Volume 21 Issue 8 - May 2016

Tom Allen At JMO/ NYOC

Tom Allen At JMO/ NYOC Benefit VANESSA WELLS Jeunesses Musicales Ontario (JMO) and the National Youth Orchestra (NYO) Canada have orchestrated Raise the Bar, a fundraiser on June 8, as part of their continued support of the next generation of professional classical musicians. Tom Allen will be hosting the intimate evening of music, cocktails and hors d’œuvres, and he’ll be joined by fellow alumni James Ehnes, Russell Braun and other award-winners in performance in the elegant Great Hall of U of T’s Hart House. Since 1979, Jeunesses Musicales Ontario has provided emerging Canadian artists with concert tours as well as educational concerts for young audiences. Since 1960, NYO Canada has held an iconic reputation as Canada’s pre-eminent orchestral and chamber music training institute, providing the most comprehensive and in-depth training program available to our best young classical musicians. We asked Tom Allen to comment on the organizations’ shared values, both as an observer and as the recipient of many advantages as a result of his involvement with them as a youth. He noted that “…the work being done by Jeunesses Musicales and the NYO Canada doesn’t only nurture musical talent - it nurtures a benevolent and caring and enlightened society.” His own experiences included the honour of being bass trombonist L to R Mary Jay (tpt) Lise Vaugeois (horn) Tom Allen (trb), John Jowett (trb) and Anita McAlister (tpt.) in the NYO in 1982 and 1985, and part of a resident brass quintet in 1984. That quintet went on to a professional career as the Great Lakes Brass, which he toured with from 1984 to 1990. He notes that “during those years we were helped considerably by JMC, who sent us on a couple of tours and helped us find rehearsal space in Toronto, as well” and that there were other benefits to him as a young musician: there was generosity in support and career guidance, as well as lessons not only in artistry and musicianship but also the universal and transferable life skills needed by emerging professionals. He is still grateful for the connections and experiences he gleaned. Despite a climate of arts-funding restraint, he didn’t miss out on invaluable recording and performance opportunities. JMO and NYOC still nurture high-level playing and professional development. The NYO offers that experience and, likewise, “…because of those same economic forces, classical musicians in Canada (and everywhere else) must be more adaptable, more flexible, more inventive and quickon-their-feet than ever before, and JMC supports and nurtures that approach. The two are both sides of a (more and more hard-to-comeby) coin.” For more information visit raise-the-bar.ticketleap.com/gala High School Musicality CLAUDE WATSON SECONDARY ARTS OFFERS MUSIC PROGRAMS IN: Strings | Woodwinds Brass | Percussion | Piano Voice |Composition ENSEMBLES: Orchestra, Symphonic Band Chamber Strings, Mixed Chorus The Earl Haig Symphony Orchestra, MusicFest National finalists APPLY TO JOIN US! Applications due: November 28, 2016 Auditions: January, 2017 Application forms at claudewatson.ca Claude Watson Secondary Arts Program, Earl Haig Secondary School 100 Princess Avenue, North York, ON | (416) 395-3210 x20137 Other Claude Watson Programs: DANCE | VISUAL ARTS | DRAMA | FILM View our YouTube channel Visit us on Facebook & Twitter CLAUDE WATSON MUSIC 60 | May 1, 2016 - June 7, 2016 thewholenote.com

