Taking Five Catherine Little & Gregory Myra

• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 - 1943):
• 1 Rachmaninoff: Mélodie on a Theme by Rachmaninoff (Arr. M. Altschuler for Cello & Piano) 05:42
• Gabriel Fauré (1845 - 1924):
• 2 Fauré: 3 Mélodies, Op. 7: No. 1, Après un rêve (Arr. for Cello & Piano) 03:09
• Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 - 1908):
• 3 Rimsky-Korsakov: Serenade in B-Flat Major for Cello & Piano, Op. 37 04:22
• Antonín Dvořák (1841 - 1904):
• 4 Dvořák: From the Bohemian Forest, Op. 68, B. 133: No. 5, Klid, B. 173 05:34
• Felix Mendelssohn (1809 - 1847):
• 5 Mendelssohn: Lied ohne Worte, Op. 109, MWV Q 34 04:48
• Total Runtime 23:35

Info for Taking Five

Cellist Catherine Little is on a mission to build a bridge to classical music with her debut release, Taking Five. The pieces she chose to record have relatable melodies, harmonies and emotional language that is sure to resonate with audiences; they have hooks, are ‘singable', and an inviting warmth. The entire project is a friendly and enticing invitation into the world of classical music, with the hope of leaving audiences asking for more.

Catherine Little, cello
Gregory Myra, piano

Catherine Little
is on a mission to build a bridge to classical music. She is no stranger to other genres- she's played with the likes of rocker Rod Stewart and has recorded pop, folk, blues and rap. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, she's had the advantage of living in a rich song and celtic culture too. This varied exposure has given her a unique perspective on music and audiences. Foremost, she sees that familiarity with music promotes understanding and appreciation. As such, she is deliberate about her repertoire choices, and presenting educational and informative classical performances. Duly aware that the work of a great composer interpreted by a fine performer can touch people on the deepest level, Catherine has spent a lifetime honing her craft as a cellist in order to bring audiences her very best.

Catherine has an Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University (2007), and a Master’s in Music Performance from the Université de Montréal (2010). Her university studies covered the history, theory and interpretation of western classical music, as well as practical experience playing for auditions, orchestras, chamber music groups and solo recitals.

Catherine has performed with the cello sections of The National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Montreal's Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia under conductors Yoav Talmi, Lorraine Vaillancourt, Bernhard Gueller, and Baldur Brönnimann.

Catherine was the solo “pit” cellist for seven musicals at Halifax's Neptune Theatre and has played on stage with pop acts like Jenn Grant and Il Divo. Between 2012 and 2020, she gave numerous classical string duo, quartet and piano trio concerts.Other projects of note include performing as a cello duo for Phin Dance’s The Grand Hotel in 2013, and in 2016, The Bells of Baddeck, A Music Drama, and Handel’s baroque opera, Rodelinda (Halifax Opera Festival). Catherine’s cello playing can be heard on the following recordings: The Baroque N’ Fiddle String Quartet’s album Buttermilk Mary (2012), Czardas, from Big Turnips, Vol. 2, with violinist/fiddler Anna Wedlock (2018), Terra Spencer’s In the City (2018), the Orchestrated Neighbours project with the Bela String Quartet (2019), Ryan MacGrath’s Hearth and Home (2019), and Joyful Talk’s Pixelated Skin (2020).

Gregory Myra
After graduating from Dalhousie with a Bachelor of Music in performance, Greg Myra worked in the department as a staff pianist primarily for the voice studio of Lucy Hayes-Davis. Mr. Myra has performed with Opera Nova Scotia (Massenet's Don Quichotte), and has been the music director for Die Zauberflöte and Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream with Halifax Summer Opera Workshop. He has also served as a repetiteur and coach for the Contemporary Opera Lab at the University of Manitoba, where he earned a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano.

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