ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CONCERT & MASTER CLASS
JANINA FIALKOWSKA – SOLO PIANO RECITAL
CONCERT: SUNDAY MARCH 14, 2010 @ 7:30PM
MASTER CLASS: MONDAY, MARCH 15, 2010 @ 10:00 AM
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS “FREDERIC CHOPIN AND ROBERT SCHUMANN TURN 200!”
Music lovers wanting an intimate evening of superb piano artistry should waste no time getting their seats at the Port Theatre. Canadian pianist Janina Fialkowska has included Nanaimo in her cross Canada tour and will be at the Port Theatre for a 7:30 performance on Sunday March 14 as a part of her year-long international celebration of the 200 birthdays of both Frederic Chopin and Robert Schumann. Famous for her interpretations of Chopin, Mozart and Liszt, Ms. Fialkowska was chosen in 1990 to perform the world premiere of the recently discovered 3rd piano concerto of Liszt with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is a regular guest soloist with most of the world’s prestigious orchestras and has made numerous recordings. Her latest CD, “Chopin Recital”, instantly received rave reviews from leading critics around the world. Norman Lebrecht, one of the classical music world’s most influential commentators calls her performance and interpretation “The Real Thing – high class Chopin playing, deeply felt and demonstrably authentic.” “A born Chopin interpreter!” (Arthur Rubinstein), Ms Fialkowska is the perfect choice for a concert tour honouring this composer’s brilliance.
Both Chopin and Schumann were born in 1810. Chopin, while a poet of the piano and an inspired composer, was also a patriotic Pole, a man terrified by large audiences and often racked by illness. Schumann – a composer, critic and intellectual – lived a turbulent yet at times brilliantly creative life. Schumann was a great admirer of Chopin and is remembered for his famous exclamation: ‘Hats off, gentlemen, a genius’. Ms. Fialkowska’s program at the Port Theatre includes works by both these great composers: Chopin’s Polonaise in C# minor, Op.26/1; Grand Valse Brilliante in A flat major Op. 34/1 and Waltz in C# minor Op. 64/2; Preludes in F# minor, Op. 28/8 and A flat major, Op. 28/17; Nocturne in B major, Op 62/1 and the 2nd Scherzo in B flat minor. By Schumann: Humoresque and Carnival of Vienna. As an added treat she will perform Mozart’s Fantasy in C minor, K 475 and for all the young pianists in the audience, variations on “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman”, K 265 – otherwise known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star! Ms. Fialkowska will share her thoughts about these great composers with the audience throughout the evening.
This concert is the Conservatory’s Annual Gala Fundraising Concert. Come and celebrate these birthdays with one of Canada’s most respected and best-loved pianists and help to provide ongoing high-quality music education in our community.
Ms. Fialkowska will give a master class to a group of advanced students at the Conservatory on Monday, March 15 at 10 a.m. The public is welcome to come and observe and meet the pianist. Tickets are $10. Please call the Conservatory office at 250-754-4611. Tickets to the Concert are $30 for adults and $20 for students available through the Port Theatre box office at 250-754-8550. Ms. Fialkowska has an excellent website at www.janinafialkowska.com.
FIDDLE CAMP INSTRUCTOR’S CONCERT
On Saturday March 13, 2010 join us for a night of fantastic fiddling! The concert will be held at Centennial Hall, 309 South Shore in the town of Lake Cowichan. Tickets $20/$10.
CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars.
March 12 Fiddle Camp starts
March 13 Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp Instructor’s
Showcase Concert
March 14 Janina Fialkowska in Concert
March 15 Janina Fialkowska Master class
May 2 (2 PM) Showcase 2010
May 20 Suzuki Piano Recital
May 25 Suzuki Violin Recital
June 5 Spring Recital
June 10 Year-end Adult Recital
BILLETING THE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
August 4 & 5, 2010
This is a fantastic opportunity to have a young musician stay with your family and therefore bring even more music, and maybe even some tips on playing, into your home! Host families are responsible for transportation to and from the ferry and theatre as well as meals when the billet is at the home. In addition, host families will receive one free ticket to the concert. Our billeting coordinators are Leslie Mathews and Donna Laing.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
¨On Saturday, February 27 the Suzuki piano students of Nicole Arendt, Mabel Petrie, and Anne Tanod were treated to a percussion workshop taught by Nicole. All students had an opportunity to hear performances on a variety of percussion instruments. Students, siblings, teachers, and parents joined in the fun playing in a hand drumming ensemble, and marimba ensemble. Participants were also treated to a mini-concert of a piano/strings ensemble playing a "Sonatina Jamboree" with Justin Hu and Thomas Grabher on piano and Trish Clair-Peck, Karl Rainer, Art Petrie and 3 of Art's students Haley Davies, Jasmine Mather and Clif Clemotte playing strings. We may be hearing more of this ensemble in the future. It was a fantastic experience for our Suzuki Piano students and their families. Thank you to all the teachers and especially to Nicole for sharing both her instruments and her expertise with us.
