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Volume 25 Issue 2 - October 2019

  • Text
  • Performing
  • Orchestra
  • Symphony
  • Musical
  • Concerts
  • Arts
  • Jazz
  • Choir
  • October
  • Toronto
Long promised, Vivian Fellegi takes a look at Relaxed Performance practice and how it is bringing concert-going barriers down across the spectrum; Andrew Timar looks at curatorial changes afoot at the Music Gallery; David Jaeger investigates the trumpets of October; the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution (and the 20th Anniversary of our October Blue Pages Presenter profiles) in our Editor's Opener; the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir at 125; Tapestry at 40 and Against the Grain at 10; ringing in the changing season across our features and columns; all this and more, now available in Flip Through format here, and on the stands commencing this coming Friday September 27, 2019. Enjoy.

BLUE PAGES

BLUE PAGES 2019/20 SECTION I: PRESENTERS & PERFORMERS ●The ● Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra For over 59 years the award-winning Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra has been presenting great classical concerts and is delighted to announce the 2019/20 season starting October. Music director Matthew Jones once more engages audiences with his energy and enthusiasm and presents a great-composer lineup of works by Elgar, Brahms, Liszt, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and more. The new Sunday matinee Discovery Series was a great success last year and will be an ongoing seasonal feature. Once again, the orchestra welcomes great artists: Joseph Johnson, principal cellist with the TSO performing Tchaikovsky’s “Rococo Variations” at the opening concert, and renowned pianist Arthur Ozolins presenting Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 at the final concert of the season. Concerts are at Martingrove Collegiate Institute, 50 Winterton Dr., Etobicoke with the Christmas concert “The Gift of Christmas” and the Discovery Series matinee concert at Humber Valley Church, 76 Anglesey Blvd. Advanced orchestral musicians of all ages interested in joining the orchestra should contact Judy Gargaro, EPO president. Student scholarships are by audition in the Spring. Rehearsals are every Wednesday at Martingrove Collegiate 7:30pm to 10pm. and continue until mid-May. Valerie Gibson 416-239-5665 info@eporchestra.ca www.eporchestra.ca ●●Exultate Chamber Singers Exultate Chamber Singers has been celebrated for its continuing tradition of choral excellence for almost 40 years. The choir is enriched not only by the excellent musicianship of its members but also by their varied academic and professional backgrounds. Together they form a passionate, committed ensemble with a wide-ranging repertoire. Founded and led for 30 years by conductor and organist John Tuttle, the choir has since been under the direction of Dr. Karen Grylls (2011 to 2012), Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt (2013 to 2018), and its newest artistic director, Dr. Mark Ramsay. Exultate is a three-time winner of the Canada Council Healey Willan Grand Prize and recently won first place in the adult mixed-voice chamber choir category of the 2019 Choral Canada National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs. The choir has appeared in performance with Alice Parker, Morten Lauridsen, and Ola Gjeilo, and has released five full-length albums to date. Vivian Moens 416-971-9229 info@exultate.net www.exultate.net ●●FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is a 95,000 square-foot cultural complex comprised of four state-of-the-art performance venues that host a signature presentation of international and local performing artists. Designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects, the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre plays a vital role in the renaissance of downtown St. Catharines, serving as the catalyst in modernizing the area and reinforcing the brilliance of Niagara region’s diverse cultural cluster. The arts live here! Michael Chess 905-688-0722 boxoffice@firstontariopac.ca www.firstontariopac.ca ●●Flute Street Flute Street is Toronto’s professional flute choir, whose players employ the full range of instruments