December 2015 Notes
Kerilie
McDowall NCM
The holiday
season has approached gently this year amongst the sublime sunny frosty days
and winter rain showers. This is the season for giving to others and
celebrating traditional holiday traditions with family and friends. Consider
purchasing music lessons for your family, friends and neighbours! Music brings
joy into one’s life, and a Nanaimo Conservatory of Music gift certificate can
start your loved one on a happy and new creative path or can become a fabulous
hobby.
With seasonal celebrations varying within our
community, traditional holiday rituals vary from the very fun baking of scrumptious
shortbread cookies and sweet treats like Almond Roca and fruit cake to the brewing
up a cup of warm apple cider with a cinnamon stick or a favorite cup of hot
cocoa!
With exciting activities like tobogganing, skiing and skating to exploring some snowshoeing up
on the mountain, there is something wintery for every taste. Many enjoy
decorating a Christmas tree, or imbibing in an evening egg nog to offering
charity to others in need and taking a moment to reflect on the spirit of the
season. Be sure to enjoy those cheerful, enthusiastic talented vocalists who go
door to door for Carol singing. Pamper yourself by taking in a few winter
concerts, it is always a lovely and special time of the year!
Here at the
Nanaimo Conservatory of Music the halls have been happily ringing with
traditional popular winter melodies as our young students learn the traditional
holiday repertoire. From fun songs like Jingle Bells to Here Comes Santa Claus,
children look forward to Santa’s arrival this year on the rooftop with his
happy and friendly reindeer.
Make this
year a time to learn a favorite enticing melody or holiday tune so that you and
your loved ones can share in the celebratory ambience of the holidays. You may
even want to try to write your own holiday song and get to work on some
creative composing, since creative pursuits bring such joyous moments and are
so much fun! Consider joining a Nanaimo Conservatory of Music ensemble class,
choir or orchestra to strengthen your reading and technical skills. Be sure to
ask your Nanaimo Conservatory of Music teacher for some great practice and
songwriting tips and inquire about giving the gift of our individual music
lessons, ensembles, choir and orchestra classes at the office at 375 Selby
Street.
SOLO PIANO CONCERT TICKETS ONLY $15 UNTIL
DECEMBER 18TH, 2015
Students and
faculty will receive a discount at a special price on Fialkowska’s concert of
up to two tickets at $15 each (regular price $40.00). You must book and pay
before December 18th to get the deal for the discount price. Tickets are at the
Port, but you must order your discounted tickets through NCM. Order your preferred
tickets now from the NCM office at 250-754-4611 to get a good seat to enjoy
this special concert while supporting the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and
helping to raise funds for Nanaimo’s community non-profit charitable music school.
With concert
pianist Janina Fialkowska’s upcoming all Chopin performance for our concert
season fundraiser arriving on March 13, 2016, there is much excitement amongst
our Conservatory piano students. Fialkowska gets accolades from top critics for
her unmatched performances and is considered to be one of the globe’s top
Chopin performers. Purchase your tickets now to get the best deal and discount.
LONDON DRUGS PERFORMANCES
Nanaimo
Conservatory of Music sponsor London Drugs is hosting our Flute Choir on Friday,
December 18th from 5:30-6:15 at Port Place Centre and is also
hosting our Junior Choir on Saturday December 19th from 12- 1 pm on
Saturday December 19th at the
Nanaimo North Town Centre with choir director Lindsay Suddaby. The Nanaimo
Conservatory of Music is very appreciative and would like to thank London Drugs
for their very generous support.
NANAIMO YOUTH CHOIR NEWS
The Nanaimo
Youth Choir performed at the Community Carol Festival and is currently very
actively raising funds for their invite to perform at New York City’s Carnegie
Hall. We invite the community to consider
making a donation in the giving spirit of the holiday season! Just call
250-754-4611 or stop by our office at 375 Selby Street we will provide you a
charitable tax receipt.
The choir
will also perform their annual concert, this year with Christmas from the Heart,
an evening of heartfelt and heart-warming festive songs! The choir performs
this concert with the Camerata Singers Saturday December 12th, 2015 at 7 pm.
The concert will take place at St. Andrew’s United Church. Tickets are $15 and
children under 12 are free. Under the direction of Marian Smith, with assistant
Youth Choir conductor Lindsay Suddaby, these choirs cover an age range of 5 to
the young-at-heart! The choir will be singing a selection of traditional
favorites, lovely choral arrangements, and fun carols.
The
acclaimed Nanaimo Youth Choir is going to be at the Bethlehem Retreat Centre to
sing at the Solstice celebration’s evening ‘labyrinth’ walk, Dec. 21st at 7:00-
9:00 pm! Join them for a fantastic evening where the Bethlehem Retreat Centre
will be helping to raise funds for the NYC to NYC campaign for our choir.
