About

Leading up to the Boxwood Festival, Musique Royale welcomes you to an evening of traditional music featuring wooden flute virtuoso and Boxwood Festival’s founder and director, Chris Norman and who will be joined by the fabulous multi-instrumentalist Rennie Pearson. The concert takes place at Cecilia’s Retreat in Mahone Bay overlooking a magnificent view of Maders Cove on Friday July 24 at 5 pm.

About the artists

Chris Norman

Powered by his love and mastery of the simple wooden flute, Chris Norman has gained an international profile over the past three decades via his critically praised work as a performer, composer, teacher, flute-maker and builder of a musical community.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Chris developed an early passion for traditional Maritime, Celtic and French Canadian music. As a performer and composer, he is a champion and standard-bearer for these forms while simultaneously exploring their boundaries and fusing them with classical styles. The recipient of numerous grants and commissions, Chris has shared his creativity and ingenuity around the world in the form of compositions featured on National Public Radio, the CBC, the BBC, and concert halls from Canada to New Zealand. His composing and playing have also appeared in more than 40 commercially released CDs which range from solo efforts to recordings as part of a duo or ensemble. His recorded work has earned numerous awards, including Indie Awards for best Celtic Album and best Seasonal Album, and a CBC Listeners Choice Awards. He has toured as a solo performer in recitals and with orchestras, as a duo with violinist David Greenberg and with his eponymous group The Chris Norman Ensemble. He has also been a prominent player in international touring ensembles such as Helicon, Skyedance, the Baltimore Consort and Scotland’s Concerto Caledonia.

He is a maker not only of music with the flute, but of flutes themselves, creating bespoke instruments for players worldwide. In this pursuit he has received mentorship from prominent flute-makers Rod Cameron, Robert Bigio and Michael Grinter among others. He is well versed in traditional machining techniques as well as CNC and 3D modeling, and is a talented hand-engraver of his silverwork in a flare-cut style, having studied under master engravers Sam Alfano, Diane Scalese, and Rod Cameron.

He is the driving force behind Boxwood Festivals, whose annual weeklong celebrations of traditional music have taken place in Canada, The USA, Australia and New Zealand, and on-line for the past 26 years. As founder and director of the festival, Chris unites and inspires musicians, teachers, academics, flute-makers and engages a multi-generational, multi-disciplinary community – an achievement that is the subject of a documentary film Scattering of the Stars released in 2017. In recognition of his significant, unique and wide-ranging achievements he was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to the arts in Canada in 2012, and awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa by Dalhousie University in 2015.

Rennie Pearson

Rennie Pearson’s music is deeply rooted in the Celtic traditions of Ireland, Scotland, and Maritime Canada, blending centuries-old melodies with fresh energy and artistry. Whether he’s performing on the wooden flute, guitar, Irish tin whistles, bodhrán, fiddle, or with his voice, his music takes audiences on a journey through history and culture.

His shows feature soaring flute melodies, captivating songs, foot-stomping jigs and reels, and heart-wrenching slow airs. Each performance is a carefully crafted tapestry of tunes, songs, and storytelling, designed to engage and transport listeners to another time and place. Rennie’s ability to transition seamlessly between high-energy tunes and emotive ballads keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, making each performance dynamic and unforgettable.

Rennie is a master performer on a wide array of instruments, showcasing extraordinary talent and versatility in every performance. His seamless command of multiple musical styles captivates audiences, while the heartfelt emotion in his slow airs and songs resonates deeply, creating a powerful and personal connection. Audiences often say they felt transported, with some describing it as a journey back home, while others share how the music awakened a deep connection they hadn’t realized they had before.​

Rennie has made a name for himself in the traditional music scene of Australia and New Zealand as a stand-out solo performer, as well as touring his own duos, bands, and performing with large international stage productions. He has played and taught all over the world, including music schools such as Ceol Aneas, ScotsStrings, CelticANZ, Gaeltacht, The National Celtic Festival, Boxwood, and folk festivals in Auckland, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch, Tasmania, and Port Fairy.

Rennie has worked closely with the New Zealand Irish ambassador, Peter Ryan, on numerous occasions, including performing his show at the Dunedin Fringe Festival with the Irish embassy’s support and organizing two tours with his five-piece Irish band, Criú. He has also toured with renowned Irish dance troupes, including Celtica, Rhythm Of The Dance, and Celtic Illusion, across New Zealand, Australia, and China, as their flute and bodhrán player. These tours have taken him to prestigious venues such as the Melbourne Arts Centre, the Wellington Opera House, the Christchurch Isaac Theatre, and the Bruce Mason Centre in Auckland.

In addition to his performance career, Rennie’s recording accolades include his first album, released in 2020, with Oscar West as the Kiwi folk duo Polytropos. His solo album, From Across the Seas, followed in 2022, and his most recent release, AIR, came out in 2023. AIR is an acoustic EP of all-original tracks for flutes, whistles, and guitar, recorded with Bob McNeill as their duo, Half Light.

Rennie’s collaborations also extend to international recording projects. Most notably, he appeared alongside world-renowned artists such as Yo-Yo Ma on the track “The Fireside Jig” from Sandra Boynton’s album Cows and Holly. This project also featured other prominent names such as Stuart Duncan, Michael Ford and Lyle Lovett.

With a career that has taken him across New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, America, and China, Rennie’s performances are as intimate as they are captivating. Whether he’s playing dance music that makes you want to leap from your chair or delivering a hauntingly beautiful piece that brings tears to the eyes, his artistry and passion for this beautiful and ancient music leave a lasting impression on all who hear him. As he continues to captivate audiences worldwide, Rennie remains dedicated to sharing the depth and richness of Celtic music, ensuring its traditions endure and inspire future generations.