Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival
FEBRUARY 24-26, 2012 @ NANAIMO CENTRE STAGE - 25 VICTORIA ROAD
Don’t miss this amazing festival of chamber music. More than 40 musicians,
professional and amateur, will perform in 8 concerts over three days. In
addition, three of the ensembles will be doing community concerts at a local
retirement residence, an elementary school and at the University. This is an
expansion of the inaugural festival from last year and is shaping up to be just
as exciting and of equally high quality.
The Festival kicks off on Friday evening at 7:00 PM with Mount Benson
Brass Werks, a local brass ensemble featuring Heather Walker on French
horn, Shawn Wright on trombone and Mark D’Angelo on trumpet. They will
play Bach’s Trio in D Minor; Robert Fink’s Modal Suite; Robert Muczynski’s
Voyage for Brass Trio; Ian McDougall’s Trio for Brass, and Steven Verheist’s
A Song for Japan. We will then be treated to the Sonora String Quartet with
guest clarinetist, Susanne Bullock. Members of the Quartet include: James
Mark, violin; Karl Rainer, violin; Trish Clair, viola and Hannah Wilson, cello.
Their choice for the second half of the programme on Friday evening is the
Clarinet Quintet in B minor, Op. 115 by Brahms.
Our Saturday Matinee at 2:00 PM features two ensembles who hail from
Vancouver. In the first half we will have a chance to hear the illustrious
Vancouver Clarinet Trio featuring Kate Frobeen, Liam Hockley and Shawn
Earle who will play the Diveritmento No. 3 K. 229 by Mozart, Um Chornho em
Aldeia by Araujo, arr. Silveria; Mororo by Sedicias and Funf Stucke fir 3
Klarinetten by Takacs. In the second half the Kwantlen Trio have chosen In
Memoriam Harry Adaskin by Chatman; The Jet Whistle by Villa-Lobos and
Trio in d minor by Mendelsshon. Musicians who make up the Kwantlen Trio
are: Paulo Bortolussi, flute; Brian Mix, cello and Jane Hayes, piano.
Saturday evening at 7:00 PM starts with the familiar, sweet sounds of the
Flute & Guitar Duo, Patrick Olmsted, guitar and Cindy Speelman, flute who will be playing selections by Chopin, Bach, Handel and Fauré.
We then close the professional program of the Festival with Trio Con Brio who we understand from other French horn players, will be playing a most challenging piece! This trio is made up of Andrew Clark, French horn; Christi Meyers, violin; and Katrina Russell, bassoon. This illustrious ensemble has chosen to perform Diveritmento A Tre by Haydyn; Trio in F Major Op. 24 by Danzi and Concerto in F Major
by Telemann. If you are not yet familiar with Andrew Clark’s work, you can check out his Web site at http://www.naturallyhorns.co.uk/. We are thrilled that Katrina and Andrew have decided to make Vancouver Island their home and look forward to their performance with Christi!
On Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM we close the Festival in true central island style with a tribute to two local amateur (which is no reflection on the quality of their performances) ensembles. In the first half we will have the pleasure of listening to selections of early music by Holborne, Gibbons, Fauré, Schein and more, played by Heart’s Ease. And in the second half and the final performance of the Festival our
own Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra will treat us to pieces composed by Grieg, Warlock, Ramnish, Holst, Handel, Walton and Vivaldi.
Festival passes are just $30 (students $25) for all eight concerts (4 shows) which guarantees an event ticket as long as you arrive 15 minutes or more before show time. Individual show tickets are $10 (cash only) and are only available at the door. Individual show tickets go on sale to the general public at 15 minutes before the show, but be sure to arrive early!
Many thanks to our funders: Department of Canadian Heritage and the City of Nanaimo, our sponsors Tom Lee Music Nanaimo and Purtzki & Associates as well as all of our Festival Supporters and Volunteers! Finally, hats off to Pippa Williams who has volunteered as our Music Director this year, she has done an incredible job of raising the bar for our second annual (hopefully) Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival. For more information and performer bios visit: www.vancouverislandchambermusic.blogspot.com.
NEW OFFICE HOURS
Our new office hours are 11 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. Feedback is always welcome!!
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
• Congratulations to Hayden Wood on winning the provincial Gold Medal for his top notch performance on his Royal Conservatory of
Music Grade 2 exam.
• Kudos to all of the students who participated in the Conservatory’s Winter Recital at St. Paul’s at the end of January. Such amazing
talent and obvious hard work has been blossoming here at NCM. We are so proud of all of our students!
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Violinist Aisslinn Nosky, from Nanaimo BC, was a student of Heilwig von Königslöw at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music when she played her solo debut with the CBC Vancouver Orchestra at the age of eight. It's possible she has not stopped for breath since. To read the whole article visit: http://bit.ly/AkZ6Sa
SILENT AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED
The Conservatory’s Annual Silent Auction will be happening in a few months and we are accepting donations starting now. If you have something you would like to donate, please bring it by any time. All donations of items will receive a tax receipt for the full value of the item.Thank you so much for supporting your Conservatory!!
