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After playing with London Symphonia and the former Orchestra London for 48 years as principal cello, Christine Newland has retired from the orchestra.
Highly regarded by her fellow musicians for her talent, enthusiasm, dedication and hard work, especially throughout the orchestra’s years of financial difficulty, Christine will be greatly missed.
Christine began playing with the orchestra while studying music at Western Ontario, joining the orchestra in her early 20’s after studying in Europe. Over the decades she has performed many solo concerti, several of which were written especially for her. She has also played with the Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, Windsor and Thunder Bay symphonies.
A Canada Council supported artist, Christine has performed for CBCand BBC radio and television, and the West Deutches Rundfunk. While studying in the masterclass of Antonio Janigro, she toured throughout Europe and Canada with the Düsseldorf String Quartet, followed by a four-week solo tour in Japan with the award-winning pianist, Marc Durand. She also studied chamber music with the Guarneri, Hungarian, Yale, and Lenox String Quartets.
Christine’s career highlights are many.
The great cellist, Jacqueline Du Pré, played an important role in Christine’s life, as a musician and as a friend. When Christine was 17, Ms. Du Pré asked if she would like to play her famous "Davidov" Stradivari cello and when Christine became overwhelmed at the prospect, insisted she do so. She also invited Christine to join her and her pianist/conductor husband, Daniel Barenboim onstage as his page turner in a recital program at Alumni Hall. Ms. Du Pré and Christine continued to correspond over the years. Quotes from her letters to Christine can be found in Carol Easton's biography “Jacqueline Du Pré”.
An amazing champion and tireless fundraiser, Christine channelled her boundless energy and creativity to support the orchestra: organizing concerts, performing and donating her artwork for sale to raise much needed funds.
Highlights include the sold out Jacqueline Du Pré Tribute Concert held at Centennial Hall in 2000. Christine was honoured not just to play the concert with the priceless Bonjour Stradivarius loaned to her by the owner but to be the first person to perform on the instrument since its purchase and restoration.
Many will remember the fun fashion show with a twist that she organized. Musicians from the orchestra modelled clothes from a local retailer. When their names were called, they would stop playing, walk down the catwalk, and then return to continue playing. The audience loved it.
A talented portrait artist, Christine has generously donated many paintings for fundraisers benefiting various organizations including this orchestra, over the decades.
Christine has the distinction of being the two-time recipient of the Jack Richardson London Music Award in 2008 and in 2017. She continues to perform solo and chamber concerts and makes recordings with various local artists in several musical genres.
Today, Christine’s rare and valuable Italian 1730 cello is part of the Canada Council for the Arts Music Instrument Bank. Renamed the "Newland Giovanni Franciscus Celoniatus" in her honour, pre-eminent classical musicians across Canada compete for the opportunity to borrow and perform with the exceptional instrument for three years.
Bravissima, Christine! Thank you for all you have done to bring London Symphonia to where we are today. Enjoy your next chapter.