from piccolo through treble, concert, alto, bass, contralto, contrabass, and even the double contrabass flutes. Audiences have been delighted to hear world and Canadian premieres and featured international guest soloists, such as Jean- Louis Beaumadier, Christine Beard, Mary Ann Archer, Kelly Via and low flutes specialist, Peter Sheridan. In addition to their regular three-concert series presented in Toronto, Flute Street has performed as guest artists in Quebec with Les Flûtistes de Montréal, at both Canadian Flute Conventions, and at the first International Low Flutes Festival in Washington D.C. This season’s opening event will include the Toronto debut of Les Flûtistes de Montréal who will be joining Flute Street on Nov 2 at The Church of St. Peter and St. Simon. For more details please visit our website. Nancy Nourse 416-462-9498 noursewind@sympatico.ca www.flutestreet.ca ●●Gallery 345 Now in its 13th year, Gallery 345 is one of the finest piano and chamber music salons in Toronto. I have staged over 565 performances in the past 11 years, ranging from intimate solo piano concerts to 20-piece jazz bands. The gallery is known for its great acoustics. It has been my great pleasure over the years to present so many performers in a wide variety of musical genres. There is nothing like being in the room where the music is played. The gallery’s focus is solo piano, classical, jazz, art song, improvisation and contemporary classical performance. Weekends book first, so think about booking Sunday to Thursday. Rental fees are very reasonable. I always want to get the music heard. All performance is performer-driven. The performer needs to get the word out to family and friends to help bring in an audience. While I do what I can to promote events, it is up to the performers to advertise and promote their events. All events are posted on my website, on Facebook, The WholeNote magazine and other social media. Gallery 345 is also an excellent event space to rent for video and audio recordings, rehearsals, photoshoots, fundraisers, CD launches, cinema, books and poetry readings, private parties, weddings, special occasions and more. The gallery is a 2500-square ft. hard loft with 13’ ceilings, a PA system, video projector, two washrooms, prep kitchen, outside patio and seats 130. The beautiful 9’ concert grand Baldwin is always ready. Edward Epstein 416-822-9781 info@gallery345.com www.gallery345.com ●●Georgetown Bach Chorale We are a renowned choral ensemble with approximately 20 voices specializing in Baroque repertoire from the likes of Vivaldi, Charpentier and Handel, and of course J.S. Bach. The Georgetown Bach Chorale performs in a variety of spectacular venues in Halton Hills, from the intimate setting in a private home to the stunning beauty of local churches. The chorale rehearses every Tuesday evening, circled around a freshlytuned harpsichord, working very consciously to prepare each season’s concert offerings. Highlights for this coming year’s events include Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and his tormented Piano Concerto in C minor, as well as performances of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Hamilton Philharmonic. The Georgetown Bach Chorale always presents a wide range of music for you to enjoy – there is something for everyone! Ronald Greidanus 905-873-9909 ronaldgreidanus@hotmail.com ●●Glionna Mansell Corporation Glionna Mansell Corporation is a music marketing agency, digital classical organ dealer and concert producer in the organ and choral performance genre. The company is an active supporter/promoter of emerging artistic talent alongside experienced world-stage performers. The activities and entities operating under the Glionna Mansell banner include: Organix Concerts, Allen Organ Company in Ontario and touring/concert choir MOSAIC Canadian Vocal Ensemble with members of St. Michael’s Choir School Alumni. This experienced choir has performed locally and in Italy, including the Vatican and also the Holy Land. In 2020, the choir will tour New York/New England followed by a 2021 performance tour to Turkey and Greece. Organix Concerts is a recipient of the RCCO National Award of Excellence and will be presenting 30 concerts in 2020 featuring Canadian and B10 | theWholeNote 2019/20 PRESENTER PROFILES

