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YOUR COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL: OVER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION. FIND YOUR MUSIC!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
The Conservatory office is closed for the holidays and will re-open on January 4 @ 9:00AM. Instructors may still offer lessons, as well as make up lessons, during this time so please check with your instructor directly for further information.

NEW FACULTY PHONE LINE
You can now leave a message for any NCM instructor at 250 716 1482. This is not a private line, all instructors have access to all messages.

Have a lovely holiday season!
The Staff and Board of NCM

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

CHORDIAL NOTES
December 2009

FRIENDS OF THE CONSERVATORY HOLIDAY TREE

Support the Conservatory by making a donation and receive a special decoration that you can hang on the Friends of the Conservatory tree. You can even honour your favourite teacher by writing a small note on the back. Suggested donation: $2. Many thanks to Canadian Tire Nanaimo for donating the lovely musical tree that is now up in the lobby. And kudos to Friends Coordinator, Kathy Grabher for her work in finding a donated tree!

OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURE
The Conservatory office will be closed for the holiday season on Thursday December 24, 2009 and will reopen on January 4, 2010. Please contact your instructor regarding lessons during our holiday season closure.

THANK YOU OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS AND WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
In November at the Conservatory’s Annual General Meeting we welcomed four new Board Members to the Conservatory Board. Christine Farentholtz, Jim Farenholtz, Andrew Homzy and Cynthia Gerbert have all joined the Board and bring with them a wealth of skills. We are very pleased to have their support and look forward to a great year. But we are very sad to say goodbye to James Duthie, Louise Negrave, Donna Laing, Bruce Farquharson and Bert Wolfe. Each of these Board members made significant contributions to the Conservatory, some over many years! Thank you for all your hard work!

CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars, new dates have been added…
December 5 Flute and Recorder Recital
December 17 Adult Orchestra Concert
December 15 Board Meeting
December 18 Youth Choir Concert
December 22 Suzuki Violin Recital
Dec 24 – Jan 3 Winter Break
January 30 Winter Recital
February 27 Suzuki Piano Workshop
March 12 Fiddle Camp starts
March 14 Janina Fialkowska in Concert
March 15 Janina Fialkowska Masterclass
May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010
May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital
June 5 Spring Recital

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Specific volunteers are needed for the following positions:
¨ Bulletin Board and Notice Coordinator
¨ Events Photographer
¨ Newspaper Article Clipper

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC
Our last annual giving campaign of the year has launched! This year we are asking that people consider a gift to our bursary program and the donation can even be made on behalf of a loved one as a gift. If you decide to give a gift that keeps on giving, we will provide a card that you can give to your loved one telling them about the contribution. Thank you for considering a donation to the Conservatory this holiday season!

JANINA FIALKOWSKA – SOLO PIANO GALA

Sunday March 14, 2009 @ 7:30
Port Theatre
Mark your calendars, this will be a fantastic evening! Ms Fialkowska will play the music of Chopin in celebration of Chopin’s 200th birthday. Tickets are on sale at the Port Theatre. Watch for more information and special activities related to Chopin and this concert after the holiday season. The following is a review of a concert she gave only a few days ago.
Pianist highlights romantic evening
Chopin piano concerto in E minor with the KWS under Edwin Outwater
The big event for the evening was the return of Janina Fialkowska on piano performing Chopin’s Concerto No.1 in e minor, op.11. Prior to health problems sidelining her for much of a decade, Fialkoska was a frequent soloist with the KWS — for performer and audience this was a coming home of sorts.
Having built much of her pianistic reputation as a romantic interpreter, Fialkowska did not disappoint. She managed the fast-flowing, cascading lines (of which there were many) with both muscular precision and supple musicality, her obvious mastery of technique gave her ample interpretive breathing room. She also relished the opportunities to engage the slower, simpler melodies with a feeling of sweetness and joy in the nuance. Overall, the pianist performed with a feeling of seemingly effortless grace which was warm, genuine and inviting.

- The Record, Nov. 30th, 2009

FIDDLE CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS
The Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp will be held from March 12-14, 2010 at the Cowichan Lake Conference Centre. Registration opens December 7 with Early Bird deadline of February 1st. Don’t miss this great opportunity to be instructed by some of Canada’s leading traditional music teachers. For more information visit the Nanaimo Fiddlers web site at: http://web.me.com/nanaimofiddlers.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
¨ Hayley Fahrenholtz received the RCM Silver Medal awarded for the top mark in BC for Grade 2 Harp in 2008-2009. Hayley continues her harp studies with Marilyn Rummel at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music - Congratulations!
¨ Emma Whelton, who studies cello with Paula Kiffner at the Nanaimo Conservatory, recently performed "La Cinquantaine" by Gabriel Marie. Accompanied by her mother, Hilary, on the piano, the performance was given at the BC Registered Music Teachers Association recital, held November 28th at St. Phillip's By-The-Sea in Lantzville.
¨ The Suzuki Piano Recital held on November 26 at St. Paul’s Church was very successful. All the students performed beautifully and were very professional. The recital was enjoyed by many family members and friends.

NCM FACULTY NEWS – LOTS OF FREE CONCERTS!

¨ Suzuki Flute, Flute and Recorder Ensemble Student Recital – Saturday December 5, 2009 @ 1PM in the Conservatory Ensemble Room. Free!
¨ FREE Christmas Concerts in the Public Library – Dec. 12th and 19th at 2:30 PM – Free concerts in the downtown library for seasonal carols and wonderful flutey favourites. Concerts are in the library lobby and feature The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music flute ensembles, and flutists Jennifer Cluff, Cindy Speelman and Christine McKim. Bring your children, grandchildren and tell your music loving friends.
¨ Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular December 9-20, 2009 - Conservatory student offer NCM Family rate (3 or more): Adults: $30 & Students: $15 (regular: Adult $30, Student $20) This year's singing and dancing extravaganza includes an ABBA tribute, a nostalgic war set including La Vie En Rose, a tap dancing I've Got Rhythm, a scene from the wonderful old movie White Christmas, The Impossible Dream as well as many other classical hits and Christmas favorites. E-mail Katy Bowen Roberts, razzledazzleproductions@gmail.com to request your 'Conservatory rate' now!
www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca.
Port Box office: 250.754.8550
¨ Nanaimo Concert Band – Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 13, 2009 @ 2:30 PM
Beban Park Auditorium. Conservatory Flute instructor, Cindy Speelman invites everyone to come to this concert which is supporting the Salvation Army. Admission by non-perishable food donation.
¨ Nanaimo Fiddlers upcoming concerts:
December 16, 2009 - 7pm, Woodgrove Centre Food Court
December 19, 2009 - 3pm, Woodgrove Centre Food Court
December 21, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. Nanaimo Lion’s Club Meeting, Kiwanis Village

