TorQ
PERCUSSION QUARTET
"What made the evening special was the tight connection between these four players, which gave everything they did a sense of unbreakable continuity and energy."
- LUDWIG-VAN.COM
REVIEWS
"What made the evening special was the tight connection between these four players, which gave everything they did a sense of unbreakable continuity and energy."
- LUDWIG-VAN.COM
“These guys clearly have fun performing, and it’s fun watching and listening to them.”
- THE WHOLENOTE
"What made the evening special was the tight connection between these four players, which gave everything they did a sense of unbreakable continuity and energy."
- MUSICALTORONTO.COM
“They also show off the wide range of mood, melody and counterpoint possible in a carefully laid out and layered programme....effort that can stand proud among the growing throng of chamber percussion ensembles around the world."
- THE TORONTO STAR
"TorQ percussion, was outstanding. No, make that astonishing.”
- THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
"TorQ is an exhilarating ensemble that leaves audiences amazed with their showmanship and musicianship. Their commitment to excellence, and the ability to meaningfully connect with any level of audience, makes them a unique musical ensemble."
- Dr. Darrin Oehlerking,
Assistant Professor of Music Education and Director of Bands at the University of Saskatchewan
"I was just knocked out, by their nuanced music-making; their sense of line and phrase; and their deep, deep understanding of the underlying structure of the piece. Really blew my mind."
- Eric Whitacre,
renowned American choral composer and conductor
“It is no surprise that they continue, undaunted by the path less travelled, to be pioneers of sorts in the world of modern percussion.... Manitouwadge joined the long list of Canadian venues to end the musical journey on which TorQ had taken them by [giving the ensemble] a standing ovation.”
- ONTARIO NEWS NORTH
"I'm sure that we can all look forward to the next magical multi-dimensional presentation from TorQ - highly musical percussive artistry without artifice or gimmicks."
-THE WHOLENOTE
BIOGRAPHY
RICHARD BURROWS
ADAM CAMPBELL
JAMIE DRAKE
DAN MORPHY
TorQ Percussion Quartet is one of Canada’s leading percussion ensembles, celebrated for their dynamic performances that reimagine and expand the percussion repertoire. With members Richard Burrows, Adam Campbell, Jamie Drake, and Daniel Morphy, TorQ has garnered critical acclaim across Canada and internationally for their dedication to accessibility, creativity, and community engagement in percussion music. As noted by the Toronto Star, "[TorQ] can stand proud among the growing throng of chamber percussion ensembles around the world."
Formed in 2004, TorQ quickly established a strong presence in Canada’s classical and contemporary music scenes. They have performed in venues across Canada, from coast to coast, and made significant inroads into the United States, touring extensively in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and undertaking residencies in Ohio and Michigan. In 2016, they embarked on their first American symphonic collaboration with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and have also performed with renowned Canadian orchestras, including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Orchestre symphonique de Montréal (OSM). In collaboration with OSM, their program Together on the Beat!/Ensemble, à tout coup! earned the 2018 Prix Opus award for Young Audience Concert.
Their international engagements have included performances at the International Percussion Quartet Festival in Luxembourg, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in both San Antonio and Indianapolis, and a unique collaboration with the Stuttgart Chamber Choir. In Canada, they have appeared at major festivals like the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, PEI's Indian River Festival, MusicFest Canada in Vancouver, Toronto’s Soundstreams, the Elora Festival, and Kitchener's Open Ears Contemporary Music Festival. They are frequently selected by Canadian touring organizations such as Jeunesses Musicales Canada, Prairie Debut, and Debut Atlantic, and have collaborated with prestigious vocal groups, including the Larkin Singers, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Elora Festival Singers, and the Hamilton Children's Choir.
TorQ has premiered numerous Canadian and world percussion works, showcasing the innovative contributions of composers such as Dinuk Wijeratne, Monica Pearce, and Nicole Lizée, whose concerto was premiered with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra in 2023. Their four-disc discography on Bedoint Records highlights their commitment to expanding the boundaries of percussion music.
An essential part of TorQ’s mission is music education. They perform over 80 school shows annually and, each summer, host the TorQ Percussion Seminar (TPS), a five-day immersive percussion program that has partnered with institutions like the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance in Nova Scotia and Stratford Summer Music in Ontario. University of Western Ontario’s Don Wright Faculty of Music announced that beginning in Fall 2024 TorQ Percussion Quartet has been appointed as an Ensemble in Residence, embarking on an exciting collaboration that promises to enrich both our academic and artistic landscapes.
TorQ Percussion Quartet continues to inspire audiences and foster a passion for percussion music across generations, bringing innovative and engaging experiences to every stage they grace.
November 2024
PREFERRED CONCERTO LIST
2020–23
Bob Becker*
Music on the Moon (4perc & orch)
Michael Colgrass*
Deja vu (4perc & orch)
Paul Frehner*
Corpus (4perc & ch)
Brian Graiser
Concerto No. 1 (4perc & wind ens)
Promethean Concertino No. 1 (4perc & orch)
David Gillingham
Concertino for Four Percussion (4perc, wind ens)
Kevin Lau*
Charon's Dance (4perc & wind ens)
Riho Maimets
Misericordia (4perc & ch)
Orff
Carmina Burana (2pn, 4perc & ch)
Monica Pearce*
Whirly (4perc & orch)
R. Murray Shafer*
Avon River (4perc, sop & ch)
Soul of God (4perc & ch)
Dinuk Wijeratne*
Invisible Cities (4perc & wind ens)
*Denotes Canadian composer
Recital repertoire available upon request
Master classes and workshops available
Other concerti available upon request
DISCOGRAPHY
Modulations
Bedoint Records BR004
Without A Map
Bedoint Records BR003
two + two
Bedoint Records BR002
TorQ Percussion Quartet
Bedoint Records BR001
