Melodies for an Autumn Evening

with Ian Sadler, Sebastian Ostertag & the Garden Quartet

Music in Middle Grey presents

Welcome to the second in our series, A Century of Casavant, an ongoing program featuring Casavant Frères Ltée. Opus 1021-B pipe organ, an historical example of the king of instruments in its 101st year. This time, we bring you Ian Sadler for the organ and partner him with the ensemble of the Garden Quartet: Sebastian Ostertag, cello, Humberto Ramírez, violin, Adam Despinic violin, and violist Woosol Cho.

Ian has a varied and beautiful program planned for the Casavant running the length of centuries from seventeenth to twentieth. Handel, Elgar, Mendelssohn, Bach, Widor, Vierne, and Mathias. He has reserved Vivialdi (Sonata No. 5 in e minor, Op. 14) for a collaboration between the Casavant and Sebastian’s cello, and together later in the program, with the quartet for Handel (Organ Concerto No. 4 in F, Op. 4). The Garden Quartet will focus on pieces by Ann Southam (Song of the Varied Thrush, 1991) and Aline Homzy (King’s Garden, 2015 — Aline performed in concert with James Brown and Clark Johnston at Annesley in our 2023 season).

For his dedication to promoting the organ and Canadian music, both at home and abroad, the Royal Canadian College of Organists honoured Ian in 2007 with their highest award, Fellowship of The
Royal Canadian College of Organists.

2025 marks the 25th Anniversary of the founding of Ian’s choir, The Cathedral Singers of Ontario. Founded in 2000, this choir has since acted as choir-in-residence for a week each winter and summer at a total of 29 different British Cathedrals. In January 2025 the choir undertook its 35th visit with its 3rd residency at Westminster Abbey.

Ian Sadler

Ian began his musical training as a boy chorister at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, UK. He was awarded a Music Scholarship to The King’s School, Canterbury and following high school, was awarded the Organ Scholarship at Bristol University. At age 17, he passed the Fellowship examination of Trinity College of Music, London. During postgraduate study at London University (1978-80), Ian was the Organ Scholar at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Before moving to Canada, his final engagement in the UK was to play the organ in the movie, Chariots of Fire.

Ian moved to Canada in 1980 following his appointments in Toronto as Director of Music at Grace Church-on-the-Hill and Choral Director at Upper Canada College. He has since gone on to appointments as Organist of St. James’ Cathedral, Toronto and most recently as director of Music at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London Ontario.

Highlights of Ian’s career have included, representing Canada as the organist for the United Nations 50th Anniversary Celebrations in San Francisco, being awarded the honorary adjunct position of Professor of Music by Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario – a position which he held for 8 years – representing Canada as the first Canadian juror at the International Liszt Organ Playing Competition held at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary, and winning a Juno award for a CD recording by his Burlington Chamber Choir, Pro Musica.

Sebastian Ostertag

Raised in Owen Sound, Ontario, cellist Sebastian Ostertag combines rich musical traditions, and with a strong commitment to community service and artistic outreach. He received his Bachelor of Music from Western University, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and a Master of Music at the University of Toronto, studying with acclaimed cellists Shauna Rolston and Joseph Johnson.

A passionate chamber musician, Sebastian performs throughout Ontario, Quebec and the American Midwest as a founding member of the Toronto based Interro Quartet. As an Orchestra musician, he has performed under such esteemed conductors as Mario Bernardi, Johannes Debus, Leon Fleisher and Peter Oundjian. Sebastian has performed as a soloist with the Georgian Bay and Prince George Symphony Orchestras, Northern Orchestra British Columbia, the Kincardine Summer Music Festival Orchestra, and on CBC Radio and Classical 96.3 FM. Further performances have included the Banff Centre, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, Luminato Festival, Nuit Blanche Toronto, Symphony in the Barn, and Sweetwater Music Festival.

Although classically trained, Sebastian has also performed with many of Canada’s leading popular musicians. He recorded on Basia Bulat’s Polaris Prize nominated records Oh My Darling and Heart of My Own, performing at the Ottawa Blues Festival, the Osheaga Festival Musique et Arts, and throughout Europe. Sebastian can also be heard on ShadK’s multiple Polaris Prize nominated albums, including the JUNO award winning record TSOL. He has also performed with vocalist Coco Love Alcorn and the Electro Acoustic group Joyful Joyful.

A strong advocate of arts accessibility and education, Sebastian is a co-founder of Orchestra North Smithers, one of British Columbia’s foremost summer programs for classical music training and mentorship. In addition, he is Artistic Director of Orchestra North Owen Sound and the former Director of the Prince George Youth Orchestra. A highly sought-after clinician, he has adjudicated music festivals in British Columbia, and given regular master classes at the University of Toronto. He has also coached regularly at the Kincardine Summer Music Festival, Kingsway Conservatory, the University of Toronto Chamber Orchestra, the Durham Youth Orchestra, and is a cello faculty member at El Sistema Toronto.

When not performing and teaching, Sebastian enjoys skiing and camping, as well as co-coordinating the annual Noon Hour Concert Series with his father, Joachim.

Humberto Ramírez

Humberto Ramírez is currently completing his DMA at the University of Toronto with Jonathan Crow and Mark Fewer, has collaborated with Colombian icon Carlos Vives and performed with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia.

Humberto served as Director/Dean of the Music Department at Universidad del Norte, coordinating the Barranquilla International Chamber Music Festival and the EuroCaribe Concert of Cátedra Europa, collaborating with artists such as Carlos Vives and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia.

Adam Despinic

Hamilton native Adam Despinic is a sought-after violinist and musician in the Greater Toronto Area. Adam began studying violin at the age of 5. He received his Bachelor of Music in violin performance from McMaster University, studying with Michael Schulte while also leading the Schulte Strings as Concertmaster. Most recently, he completed his Masters of Violin Performance degree at the University of Toronto under the tutelage of acclaimed violinist Marie Berard.

In 2009, he gained recognition as a soloist by winning top prize at the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artists Competition and then gave a rousing performance of Sarasate’s Zigeunerweisen, accompanied by the HPO at the Hamilton Place Great Hall. In 2010, he won the Symphony on the Bay Young Artists Concerto Competition and performed Affairs of the Heart by Canadian composer Marajan Mozetich with the orchestra. Most recently, Adam performed the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto with the Stratford Symphony Orchestra.

Woosol Cho

Violist Woosol Cho, former Principal Viola of the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, has soloed with the orchestra in Hindemith’s Der Schwanendreher and performed with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet of Canada, and as guest principal with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. Owen Sound raised Cellist Sebastian Ostertag has appeared at the Banff Centre, Luminato Festival, and on CBC Radio, while recording with artists including Basia Bulat and ShadK, and performing on stage with Jónsi, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the Eagles.