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
¨ 2 Violins for sale – 1/16th $100; 1/8th Genial Violin, made in Romainia, very nice tone $300. Call 250 722 2183

ANNOUNCEMENTS


KEYBOARD MUSICIAN WANTED
Hope Lutheran Church is seeking a keyboard musician to play Lutheran liturgy, hymns, songs one Sunday a month. Position may be expanded in 2010. Please send resumes with relevant musical experience to: Hope2174@telus.net, and include "musician" in the subject line, or mail or drop off a resume at the church Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 2174 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3V6.

MANY THANKS TO ISLAND RADIO FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Interesting Article...

Carlsbad, CA, April 29, 2009—
According to a new Gallup survey, interest in playing music is at an all-time-high as outlined by the 2009 Public Attitudes Towards Music study, which was conducted on behalf of NAMM (the National Association of Music Merchants), the not-for-profit trade association for the international music products industry. The study indicates that more people are currently playing music and own musical instruments than have in the last decade, despite challenges to music education programs in the schools.

During these tough economic times where music education in schools is often threatened, this report confirms that it is more important than ever to ensure everyone can enjoy the proven benefits of music, especially youth. To kick off National Wanna Play Music Week (May 4-8), NAMM has recruited hundreds of schools and organizations across the country to play music at the exact same time on “Music Monday” May 4 to recognize the importance of music education in our schools and music in our lives.

According to the survey, the majority of Americans completely or mostly agree that benefits for children and teenagers playing musical instruments include:

• Helping a child develop creativity(97 percent total, 59 percent completely and 37 strongly agree)

• Helping develop teamwork skills from playing in a school band (96 percent total, 51 percent completely and 45 percent strongly agree)

• Helping a child’s overall intellectual development (94 percent total, 45 percent completely and 49 percent strongly agree)

• Relieving stress and providing relaxation, which is needed during these troubled economic times (94 percent with half completely agreeing)

• Helping make friends (93 percent total with 42 percent completely agreeing)

• Helping prepare them to be creative and innovative in the workforce (91 percent total, 42 percent completely and 49 percent strongly agree)

• Yielding better grades, teaches discipline, motivates them to stay in school (88 percent total, 36 percent completely and 52 percent strongly agree)

• Making you smarter (83 percent total with 37 percent completely agreeing)

"Everywhere you look, you see how the pastime of playing music is continuing to gain in popularity with people of all ages, as evidenced by our recent Gallup poll," said Joe Lamond, president and CEO, NAMM. "More people are realizing the fun and many proven benefits of playing music and are taking that next step without worry that they might not be good or talented enough to enjoy playing.”

Additional study highlights on America’s attitude towards playing music:

• Nearly all (96 percent) of respondents in the survey believe musical skills can be learned at any age

• Most (92 percent) completely (56 percent) or mostly (36 percent) agree that schools should offer music as part of the regular curriculum

• Eight in ten completely (43 percent) or mostly (37 percent) that music education should be mandated by states

• Most (87 percent) completely (47 percent) or strongly (40 percent) agree that music is a very important part of their life

• Eighty-five percent who do not play a musical instrument say they wish they had learned to play

• Seven in 10 (69 percent) report they would like to learn to play a musical instrument

• The majority (64 percent) of respondents completely (45 percent) or strongly (19 percent) agree they would be more likely to participate in music making, if scientific research found that it improved their health

• Most (66 percent) say time (40 percent) and too many other interests/conflicts (26 percent) are the biggest barriers to playing music

• For kids, nearly half (47 percent) say that time issues also are a major barrier with competing activities such as sports (19 percent), video games (14 percent) and extracurricular activities (14 percent)

NAMM’s ongoing nationwide Wanna Play? public awareness program is dedicated to increasing understanding of the proven benefits of playing musical instruments for people of all ages. May 4-8, NAMM will help celebrate National Wanna Play Music Week. The week kicks off with “Music Monday,” a five-year tradition of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada that encourages musicians, music organizations, school bands and music lovers everywhere to play music at the same time to demonstrate the galvanizing power of making music. Other activities that week aim to raise awareness and inspire people of all ages and talent to get involved in playing, from taking lessons to purchasing their first instrument or music software. For more information about the Wanna Play? campaign and to get involved, interested parties can visit www.wannaplaymusic.com.


The findings are based on 1,000 telephone interviews conducted by Gallup with consumers, age 12 and older, residing in the continental United States. Interviewing was conducted during February and March, 2009. For results based on the sample of 1000 respondents, the error attributable to sampling and other random effects would be plus or minus three percentage points.


See results in graph form:
http://realfluteproject.com/REALFLUTE/Blogvlog/Entries/2009/7/15_What_do_Americans_think_about_music_files/USA%20Gallup%20Historical%20Data.xls

About NAMM


The National Association of Music Merchants, commonly called NAMM in reference to the organization's popular NAMM trade shows, is the not-for-profit association that unifies, leads and strengthens the $17 billion global musical instruments and products industry. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of more than 9,000 Member companies. For more information about NAMM, interested parties can visit www.namm.org or call 800-767-NAMM (6266).

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

CHORDIAL NOTES
NOVEMBER 2009

Remembrance Day
November 11, 2009
Conservatory office closed. Please contact your instructor regarding lessons.

GREAT NEWS!
We are pleased to announce that the Conservatory is the recipient of a grant from the Nanaimo Community Foundation! This contribution will be matched with funds we have already received from the BC Gaming Capital Fund and make it possible for us to do several things…upgrade the lighting in the Conservatory; grade the parking lot; install a new heating and ventilation system AND renovate Studio 7! We are so very happy about this since the Conservatory is growing by leaps and bounds. A heartfelt thank you to the Nanaimo Community Foundation for their support!

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Please join us for our Annual General Meeting on November 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the Ensemble Room. All parents and adult students are members of the Conservatory and have voting privileges. We will be saying goodbye to several long-standing board members and welcoming several new!

CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars, new dates have been added…
November 7 Fiddle Workshops and Concert
November 11 Office closed
November 14 Mark Djokic violin Masterclass
November 14 Mark Djokic at the Port Theatre
November 17 Annual General Meeting
November 26 Suzuki Piano Recital
December 5 Flute and Recorder Recital
December 17 Adult Orchestra Concert
December 18 Nanaimo Youth Choir Concert
Dec 24 – Jan 3 Winter Break
January 30 Winter Recital
February 27 Suzuki Piano Workshop
March 12 Fiddle Camp starts
March 14 (evening) Janina Fialkowska in Concert
March 15 (morning) Janina Fialkowska Masterclass
May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010
May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital
June 5 Spring Recital

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are pleased to announce some exciting new activities to raise money and awareness for the Conservatory. Our goal is to create a warm, musical community of friends. For volunteer opportunities and to become a musical friend, contact our coordinator, Kathy Grabher at kgrabher@shaw.ca, or call us at 250 754 4611, and soon you can check out the volunteer bulletin board in the lobby at the Conservatory to see what’s coming up!
Music Library – we would really like to get our music library up and running, but we need help sorting and cataloguing. If you really like organizing things and have an interest in sheet music, and maybe even library experience, we need you! Please call Kathleen at the Conservatory to find out more about this opportunity.

FIDDLE CAMP FUNDRAISING CONCERT and WORKSHOPS
Patti Lamoureux and Geoff Horrocks
In Concert Saturday, November 7, 2009
7:30 pm Nanaimo Centre Stage, 25 Victoria Road, Tickets $15/$10
Fiddle and Piano Workshops
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Nanaimo Conservatory of Music $10 per class

MARK DJOKIC VIOLIN CONCERT AND MASTERCLASS – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009
Marc Djokic has received critical acclaim. “Djokic dazzles…there is a kind of recklessness in his playing that is exciting to hear....” Chronicle Herald Halifax. The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is a Community Partner for this event with the Port Theatre and will host a Masterclass at 1:00 PM in the Ensemble Room. Please call to register, limited space. Participant Fee $25, observers $10.

KINDERMUSIK

New Village Class starts in November
Mondays from 11:15am to 12pm, beginning November 23, 2009 or
Thursdays from 11:15am to 12pm beginning November 19, 2009.
Do-Si-Do -- Pick up your baby and dance. Dance the charleston, the tango, and the cha-cha and learn why dancing with your baby helps develop vital learning skills—from head-to-toe. In this class, play a variety of baby appropriate instruments, a dance with fun props. Home Materials: CD with songs from class, an instrument—Kindermusik egg shaker and scarf, a picture board book—Do-Si-Do—with lilting move-to-it rhyming text, and a set of Art Banners for the nursery wall that strengthens vision and promotes early literacy.
Kindermusik Village (0-18 months) incorporates the most current research on early childhood development and provides families a special place for learning and connecting with other parents and babies through music and movement. In each of these professionally created classes, you will learn about your baby’s development, and how to engage your baby using all of their senses. We will dance, sing, and play with a wide variety of age-appropriate instruments and props. There is so much to explore, and with your home materials you have the tools to continue the fun and learning at home and even in the car!

MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS PRESENTS WILLY WONKA JUNIOR!
With Katy Bowen-Roberts
Jan 5 - Jun 15, 2 hr class
Tuesdays, 2 - 4pm (home-schooled students)
Tuesdays, 3 - 5pm (all other students)
$345 per student includes: 23 two hour classes, 1 final performance at the Nanaimo Entertainment Centre (rental of theatre), basic costumes, basic set production, theatre production techniques, dialogue coaching, musical theatre and voice technique, movement and choreography. Please enrol by November 24th 2009

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to Carly Grabher, a student of Conservatory Suzuki violin instructor Art Petrie, has been awarded the Royal Conservatory Silver Medal for achieving the highest mark on the grade three violin exam in BC this year. She will receive it at an awards ceremony Saturday, November 21 in Vancouver.

Students of Conservatory guitar instructor, Patrick Olmsted have been very successful over the past little while: Maxime Therrien received a first place in his festival performance and honours on his RCM exam, and earned a small fortune performing this summer! Sam Firouzli placed first in festival and achieved honours in his RCM exam; Cameron Craig for achieved first class honours on his RCM exam! Martin Haaf once again was invited to compete at the Provincial level for Festival and achieved first class honors on his Grade 8 Royal Conservatory exam; Padraig Hildebrand was awarded a fine guitar for winning first in a provincial Jazz competition for his exceptionally musical playing! Congratulations also to Shauna Sedola who had her music video featured on the Oprah show, this and her many other accomplishments can be viewed on her new website and finally Jordan Pynn who received an outstanding soloist award at the West Coast Jazz Festival.

NCM FACULTY NEWS
The History of Music returns to the Cowichan Valley! The Cowichan Music teachers present an annual weekend set of workshops, lectures, concerts and fun, and this year we are featuring the music of the Baroque. Marilyn Rummel, who teaches harp at the Nanaimo Conservatory is one of the organizers. She invites everyone to come down for some fabulous instruction, or to hear a concert. Clinicians include Liz Hamel, Recorders, Michael Jarvis, harpsichord and keyboards, Paul Luchkow, strings, and Catherine Lee and the Vancouver Historical Dance Performance Society. Mark Nov 5 - 7 on your calendar, and get all the registration info at www.cowichanmusicteachers.com

Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular 2009 - Conservatory student offer
NCM Family rate (3 or more): Adults: $30 & Students: $15 (regular: Adult $30, Student $20)
This year's singing and dancing extravaganza includes an ABBA tribute, a nostalgic war set including La Vie En Rose, a tap dancing I've Got Rhythm, a scene from the wonderful old movie White Christmas, The Impossible Dream as well as many other classical hits and Christmas favorites. E-mail Katy Bowen Roberts – razzledazzleproductions@gmail.com to request your 'Conservatory rate' now!
www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca. Port Box office: 250.754.8550

Landscape Under Skin
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 7:30pm, Malaspina Theatre at VIU
“A Baroque Fear”
Water... Turmoil... Drowning... and the encounter of the beasts within. The self and its others. Crossing the mirror to experience transformation. Features: GeneviƩve Johnson and Holly Bright, and original live music composed and performed by Nicole Arendt and Chris Helman. Butoh artist, Genevieve Johnson presents two new works.

