Artist Spotlight
Pianist Minna Re Shin presents a new album “Sonate Tableaux”

In collaboration with ombú productions and the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, Gallery Gora of Montreal welcomes on June 15th the Canadian pianist Minna Re Shin who will publicly present her most recent multidisciplinary project based on the four-movement work for piano solo by Canadian composer Alain Payette, Sonate Tableaux, which serves as the inspiration for the recording of a digital album and video.
Indulge in the live performance of this dynamic pianist and feel the intense passion and musical poetry that will come to life under her deft fingers. Enjoy the public presentation of the music video which has recently garnered recognition, honours, and distinctions on the international scene, including the Best Classical Music Video Award at the 5th Music Film Festival (Buenos Aires), the Jury Diamond Award for Best Short Music Video at the March 2022 edition of the Europe Film Festival U.K., and the Judge’s Choice Award for Music Video at the 2022 Winter session of the World Premiere Film Awards (Los Angeles). Marvel at the multidisciplinary collaboration among the Canadian female artists who have join forces for the first time in this creative interpretation coloured by the interplay of different art forms (music, painting, dance, and theatre).
With your presence, you will support the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation in its continuous role in raising awareness and funding for cutting-edge research, groundbreaking innovation, and patient-support programs, and offering hope to breast cancer fighters, survivors, caregivers, and communities.
To purchase tickets for the benefit launch concert event on June 15th, please visit https://pianist-minna-re-shin-launch-concert-june-2022.eventbrite.ca.
The digital album will be available online via CD Baby; please visit www.minnareshin.com/discography/ for updates and direct links to CD Baby for purchase.
Women: Source of Inspiration for the Project
Sonate Tableaux, featuring the musical performance by Minna Re Shin, embraces the theme of beauty, the dynamics of the female body and its movement quality, the empowerment of women, and their role in the art world. Through the prism of her solo piano performance, painter Natalija Jeremic, ballet dancer Catherine Toupin, and mime artist Laurence Castonguay Emery present their interpretations of the Canadian pianist’s rendition of the composer’s work, permitting other women’s voices to be heard through the different art forms featured in the original and multifaceted presentation. The visual musical rendition of the neo-romantic composition interweaves with the imaginative interplay of cinematic applications inspired by the music and the artwork associated with the four movements or “tableaux” of Payette’s piano œuvre.
Minna Re Shin: Pianist and Performing Artist
Winner of numerous prizes in national and international competitions, the Montreal-born pianist of Asian heritage Minna Re Shin has graced the classical music stage with her virtuoso technique, mature artistry, stage personality, and rare sensitivity. This versatile artist has won enthusiasm for her performances of diverse repertoire, including new, lesser familiar works by lesser-known composers who are under-represented on the Canadian and world stage. Here at home and overseas, critics and audiences alike have raved about her performances as “intense,” “inspiring,” and “powerful.” In the words of the legendary Russian pianist Lazar Berman, “Minna Re Shin and her great talent.”
Since her solo début at the age of ten with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, this dynamic artist has performed in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia and has received high praise as recitalist, as chamber pianist, and as soloist in concerts with major orchestras, such as the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Montreal Chamber Orchestra, and the chamber orchestra I Musici de Montréal, and with distinguished conductors like Charles Dutoit, Marc David, and Jacques Lacombe. She has played in many concert series and festivals, including the prestigious International Haydn Festival in Eisenstadt where she made her Austrian début.
Minna Re Shin has also been lauded as a recording artist. Her début CD devoted to Haydn piano sonatas on the ombú productions label has been released to great critical acclaim. Le Journal de Montréal hailed her as a “great performer with great sensitivity and intelligence.” Following the success of this recording, Shin has embarked on a multi-recording project with ombú. Her second solo album, Images & Ballades, which features works by the Canadian composers Alain Payette and Jean Coulthard, was applauded by Paroles et Musique: “the pianist’s interpretation is impeccable; it was as if these two composers had lent her their pen.” Her most recent music album Sonate Tableaux celebrates the world premiere performance of this unknown work, and the complementary performance video marks her début as producer.
For a preview of the video Sonate Tableaux, please visit
www.minnareshin.com/video
To listen to the album Sonate Tableaux, please visit
www.minnareshin.com/media/sonate-tableaux
www.minnareshin.com
Artist Spotlight
“Solstice Sun” by Nick Byrne beautifully illuminates the soul of seasonal tides

