Profundi Sonori

Two instruments with deep, enveloping sonorities—the cello and the double bass—come together for an extraordinary evening. Through duos and solos, this program highlights the complementarity of these instruments, capable of both remarkable power and refined expressivity.

Works by Haydn, Schnittke, and Weinberg are paired with recent works, offering a bold exploration of timbres and textures. Classical refinement, contemporary intensity, and sonic discoveries will be at the heart of this concert.

Both longtime teachers at the Orford Music Academy, Brian Manker and Ali Kian Yazdanfar share a rare artistic rapport that fuels this unique dialogue. Their rhythmic precision and technical fluidity promise a captivating encounter, combining depth, nuance, and imagination.

Repertoire

Artists

Brian Manker
Principal Cellist of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM) since 1999, Brian Manker leads a rich and varied musical career as both a performer and educator. In addition to frequent solo appearances with the OSM, Brian was a member of the Opus and Juno Award-winning New Orford String Quartet from 2009 to 2025, performing across Canada and the United States.

Currently an Associate Professor at the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, Brian is a highly sought-after teacher. In 2022, he was honored as “Teacher of the Year” in the music department. Each summer, he also gives master classes at the Orford Music Academy.

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Ali Kian Yazdanfar
Ali Kian Yazdanfar maintains an active career not only as Principal Double Bass of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal but also as a soloist, chamber musician, and pedagogue.

Although he began playing the bass at the age of seven, his interest in science and mathematics led him to earn a degree in physics from Johns Hopkins University. Immediately after graduating, he won his first audition and joined the Houston Symphony. He went on to win three subsequent auditions — for the National Symphony in Washington, D.C., for Principal Bass with the San Francisco Symphony, and for Principal Bass with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, where he currently performs.

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