Conservatory faculty member Calvin Dyck will be performing Mozart's Concerto in A Major with the Vancouver Island Symphony on November 21st at the Port Theatre. EyeGo seats for high school students at the low price of $5.

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

A two year old hand-crafted full size violin. The top is a lovely blond jack pine, the back is a green western maple and the center is figured maple. Crafted by Malcolm McKay. Contact: hazeldean@telus.net

Art Petrie has students who are moving to larger violins and they have 1/8 size Gliga gems 1 violin outfits for sale. If you are in need of a 1/8 violin contact Art.

ANNOUNCEMENTS


Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra presents
The Candles of Christmas
Delicious Concertos and Suites
Friday, November 27, 7:30 p.m.,Brechin United Church, Nanaimo
Saturday, November 28, 2 p.m., The Village Theatre, Qualicum Beach
Tickets: $20, $10 Students, Under 12 Free
Nanaimo Tickets: The Port Theatre Ticket Centre 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com
Qualicum Tickets: Mulberry Bush Book Stores

Music has such power; to imagine, to sense and to feel a time and a place. Welcome to a banquet hall set in a magnificent Baroque palace. First, served by the chef, is a little appetiser (juicy titbits of information about the composers and their music) followed by the delicious main course, Christmas Concertos by two Italian-born Baroque composers; Giuseppe Torelli and Giuseppe Sammartini. The tantalising, delightful dessert (sweet) comes with the Little Suite by German Baroque composer Georg Philipp Telemann and the Denbigh Suite by contemporary composer Gordon Jacob. After-dinner relaxation is provided by Mozart’s ever popular, familiar and delightful Sinfonia Concertante featuring James Mark, violin, and Karl Rainer, viola, as soloists. This feast of Baroque music, provided by Nanaimo Area’s very own community orchestra, is perfect for heralding in the Christmas Season with all its festivities. Take a seat and enjoy the feast!

The Island Consort presents
Music, As Through A Kaleidoscope
The Island Consort chamber choir's fall program, is at Brechin United Church, November 29th at 7:30. This concert will feature guest guitarist, Charles Wolzien, who will also accompany singers on 3 madrigals by John Dowland. As well, 3 works will be accompanied by strings from the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra, with Peter Orme on organ. The program features both Early and Modern music, with two contrasting Magnificats, and an overarching theme of music in its many shapes and colours - as through a kaleidoscope. Admission is $15 at the door. For more information, phone 250-729-8910

MANY THANKS TO ISLAND RADIO FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Upcoming Flute Concert

Join Jennifer Cluff and Cindy Speelman- flutes and Jacqueline Droz- piano on Tuesday Nov. 10/09 at 7:30 p.m. at the Port Theatre for the Random Acts series. We will be performing arias and opera classics. Tickets are available at the Port for $15.

Flute and Recorder ensembles

Join in for the fun with these Conservatory Ensembles

Children's Flute ensemble- Bi-weekly Fridays from 3:15-4:45- Ages 6-16
Beginner Flute ensemble- Mondays from 5-6 p.m.- All ages
Int./Adv. Flute ensemble-Mondays from 6-7 p.m.- All ages- audition required
Recorder ensemble-Mondays from 1-2 p.m.- All ages

Friday, October 23, 2009

February 21, 2009 at 6:18 pm

One of my parents’ deepest fears, I suspect, is that society would not properly value me as a musician, that I wouldn’t be appreciated. I had very good grades in high school, I was good in science and math, and they imagined that as a doctor or a research chemist or an engineer, I might be more appreciated than I would be as a musician. I still remember my mother’s remark when I announced my decision to apply to music school—she said, “you’re WASTING your SAT scores.” On some level, I think, my parents were not sure themselves what the value of music was, what its purpose was. And they LOVED music, they listened to classical music all the time. They just weren’t really clear about its function. So let me talk about that a little bit, because we live in a society that puts music in the “arts and entertainment” section of the newspaper, and serious music, the kind your kids are about to engage in, has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with entertainment, in fact it’s the opposite of entertainment. Let me talk a little bit about music, and how it works.
The first people to understand how music really works were the ancient Greeks. And this is going to fascinate you; the Greeks said that music and astronomy were two sides of the same coin. Astronomy was seen as the study of relationships between observable, permanent, external objects, and music was seen as the study of relationships between invisible, internal, hidden objects. Music has a way of finding the big, invisible moving pieces inside our hearts and souls and helping us figure out the position of things inside us. Let me give you some examples of how this works.

One of the most profound musical compositions of all time is the Quartet for the End of Time written by French composer Olivier Messiaen in 1940. Messiaen was 31 years old when France entered the war against Nazi Germany. He was captured by the Germans in June of 1940, sent across Germany in a cattle car and imprisoned in a concentration camp.

He was fortunate to find a sympathetic prison guard who gave him paper and a place to compose. There were three other musicians in the camp, a cellist, a violinist, and a clarinetist, and Messiaen wrote his quartet with these specific players in mind. It was performed in January 1941 for four thousand prisoners and guards in the prison camp. Today it is one of the most famous masterworks in the repertoire.

Given what we have since learned about life in the concentration camps, why would anyone in his right mind waste time and energy writing or playing music? There was barely enough energy on a good day to find food and water, to avoid a beating, to stay warm, to escape torture—why would anyone bother with music? And yet—from the camps, we have poetry, we have music, we have visual art; it wasn’t just this one fanatic Messiaen; many, many people created art. Why? Well, in a place where people are only focused on survival, on the bare necessities, the obvious conclusion is that art must be, somehow, essential for life. The camps were without money, without hope, without commerce, without recreation, without basic respect, but they were not without art. Art is part of survival; art is part of the human spirit, an unquenchable expression of who we are. Art is one of the ways in which we say, “I am alive, and my life has meaning.”

On September 12, 2001 I was a resident of Manhattan. That morning I reached a new understanding of my art and its relationship to the world. I sat down at the piano that morning at 10 AM to practice as was my daily routine; I did it by force of habit, without thinking about it. I lifted the cover on the keyboard, and opened my music, and put my hands on the keys and took my hands off the keys. And I sat there and thought, does this even matter? Isn’t this completely irrelevant? Playing the piano right now, given what happened in this city yesterday, seems silly, absurd, irreverent, pointless. Why am I here? What place has a musician in this moment in time? Who needs a piano player right now? I was completely lost.

