Problematic Orchestra

About us

Problematic Orchestra is a semi-professional contemporary chamber orchestra based in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. This eclectic ensemble is made up of approximately 26 musicians from a diverse musical diaspora. The ensemble presents a repertoire that crosses genres, blending the rigour of contemporary and classical music with popular music, improvisation, and a modern sensibility. Problematic Orchestra is directed by composer Daniel Janke.

Listen to La vie est belle, featuring Hélène Beaulieu and Problematic Orchestra. La vie est belle was composed by Daniel Janke for the film Subconscious Password, directed by Chris Landreth [short-listed for an Oscar award, 2014].

photos: Bruce Barrett

Longest Night Society

The mandate of Longest Night Society is to support the development of a semi-professional chamber orchestra as a voice for new music in the North.

Current board members and staff include: Brendan Hanley-president; Kim Tanner-treasurer; Joan Stanton-secretary; Andrea McColeman; Lucas van de Ven-Vice President; Keitha Clark; Rachel Grantham and Daniel Janke-artistic director.

For more information contact us.

Longest Night 2020

Longest Night 2020 concerts are scheduled for December 20 and 21, at Yukon Arts Centre, Whitehorse, Yukon. The theme is ‘protest songs.’ The event is a co-presentation of Longest Night Society and Yukon Arts Centre. Tickets are available here.

Ticket Information

For upcoming event ticket information, please visit the Yukon Arts Centre here.

Recent Events

2019

The theme for the Longest Night 2019 concert series was Canadiana. The program featured composers David Archer, Paul Lucas, Keitha Clark, Katerina Gimon, Sean Smith, Sarah Smith-Johnson, and Scott Maynard as well as arrangers Andrea McColeman and Daniel Janke. The program also featured the Kwanlin Dághàlhaan K’e Dancers.

2019 Videos

On The Briny Tossed – composed by Paul Lucas

Honour Song – composed by Sarah Johnston Smith and family, featuring Kwanlin Dághàlhaan K’e Dancers

Big Bear – composed by John Arcand; arranged by Keitha Clark

Trees on a Wire – composed by David Archer

2018

The 2018 solstice concerts with Problematic Orchestra featured commissioned works from Bronwen Duncan, Olivier deColombel, Annie Avery, Scott Maynard, Micah Smith, Ben Barrett-Forrest, and Daniel Janke. Our theme for Longest Night 2018 was folksongs.

2018 Videos

Radio Works – composed by Daniel Janke

The Crows of Sarsfield Court – composed by Scott Maynard, text by John Egan

2018 Photos

2017

The 2017 Problematic Orchestra winter solstice concert series featured new works by northern Canadian composers Carmen Braden, Olivier de Colombel, Daniel Janke, Scott Maynard, and Andrea McColeman, as well as works adapted from Claudio Monteverdi. Also on the program was a partnership work by director Daniel Janke , commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Canadian Mosaic project. Small Song for Orchestra was also performed by the TSO on Nov. 3, 2017 at Roy Thompson Hall.

Listen to the TSO performance.
More information on the Canadian Mosaic project can be found here.

2017 Composers

Andrea McColeman, Carmen Braden, Daniel Janke, Olivier de Colombel, Scott Maynard

2017 Photos

Our History

Longest Night Society was formed in 1995 to present the annual winter solstice concerts in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. In 1999 the company released the CD recording not too dark, which can be purchased here.

Beginning in 2016, the society adopted a mandate to support the development of Problematic Orchestra, a semi-professional contemporary chamber orchestra based in Whitehorse, Yukon.