Views
5 years ago

Volume 24 Issue 2 - October 2018

  • Text
  • October
  • Toronto
  • Arts
  • Choir
  • Jazz
  • Musical
  • Concerts
  • Performing
  • Orchestra
  • Theatre
Presenters, start your engines! With TIFF and "back-to-work" out of the way, the regular concert season rumbles to life, and, if our Editor's Opener can be trusted, "Seeking Synergies" seems to be the name of the game. Denise Williams' constantly evolving "Walk Together Children" touching down at the Toronto Centre for the Arts; the second annual Festival of Arabic Music and Arts expanding its range; a lesson in Jazz Survival with Steve Wallace; the 150 presenter and performer profiles in our 19th annual Blue Pages directory... this is an issue that is definitely more than the sum of its parts.

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2018/19 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS ●●Attila Glatz Concert Productions Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert returns to Toronto (Roy Thomson Hall, January 1, 2:30pm) and Hamilton (FirstOntario Concert Hall, December 30, 2:30pm) this holiday season. This year’s concert will feature a brilliant new program of Strauss waltzes and sweeping melodies from beloved operettas performed by acclaimed European singers, champion ballroom dancers, ballet, and live symphony orchestra. Also co-produced with Roy Thomson Hall: Bravissimo! Opera’s Greatest Hits (New Year’s Eve, 7pm). Four world-renowned opera stars, backed by a 40-voice opera chorus and full orchestra, will perform your favourite arias, choruses, and duets that have withstood the test of time and are as bright and everlasting as the tradition of New Year’s Eve. AGCP co-presents the Cinematic Series with the Sony Centre; films presented in stunning HD with live orchestra. Upcoming performances: Casino Royale in Concert (October 11-12), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (November 15-17), Amadeus Live (February 21-22), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (May 2-4), and Ghostbusters Live (June 8). www.salutetovienna.com Lindsay Marshall 416-323-1403 lindsaym@glatzconcerts.com www.glatzconcerts.com ●●Aurora Cultural Centre The Aurora Cultural Centre is a beautifullyrestored 1886 heritage schoolhouse, home to professional performing arts, gallery exhibitions, arts classes and special community events. Brevik Hall Presents offers a diverse range of concert experiences and family events throughout the year: the Great Artist Music Series offering classical repertoire; a popular series of world, folk, roots and indie singer-songwriter Canadian musicians; Kaleidoscope Family Programming (ages 5 and up); and – new for 2018/19 – Meridian Magic Carpet performing arts for toddlers and up. With a commitment to delivering highquality arts experiences for all ages, the Aurora Cultural Centre welcomes everyone to discover music in the beautiful, intimate Brevik Hall. Fully accessible; elevator entrance at the north doors. Jane Taylor 905-713-1818 janetaylor@auroraculturalcentre.ca www.auroraculturalcentre.ca ●●Azrieli Foundation Inspired by Jewish values and the vision and resilience of our founder, David J. Azrieli z”l, the mission of the Azrieli Foundation is to improve the lives of present and future generations through education, research, healthcare and the arts mainly in Canada and Israel. The foundation has eight priority funding areas: Education; Fellowships; Community; Holocaust Education & Legacy; Science, Research & Healthcare; Neurodevelopment; Architecture, Design & Engineering; and Music & the Arts. In addition to strategic philanthropic investments in organizations large and small, the foundation operates a number of programs including the Azrieli Music Prizes, the Azrieli Prize in Architecture, the Azrieli Fellows Program, the Azrieli Neurodevelopmental Research Program, the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program. Music and the Arts are vital human endeavours that allow us to express our creativity, expand our understanding of the world and foster cultural exchanges. The Azrieli Foundation is committed to supporting organizations that