Described as creating a “mesmerizing musical experience” by combining his “deep personal connection” (Toronto Live Music Report), “luscious tone and technical prowess”(The Vancouver Sun), Ariel Barnes has been hailed as “Truly an inspiring artist…the outstanding Canadian Cellist of his generation” (Maestro Bramwell Tovey). His international concert engagements include concerto appearances, chamber music collaborations, solo recitals and world premiers of contemporary art music. As both a celebrated performer and recording artist, Ariel is often broadcast by CBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3, and was selected as one of 6 cellists across Canada as a featured artist in CBC Radio’s Canadian Bach Cello Suite Project. Inspired by the innovative and unique compositional voices of our time, he is engaged in creating art music written by those such as Jocelyn Morlock, Ana Sokolovic, Glenn Buhr, James Maxwell, Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Brett Dean, and Dorothy Chang. Ariel has received generous project support from the British Columbia Arts Council, Manitoba Arts Council, and Canada Council for the Arts, most notably as a winner of the 2012 Canada Council Instrument Bank Competition. The breadth of his musical interests and abilities have led to collaborations with artists such as Patrick Watson and The Tragically Hip to Baroque specialist Elizabeth Wallfisch and maverick harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani.  Nourished by his experience in all major genres, Ariel’s natural musicianship is recognized in his collaboration with musicians throughout the world.

 

Passionate about chamber music literature, Ariel finds this genre at the core of his nourishment as an artist. His chamber music partners include the Zodiac Trio, Dover String Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, members of the Attacka String Quartet, Musica Intima and Trio Verlaine, among many others.  He is a frequent guest at the Saronic Chamber Music Festival (Greece) Ottawa Chamberfest, Montreal Chamber Music Festival, Victoria Summer Music Festival (Canada), The Zodiac Music Festival and Academy (France), and Scotiabank Northern Lights Music Festival (Mexico). Along with Harpist Heidi Krutzen, Ariel forms COULOIR, a cello/harp duo dedicated to developing 21st Century Art Music for this clourful and evocative combination of instruments (www.couloir.ca). To learn more about Ariel, visit www.ariel-barnes.com.