A versatile soloist and chamber musician, and a specialist in both new and early music, Pemi Paull is a true 21st century artist. He is the founder and artistic director of Warhol Dervish, an original and unorthodox chamber music collective based in Montreal. He appeared as soloist with the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec, as well as the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, and was the recipient of the 2002 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award for Chamber Music. Pemi has been invited as a regular participant at Prussia Cove Chamber Music Festival in Cornwall, England, and Domaine Forget International Chamber Music Festival.
In the sphere of historical performance, Pemi is a member of Ensemble Caprice, with whom he has recorded three discs for Analekta, winning a Juno in the process. He also appears regularly with Les Idees Heureuses, and Ensemble Arion.
Pemi's activities have also also brought him to the forefront of Montreal's contemporary music world. He is a member of three important new music ensembles in Montreal, Bradyworks, Ensemble Kore, and SMCQ. In addition, Pemi has premiered works for viola by Scott Godin, Andre Ristic, Rose Bolton, Emily Hall, and Nicolas Gilbert, Michael Oesterle, and Tim Brady.
He gave the Canadian premiere of "Prologue", for viola and electronic resonator, by French composer Gerard Grisey. Francois Tousignant, of Montreal's Le Devoir, wrote of the performance, "...Voila une maniere differente d'user de la 'monodie' d'autant plus convainquante que l'interprete, totalement engage, en fait resortir tout l'art inspire et inspirant".
Previously a long term resident at the Banff Center, during the 2008 and 2010 winter residencies, Pemi plays on a viola built in 2007 by David Prentice, generously loaned to him by the Banff Centre.
For more information on the artist:
www.pemipaull.com
"Very Near the Edge of the Flat Earth", by Rose Bolton
Performed live, January 26/2009
Pemi Paull - viola
Sarah Page - harp