international artists including: Richard Spotts (USA), Giulia Biagetti (Italy), David Bendix Nielsen (Denmark) and David Troiano (USA). President and artistic director Gordon Mansell is music director and titular organist at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church – Toronto. Gordon Mansell, president, artistic director, concert organist 416-769-5224; 1-877-769-522 416-571-3680 gdmansell@sympatico.ca www.glionnamansell.com ●●Gravenhurst Opera House Gravenhurst’s Cultural Cornerstone since 1901, the Opera House continues to be a focal point for great entertainment year-round! Muskoka’s oldest entertainment tradition, the Gravenhurst Opera House is the place to be for music, theatre, educational programming, weddings, celebrations, community events and more! Visit our website. Krista Storey 705-687-5550 krista.storey@gravenhurst.ca www.gravenhurstoperahouse.com ●The ● Hannaford Street Silver Band The Hannaford Street Silver Band is Canada’s award-winning professional brass band and resident company of Toronto’s St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Its mission is to honour the traditions of this art form and place it in a contemporary context with a unique, Canadian point-of-view. We actively facilitate innovative creative projects and collaborate with the best of Canada’s diverse artists. Our 2019/20 season features brass repertoire gems, paired with new music played with the verve and virtuosity you expect from the Hannaford Band: “Nine Daies Wonder” on October 27 features violin virtuoso Mark Fewer with guest conductor James Gourlay; “Winter’s Song” is on Tuesday, December 10 at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church with the Bach Children’s Chorus; “Festival of Brass” on Sunday, February 9 features Gábor Tarkövi, principal trumpet of the Berlin Philharmonic, and our season concludes on Sunday April 26 with “Murdoch Ahoy!” - a unique collaborative film and music presentation. The HSSB demonstrates its commitment to youth, outreach and education by running the Hannaford Youth Program. This vibrant program is a fantastic opportunity for brass and percussion players ages 7 to 24 to participate in three remarkable youth bands. Raymond Tizzard 416-425-2874 ray@hssb.ca www.hssb.ca HANNAFORD STREET SILVER BAND ●● Harbourfront Centre Harbourfront Centre, on Toronto’s waterfront, is an innovative not-for-profit cultural organization that creates events and activities of excellence that enliven, educate and entertain a diverse public. Maria Williams 416-973-4000 mwilliams@harbourfrontcentre.com www.harbourfrontcentre.com ●●Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts The Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts (the Isabel) is a home for the creative arts at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and a hub of vibrant artistic study, creation, and exhibition in our community. The building houses the Queen’s Department of Film and Media and the DAN School of Drama and Music, as well as the Isabel house season, which brings some of the most exciting and acclaimed musicians to its 567-seat concert hall. Situated on the shores of Lake Ontario, the Isabel brings together worldclass arts spaces and programs with a captivating sense of place, creating a dynamic venue for our students and community to learn, discover, think, do, and experience together. Opened in September 2014, the Isabel was designed by Oslo/New York-based firm Snøhetta and Ottawa’s N45, with acoustics and theatre design by ARUP and Theatre Projects Consultants. Anchored by a transformational gift to the Initiative Campaign from Drs. Alfred and Isabel Bader, the Isabel was inspired by the Baders’ love - of the arts, of Queen’s, and of each other - and is named in Isabel’s honour. For a virtual tour, visit www.queensu.ca/theisabel/content/ virtual-walkthrough. Tricia Baldwin 613-533-2424 ibcpabook@queensu.ca www.queensu.ca/theisabel ●● Jubilate Singers A community choir who enjoy singing music from many lands, as well as music by Canadian composers, our repertoire includes songs that may be new to listeners, as well as classics and familiar folk tunes. We welcome singers to join our large chorus, or to audition for our chamber group. We rehearse Tuesday evenings near Lawrence and Yonge. Our 2019/20 season will include two opportunities to learn from skilled clinicians at full-day workshops. Saturday, Nov 30: “Navidad Nuestra” – a Latin American Christmas celebration featuring the music of Ariel Ramirez, with special guests, Latin American musicians Sikuris St. Lawrence. Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. Saturday, March 7: “The Seas” – music about and inspired by the sea. Settings of the ‘Ave maris stella’ from Canada and around the world, plus a selection of rollicking sea shanties. Eastminster United Church, 310 Danforth Ave. Saturday, June 6: “Of Love and Nature” – our final concert, focusing on the nature of love and the love of nature, features selections from Brahms and Bartók, plus works by contemporary Canadian composers. Church of St. Peter and St. Simon-the-Apostle, 525 Bloor St. E. Pauline McKenzie 416-223-7690 paulinemckenzie@rogers.com www.jubilatesingers.ca ●●Ken Page Memorial Trust The Ken Page Memorial Trust is a non-profit charitable fund supporting jazz and the artists who create such lasting memories for all of us. The aims of the Trust are to encourage emerging talent, foster an understanding of the evolution of the music, promote jazz education through workshops, masterclasses and outreach programs conducted by theWholeNote 2019/20 PRESENTER PROFILES | B11

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