NEXT: New Works Calgary Jan 10 & 11, 2026

“It’s surprising when an avant-garde piece is able to find an audience. By combining the personal with the musical, Leslie Ting has boldly done just that. ”

— Marc Glassman - Ludwig-Van Toronto

“...a convincing argument for the power of listening to the self instead of trying to fix it... peaceful and refreshing [What Brings You In] rewards thought and contemplation.
”

— Ilana Lucas - Broadway World

Based on interview research and personal experiences with talk therapy, hypnotherapy, dreamwork, sandplay, somatics, and reiki, What Brings You In is an exploration of when and where our truest selves emerge through a series of new music compositions.

Hear the CBC Radio interview with Leslie Ting

Hear the CFRC Kingston Curator interview with Leslie Ting, Ramsey Nasser and Matt Rideout

What is the most yourself you can be with another?

Credits

Concept, Artistic Director, Producer, Performer (Violin and as Herself) - Leslie Ting

Performer (Percussion) - Germaine Liu

Composers - Linda Catlin Smith, Rose Bolton, Julia Mermelstein, Germaine Liu, Leslie Ting

Sound Designer and Electronics - Matt Smith

Lighting Designer - Theodore Belc

Blind and Disability Dramaturg - Jessica Watkin

Outside Eye / Dramaturgical Consultant - Lisa Cox

Software Engineer and Creative Technologist - Ramsey Nasser, EMMA Technology Cooperative

Producer - Laura Philipps

Stage Manager - Sara Constant

Audio and Broadcast Engineer - Matthew Rideout

Production Support - Kari Pederson

Audio Describer - Kat Germain

Interactive Sound Consultant - Andy Slater

Online Experience Design Consultant - Marie LeBlanc Flanagan

Website Design Associate - Aankshika Bheem

Carpenters - James Kendal and Mark Zurawinski

Funders & Supporters

Canada Council for the Arts

Ontario Arts Council

Government of Ontario

Developed with support from the National Arts Centre’s National Creation Fund

Developed with support from Theatre Passe Muraille as part of the Buzz In-Development Series

Developed and presented as part of Why Not Theatre’s RISER collaborative producing model

Thank you

Mark Zurawinski, Lorna Craig, Patrick Lynn, Cosette Pin, Wilson Lin, Stephanie Kuse, James Kendal, Rebecca Vandevelde, Darren Creech, Nicole Eun-Ju Bell, Adam Paolozza, Elysha Poirier, Kari Pederson, William Fallon, Deanna Choi, Alex Bulmer, Carol Gimbel, WhyNot’s RISER, Inter/Access

Music Program

Leslie Ting, violin

Germaine Liu, percussion

I. Dirt Road movements 4 and 11

Composed by Linda Catlin Smith

II. What is the most yourself you can be (with another)?

Improvised duo by Leslie Ting & Germaine Liu

III. Sandplay

Performed on amplified sandbox by Germaine Liu with additional electronics by Matt Smith

IV. Beholding for solo violin & electronics**

Composed by Rose Bolton

V. folds, in crossings for solo violin & six-speaker surround sound electronics***

Composed by Julia Mermelstein

** Commissioned by Leslie Ting for What Brings You In with the support of Canada Council for the Arts

*** Commissioned by Leslie Ting for What Brings You In with the support of the Ontario Arts Council