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Volume 23 Issue 2 - October 2017

  • Text
  • October
  • Toronto
  • Choir
  • Arts
  • Concerts
  • Orchestra
  • Jazz
  • Musical
  • Performing
  • Symphony
  • Volume
In this issue: several local artists reflect on the memory of composer Claude Vivier, as they prepare to perform his music; Vancouver gets ready to host international festival ISCM World New Music Days, which is coming to Canada for the second time since its inception in 1923; one of the founders of Artword Artbar, one of Hamilton’s staple music venues, on the eve of the 5th annual Steel City Jazz Festival, muses on keeping urban music venues alive; and a conversation with pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, as he prepares for an ambitious recital in Toronto. These and other stories, in our October 2017 issue of the magazine.

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BLUE PAGES 2017/18 ●●K-W Chamber Music Society K-W Chamber Music Society is one of Canada’s busiest presenters of chamber music concerts, with over 50 concerts per year, ranging from solo to sizable ensembles. Programs range from medieval to contemporary; most have both classics and recent music. Active since 1974, since 1980 most of our concerts have taken place at 57 Young St. W., Waterloo, a private home where our KWCMS Music Room holds about 85 people. A superb Steinway piano, good acoustics, a supportive audience, and an intimate but informal atmosphere make for great concert experiences. Notable this year: Till Fellner, piano, performing the first and second of his four-concert Great Works of Schubert cycle; the Amernet Quartet (plus pianist Shoshana Telner) in a four-concert series of the rarely-heard Polish/Russian composer Mieczyslaw Weinberg; the 30th anniversary in our Music Room of the world-famed Penderecki String Quartet; solo concerts by great Canadian pianists André Laplante, David Jalbert, and Robert Silverman; the new Pittsburgh Symphony-based Clarion Quartet playing music of the Holocaust; and much, much more. Check us out at www.k-wcms.com. Jan Narveson 519-569-1809 www.k-wcms.com ●●Lawrence Park Community Church Lawrence Park Community Church has a tradition of fine music, both in worship and in concert. Sunday services are held at 10:30am in the renovated and air-conditioned Sanctuary. Musical groups include the Adult Choir (volunteer and professional singers) and the Lawrence Park Handbell Ringers. Choirs for youth and kids are conducted by Kimberley Briggs. There are monthly music sessions for young people with saxophonist and percussionist Kenny Kirkwood. New members are warmly welcomed in all the groups. On December 17 at 10:30am, the Choir leads in a Service of Lessons and Carols along with trumpeter Robert Divito. Mark Toews 416-489-1551 x28 mark@lawrenceparkchurch.ca www.lawrenceparkchurch.ca ●●Les AMIS Les AMIS is celebrating its 35th season in 2017/18. Its Chamber Music Series will take place in the magnificent St. Peter’s Anglican Church (240 College St., Cobourg, Ontario). It will feature: CLARINET TRIO: Shalom Bard, clarinet; Britton Riley, cello; Jeanie Chung, piano. AYR TRIO: Yehonatan Berick, violin; Rachel Mercer, cello; Angela Park, piano. Nazar Dzhuryn, cello / Erika Crinó, piano. MIR TRIO: Mark Skazinetsky, violin; Igor Gefter, cello; Rachael Kerr, piano. Joyce Lai, violin / Erika Crinó, piano. Four “Counterpoint Concerts” will also take place at THE LOFT Cinema, Cobourg. It is a beautiful, art deco, 1922-vintage, former worship space, serving as the unique venue for creative presentations. THE LOFT is home to Les AMIS live classical music. Counterpoint concerts at THE LOFT focus on new genre research. THE LOFT space will in effect function as a new creations studio for exploring theatrical music with film, electronic music, dance, visual art, poetry, literature, architecture and drama. Les AMIS welcomes Canadian composers to submit proposals for these projects. Please contact artistic director Michael Pepa for further information. Ken Prue 905-372-2210 kenprue@gmail.com www.lesamisconcerts.org ●●Li Delun Music Foundation The Li Delun Music Foundation was established in 2002 in Toronto as a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural exchange between the East and the West through musical events. Named after the renowned Chinese conductor Li Delun, who founded the first symphony orchestra in the People’s Republic of China. The foundation is now well known in the community as a presenter of high-quality musical events such as the annual “East Meets West New Years Concert” at the Toronto Centre for the Arts each year, and recitals by acclaimed musicians. Aside from forming the Toronto Festival