¨From Leslie Mathews, parent and Board Member: “I just returned from the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival . It was great! Niko Lunny won as best jazz pianist (he also took that honour at the recent Surrey Jazz Festival). Bill Costin should be proud! The grade 11 Jazz Band from Wellington Secondary also won their category and got to perform on the big stage for the winner's gala. Conservatory students Brittany Hathaway on piano, and Kelly Mathews on trumpet, played in this Band. Generally all the Nanaimo students did very well and Artistic Director John Clayton commented there must be something in the water in Nanaimo.”
¨Maia Etheridge-Pedden placed 1st (mark 89) and 2nd (mark 87) in piano in the Upper Island Music Festival.
¨Thomas Grabher competed in the Upper Island Music Festival in the Grade 3 Classical Composers class, and placed first in the class with a mark of 89. Congratulations to Thomas and his family too!
¨Katy Bowen-Roberts, has two students performing in the 'Random Acts Series' at the Port Theatre this month. Kristen Wald "K-Law" (voice & piano) will open the 7:30pm show on Thursday, March 11th with a 20 minute set of her own tunes as well as some covers. She will then be followed by Crimson Coast Dance's Holly Bright who is performing three dances, two of which will be incorporating the voice.
NCM FACULTY NEWS
¨Meijuan Li in Concert (Pipa Recital) - Date: Saturday March 27, 2010. Time: 2:00 p.m. Place: Nanaimo Conservatory of Music at 375 Selby Street, Nanaimo. One of Meijuan's students, Shu-xin Jiang will be playing one piece for about 3 minutes. Admission $10 per person. For more information, please phone 250-753-5876 (Cecilia Chong) or 250-754-6687 (Meijuan Li)
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
¨For Sale: 4/4 cello in excellent condition; 9 years old, from the studio of William Fan, made in China. Comes with student bow and soft, black case, $3000. Contact Bruce Farquharson at 250-729-8910
ANNOUNCEMENTS
¨ACCOMPANIST available for exams and festivals, Parksville studio. Call Margaret Nelson 250 954 5895 nelsonma@telus.net (2)
¨The Island Consort chamber choir performs May 7th at the Port Theatre in a program entitled " Voices in Motion, Bodies that Sing.” This is a collaboration with the Vancouver-based professional dance ensemble, "Dancers Dancing", who will dance to the music of this a cappella onstage choir, directed by Bruce Farquharson. This fascinating program features a Poulenc Mass, a Bach motet, a zany German speech choir work by Bergman and a contemporary Estonian pastoral work featuring soprano, Skye Donald.
¨The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra presents
18th Century Musical Genius
Wise, witty, soul-stirring classics served fresh and a-live!
Music Director: Karl Rainer; Soloist: Toby Macklin, Oboe; Guest Artist: Rie Okamura, Piano
Friday, March 26, 7:30 p.m. Brechin United Church, Nanaimo
Saturday, March 27, 2 p.m. Community Hall, Gabriola Island
Tickets: $20, $10 Students, Under 12 Free; Nanaimo Tickets: The Port Theatre Ticket Centre 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com; Gabriola Tickets: Village Liquor Store
The Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra presents “18th Century Musical Genius” – wise, witty, soul-stirring classics served up fresh and a-live on Friday, March 26 at Brechin United Church. And if that feast of music just isn’t filling enough, there’s a second serving on Saturday, March 27, at 2 p.m., just a short ferry ride away at the Gabriola Island Community Hall. The program includes: Tomaso Albinoni’s Concerto a Cinque for Oboe and Strings – played soulfully by Gabriola Islander Toby Macklin; Symphony No. 77 by Joseph Haydn; Water Music by George Frideric Handel; and Piano Concerto No. 27 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart being performed by Nanaimo’s Rie Okamura.
THANK YOU!
¨Pat Wells for looking after our garden! It looks so lovely. We really appreciate it.
¨Chris Spidel from Central Island Lawn and Garden for filling all the potholes in our driveway at the back!
¨Annette Bowen-Roberts, Donna Laing, Michael Stebbings, Bonnie Stebbings and Carolyn Ricker for all your work on the Solo Piano Concert!
