JESSE STEWART

Jesse Stewart is a composer, percussionist, artist, and educator. His music has been documented on over twenty recordings including Stretch Orchestra’s self-titled debut album, which was honoured with the 2012 “Instrumental Album of the Year” Juno award. He has been widely commissioned as a composer and artist.

In 2012, he founded “We Are All Musicians” (WAAM), an organization dedicated to making music as broadly accessible as possible. Through the WAAM initiative, he has conducted hundreds of inclusive music workshops and performances throughout North America.

He has received numerous awards and honours including the Ottawa Arts Council’s Mid-Career Artist Award (2017) and the Ottawa Arts Council Community Arts Educator Award (2023). In 2014, he was named to the Order of Ottawa. In 2022, he was elected to the College of New Scholars of the Royal Society of Canada. He is a faculty member in Carleton University’s School for Studies in Art and Culture.

THE FILM

Chance Encounters documents a one-person show of the same name by Juno award-winning musician and interdisciplinary artist Jesse Stewart. Combining storytelling and innovative music performed on a variety of unusual instruments, the film explores the profound impact that fleeting interactions with strangers can have on us. 

Written and performed by Jesse Stewart, who also serves as the Executive Producer. The film credits Hasi Eldib as Director and Director of Photography, Adam Kruspe as Associate Director and Editor, Mike King as Producer, John Rosefield as Sound Designer and Audio Engineer, David Magladry as Lighting Designer, and Troy Huizinga as Lighting Technician.