Admission is by donation and proceeds will go to the choir
We are
asking the Nanaimo community to be generous in their donating towards the
Nanimo Youth Choir’s very worthy cause. Our goal is to raise $60,000 to cover
all of our NYC to NYC expenses and we are already more than halfway there, but
we can’t meet our goal without your support! If you would like to make a
contribution to help our choir go to New York City please contact us at the NCM
office. You can also donate through Nanaimo Conservatory of Music’s Canada
Helps site, just make sure to mention it is for the Nanaimo Youth Choir New
York City trip. Thank you so much for your support!
GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC LESSONS WITH AN XMAS
NCM GIFT CERTIFICATE
We offer flute, recorder, trumpet, trombone, harp, violin,
viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, French horn, pipe organ, clarinet, bassoon,
voice, Theory, History, choir, orchestras and ensembles, jazz combo and much
more! To find out details call us at 250-754-4611 to inquire about studying
your instrument or ensemble/orchestra/choir of your choice.
NCM
PROGRAMS AT THE CITY OF NANAIMO!
City of Nanaimo is offering a number of Nanaimo Conservatory of
Music lesson programs! The programs that are available now through the City of
Nanaimo are classes offered are The Mighty Uke (adult beginners ukulele)10
Tuesdays Jan 5- Mar 8, 7-8 pm, Sing With Me, voice (all adults)10 Wednesdays
Jan 6- Mar 9th, 7-9 pm ,group flute (for teens) 8 Mondays Jan 11-Mar
07, 6-7 pm, violin (beginners ages 11-14 years) individual lessons at either
4pm or 4:30 pm Mondays from Jan 11-Mar 7
and musical theatre (ages 11-14 years) 8 Saturdays Jan 9-Mar 5, 10am-12:30 . Be
sure to take advantage of the City of Nanaimo numerous program schedules and
sign up for the year and register online at the website www.IReg.nanaimo.ca! All lessons will be held at 375
Selby Street.
BEGINNER
HARP CLASSES START AT NCM IN JANUARY 2016
A new Beginner Group class begins Jan 21. 12:15 on Thursdays.
Suitable for those brand new to harping, and at the early stages of learning,
the class focuses on beautiful technique and confident relaxed playing! The class size will be very small, so
students can have both the fun of a group and individual attention. 9 classes for $150 - a bargain! Rental harps
are available, so tell your friends!
NYC
FUNDRAISING EVENTS-NYC PIZZA!!
Annnouncing
the most heavenly and out of this world pizza!! Buy it now and savour the
flavour at Fitzwilliam and Wallace at New York Pizza, 10% of the proceeds from
each pizza will go to our NYC To NYC fundraising fund! New York Pizza’s $25.00
gift certificate proceeds given to the choir are $5 per pizza! It's pepperoni,
by the way!! Support the choir and order
your next lunch or dinner with the Nanaimo Youth Choir Pizza!!
FROM
TERESA BOREK’S STUDIO
Piano students from Teresa Borek’s studio will perform in the
Christmas Recital on Saturday, December 12, 6:30 pm. at the St. Andrew's
Presbyterian Church on Departure Bay Road. Come on out and show your support
and enjoy some impressive NCM talent!
THE NANAIMO
CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC THANKS PETER LEFEAUX
The
NCM would like to thank Peter Lefeaux for his kind donation of a Pearl River
Piano to our community school. Thank you so much for your donation it will very
much help our students to learn how to play the piano and is a lovely addition
to our school.
A THANK
YOU TO ANTHONY BROUWERS
We
would like to thank Anthony Brouwers for the amazing saxophone that he donated
to NCM. Thank you so much for thinking of us and for your giving donation that
will benefit NCM’s scholarship fund.
THE NCM
THANKS DAN BRUBECK AND HIS QUARTET
Drummer and bandleader Dan Brubeck has generously donated $430.00 from
his Simon Holt benefit performance and Live from the Cellar CD release jazz concert
to the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. This amount of money is enough to pay for
an upper level bursary for a NCM music student for over a year and will help a
student in financial need. The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is grateful for
this donation and extends our thanks to Dan Brubeck and his quartet for their
generosity and gift in the giving spirit of the holidays.
