Fusion 5

Fusion 5

Fusion 5. Chamber ensemble formed in the summer of 1980 by participants in the Advanced Studies in Music Winter Cycle program at the Banff SFA. Common interests in the performance of contemporary music led composer and pianist Robert J. Rosen, clarinetist and vocalist Deborah Rosen, and pianist Bernadette McDonald to form the group with percussionist and composer Greg Murray and percussionist Judith Murray. In the fall of 1980, the group became the official new music cell in the Banff Centre's Winter Cycle program. Its first performance 25 Sep 1980 at Banff included the premieres of two new works, Rosen's Meditation No. 3: 'Pulsations II' and Murray's Away from Home:A Chance of Music. In October 1980, the group toured Alberta, British Columbia, and Washington State, giving workshops and performances. Other tours followed, including a trip to Windsor, Ont to participate in the 30th anniversary celebrations of the CLComp (11-14 Jun 1981). The two programs presented in Windsor included premiers of two commissioned works, Kinesis by Allan Bell and Kiwani Owapi by Allan Rae. Concerts at Simon Fraser University in September 1981 also included the premieres of two new works, A Piece for Friends by Murray and Krikos by Rosen. While in Vancouver, Fusion 5 was taped for broadcast on CBC radio.

In October 1981 Robert and Deborah Rosen left Fusion 5 and pianist Michael Century joined the group. After another busy concert season, the group disbanded in the spring of 1982.