Michael Jarvis has been acclaimed as one of Canada's finest harpsichordists, fortepianists and continuo players, and has performed with many of Canada's leading orchestras and chamber ensembles, including Symphony Nova Scotia, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Aradia, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Symphony Niagara, the Hamilton Philharmonic, the Vancouver Symphony, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra as well as with Via Salzburg, the Toronto Chamber Orchestra, the Tudor Singers of Montreal, the Elmer Isler Singers, I Furiosi, the Toronto Consort, the Vancouver Bach Choir, among many others. He has also conducted the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the baroque danse ensemble of La Belle Danse in Toronto, and was for 15 years Artistic Director of the period instruemnt ensemble The Baroque Players (of Hamilton.) In addition to performing across Canada, he has performed as soloist and continuo player throughout the USA, England, Italy and Bermuda.
He has worked with, accompanied, conducted, or played continuo for many of Canada's finest singers, including Maureen Forrester, Daniel Lichti, Benjamin Butterfield, Russell Braun, Monica Whicher, Tracey Dahl, Carolyn Sinclair, Kimberley Barber, Eric Shaw, Laura Pudwell, Bruce Kelley, Marc Dubois, Jane Archibald, Andrew Tees, Suzie Leblanc, Daniel Taylor to name but a few.
He has also appeared as soloist or continuo player at many festivals, including The Elora Festival, the Guelph Spring Festival, The Grand River Baroque Festival, The Festival of the Sound, and Music at Westben.
Michael Jarvis may be heard on the Hungaroton, ATMA, Naxos, Solitudes and Avalon CD labels, and has many times broadcast nationally and regionally for the C.B.C., as well as nationally across the U.S. on N.P.R.
Mr. Jarvis is featured on two national Canadian television specials "A Baroque Christmas" and "A Baroque Easter". Now seasonal favourites, they may be seen on Vision and Bravo-tv.
He is also co-host and star of the 13-part television series "Come into the Parlour". Featuring co-host and star Carolyn Sinclair, soprano, and their original 1857 Chickering square grand, the series features some of Canada's finest musicians from the opera and concert stages, including baritone Russell Braun, mezzo Kimberley Barber, violinist Mayumi Seiler, tenor Eric Shaw, baritone Bruce Kelly, 'cellist Margaret Gay, and violinst Julie Baumgartel. "Come into the Parlour" is currently running nationally in Canada on Bravo-TV and Vision.
Mr. Jarvis is the Director of Music at St. Jude's Parish and Shrine in Vancouver, British Columbia. He most recently was (for 17 1/2 years) the Director of Music at St. Joseph's Church, Hamilton, and since 2001 was the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mohawk College Singers (a 70-voice choral society). His performing editions of 17th and 18th century choral and organ music have been published by GIA, Chicago. He has taught harpsichord and continuo, and has lectured at the University of Toronto. He has also taught harpsichord performance at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario and at Havergal College, Toronto.
Michael Jarvis lives with his wife, soprano Carolyn Sinclair, and their two Abyssianians, Nutmeg and Mau in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
"Jarvis has an awesome technique that produces music of enormous style and crystal clarity . . . the contours of the music are never even blurred, but emerge with a coherence and persuasiveness that is remarkable." The Hamilton Spectator (Canada)
"Michael Jarvis donne ici une interprétation limpide et inspirée..." Répertoire (France)