Orchestra, which gives talented young aspiring musicians a chance to work alongside seasoned professionals, the foundation also provides a platform for young up-and-coming soloists to play on the concert hall stage accompanied by a professional orchestra in front of a live appreciative audience. The Li Delun Music Foundation also holds masterclasses and workshops given by internationally-acclaimed artists such as Lang Lang, Sa Chen, Haochen Zhang and Prof. Lee Kum- Sing, etc. Rosalind Zhang 647-281-8768 rosy@lidelun.org www.facebook.com/LiDelunMusic ●●Living Arts Centre The Living Arts Centre is a vibrant, non-profit arts, culture and entertainment centre located in the heart of Mississauga. With our excellent facilities, we have served as an important resource for the arts, education and business for many years. The LAC houses two state-of-the-art theatres with newly updated sound systems for an exceptional theatre experience: RBC Theatre and Hammerson Hall (one of the largest in the GTA). We have hosted a wide variety of cultural, theatrical and musical performances within these walls, from ballets and symphony orchestras to comedians, plays and musicians, sure to be enjoyed by all kinds of audiences. The Centre is also home to professional art studios, as well as our very own Gallery Exhibition displaying works from local artists. Patrons may also dine at the exquisite LIVE Restaurant to enjoy a lunchtime buffet or preshow dinner. If you are driving to our facility, the LAC offers free parking throughout weekends and after 6pm on weekdays. 905-306-6000 www.livingartscentre.ca ●●Massey Hall Massey Hall continues to offer audiences the ultimate experience of some of the finest and most compelling performers from Canada and around the world. The acclaimed concert and concert-film series Live at Massey Hall continues with performances by the likes of Andy Shauf, Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton and Whitehorse. Now in its fourth season, all concerts in the series are filmed and released as free streaming 30-minute films, available at www.liveatmasseyhall.com. Massey Hall presents the return of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the annual Women’s Blues Revue, and another rocking season of Classic Albums Live. Massey Hall is also excited to present a range of talent at other venues, including French Canadian pianist Jean-Michel Blais at Harbourfront Centre Theatre, Leif Vollebekk at the Phoenix Concert Theatre, and David Myles at the Mod Club. The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall Box Office: 416-872-4255 www.masseyhall.com www.liveatmasseyhall.com ●●MCS Chorus MCS Chorus is a chamber choir of 30 auditioned voices, performing a wide variety of choral music, with an emphasis on classical repertoire. Choristers are committed to creating a unified ensemble sound, dedicated to bringing the choral arts into the community, and engaged in improving their vocal skills under the expert leadership of artistic director Mervin William Fick. Jennifer Crawford 905-278-7059 info@mcschorus.ca www.mcschorus.ca ●●Miles Nadal JCC The MNjcc is a vibrant community centre at Bloor and Spadina, rooted in Jewish values and open to all. We provide social, cultural, educational, fitness, aquatic and recreational programming for every age and stage of life. We host concerts, theatre, film screenings and B12 | theWholeNote 2017/18 PRESENTER PROFILES

studies, gallery exhibitions, literary events, pottery and music. Over 500 people study music in our building every week! Our vibrant choral program includes the Community Choir, Daytime Choir and Specialty Choirs (Broadway, gospel, jazz). Instrumentalists enjoy our Adult Klezmer Ensemble and Suzuki strings program (adult and children) and summer camp. SICA Singers presents a full-week adult camp to build vocal and choral skills with some of Toronto’s best instructors. We offer Talks on Music and Opera Appreciation lectures throughout the year. Home to the Al Green Theatre, a state-of-the-art venue with a grand piano, full stage and film screen, the MNjcc is perfect for arts and corporate events. We host many festivals and seasons, including the Toronto Jewish Film Society subscription series. Gretchen Paxson-Abberger 416-924-6211 music@mnjcc.org www.mnjcc.org ●●Mississauga Festival Choir Founded in 1984, Mississauga Festival Choir has grown to become a thriving choral organization with superb artistic direction, exciting performances, and an enriching music community for its 250 members. The MFC is made up of four contrasting choirs that serve varying demographics of Mississauga residents. Resonance is the only young adult choir in Mississauga, fulfilling a strong need to give