Chris Tonelli (History and Theory of Popular Music) takes part of the IF 2020 online arts festival in Canada

University of Groningen assistant professor, Dr. Chris Tonelli, is one of over 150 international artists contributing original work to IF 2020, a brand new, 24-hour online arts festival based out of the University of Guelph (Canada). Dr. Tonelli will be joining artists from over 15 countries contributing original work to this arts festival, which was conceived as a way of connecting artists and arts lovers around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

About IF 2020

The IF 2020 is a new online festival celebrating improvisational art. IF 2020 will feature video/audio submissions from 150+ artists from 15+ countries. This 24-hour festival, streaming pre-recorded performances, is free to attend and will feature a dynamic array of improvisational artists, including musicians, spoken word poets, dancers, and theatre practitioners.

IF 2020 will present a wide range of artists, including several acclaimed Canadian artists: iconic guitarist René Lussier; Book of Negroes author Lawrence Hill; award-winning pianist Marianne Trudel; and Governor General’s Award-winning poet Lorna Crozier. An eclectic roster of international contributors includes American free jazz bassist and multi-instrumentalist William Parker, legendary British saxophonist Evan Parker, and renowned Japanese avant-garde pianist Satoko Fujii, who Cadence Magazine dubbed “the Ellington of free jazz.” The full roster of artists is available online.

The IF 2020 is organised by the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI), a partnered research institute centered at the University of Guelph (Canada), and will be streamed live on 8 August at midnight GMT (2 a.m. CEST).

For more information, please contact improvfest uoguelph.ca