COMMUNITY
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
UPPER ISLAND
MUSIC FESTIVAL-The Upper Island Music
Festival is now open for registrations. The closing deadline is Jan 10th,
2015. Learn more at their website at http://nanaimomusicfestival.com/
OPERA NANAIMO PRESENTS AMAHL AND THE
NIGHT VISITORS-Nanaimo Conservatory of
Music Opera Workshop music students will be part of the chorus of Opera
Nanaimo’s latest production. Enjoy Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night
Visitors this winter concert season on December 29th and 30th at 7:30 pm. Rehearsals
are going well and the excellent cast will make this production a delight. The three
kings, Balthazar (Michael Mackinnon), Melchior (Tyler Fitzgerald) and Kaspar
(Sergio Augusto Montenegro) blend their voices beautifully. The Mother (Skye
Donald) has the rich, dark dramatic soprano colour needed for this role. Many
of you may have heard her recently as a soloist with the Nanaimo Chamber
Orchestra and the Malaspina Singers. Amahl (Jack Mace) is busy learning his
lines and how to hobble around on his crutch. The chorus of Shepherds and
Shepherdesses has been rehearsing weekly with students from the Nanaimo
Conservatory’s Opera Workshop Program.
The performance will take place at the Ecunumerical Centre at 6234
Spartan Rd. Tickets are $25 and students are $15. Door tickets are $28.
Purchase your tickets at the Port Theatre Box Office 250-754-8550.
YELLOWPOINT CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR -This year's singing and
dancing extravaganza includes hits by the Beach Boys and Bobby Darrin, a
Rock of Ages medley, songs from Grease and Moulin Rouge, a Canadiana set as
well as many more classical hits and Christmas favourites. Don't miss out on this Christmas tradition! Performances at: Cedar Community Hall,
2388 Cedar Road, Nanaimo- 3:00 pm performances Dec. 11, 12 & 13- 7pm
performances Dec 11, 12, 13. The Port Theatre, 125 Front Street, Nanaimo-3 pm
performances Dec 19 & 20, 7pm performances- Dec 18 & 20. Sid Williams
Theatre, 442 Cliffe Ave. Visit their website to learn more: www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca
UPCOMING
PERFORMANCES FROM NCM FACULTY BASS INSTRUCTOR KEN LISTER:-Enjoy the talent and wonderful gift of multi
JUNO award winner and faculty bassist Ken Lister at the following upcoming
performances December 12: Oak Bay High School Theatre with Joe Coughlin &
Big Band 7 pm, January 15-17: Frankie’s Italian Kitchen (Vancouver) with the
Steve Davis/Cory Weeds Quintet at 250-933-3338 or at 6582 Applecross Rd.
LADYSMITH LITTLE THEATRE PERFORMANCE-This Christmas Season enjoy a fun theatrical
mashup of “The Wizard of Oz” and “A Christmas Carol”, entitled, “Dorothy Gets
Scrooged” written and directed by Bill Johnston. Performances take place from
December 10th -31st, 2015. Members cost is $18, Non
Members $20, Groups of 10+ $18 and Dinner is $20. Order tickets and learn more
at 250-924-0658 and www.ladysmiththeatre.com.
CHEMAINUS CLASSICAL CONCERTS-The Christmas concert, “Unfolding Delights,”
featuring Sheila Johnson’s very popular “Concenti” Choir as well as her
award-winning Youth Choirs will be Concenti’s and CVYC’s only Christmas concert
this season, so you won’t want to miss it.
Enjoy a “movable feast,” walking first to hear the music sung at a
larger venue, Chemainus United Church, and then walking back, with the choirs
leading the walkers in carol singing, to St. Michael’s to enjoy the
traditional, “Meet the Artists” reception on Sunday, December 13 at 2 pm at
Chemainus UNITED CHURCH. A “group special” is available: five advance, adult
tickets for only $80. Youth 18 and under enter for $5. Single advance tickets
$17. Please call Eleanor at 250-748-8383.www.ChemainusClassicalConcerts.ca.
BULLETIN BOARD
PIANO SALE- Petrof Upright Grand Piano, Limited edition,
1:150 made. Patent construction, Gran Prix Barcelona, Bruxellers Paris Diplox
D' Honer Bruxellers 1958- serial #453264, comes with piano chair, Beautiful
Sound New $16,000 Sale price $4,000. In excellent, new condition. Beautiful
Instrument hardly played on. Walnut colour. Moving sale. If interested, please
call or email. It is a great piano for children to start lessons, they will
grow with the piano. Please feel free to email at ingeborg.harr@outlook.com or
telephone Ingeborg Reive at 250-585-6378
HEINTZMAN GRAND PIANO FOR SALE- 6
FOOT PIANO 1922-$3900, newer Ronson hammers, 20 years ago was professionally stripped
and refinished to mahogany colour, beautiful sound. Sings in treble clef and
crisp, resonant bass. Serial number 68038 Call 1-250-390-9532 to view.