NANAIMO YOUTH CHOIR NEWS
The Nanaimo Youth Concert Choir is pleased to announce their plan to attend the Pacific Childrens Choir Festival in Eugene, Oregon June
26th - July 2nd. The choir will be busy raising funds in a variety of ways. We would appreciate your support by:
• purchasing the Nanaimo Youth Choir CD $15(launched in Nov) available at: Quilted Duck, A to Zebra, Tom Lee Music, Nanaimo
Museum Gift Store, Newfoundland to Nanaimo and the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music;
• picking up a Thrifty's Smile Card from Shelley Wallace at 250-758-1834. This fund raiser costs you nothing but guarantees the choir
5% of groceries purchased at any Thrifty's store;
• collecting bottles/cans for the choir's bottle drives. We would appreciate it if you could drop your returnables at the Mostar bottle depot and just say you want the money to be added to the Nanaimo Youth Choir account there.
Attending the NYC Beer and Burger Fundraiser tentative date March 31st. Please call Shelley Wallace (250-758-1834) for more details, to purchase tickets or to donate
items to the silent auction. This promises to be a fun evening and the more, the merrier!
MUSIC AT MIDDAY
St. Paul’s Anglican Church, 29 Church Street, Nanaimo 12.15 p.m. – 12.45 p.m.
Organist: Peter Orme (Director of Music, St. Paul’s Church)
Wednesday, 14th March - Happy Birthday – music by composers for whom 2012 is an important anniversary; Wednesday, 11th April -
Canadian Organ Music; Wednesday, 9th May - Music by J.S. Bach (1685-1750); Admission free – donations to St. Paul’s organ fund
NANAIMO ARTS COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIPS
Application forms are available for the Nanaimo Arts Council’s annual Achievement Awards program, designed to assist talented
individuals of any age and artistic discipline to further their arts education. The awards are open to all areas of the arts: performing, literary,
visual, and more. Former award winners have gone on to successful careers as professional artists. Application forms are available online
at www.nanaimoartscouncil.ca, or the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery in Nanaimo North Town Centre. Applications must be submitted with
all supporting documentation by March 15. Late entries will not be accepted. Last year the arts council awarded $4,000 to students for
studies in visual arts, music, dance, photography, and theatre. For more information, please call 250-729-3947 or e-mail
admin@nanaimoartscouncil.ca.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Symphony Community Day - FREE Events with the VI Symphony
Saturday, February 18, Port Theatre
Musical Instrument Zoo (11 a.m. -12 noon); NoteworthyKids Music Club Family Event (11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.); Open Rehearsal
(12:30-1:30 p.m.); Reserve your Complimentary Ticket: 250-754-8550. FREE and CASUAL and LIVE!
The Vancouver Island Symphony presents
Believe - Saturday, February 18, 7:30 p.m.
Conductor: Pierre Simard; Guest Artist: Ken Lavigne, Tenor
All Vancouver Island Symphony concerts feature faculty members from the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. We encourage you to
support both your instructors and the Symphony!
The Port Theatre, Tickets: 250-754-8550, www.porttheatre.com
Island Consort presents
. . . of Water and the Cosmos
Saturday April 28th, 7:30pm - St. Edmunds Anglican Church, Parksville, BC
Sunday April 29th, 7:30pm - Brechin United Church, Nanaimo, BC
Here is a concert that will take the audience to many places, emotionally and intellectually. The Island Consort, directed by Bruce
Farquharson, is now singing some very rich arrangements for up to 8 parts and for double choir. On the program are works by
Pachelbel and Rheinberger for double choir, 8-part renditions of Albinoni's "Adagio" and Paul Mealor's "Locus Iste", and 4 pieces
relating to First Nations culture. Players from the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra will accompany the choir on 3 works; Monteverdi's
"Beatus Vir", Albinoni's "Adagio" and Raminsh's "The Great Sea". Water presents the finishing touch with 3 pieces; Full Fathom Five,
Sea Fever and Deep River. Admission is $15 (under 12, free) at the door.
Chemainus Classical Concerts presents
Aspects of Love
At 2 pm on Sunday, February 26th, in the intimate setting of 1891 heritage St. Michael’s Church, join us on a musical journey through
various “Aspects of Love”- the look that ignites the flame, the first kiss, the inevitable conflict, and the joys of abiding love. Spend an
afternoon in the company of Mozart, Schumann, Brahms, Bellini and others, as Alison Nystrom and Betty Suderman explore this
timeless Valentine theme. Following the performance, stay for a delicious “Meet the Artists Reception”! Tickets ($15 in advance or $20
at the door) are available at Valley Vines to Wines (Mill Bay), Ten Old Books (Duncan), Ocean Soul Book Caffé (Crofton),
Salamander Books (Ladysmith), the Chemainus Festival Inn or by calling 250-748-8383.
THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS
• A donation has been made in memory of Helena Milne, wife of Tom Milne.
• Donations to the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music are being made in celebration of the life of Weldon Davidson Bradley an avid fiddle player from the central island area. A service is being held on Saturday February 18 at 1:00 PM at the Bradley Centre in Coombs, BC. Donations made in celebration of Mr. Bradley’s life will be posted in our newsletter, with permission of the donor.
• A donation of $5,000 was made by an anonymous donor last month! Thank you so much!!
CALENDAR
Please check your calendars, many new dates have been added!
Feb 24-26 Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival
March 2 Suzuki Violin Book Graduation Celebration
March 19- 23 Spring Break, please check with your
instructor regarding scheduled lessons
March 30 Faculty Concert TBA
April 6 Good Friday, office closed
April 9 Easter Monday, office closed
April 27 Faculty Concert TBA
April 27 Suzuki Parent Session
May 17 Suzuki Piano Recital at St. Paul’s
May 25 Faculty Concert
June 2 Festival of Recitals and NYC Concert
