CHORDIAL NOTES - MARCH 2013

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR THE CONSERVATORY
Nanaimo Conservatory of Music was originally conceived as the Central Vancouver Island Community Music School in 1977. Heilwig von Königslöw, a violin instructor and eager chair of the relatively young music department at Malaspina College, realized that there was no way for aspiring classical music students to access the kind of professional instruction they needed without having to go to Victoria or Vancouver. With a first year that included just 32 students and 6 part time faculty, the organization's impact was immediately and gratefully welcomed by its community. Now, with approximately 380 students and nearly as many faculty as our entire student body in the '70s, we are continuing to offer the Central Island region the best in quality music education and programming. Our Spring Break Musical Theatre Workshop is one example of our continuing innovation. With instructors Joelle Rabu, an internationally recognized and award-winning actor, singer, and writer, and Rick Scott, one of Canada's best loved children's entertainers, students will explore various aspects of performance, including characterization, vocal techniques, and movement for the stage. Transferable creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork skills are also addressed. With childcare available from 8:30am to 5:00pm, this is an excellent opportunity to learn and have fun during spring break. The camp runs every day from March 18, with a grand finale performance in the afternoon of the 22nd at Nanaimo Centre Stage. Thanks to the enormous success of our first inaugural Summer Jazz Intensive, we are pleased to announce that we will continue the program this August. Led by Juno award-winning musician and composer Christine Jensen, a top notch faculty of professional jazz musicians will guide beginner to intermediate-advanced students through the ropes of improvisation, instrumental techniques, ensemble playing, and more. Stay tuned for details, including more about the faculty concert!

LIVE AT THE PORT THEATRE!
Solo piano 2:30pm March 17th, 2013 at the Port Theatre
Mr. Jablonski is an internationally award-winning pianist who has appeared professionally both on recordings and in concert for most of his life. We are thrilled to bring this virtuoso back to the Port and invite you to also attend his master class for advanced students (observers may attend for an additional $10 fee), which takes place on March 16th at 2:00pm here at NCM. For tickets, please call the Port Theatre at (250) 754-8550.

SPRING BREAK MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
March 18th-22nd children ages 7 – 12 years 10am to 4pm Drop off as early as 8:30am and pick up as late as 5:30pm Tuition is $350 Take $100 off if you sign up before 6:00pm, Thursday, February 28th

FESTIVAL OF RECITALS
We are now in the planning stages for the Festival of Recitals. This event is also going to be our 35th birthday bash! Students, please make sure you save the date of June 2nd, 2013. The day starts at 10:00am and will run until 5:30pm. Information packages will be made available from your instructors very soon.

CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL POSTPONED
Due to funding and scheduling conflicts, we have decided to postpone the Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival to November. Luckily, this means we have extra time to plan and build a bigger and even better festival – including headlining act ¡Sacabuche!

NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHT: KATRINA RUSSELL, BASSOON
After obtaining her Bachelor of Music degree in performance from the University of Victoria, further studies took Katrina to Toronto, Banff, and Boston, Massachusetts, where she attended the New England Conservatory of Music. There she pursued her interest in the Baroque bassoon, and was granted a graduate diploma in historical performance with distinction. Having spent nearly two decades in London, England, where she played and recorded with the King’s Consort, the Hanover Band, L’Orchestre de la Champs Elysees, and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, among many other ensembles, Katrina has returned to Canada and now performs with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra.
Favourite food: as a committed lover of most food and drink, I feel the only answer to this one is something rather frivolous, so I'll have to say "Champagne and Strawberries", perhaps with a little dark chocolate on the side!
Favourite non-bassoon instrument: given that my husband is a horn player and maker, I think in the interests of marital harmony I have to say "French Horn". Also, I can honestly say that (for better or worse) I know far more about French horns than any other instrument (bassoon excepted, of course).
Strangest gig: the Knowledge Network recently broadcast a repeat of a program I was involved in a number of years ago that definitely qualifies as my strangest gig. I was booked to play with an orchestra called The English Concert in London, England, to dress in period Eighteenth century costume (complete with wigs, frills, etc.), to spend the day until 1:00am being towed up and down the River Thames on a barge whilst playing Handel's "Water Music" as part of a documentary about the first possible performance of that work. We were playing from copies of the original hand written parts, which were difficult to read a the best of times (sometimes the difference between ink splodges and notes are far from obvious), but once it became dark, all we had were candles on the edge of the music stands which kept blowing out in the wind. The fumes from the diesel engines of the tug boats were also blowing straight at us, making for a very strange juxtaposition of time and technology!