And then I, along with the rest of New York, went through the journey of getting through that week. I did not play the piano that day, and in fact I contemplated briefly whether I would ever want to play the piano again. And then I observed how we got through the day.  At least in my neighborhood, we didn’t shoot hoops or play Scrabble. We didn’t play cards to pass the time, we didn’t watch TV, we didn’t shop, we most certainly did not go to the mall. The first organized activity that I saw in New York, that same day, was singing. People sang. People sang around fire houses, people sang “We Shall Overcome”. Lots of people sang America the Beautiful. The first organized public event that I remember was the Brahms Requiem, later that week, at Lincoln Center, with the New York Philharmonic. The first organized public expression of grief, our first communal response to that historic event, was a concert. That was the beginning of a sense that life might go on. The US Military secured the airspace, but recovery was led by the arts, and by music in particular, that very night.

From these two experiences, I have come to understand that music is not part of “arts and entertainment” as the newspaper section would have us believe. It’s not a luxury, a lavish thing that we fund from leftovers of our budgets, not a plaything or an amusement or a pass time. Music is a basic need of human survival. Music is one of the ways we make sense of our lives, one of the ways in which we express feelings when we have no words, a way for us to understand things with our hearts when we can’t with our minds.

Some of you may know Samuel Barber’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful piece Adagio for Strings. If you don’t know it by that name, then some of you may know it as the background music which accompanied the Oliver Stone movie Platoon, a film about the Vietnam War. If you know that piece of music either way, you know it has the ability to crack your heart open like a walnut; it can make you cry over sadness you didn’t know you had. Music can slip beneath our conscious reality to get at what’s really going on inside us the way a good therapist does.

I bet that you have never been to a wedding where there was absolutely no music. There might have been only a little music, there might have been some really bad music, but I bet you there was some music. And something very predictable happens at weddings—people get all pent up with all kinds of emotions, and then there’s some musical moment where the action of the wedding stops and someone sings or plays the flute or something. And even if the music is lame, even if the quality isn’t good, predictably 30 or 40 percent of the people who are going to cry at a wedding cry a couple of moments after the music starts. Why? The Greeks. Music allows us to move around those big invisible pieces of ourselves and rearrange our insides so that we can express what we feel even when we can’t talk about it. Can you imagine watching Indiana Jones or Superman or Star Wars with the dialogue but no music? What is it about the music swelling up at just the right moment in ET so that all the softies in the audience start crying at exactly the same moment? I guarantee you if you showed the movie with the music stripped out, it wouldn’t happen that way. The Greeks: Music is the understanding of the relationship bet ween invisible internal objects.

I’ll give you one more example, the story of the most important concert of my life. I must tell you I have played a little less than a thousand concerts in my life so far. I have played in places that I thought were important. I like playing in Carnegie Hall; I enjoyed playing in Paris; it made me very happy to please the critics in St. Petersburg. I have played for people I thought were important; music critics of major newspapers, foreign heads of state. The most important concert of my entire life took place in a nursing home in Fargo, ND, about 4 years ago.

I was playing with a very dear friend of mine who is a violinist. We began, as we often do, with Aaron Copland’s Sonata, which was written during Worl d War II and dedicated to a young friend of Copland’s, a young pilot who was shot down during the war. Now we often talk to our audiences about the pieces we are going to play rather than providing them with written program notes. But in this case, because we began the concert with this piece, we decided to talk about the piece later in the program and to just come out and play the music without explanation.

Midway through the piece, an elderly man seated in a wheelchair near the front of the concert hall began to weep. This man, whom I later met, was clearly a soldier—even in his 70’s, it was clear from his buzz-cut hair, square jaw and general demeanor that he had spent a good deal of his life in the military. I thought it a little bit odd that someone would be moved to tears by that particular movement of that particular piece, but it wasn’t the first time I’ve heard crying in a concert and we went on with the concert and finished the piece.
When we came out to play the next piece on the program, we decided to talk about both the first and second pieces, and we described the circumstances in which the Copland was written and mentioned its dedication to a downed pilot. The man in t he front of the audience became so disturbed that he had to leave the auditorium. I honestly figured that we would not see him again, but he did come backstage afterwards, tears and all, to explain himself.

What he told us was this: “During World War II, I was a pilot, and I was in an aerial combat situation where one of my team’s planes was hit. I watched my friend bail out, and watched his parachute open, but the Japanese planes which had engaged us returned and machine gunned across the parachute chords so as to separate the parachute from the pilot, and I watched my friend drop away into the ocean, realizing that he was lost. I have not thought about this for many years, but during that first piece of music you played, this memory returned to me so vividly that it was as though I was reliving it. I didn’t understand why this was happening, why now, but then when you came out to explain that this piece of music was written to commemorate a lost pilot, it was a little more than I could handle. How does the music do that? How did it find those feelings and those memories in me?”

Remember the Greeks: music is the study of invisible relationships between internal objects. This concert in Fargo was the most important work I have ever done. For me to play for this old soldier and help him connect, somehow, with Aaron Copland, and to connect their memories of their lost friends, to help him remember and mourn his friend, this is my work. This is why music matters.

What follows is part of the talk I will give to this year’s freshman class when I welcome them a few days from now. The responsibility I will charge your sons and daughters with is this:
“If we were a medical school, and you were here as a med student practicing appendectomies, you’d take your work very seriously because you would imagine that some night at two AM someone is going to waltz into your emergency room and you’re going to have to save their life. Well, my friends, someday at 8 PM someone is going to walk into your concert hall and bring you a mind that is confused, a heart that is overwhelmed, a soul that is weary. Whether they go out whole again will depend partly on how well you do your craft.

You’re not here to become an entertainer, and you don’t have to sell yourself. The truth is you don’t have anything to sell; being a musician isn’t about dispensing a product, like selling used Chevys. I’m not an entertainer; I’m a lot closer to a paramedic, a firefighter, a rescue worker. You’re here to become a sort of therapist for the human soul, a spiritual version of a chiropractor, physical therapist, someone who works with our insides to see if they get things to line up, to see if we can come into harmony with ourselves and be healthy and happy and well.