In his third collaboration with producer Jake Robbins, Nick Byrne presents “Solstice Sun,” an intricately lush yet emotionally crafted indie-folk single that effectively marries the cinematic rhythm of nature with the emotional tides that accompany it. Partnering with fellow songwriter Tom Symmonds, this Buckinghamshire-based artist offers a metaphoric tapestry that goes beyond mere aesthetics, delivering an evocative auditory experience reminiscent of a sepia-toned postcard capturing the fleeting essence of summer, directed at anyone who has ever felt the bittersweet nature of seasonal transitions.
The composition features a dynamically evolving arrangement that incorporates synth bass, vintage drum samples, and finely articulated fingerstyle guitar, layered meticulously to preserve clarity while avoiding sonic clutter. It opens with a bright, shimmering alt-pop aesthetic that reflects the last golden days of summer before giving way to a more introspective autumnal chill. As Byrne’s understated vocal delivery unfolds, the track conjures a “sepia daydream” characterized by both nostalgia and bare emotion, establishing an enchanting vibe that feels simultaneously intimate and expansive.
One notable aspect of “Solstice Sun” is how Byrne employs natural imagery as an emotional metaphor, rendered with fluidity rather than confrontation. At its core, “Solstice Sun” conveys a gentle yet potent affirmation that opportunities for renewal and glimpses of light can resurface after periods of significant despair. Echoes of hope are seamlessly woven into the song’s thematic fabric, creating a delicate contrast that exists alongside an underlying sense of melancholy.
The collaboration between Byrne and Symmonds exemplifies a distinct artistic synergy, where Tom’s ambient synth work beautifully complements Nick’s earthy acoustic instrumentation, evoking a rich soundscape that instantly appeals to fans familiar with artists such as Novo Amor and Keaton Henson. This fusion is further enriched by a nuanced representation of Byrne’s Chilean heritage, introducing cultural elements that add complexity and authenticity to the overall sound.
“Solstice Sun” thoughtfully explores the emotional implications of seasonal transitions, examining how these changes influence the cycle of human experiences. This track deserves a place in curated playlists, offering reassurance to audiences that even during moments of introspection and solitude, they can find comfort in their intimate connection to nature and in the meaningful relationships they have with others and themselves. It is ideally suited for twilight strolls, early sunsets, and those special occasions when one’s heart yearns for emotional alignment and clarity.
For more information about Nick Byrne, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Nick Byrne’s “Solstice Sun“ on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Nick Byrne | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook |
Artist Spotlight
“Duplicity” by Freya Magee debuts a stunningly introspective anthem with split honesty

With origins spanning from Northern Ireland to Melbourne, singer-songwriter Freya Magee, now based in London, is sure to emerge as a prominent music artist in the indie folk scene with her debut single, “Duplicity.” She asserts herself in the limelight with a charming voice that’s both featherlight and resolutely bold. Her debut single serves as a nuanced exploration of spoken storm, characterized by an emotionally charged and elegantly restrained vocal delivery that is achingly relatable.
“Duplicity” elicits the feeling of a whispered confession cloaked in darkness, evoking an intimate, cinematic quality that is both urgent and contemplative. Magee’s vocal performance strikes an effective equilibrium between fragility and assertiveness, navigating a melancholic soundscape that producer Phil Taylor meticulously crafted at Laurel Sound Studios. The composition’s understated brilliance lies in its capacity to invite listeners to engage closely, as though they are privy to a private inner dialogue.
Lyrically, Magee explores the complexities of identity conflict with poetic precision, articulating the ache of aspiring to be everything, everywhere, encompassing various facets of existence simultaneously. One moment, she sounds sure of herself, projecting confidence; the next, she reveals a gentle struggle with indecision and uncertainty. The notable line, “dark on the left…, blonde on the right,” is more than clever imagery; it’s a visual metaphor for the emotional dichotomy she sings about. This duality is visually represented in the single’s cover art, aligning aesthetic and thematic elements into a cohesive portrait of self-contradiction.
The most noteworthy aspect of “Duplicity” is its authenticity. There is no posturing here, just a young artist sitting with her contradictions, thereby encouraging audiences to do the same. For enthusiasts who appreciate the introspective intimacy found within the works of artists such as Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, Laura Marling, or the early compositions of Joni Mitchell, Magee’s sound seamlessly fits right into the lineage of musicians who find strength in vulnerability.
As a debut offering, “Duplicity” exudes a sense of quiet triumph, providing a compelling introduction to an emerging talent poised to share a sonic chronicle of beautiful contradictions in her forthcoming debut EP. If this represents Freya Magee’s initial foray into the spotlight, anticipation builds regarding her future contributions when she fully embraces her artistic presence.
For more information about Freya Magee, please visit [website].
CLICK HERE TO STREAM Freya Magee’s “Duplicity“ on Spotify.
CONNECT WITH Freya Magee | Instagram | TikTok |
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