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!