Frankly, ladies and gentlemen, I expect you not only to master music; I expect you to save the planet. If there is a future wave of wellness on this planet, of harmony, of peace, of an end to war, of mutual understanding, of equality, of fairness, I don’t expect it will come from a government, a military force or a corporation. I no longer even expect it to come from the religions of the world, which together seem to have brought us as much war as they have peace. If there is a future of peace for humankind, if there is to be an understanding of how these invisible, internal things should fit together, I expect it will come from the artists, because that’s what we do. As in the concentration camp and the evening of 9/11, the artists are the ones who might be able to help us with our internal, invisible lives.

Friday, October 2, 2009


Board Member Katie Hommy, IPod Winner Brenda Flemming and 
Michael Penn from Nanaimo's Boutique Mac 

THANK YOU!
To our Treat Yourself Raffle Prize Donors:

Middle Beach Lodge

Jamie's Whale Watching Tours

Morningstar Golf Course 

Boutique Mac

Mahle House

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Chordial Notes
October 2009


Happy Thanksgiving!

Now that the new year is in full swing we have a number of events to tell you about and a few interesting things that you might want to sign up for. You can also follow our latest news at www.nanaimoconservatoryofmusic.blogspot.com.

CALENDAR
New dates have been added since the last newsletter, so please make sure to update your calendars.
October 2 Suzuki Parent Info Session
October 12 Thanksgiving – Office Closed
November 7 Fiddle Workshop and Concert
November 14 Mark Djokic Masterclass
November 14 Mark Djokic at the Port Theatre
November 17 Annual General Meeting
November 26 Suzuki Piano Recital
December 17 Adult Orchestra Concert
December 18 Choir Concert
Dec 24 – Jan 3 Winter Break
January 30 Winter Recital
February 27 Suzuki Piano Workshop
March 12 Fiddle Camp starts
March 14 (evening) Janina Fialkowska in Concert
March 15 (morning) Janina Fialkowska Masterclass
May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010
May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital
June 5 Spring Recital

NEW OFFICE HOURS
As of the beginning of October our office hours will be as follows:
Monday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Tuesday to Thursday 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

BE A MUSICAL FRIEND!
We are pleased to announce some exciting new activities to raise money and awareness for the Conservatory. Our goal is to create a warm, musical community of friends. For volunteer opportunities and to become a musical friend, contact our coordinator, Kathy Grabher at kgrabher@shaw.ca, or call us at 250 754 4611, and soon you can check out the volunteer bulletin board in the lobby at the Conservatory to see what’s coming up!

KUDOS TO THE RENOVATION TEAM
If you have been at the Conservatory lately, you may have noticed that we have two more studios that are renovated. The Facilities Committee – James Duthie, Bert Wolfe, Garry McKevitt and Ken Lyall, along with Donna Laing laid floor, painted and generally made sure that Studios 1 and 8 were ready for lessons by the first week of September. Thank you very much!

CALL FOR BOARD MEMBERS and ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Conservatory is now accepting nominations for the Board of Directors. The NCM Board meets at 7:00 PM on the third Tuesday of each month. Nominations must be received by October 30th and must include the signatures of two members (all students/parents are members). Elections will take place at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday November 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM.

SUZUKI PARENT INFORMATION SESSION – FRIDAY OCTOBER 2, 2009
7:00 – 8:15 pm at 375 Selby Street
"The Pleasures and Perils of Practice"
A FREE session for all current, new, and prospective Suzuki parents of students studying Piano, Violin, Flute, Cello, and other instruments, including:
Overview of Suzuki philosophy and recommendations; The how, why, when and where of practice; Timely tips for productive practice; Questions and Answer session; Parent discussion (share your experiences!)
Suzuki Education Begins with You!
With Karl Rainer, Nicole Arendt, and Cindy Speelman

FIDDLE CAMP FUNDRAISING CONCERT and WORKSHOPS
Patti Lamoureux and Geoff Horrocks
In Concert Saturday, November 7, 2009
7:30 pm Nanaimo Centre Stage, 25 Victoria Road, Tickets $15/$10
Fiddle and Piano Workshops
Saturday, November 7, 2009
1pm to 4pm, Nanaimo Conservatory of Music $10 per class
Often referred to as one the smoothest fiddle players in North America, Patti Lamoureux is known for her effortless delivery of some of the best traditional Canadian fiddle music of all time. Her list of accomplishments is long: she was 6 time Manitoba Champion, 3 time Grand North American Champion, and in 1994, 1995 and again in 1996, Patti won the prestigious Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Championship in Ottawa, ON. Patti was the first woman in the history of Canada to ever win and was the very first person from Western Canada to attain the crown. Geoff Horrocks (piano, vocals) is fast becoming known as one of the best traditional pianists in the country. He has played shows with some of Canada's great musicians including Mark Sullivan, Gordon Stobbe, Calvin Vollrath, Shane Cook, Jacinthe Trudeau, Kelli Trottier and numerous other gifted, inspiring and talented players. Geoff is also a talented singer, performing a wide variety of songs from the big band and early country traditions. He is involved in several recording projects and teaches seasonally at fiddle camps across the country and privately at his home in Ottawa. Register now for workshops, as space is limited.

MARK DJOKIC VIOLIN CONCERT AND MASTERCLASS – SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2009
Marc Djokic has received critical acclaim. “Djokic dazzles…there is a kind of recklessness in his playing that is exciting to hear....” Chronicle Herald Halifax. The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is a Community Partner for this event with the Port Theatre and will host a Masterclass at 1:00 PM in the Ensemble Room. Please call to register, limited space. Participant Fee $25, observers $10.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
All of our Fiddle Groups (directed by Trish Clair-Peck) received First Place in the Folk Fiddle Ensemble Category at the Upper Island Music Festival in 2009. Way to go!

Teresa Borek’s students have been busy! Jessica Sadlemeyer (Grade7 – piano) received 1st class honours and Jennifer Zhang (Intermediate Theory) – received 1st class honours with distinction in their RCM exams. Also: Carolina Mahecha and Jessica Salemeyer performed at the Conservatory’s Open House, as well as four Stachow sisters (the most musical family ensemble) Andrea (flute), Angela (violin) Laura and Cassidy (piano – 4 hands) who played “Sand Dunes” arranged by Teresa Borek.