Now in his sixth year as artistic director of the Toronto Summer Music Festival and Academy, violist Douglas McNabney was born and raised in Toronto. He’s a busy chamber musician with an international career, also an educator – currently professor of Chamber Music at the Schulich School of Music of McGill. Prior to TSM he was artistic director of the Domaine Forget Music Festival and Academy (2001-2005), and chair of the Department of Performance of McGill University (2004-2008.) In 2009, he was responsible for the artistic direction of the Haydn 2009 project at the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal where the complete cycle of all 68 String Quartets was performed in one week. McNabney lives in Le Plateau in downtown Montreal, with his wife, Isolde Lagacé. Some of his other passions include architecture, building things, and good food and wine with friends. Where did you grow up? Rexdale, playing on the banks of the Humber River – when it was wild, not a park! How did your family earn a living? I come from a large family of Irish immigrants. My father had 11 siblings who were all modest labourers and workers and few of their children (my cousins) went to university. Except the Eaglesons – Alan Eagleson is my cousin. An infamous one. Your absolute earliest memories of music? My father listening to marching bands and Irish and Scottish tenors; the band of the Coldstream Guards; and John McCormack or Kenneth McKellar singing “Oh Danny Boy.” I did sing in a church choir. My parents would drive my sister and me to choir practice Thursdays and services on Sundays. They rarely stayed for the service, though. Where did you attend high WE ARE ALL MUSIC’S CHILDREN May’s Child Douglas McNabney MJ BUELL school? Richview Collegiate. I am a musician because of a high school music program in Toronto – I wouldn’t be a musician otherwise! It distresses me to think that the opportunities I enjoyed as a young person are no longer offered to young people today. I had my first violin lesson with my high school music teacher, Pat Burroughs, at 16 years old. He took our high school chamber orchestra to Charlottetown, PEI, the following year to Banff, and in my last year to Paris, France (hence my lifelong fascination with, and appreciation of, French culture). I also played in the Etobicoke Youth Orchestra and met extraordinary musicians associated with the public school system like Barry Goss and Mario DeSotto. If it wasn’t for those wonderful, dedicated and inspiring teachers, I’d probably be a lawyer or an architect. Not that there would be anything wrong with that! But I’m sure I’m a lot happier as a musician. And more fortunate. How did you begin playing the viola? I always say the viola chose me, not the other way around. When I was in university, one summer a string quartet needed a violist and I volunteered. I immediately fell in love with the dark, sensual sound of the instrument, and perhaps more importantly, with the role it plays in a quartet. Douglas McNabney with grandchildren Clara and Arthur NEW CONTEST Who is June’s Child? circa 1983, at home in Erin Mills – Mississauga, Ontario • This swingin’ sweetheart often leads a gang of alley cats. • Recently celebrated at the JUNOs she’s breathing life into some fine old tunes, sounding as good as New! Know our Mystery Child’s name? WIN PRIZES! Send your best guess by midnight on May 25. musicschildren@thewholenote.com Where does music fit into your family life today? Music is everywhere! And always will be. My wife runs a magnificent concert series in Montréal at the Salle Bourgie of the Musée des beaux arts. Both my children are professional musicians - my son, Raphael, is the bass player with Les Violons du Roy and my daughter Mélisande, a harpsichord and fortepiano player, also plays with Les Violons du Roy. Her partner, Isaac Chalk, is principal viola with Les Violons. My son’s wife, Leila, a psychiatrist, keeps us all in line and ensures that it all functions smoothly. That’s a joke of course, but as Danny Kaye once said: ‘it’s a joke, but it’s true!’ For a longer version of this interview please visit thewholenote.com. CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! The Toronto Summer Music 2016 festival “LONDON CALLING” focuses on the music of Great Britain through the centuries, including music by British composers and others who have contributed to the musical life of London. The festival includes more than 20 concerts between July 14 and August 7. At TSM’s gala opening night concert on July 14 at Koerner Hall - English Music for Strings - the TSM Festival Ensemble and the Parker String Quartet, with Nicholas Phan, tenor, and Neil Deland, French horn, will perform Bridge’s Suite for String Orchestra, Britten’s Serenade, and Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro, conducted by Joseph Swensen. Tickets for Claudia Krawchuk! On July 21 at Koerner Hall, TSM presents pianist Jeremy Denk – winner of the MacArthur ‘Genius’ fellowship, 2014 Avery Fisher Prize, Musical America’s 2014 Instrumentalist of the Year award. Tickets for Stephen Erlichman! On July 25 at Koerner Hall, mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton, with Bradley Moore, piano, will give an art song recital – works by Turina, Chausson, Schubert, Dvorak and more. TICKETS for Greer Roberts! ~ Music’s Children gratefully acknowledges Connie and John, Jim and Greta. ~ thewholenote.com May 1, 2016 - June 7, 2016 | 61