Nancy Watt is gearing up for the 16th edition of St. Albert Chamber Music Society’s season.
“I like to call it our Sweet Sixteen. We’ve transitioned from childhood pains to a celebration of our maturity,” said Watt, founder and artistic director of the music society.
The 2025-26 season, which starts in October, consists of five concerts that cut through a wide swath of periods, genres, instruments and moods.
“This could be our most eclectic collection of concerts we’ve put together. I always try to diversify and bring different groups of instruments, but this year it feels more varied than usual,” said Watt.
She personally curates each concert and reaches out to the most-sought-after and established regional ensembles alongside the more unfamiliar.
Launching the season on Oct. 5 is Cinema Café starring Laura Veeze (violin), Meran Currie-Roberts (cello) and Sarah Ho (piano). All have performed on the international stage. Veeze is a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician who founded the Garneau String Quartet.
Currie-Roberts is a member of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, while Ho is a soloist, ensemble player and founding member of the Edmonton Recital Society.
“They feature music from movies and TV. It will still be classical music by contemporary composers, but it will be a concert of light colours,” Watt said.
A sampling of Cinema Café’s music from movies and TV range from Bridgerton, Amélie, and Paradiso to Memoirs of a Geisha and La La Land.
“Some are a little bit older, but they are still beautiful soundtracks, and I’m excited to hear them as chamber music,” she said.
About six weeks later, on Nov. 23, violinist Svitlana Remniakova from Ukraine and classical guitarist Reneé Pérez from Venezuela make their St. Albert debut as Classical Duet. The duo is keenly interested in the works of German composer Joseph Kuffner, as well as the works of Italian composers Nicolo Paganini and Mauro Giuliani.
“It’s been some time since we featured a classical guitar," Watt said. "They enjoy playing music from the classical and romantic period. And they’ll probably be throwing in some music from their birthplace.”
The Garneau String Quartet, sporting four of the region’s most accomplished musicians, kicks off the New Year on Jan. 18, 2026. Laura Veeze returns with ESO violinist Robert Uchida, violist Keith Hamm and ESO cellist Julie Hereish.
“The quartet is the resident ensemble at MacEwan University, and they perform regularly as faculty. They’ve been difficult to get in the past. Not all are in the position of performing regularly together, as they also teach and mentor students.”
Garneau String Quartet plays classical Baroque to contemporary music. At this concert, they are introducing pianist Meagan Milatz, winner of the prestigious Mécénat Musica Prix Goyer and the 2024 Prix Opus “Discovery of the Year” Award.
“Meagan is a rising star in Canada and on the international scene," Watt said. "She has played across Canada and we’re very excited to have her calibre play with Garneau Strings. This is going to be a showpiece concert.”
Mysterium Duo, starring accordionists Sir N. Antonio Peruch and Penny Sanborn, play on March 8. Peruch is a distinguished international classical accordionist, concert soloist and chamber musician. Sanborn holds a master's degree in music from the University of Calgary.
“We’ve never had two accordions and I’m excited to hear them play," Watt said.
Closing the season on May 3 is Duo Avanti, composed of husband and wife pianists Todd Yaniw and Petya Stavreva.
“Todd was a student of Michael Massey and debuted at the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra when he was 13," Watt said. "He left at age 16 to study at the Glenn Gould School in Toronto. He went on to study and obtained his doctorate. Petya also has a doctorate, and they operate a busy piano studio in Akinsdale. This is a bit of a homecoming for Todd.”
All concerts take place at St. Albert United Church on a Sunday at 3 p.m. Individual tickets are adult $40, senior $35, student $15. Subscription prices are adult $160, senior $140 and student $60. Tickets are available through Musée Héritage Museum or online at eventbrite.ca.