discover, elevate and amplify artistic voices, granting us access to meaningful arts experiences. Jason van Eyk 416-322-5928 www.azrielifoundation.org ●●Bach Chamber Youth Choir (BCYC) Sharing our love of making music Bach Chamber Youth Choir offers a creative, collaborative, and challenging musical experience for singers aged 16 to 24. BCYC is the recipient of the 2018 Diane Loomer Grand Choral Prize for Best Overall Performance, among other first place finishes, at the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals. This dynamic group performs music that ranges from classical to pop, jazz and Broadway. Interested singers are welcome to drop by on a Sunday evening. The BCYC is a part of the Bach Children’s Chorus family of choirs. Performances in 2018/19 include a casual coffeehouse, a gala dinner and intimate chamber choir concerts, as well as singing at Roy Thompson Hall and the Toronto Centre for the Arts. BCYC rehearses Sunday evenings at St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Danforth Avenue near Chester Station. James Pinhorn, conductor, BCYC Bradley Barnham, assistant conductor Jane Greenwood, administrative director 416-431-0790 www.bachchildrenschorus.ca ●●Bach Children’s Chorus (BCC) Sharing our love of making music At the BCC, we love to sing! Our choirs have earned numerous first place awards in 2018, including local and national first place awards. Our team of music professionals teach the rudiments of music theory plus provide smallgroup sight-singing instruction each week as part of our comprehensive choral training program. Participants work together and reach for their very best as a team, delivering beautiful performances to appreciative audiences. Founded in 1987, the BCC is an organization of choirs with singers aged four through university age: Kinder Choir offers a play-based introduction to singing with former Polka-Dot Door host, Carrie Loring; Prep Choir is a choir for young singers in grade 1, based on games, musical rudiments, and performing as a choir; Choir I, II, & III are our nationally recognized treble choirs, ranging from beginner to skilled musicians, for choristers in grades two to 11. All choirs rehearse weekly in Scarborough. Our Youth Choir meets near Chester Station (see BCYC listing). Charissa Bagan, artistic director Eleanor Daley, accompanist Jane Greenwood, administrative director 416-431-0790 www.bachchildrenschorus.ca ●●Barrie Concert Association The Barrie Concert Assoc., a charitable non-profit organization, presents 12 live performances of mainly classical music. The 2018/19 Barrie Concerts feature: That Choir – October 27, 2018; A Christmas Celebration with the Double-Double Duo – November 24, 2018; Sinfonia Toronto & Sofya Melikyan, piano – January 26, 2019; Beyond The Pale – February 23, 2019; Sublime Dvořák with Penderecki String Quartet & Benjamin Smith, Piano – March 23, 2019; The Toronto Concert Orchestra with Alyssa Dimarco, soprano & Anna Shalaykevych, piano – April 27, 2019. At Hiway Pentecostal Church, Barrie. Georgian Music features: Cabaret with Patricia O’Callaghan, Andrew Downing, bass & Robert Kortgaard, piano – October 14, 2018; Songs of Norway with Jeremy Bell, violin & Shoshana Telner, piano – November 4, 2018; Duo Turgeon on two pianos– January 13, 2019; Pianofest - pianists Dimitri Levkovich & Agnė Radzevičiutė - February 10, 2019; Glorious Strings with the Lafayette String Quartet & the Saguenay String Quartet – March 10, 2019; Elissa Lee, violin; Sharon Wei & Douglas McNabney, violas; Blair Lofgren, cello; Angela Park, piano; Raphael McNabney, bass in Mendelssohn’s Piano Sextet - April 7, 2019. At Bethel Community Church, Barrie. One-hour piano/organ recitals are held the first, second and third Wednesday of every month. Lorraine Green 705-737-4927 bruceowen@owendickey.com www.barrieconcerts.org ●●Barrie Concert Band Under the direction of Peter Voisey, the Barrie Concert Band is excited to celebrate its sesquicentennial in 2019. Founded in 1869, the 55-member band is the longest running musical organization north of the Golden Horseshoe area. B4 | theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES

