CHORDIAL NOTES
December 2009
FRIENDS OF THE CONSERVATORY HOLIDAY TREE
Support the Conservatory by making a donation and receive a special decoration that you can hang on the Friends of the Conservatory tree. You can even honour your favourite teacher by writing a small note on the back. Suggested donation: $2. Many thanks to Canadian Tire Nanaimo for donating the lovely musical tree that is now up in the lobby. And kudos to Friends Coordinator, Kathy Grabher for her work in finding a donated tree!
OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURE
The Conservatory office will be closed for the holiday season on Thursday December 24, 2009 and will reopen on January 4, 2010. Please contact your instructor regarding lessons during our holiday season closure.
THANK YOU OUTGOING BOARD MEMBERS AND WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
In November at the Conservatory’s Annual General Meeting we welcomed four new Board Members to the Conservatory Board. Christine Farentholtz, Jim Farenholtz, Andrew Homzy and Cynthia Gerbert have all joined the Board and bring with them a wealth of skills. We are very pleased to have their support and look forward to a great year. But we are very sad to say goodbye to James Duthie, Louise Negrave, Donna Laing, Bruce Farquharson and Bert Wolfe. Each of these Board members made significant contributions to the Conservatory, some over many years! Thank you for all your hard work!
CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars, new dates have been added…
December 5 Flute and Recorder Recital
December 17 Adult Orchestra Concert
December 15 Board Meeting
December 18 Youth Choir Concert
December 22 Suzuki Violin Recital
Dec 24 – Jan 3 Winter Break
January 30 Winter Recital
February 27 Suzuki Piano Workshop
March 12 Fiddle Camp starts
March 14 Janina Fialkowska in Concert
March 15 Janina Fialkowska Masterclass
May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010
May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital
June 5 Spring Recital
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Specific volunteers are needed for the following positions:
¨ Bulletin Board and Notice Coordinator
¨ Events Photographer
¨ Newspaper Article Clipper
GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC
Our last annual giving campaign of the year has launched! This year we are asking that people consider a gift to our bursary program and the donation can even be made on behalf of a loved one as a gift. If you decide to give a gift that keeps on giving, we will provide a card that you can give to your loved one telling them about the contribution. Thank you for considering a donation to the Conservatory this holiday season!
JANINA FIALKOWSKA – SOLO PIANO GALA
Sunday March 14, 2009 @ 7:30
Port Theatre
Mark your calendars, this will be a fantastic evening! Ms Fialkowska will play the music of Chopin in celebration of Chopin’s 200th birthday. Tickets are on sale at the Port Theatre. Watch for more information and special activities related to Chopin and this concert after the holiday season. The following is a review of a concert she gave only a few days ago.
Pianist highlights romantic evening
Chopin piano concerto in E minor with the KWS under Edwin Outwater
The big event for the evening was the return of Janina Fialkowska on piano performing Chopin’s Concerto No.1 in e minor, op.11. Prior to health problems sidelining her for much of a decade, Fialkoska was a frequent soloist with the KWS — for performer and audience this was a coming home of sorts.
Having built much of her pianistic reputation as a romantic interpreter, Fialkowska did not disappoint. She managed the fast-flowing, cascading lines (of which there were many) with both muscular precision and supple musicality, her obvious mastery of technique gave her ample interpretive breathing room. She also relished the opportunities to engage the slower, simpler melodies with a feeling of sweetness and joy in the nuance. Overall, the pianist performed with a feeling of seemingly effortless grace which was warm, genuine and inviting.
- The Record, Nov. 30th, 2009
FIDDLE CAMP REGISTRATION OPENS
The Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp will be held from March 12-14, 2010 at the Cowichan Lake Conference Centre. Registration opens December 7 with Early Bird deadline of February 1st. Don’t miss this great opportunity to be instructed by some of Canada’s leading traditional music teachers. For more information visit the Nanaimo Fiddlers web site at: http://web.me.com/nanaimofiddlers.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
¨ Hayley Fahrenholtz received the RCM Silver Medal awarded for the top mark in BC for Grade 2 Harp in 2008-2009. Hayley continues her harp studies with Marilyn Rummel at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music - Congratulations!
¨ Emma Whelton, who studies cello with Paula Kiffner at the Nanaimo Conservatory, recently performed "La Cinquantaine" by Gabriel Marie. Accompanied by her mother, Hilary, on the piano, the performance was given at the BC Registered Music Teachers Association recital, held November 28th at St. Phillip's By-The-Sea in Lantzville.
¨ The Suzuki Piano Recital held on November 26 at St. Paul’s Church was very successful. All the students performed beautifully and were very professional. The recital was enjoyed by many family members and friends.
NCM FACULTY NEWS – LOTS OF FREE CONCERTS!
¨ Suzuki Flute, Flute and Recorder Ensemble Student Recital – Saturday December 5, 2009 @ 1PM in the Conservatory Ensemble Room. Free!
¨ FREE Christmas Concerts in the Public Library – Dec. 12th and 19th at 2:30 PM – Free concerts in the downtown library for seasonal carols and wonderful flutey favourites. Concerts are in the library lobby and feature The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music flute ensembles, and flutists Jennifer Cluff, Cindy Speelman and Christine McKim. Bring your children, grandchildren and tell your music loving friends.
¨ Yellowpoint Christmas Spectacular December 9-20, 2009 - Conservatory student offer NCM Family rate (3 or more): Adults: $30 & Students: $15 (regular: Adult $30, Student $20) This year's singing and dancing extravaganza includes an ABBA tribute, a nostalgic war set including La Vie En Rose, a tap dancing I've Got Rhythm, a scene from the wonderful old movie White Christmas, The Impossible Dream as well as many other classical hits and Christmas favorites. E-mail Katy Bowen Roberts, razzledazzleproductions@gmail.com to request your 'Conservatory rate' now!
www.yellowpointchristmasspectacular.ca.
Port Box office: 250.754.8550
¨ Nanaimo Concert Band – Christmas Concert
Sunday, December 13, 2009 @ 2:30 PM
Beban Park Auditorium. Conservatory Flute instructor, Cindy Speelman invites everyone to come to this concert which is supporting the Salvation Army. Admission by non-perishable food donation.
¨ Nanaimo Fiddlers upcoming concerts:
December 16, 2009 - 7pm, Woodgrove Centre Food Court
December 19, 2009 - 3pm, Woodgrove Centre Food Court
December 21, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. Nanaimo Lion’s Club Meeting, Kiwanis Village
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
¨ 2 Violins for sale – 1/16th $100; 1/8th Genial Violin, made in Romainia, very nice tone $300. Call 250 722 2183
ANNOUNCEMENTS
KEYBOARD MUSICIAN WANTED
Hope Lutheran Church is seeking a keyboard musician to play Lutheran liturgy, hymns, songs one Sunday a month. Position may be expanded in 2010. Please send resumes with relevant musical experience to: Hope2174@telus.net, and include "musician" in the subject line, or mail or drop off a resume at the church Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings at 2174 Departure Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 3V6.
MANY THANKS TO ISLAND RADIO FOR THEIR ONGOING SUPPORT!
