Ally Fiola & Next Quest
April 25 @ 2:00 PM
Ally Fiola - Saxophone
Emily Ferrell - Trombone
Addison Sowery-Quinn - Sousaphone
Tom Richards - Keys
Lowell Whitty - Drums
No Reservations
Pay What You Can
Ally Fiola is a Nova Scotian saxophonist, film composer, and bandleader of The Next Quest, a groove-based jazz ensemble. Known for blending quirky melodies with infectious grooves inspired by funk, soul, and New Orleans brass bands, Ally’s emotionally charged jazz compositions have earned recognition, including a nomination at the 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards and multiple Music Nova Scotia award nominations.
As a resourceful composer with a background in jazz and classical studies, Ally often experiments with sonic and harmonic elements, blending traditional and contemporary styles with influences of her experiences as a professional saxophonist. The majority of her writing contains an element of storytelling, which is a creative framework that she values immensely, having worked on films across North America and Europe. She is an active board member for the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, and received her Masters in Film Composition from Kingston University in London, UK.
Her 2023 album Interblaze — a bold and soulful exploration of grief, passion, and resilience — features standout collaborations with Grammy-winning musicians such as saxophonist Jeff Coffin (Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, Dave Matthews Band) and keyboardist Glenn Patscha (Bonnie Raitt). The record showcases Ally’s strength as a composer, performer, and producer, and has resonated with international listeners for its emotional depth and musical sophistication.
Ally's artistic development includes a music residency at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity where she worked with the Quasar Saxophone Quartet, and was part of the Canadian Academy's ‘Women in Post’ 2024-2025 cohort for composition and post-production sound. In 2023, she was selected for the La Napoule Canadian Artist Residency in France, where she composed a Canada Council-funded orchestral piece on climate change’s impact on coastal communities, and was a co-artist in residence alongside award-winning accordionist Mary Beth Carty at the 2025 Deep Roots Residency at Ross Creek Centre for the Arts.