The band’s 2018/2019 subscription series begins with “A Christmas Fantasy” on December 8, and continues with “Last Night at the Proms” on March 2, in collaboration with the King Edward Choir. “150 years – Let’s Celebrate!” is the last in this series during which previous conductors share the baton with Mr. Voisey, internationally acclaimed tuba player, Mark Tetrault, makes a guest appearance, and the band proudly premieres a specially commissioned work by Rick Pauze. Beginning with its 16th annual “Veterans’ Salute” on October 16, the band presents various concerts throughout the year, in Barrie and across Simcoe County. In addition, it hosts the CBA Community Band Weekend June 14 to 16, 2019. The band looks forward to supporting charitable causes and sharing its passion for music with enthusiasm and excellence with Barrie and beyond. Derryl Johnston, president 705-252-3484 barrieconcertband@gmail.com www.barrieconcertband.org ●●Bel Canto Singers BelCanto Singers is an auditioned community SATB choir with singers of various ages. Our director is Leanne Piller, and our piano accompanist is Jacqueline Mokrzewski. Members enjoy the challenges of a varied repertoire including Broadway show tunes, folk songs, spirituals, opera choruses and classics. Rehearsals are 7pm Tuesdays from early September through April at Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston Rd. at Scarborough Golf Club Road. We perform concerts the first Saturdays of December and May and we give community outreach concerts at seniors’ residences and nursing homes. The best time to join is early September or early January. We especially need tenors and basses. Bel Canto Singers is a non-profit organization financed by ticket sales and annual memberships. Friendships and fun are woven through all of our activities. We occasionally hold workshops for improving our singing skills. Members find these to be stimulating and helpful. Social events include our annual banquet. We support the worthy Kids Phone Charity. Come sing beautiful music! Contact Ed at the number below, or Cindy at 416-737-1475. Edwin Perrin 416-265-7586 laured@sympatico.ca www.belcantosingers.ca ●●Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts Bravo Niagara! is a not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to presenting the world’s leading Canadian and international artists, as well as rising young stars, in innovative, inspiring concert experiences in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the surrounding wine country. CANADIAN CHILDREN’S OPERA COMPANY The 2018/19 season launches October 12 with Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes. On November 3, Bravo Niagara! presents the “Voices of Freedom Concert” curated by Céline Peterson featuring Molly Johnson, Jackie Richardson, Robi Botos, Mike Downes, Larnell Lewis, and Joseph Callender. The season continues February 15 to 17, 2019 with the second edition of the Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival which promises to bring another stellar lineup of jazz giants to the Niagara Region. The 2019 spring series features internationally-acclaimed classical and jazz artists: Cheng² Duo (April 12), “Nat Cole: A King’s Centennial” featuring Paul Marinaro and Ben Paterson Trio (April 13), Grammy-nominated Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez, a protégé of Quincy Jones, with percussionist Pedrito Martinez (May 11), and Jamie Parker and The New Gen (May 12). The series concludes with the inaugural “Gala Concert for Piano Six: Next Generation” (May 25). Alexis Spieldenner 289-868-9177 alexis@bravoniagara.org www.bravoniagara.org ●●Canadian Arabic Orchestra The Canadian Arabic Orchestra is a nonprofit organization committed to reviving fine Arabic music, and to promoting multicultural understanding in Canada. In addition to performing and presenting fine Arabic music, the CAO is committed to building bridges, and presenting music and art of different cultural backgrounds on stage. Past productions included a concert of Indigenous and Arabic music “Origins,” presented at the Aga Khan museum and Stratford Summer Music Festival; “Jazzy Arabia,” and “Flamenco Arabia.” In 2017, we launched the inaugural Festival of Arabic Music and Arts in Ontario, over two weeks an array of local and international artists performed to more than 7000 spectators in the GTA and beyond; FAMA 2018 and consecutive editions will continue to grow and bring the best of Arabic & other cultural music to Ontario. In addition to an active board of directors, the CAO continues to build an impressive board of advisers which includes Member of Parliament, the Honourable Marwan Tabbara, George Sawa, professor of music at the University of Toronto, and John Miller, the former music director of Stratford Summer Music Festival, among others. Omar Najjar 647-400-0979 omar@caomusic.ca www.canadianarabicorchestra.ca ●●Canadian Children’s Opera Company The Canadian Children’s Opera Company occupies a unique position as the only permanent children’s opera company in Canada, and one of only a handful in the world. It commissions, produces, records and tours new operas and choral music, with children as both the principal performers and main audience. The company also regularly collaborates with other leading arts organizations, including acting as the children’s chorus for the Canadian Opera Company. The group includes six divisions plus an outreach arm (OPERAtion KIDS), involving hundreds of children and youth ages 3 through 19. Now celebrating its 51st season, the CCOC is led by CEO Stan Klebanoff, managing director Ken Hall and music director Teri Dunn. The CCOC offers children and youth a unique experience, giving members unparalleled performance opportunities and life skills along with age-appropriate vocal and dramatic training. Opera is simply storytelling with music, and those are two things that kids and youth love! The 2018/19 season will feature a new production of John Greer’s The Snow Queen originally commissioned and premiered by the company in 1993. theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES | B5

Volumes 26-29 (2020- )

Volumes 21-25 (2015-2020)

Volumes 16-20 (2010-2015)

Volumes 11-15 (2004-2010)

Volumes 6 - 10 (2000 - 2006)

Volumes 1-5 (1994-2000)