……her sheer joy of revelling in the music left me dazzled.” (Hamilton Spectator- Brott Festival, June, 2015)
In a career spanning decades, Nancy has performed in the world’s major concert halls on three continents, working with conductors such as Leonard Bernstein, Sir Colin Davis, Karel Ancerl, James Levine, Sir Neville Marriner, and Christopher Hogwood. Her many concerto credits include the Banff and Victoria premières of the Kurt Weill Violin Concerto, and she has premièred a number of Canadian works written especially for her, including the Barnes Violin Concerto with Sir Neville Marriner conducting, Walter Buczynski’s Sonata (1975) for CBC Arts National, and Frykberg’s “Astonishing Sense….” (1998) for solo violin and tape. In 2015, she made her debut at the Brott Festival to critical acclaim.
As guest concertmaster, she has appeared with the Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Kitchener-Waterloo, Edmonton and Victoria Symphonies, CBC Radio Orchestra, “Music of the Night” cross-Canada tour, and Pacific Opera Victoria where she has led operas in styles ranging from period instrument Handel to Berg’s “Wozzeck”. As a Baroque violinist, she is a popular leader with several of BC’s finest choral conductors, including Lars Kaario (Laudate Singers and Capilano University) and Leroy Wiens of the Okanagan Festival Singers.
In demand as a pedagogue, Ms. DiNovo has taught at Tanglewood, the Marrowstone Festival, Western Washington University, UBC, U Vic, Capilano University, and as a mentor for Boris Brott’s National Academy Orchestra .Her many recording credits include work for CBC Radio, Earsay Records, the Elektra Women’s Choir, Disney Films, and the 2010 Olympics.
An iconic photo of her taken at a 9/11 memorial service can be seen in on The 60 Most Powerful Photos Ever taken That Perfectly Capture The Human Experience:
Highlights of the 2018/19 include performances of concerti by Walton, Dvorak, and Tchaikovsky. Ms. DiNovo plays on a J.B. Guadagnini made in 1770.