youth the opportunity to perform exceptional music under the direction of renowned conductor Bob Anderson. Raising Voices is a choir program for individuals with dementia, their caregivers, and youth volunteers. MFC works in cooperation with an Alzheimer Society of Peel music therapist to support the staff and volunteers to deliver a meaningful program. Mississauga Festival Chamber Choir is an auditioned branch of our large choir, giving those with extensive music background the opportunity to perform more challenging repertoire. And finally, our cornerstone ensemble, the Mississauga Festival Choir, is the largest non-auditioned adult choir in Southern Ontario, with 165 members. Under the direction of David Ambrose, MFC has brought music of all spectrums to the lives of our community, bridging the gap between musicians of all ages, and infusing a growing culture of choral excellence in Mississauga. Jenny Johnston choiradmin@ mississaugafestivalchoir.com www.mfchoir.com ●●Mississauga Symphony Orchestra Since 1972, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra has offered entertaining and increasingly sophisticated programs from the classic and popular repertoires, performed to the highest artistic standards. The MSO has continued to serve its original mandate to provide performance MASSEY HALL opportunities and personal development to talented amateurs while it has combined the strands of excellence and education by assisting young professional performers and composers through solo performance opportunities, commissions, and mentoring. Ryan Tobin 905-615-4404 ryan.tobin@mississaugasymphony.ca www.mississaugasymphony.ca ●●Mooredale Concerts Mooredale Concerts celebrates its 29th season! We continue to honour Canada’s 150th birthday for 2017/18 by presenting some of this country’s best artists. We begin and end the season with fascinating Canadian ensembles! In between, there is plenty of excitement with string quartets, a violin and piano duo, and the return of Piano Dialogue with two pianos and two great pianists. The Players: TSO Chamber Soloists, Jasper String Quartet, Rebelheart Collective with Mai Tategami (violin), David Jalbert & Wonny Song (pianos), Paul Huang (violin) and Helen Huang (piano), Forestare Ensemble. Six-concert subscriptions for “Toronto’s Best Bargain for Great Music!” are only 0/adult, 0/senior, and /under age 30. All concerts are Sundays at 3:15pm, Walter Hall, UofT. Convenient general admission seating. Five of the featured concerts above are presented as one-hour, interactive “Music and Truffles” performances for young people aged 6 to 11, Sundays from 1:15pm to 2:15pm. Adults are welcome! “Music and Truffles” subscriptions are only and include a Lindt chocolate truffle for everyone. Wonny Song, artistic director Christina Cavanagh, managing director 416-922-3714 x103 marketing@mooredaleconcerts.com www.mooredaleconcerts.com ●● Music at Metropolitan Music at Metropolitan presents a variety of concerts at Metropolitan United Church, featuring Metropolitan’s choir, soloists and guest artists. This season includes two concerts featuring Rezonance Baroque Ensemble and Musicians on the Edge, on November 19 at 1:30pm (“Jazz Standards of the Seventeenth Century”) and April 22 at 1:30pm (“Mystery of the Unfinished Concerto”). Our annual Good Friday concert on March 30 at 7:30pm features the Metropolitan Festival Choir, orchestra and soloists Ellen McAteer, Gisele Kulak, Christina Stelmacovich, Charles Davidson and Daniel Lichti in J.S. Bach’s Mass in B Minor. Charles Davidson and others present “Show Tunes for 200” on May 26 at 7:30pm. Our special Christmas events include the Deck the Halls downtown carol sing with the Metropolitan Silver Band and organ on December 10 at 1:30pm, and our Candlelight Carol Service on December 17 at 1:30pm. Metropolitan houses the largest pipe organ in Canada and the oldest tuned carillon in North America. Please contact us for a concert brochure or for more information. Dr. Patricia Wright 416-363-0331 x26 patriciaw@metunited.org www.metunited.org ●●Music at St. Andrew’s Music at St. Andrew’s is a community outreach program of historic St. Andrew’s Church in downtown Toronto. The program was inspired by the church’s 2011 purchase of a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano and the desire to share this fine instrument with the greater community. The piano is featured extensively in our free Friday Noontime Recitals each fall and spring, which re-launch October 6. Performers include U of T post-graduate music students and professionals. Also, on October 18 we resume the free noontime theWholeNote 2017/18 PRESENTER PROFILES | B13

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