NCM FACULTY NEWS
Wind instrument ensembles with Cindy Speelman at the Conservatory:
Children's Flute ensemble (ages 6-16) - bi-weekly Fridays from 3:15-4:45
Beginner's Flute ensemble (all ages, including adults) - Mondays from 5-6 p.m.
Intermediate/Advanced Flute ensemble (all ages, including adult) Mondays from 6-7p.m.
Recorder ensemble – Intermediate/Advanced level (all ages welcome) Mondays from 1-2 p.m.
For more information about these groups, please contact the Conservatory office.
Suzuki Flute with Cindy Speelman - a great way to start your musical endeavours playing a wind instrument that is small enough even for 4 year olds.

Music at Midday with Organist Peter Orme
St. Paul’s Anglican Church
Wednesday October 7, 2009 @ 12:15, FREE Admission
Music of Cesar Franck (1822-1890)
Please note: Peter Orme is accepting students though the Conservatory for organ lessons

Sonora String Quartet
Random Acts at the Port Theatre
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 @ 7:30 PM
Featuring: Trish Clair-Peck, James Mark, Karl Rainer and Hannah Wilson

Songs of Seduction
Sunday, October 18 at 3 pm
100 Chapel Street, Nanaimo
Tickets at the door: Adults $15 Seniors/Students $12.
Featuring the lovely mezzo-soprano, Martina Govednik, and her talented accompanist, Donna Falconer. The program offers operatic selections from the French repertoire including Debussy, Ravel, Saint-Saans, Offenbach, Massenet, and Bizet, and will be held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in downtown Nanaimo. Local soprano, Nanaimo Conservatory of Music Voice Instructor, and family friend, Christine McMahon, will make a cameo appearance in duets with Ms. Govednik.

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
Beautiful Yamaha P202 upright piano with bench, walnut. Piano made in 1981 in Michigan for North American market. Serial # U145234. Excellent condition. $2800 kirkhope@mannkirk.com
32 String Folk Harp made on Cowichan including tuner, it is a beautiful harp.$5000 Veronica McMullen, 669 Barclay Cr. N., Parksville, BC V9P 1X9
½ size violin with two bows in case. Violin in very good condition, excellent sound. Asking $160.
Contact 250 753 8612 or email heidiwang2003@shaw.ca
1964 Chorale (Kawai) upright piano. Well maintained. Moving, must sell. $1300 OBO. 250-753-6521.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Karl Rainer – Suzuki Violin
Hannah Wilson – Suzuki Cello
CORRECTION – Hannah and Karl were trained as children in the Suzuki method, not the Kodaly method…and that’s great because they are now taking students for Suzuki Cello and Violin.
Piano Recital – Saturday October 3, 2009
Music of Bach, Beethoven, Hayden, Debussy, Chopin and Szymaniowski
Featuring: Fusako Constable and Sayuri Kubota
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 4235 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo
Admission by donation, all proceeds benefit the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Chordial Notes

September 2009


Welcome Back!

A new year of music is upon us and we are looking forward to some very exciting news and events for the 2009/2010 academic year!

OPEN HOUSE – September 12, 2009

Bring a friend and join us for our OPEN HOUSE on September 12, 2009 between 11 am and 3 PM. There will be hourly prizes of $100 gift certificates for group lessons, demonstrations by our students, mini lessons given by our faculty, refreshments and more! See you there!

NEW FOR 2009

Karl Rainer – Suzuki Violin

Hannah Wilson – Suzuki Cello

What a bonanza for the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music! The Conservatory is pleased to announce the addition of talented husband and wife team, Karl Rainer and Hannah Wilson to the faculty as teachers of Suzuki violin, viola and cello. The two musicians have just returned from Wilfrid Laurier University, having undertaken intensive studies in Kodaly methodology. As children, both were introduced to music via Kodaly instruction and so their recent training has brought them full circle.

Hannah studied cello in Toronto and has performed with the York Symphony, the Waterloo Chamber Players and the Wilfrid Laurier University Orchestra. In Nanaimo, Hannah plays with the Sonora String Quartet and is principal cellist with the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra.

Karl studied violin in Ottawa under Karoly Sziladi of the NAC Orchestra. His extensive orchestral experience began in 1982 with the University of Ottawa Orchestra, leading to the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and then to Concertmaster of the Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber Players and the K-W community orchestra. He has played both violin and viola with a number of string quartets and in various musical theatre pit orchestras. Since 2005, Karl has been Musical Director of the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra and has provided encouragement and valuable instruction to both young and old in the Orchestra. He also plays in the Sonora string quartet.

Musical Theatre with Katy Bowen-Roberts

In this session, we will do excerpts from Willy Wonka for Kids! (Kids version of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory). There are some great chorus numbers as well as fun characters for the kids to develop. The info for the class is as follows:

1st Class: Tuesday September 15th 2009 - the schedule will be as follows for this term: 10 sessions
The class is on Tuesday from 3 - 430pm
Cost = $100; Music cost = $10 (pay at 1st class)
Dates: Sep 15, 22, 29; Oct 6,13,20,37; Nov 3,10,17

From Katy: As a voice teacher, producer and director I'm starting my second season running the Conservatory’s first Musical Theatre program. The sessions will include vocal, speech and musical theatre techniques, classes in movement, improvisational skills, character development and will end with a short final performance at the conservatory for the parents. The students will perform musical theatre excerpts from Willy Wonka for Kids!

CALENDAR

Here are the dates we have so far for this season. We will be updating this list as the year progresses so please check your newsletters for additional dates or changes.


September 8 Classes begin

September 12 Open House

September 15 Concert Choir starts

September 15 Grant Writing Workshop

September 16 Junior Choir starts

November 14 Mark Djokic at the Port

November 26 Suzuki Piano Recital

December 17 Adult Orchestra Concert

December 18 Choir Concert

January 30 Winter Recital

February 27 Suzuki Piano Workshop

March 12 Fiddle Camp starts

March 14 Janina Fialkowska

May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010

May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital

June 5 Spring Recital


SURVEY

The Conservatory has been running a survey to ensure that we serve our Conservatory family as best as we can. We will use this information to help us finalize our three-year business plan that is in its final stages of development. We invite you to take the time to complete the survey on line at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TxoV4Wi51PetZ508qjEy5g_3d_3d

You may also request a paper copy. The survey will close on September 30, 2009.

