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

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 200^th 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. 25^th and on Quadra Island on Sept. 26^th.

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!