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT James Mark is very proud of Maddy Erickson, Leigh Hanika, Ethan McDermid, Aidan Olmsted, and Venice Roetman for their excellent work at the Festival!
Marjorie Cullerne is pleased to announce that Serena Jack received First Place in the Concerto class, Own Choice class (grade 8), and the Folk Fiddle Solo class (14 years and under)!
Rhys Wong has won the Gold Medal for Preparatory Guitar! He'll be honoured at UBC's Chan Centre for Performing Arts, March 3rd. Congratulations to Rhys and teacher Patrick Olmsted!

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Upper Island Music Festival - Vocal
March 1st to 5th at various times, see www.nanaimomusicfestival.com St. Paul's Anglican Church
Young vocalists’ performances are observed by qualified and highly respected adjudicators, who provide encouragement and advice for improvement. This is your chance to support tomorrow's big talent!
Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra - "Prelude to the Ides" March 9th at 7:30 PM -- Brechin United Church and March 10th at 2:30 PM – St. Edmund's, Parksville
Featuring violinist Karl Rainer as soloist to perform "Winter" and Summer" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Tickets are $20/$10 for students (under 12 free), available from the Port at (250) 754-8550. Pat Coleman Trio featuring faculty member Ken Lister
March 15th & March 16th at 6:00 PM – The Vault
Standards and more! Vancouver Island Symphony – “Serenades for Spring”
March 16th at 7:30 PM – The Port Theatre
The symphony & soprano Nadya Blanchette serenade with the passion of Bartok, creative delight of our own Maestro’s world premiere, introspection with Barber’s emotionally fueled Adagio, soaring sensations with Rachmaninoff and joyous deliverance with Tchaikovsky.

CALENDAR
Mar 16 Krzysztof Jablonski master class
Mar 17 Krzysztof Jablonski concert
Mar 18 Spring Break Musical Theatre
May 7 Chorfest begins June 2 Festival of Recitals / 35th Anniversary Follow us on Facebook! http://facebook.com/nanaimoconservatoryofmusic

Five questions with Krzysztof Jablonski

NCM: You grew up in Poland while it remained part of the Eastern Bloc. What was it like for a young classical musician in that political climate? Did your travels abroad as a competitive concert pianist affect your view of your native country?

KJ: I hated that political climate with all my heart and soul. It was the most frustrating, devastating and limiting environment for young artists. No chance to travel, to meet people, to listen to great musicians, and zero contact with external world. I was 15-years old when I saw my first Western country: Italy. After that trip I hated my environment even more. From the other side, thanks to that system, I did not have to pay for my education and I was lucky to have fantastic teachers, especially my first teacher, Mrs. Janina Butor with whom I worked for 12 long years.

NCM: Please tell me about a particularly inspiring teacher you may have had as a teenager. Who was he or she, and what made them so good?

KJ: As I already mentioned, there would be no me, Jablonski, a pianist today, if I did not have a chance to be a pupil of Mrs. Janina Butor, who changed my life in every aspect. Not only she was my piano teacher, but she was like my mother, teaching me not only how to play piano, but how to become better person.

Spring Break Musical Theatre Workshop!

Register now to save $100! Sign up before March 1st, 2013 and pay just $250 plus script fees for the week.