Chris Norman Ensemble April 24, 2010

The Chris Norman Ensemble brings to life the energetic traditional dance music of Maritime Canada, Scotland, & Ireland with an emphasis on exploring points of contact with the music's roots in 16th-19th century Europe. The Ensemble's programs combine originality, intelligence, fun, and sheer mastery that have won them respect from audiences, presenters, and colleagues alike in North America, Europe and Asia.

At the heart of the group is Chris Norman, who's brilliant and imaginative flute playing has contributed to groups as diverse as the The Baltimore Consort, Skyedance, Helicon, Chatham Baroque, Concerto Caledonia, as well as Hollywood soundtracks and seven solo recordings. His influential work as a performer, composer, recording artist, educator, and director of the Boxwood Festival & Workshop has played a significant role in reviving the flute in traditional Scottish and Canadian music.

The Ensemble's extraordinary range runs the gamut from dynamic performances headlining international folk festivals to programs for some of North America's most prestigious chamber and early music societies and universities. With flutes, pipes, guitar, mandolin, mandola, harmonium, bass, percussion, drums & vocals, the Ensemble reaches across five centuries of traditional, renaissance and baroque music with a range of energetic programs. Education and public service is at the core of the group's values, and they regularly incorporate workshops, school programs, and community outreach into their tours.
Kris SAEBO

Bassist Kristoffer Saebo is a versatile soloist, bass guitarist, chamber and orchestral musician. He performs regularly with Grammy Award-Winner Paul Halley; Kilterclash; and the Alaskan Native Band Pamuya, with whom he showcased at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. In January 2007, Kris became an inaugural fellow of The Academy - A Program of Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School and The Weill Music Institute. He is also a member of I Palpiti, the Chamber Orchestra of Young Artists International, with whom in 2005-6 he toured Israel, Europe and the United States. Mr. Saebo has performed contemporary music with such groups as Alarm Will Sound and Anechoic Chamber Ensemble. Born in Australia, Mr. Saebo has lived most of his life in the United States. Kris holds a BM and an MM from The Juilliard School.
Nick HALLEY

Nick Halley grew up at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where his father, Paul Halley was Director of Music. He studied music at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, majoring in jazz and classical percussion. Two years later he took off for Brazil where he spent a year immersed in the great tradition of Brazilian rhythm, studying with Márçio Bahia, Pedro Lima, Oscar Bolão, and playing with Viradouro, one of Rio's top samba schools. Nick then returned to New York City to attend The New School University's jazz and contemporary music program, where he studied with Amir Ziv, Billy Hart, and Jamey Haddad, and played with a host of young artists in New York's ever-evolving jazz scene. Nick currently bases himself out of Halifax, NS where he is assistant organist at St. Mary's University Chapel. He tours and records with groups ranging in style from traditional Scottish and Irish to gospel, jazz, Brazilian and popular music. In addition to The Chris Norman Ensemble, Nick is in numerous Paul Halley ensembles, a duo with César Alvarez, and his own recently-formed, surprisingly-named, Nick Halley Group, which recently released a CD, Barnum Hill.
Andy THURSTON

Andy is a mainstay in the East Coast traditional music scene and has accompanied many of the area's most renowned musicians. Andy has a BA in classical guitar from Towson State University and has taught guitar at Catonsville Community College for 25 years. Well versed in a variety of styles, he infuses elements of jazz and swing guitar into the music of Ireland, Scotland, Quebec & Maritime Canada, and plays music of the 18th century on the wire strung baroque guitar: the chitarre battente.