GRANT WRITING WORKSHOP with Hilary Peach

Join us on Tuesday September 15, 2009 when Hilary walks us through the grant writing process. Class starts at 7:00 and runs until 9:30. Cost $20, register with the Conservatory by September 14, 2009. Limited seats!

Mark Djokic Violin Concert and Masterclass – Saturday, November 14, 2009

A fiery violinist, Marc Djokic has been the recipient of several awards & scholarships and has received critical acclaim. “Djokic dazzles…there is a kind of recklessness in his playing that is exciting to hear....” Chronicle Herald Halifax. The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is a Community Partner for this event and will host a Masterclass at 1:00 PM in the Ensemble Room. Please call to register, limited space. Participant Fee $25, observers $10.

RCM THEORY RUDIMENTS CRASH COURSE with Anne Tanod

Would you like to complete all the theory rudiments required for RCM instrumental/vocal exams up to Grade 8 in one fell swoop? I will be offering my theory crash course covering RCM Theory Rudiments (Preliminary/Basic/Intermediate/Advanced) again in the fall. Classes will take place on Wednesdays from 8:00 - 9:00 at the Conservatory for 32 weeks from September 16 - May 12; the exam is on May 15. The fee is $98 month for 8 months (September - April) plus $40 for text and past exam papers. Class size is two students, possibly 3. (If there are 3 students, fees will be reduced). There is no theory prerequisite; the exam taken is the Advanced Rudiments but the course includes ALL the material in all four levels. The course is open to students who are:

¨ recommended by their instrumental/vocal teachers,

¨ at least 13 (older teens and adults are also welcome),

¨ at a mid/higher level (Grade 6 RCM minimum or equivalent) of performance.

If the Wednesday time works for you and you feel you might be interested, please give Anne Tanod a call at 250-722-0232 so that we can discuss the possibilities further.

Kindermusik…

is a community of families and educators passionately committed to bringing music to children's lives through developmentally appropriate curricula, CDs, books, instruments, and activities. Kindermusik's philosophy is founded upon rigorous research and fundamental beliefs: A parent or loving caregiver is a child’s first and most important teacher; all children are musical; the home is the most important learning environment; music nurtures a child's cognitive, emotional, social, language, and physical development. The Conservatory offers Kindermusik classes at three levels: Village for birth to 18 months; Our Time for 18 months to 3 years and Imagine That for 3 to 5 year olds, starting in September. Visit Miss Nicky’s blog at http://kindermusiknanaimo.blogspot.com/ for info.

PIANO GALA FEATURING JANINA FIALKOWSKA – MARCH 14, 2010

Tickets are now on sale at the Port Theatre for our annual solo piano recital. This year we feature Janina Fialkowska who will play pieces by Chopin in celebration of his 200th birthday! More to come in the next issue!

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

¨ Scholarship Winners 2009 – Brittany Hannah, Carly Grabher, Jasmine Mather, Justin Hu and Cassidy Stachow, as well as Max Therrien and Sam Firouzli who shared the Barry Swan Memorial Scholarship.

¨ Two of Art Petrie's students completed Royal Conservatory exams this summer. Hailey Davies took her grade 5 violin in June achieving first class honours and Carly Grabher achieved first class honours with distinction. Several of Art's students attended Suzuki institutes across North America this summer.

¨ Brittany Hannah, soprano, a voice student of Christine McMahon, received three first places and three second places in the 16 yrs. and under vocal classes at the 2009 Upper Island Music Festival. She was chosen to perform at the honours concert and also received a bursary for her accomplishments at the Music Festival. Brittany sang her RCM Gr. 8 voice exam this August and is awaiting her results.

NCM FACULTY NEWS

¨ James Mark – Violin Recital Saturday, September 19, 2009, St. Paul’s Anglican Church 100 Chapel. Tickets: $10 available at the Conservatory or at the door.

¨ Calvin Dyck will be performing the Golden Violin at the Stan Hagen Theatre in Courtenay on Sept. 25th and on Quadra Island on Sept. 26th.

INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE

¨ Three beautiful button accordions available for sale. Ballone Burini, Fratelli, and Cavagnolo. If you are interested please contact Katie Hommy at katiehommy@shaw.ca for more details.

¨ 1964 Chorale (Kawai) upright piano. Well maintained. Moving, must sell. $1300 OBO. 250-753-6521.

¨ Baldwin Hamilton Upright Piano asking $4000 or best offer. 250-753-8585

RAFFLE WINNERS

Congratulations to our TREAT YOURSELF RAFFLE winners! And a heartfelt thank you to our donors: Middle Beach Lodge, Jaimie’s Whale Watching Tours, Morningstar Golf Course, iWork Nanaimo and the Mahle House. Please support those who support the Conservatory!

¨ MC Proctor – GRAND PRIZE: Two night’s accommodation for two at the fabulous Middle Beach Lodge. PLUS Whale Watching with Jaimie’s Whale Watching Tours.

¨ Bonnie Stebbings – 2nd PRIZE: 18 holes of golf at Morningstar Golf Course.

¨ Brenda Fleming – 3rd PRIZE: iPod Nano RED! The coveted red iPod from iWork.

¨ Carlo DalMonte – 4th PRIZE: $100 CERTIFICATE FOR GROUP MUSIC LESSONS!

¨ Linda Yanagisawa – 5th PRIZE: Dinner for two at the Mahle House ‘Tapas Night.’

ANNOUNCEMENTS

¨ Music, As Through A Kaleidoscope Island Consort’s fall program, is at Brechin United Church, November 29th at 7:30 pm. This concert will feature guest guitarist, Charles Wolzien, who will also accompany singers on 3 madrigals by John Dowland. As well, 2 works will be accompanied by strings from the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra. Director, Bruce Farquharson, has chosen repertoire that features both Early and Modern music, that has two Magnificats, and that exhibits choral music in its many shapes and colours - as through a kaleidoscope. Admission is $15 at the door. For more information, phone 250-729-8910

¨ Island Bel Canto Singers, a lively all-women’s community choir under the direction of Lionel Tanod, is now accepting new members. Rehearsals are held Tuesdays at 7pm, starting September 8. If you love to sing and have fun, be sure to call Penny at 250-244-3591. Basic sight-reading skills are an asset.

MANY THANKS to Island Radio for their ongoing support!