Gold Winner Blue Engine String Quartet
Silver Winner Symphony Nova Scotia
Bronze Winner Rhapsody Quintet The Gold and Silver awards in this category are more or less linked, as the Blue Engine String Quartet’s “day job” is playing in Symphony Nova Scotia. “As Blue Engine, we’ve been part of Halifax’s amazing music scene going on 17 years–playing many of the ‘heavy’ masterpieces of the classical repertoire,” says Anne Simons, violinist. That includes premiering works by the likes of Peter Togni, Tony Genge, Emily Doolittle and John Plant, as well as “creating string tracks for local stars like Jenn Grant, Meaghan Smith, Mary Jane Lamond and The Heavy Blinkers, and even backing Michael Bublé at the 2006 Junos.” Blue Engine’s Leonard Cohen tribute album, If It Be Your Will, prompted the man himself to recognize their greatness thusly: “My dear colleagues, thank you for this sublime gift.” Hear the Cohen magic for yourself at Blue Engine’s upcoming September 20 and 21 shows.