Happy Easter!
OFFICE CLOSED FOR EASTER
We are closed for Easter on Good Friday and will re-open on Tuesday April 6. Please check with your instructors regarding lessons on Friday and Monday.
SHOWCASE 2010
Get ready! Our third annual showcase concert is happening on May 2, 2010 at the Port Theatre. This year we will focus on the talents of our amazing students, and there will be plenty! Over 100 Conservatory students will participate in this year’s event. There will be string orchestras, choirs, flute ensembles, soloists, musical theatre, fiddlers, harps, Suzuki groups and a whole lot more! Plan to join us in this spring extravaganza of incredible talent. Participating students will receive an information package in the next couple of weeks along with a voucher for one free ticket. Parents, siblings, grandparents and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend! Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students and available at the Port Theatre box office.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed to assist with the Showcase Concert in the following areas:
¨ Finding great Silent Auction Items
¨ Helping out Backstage
¨ Finding advertisers for the back page of the program
KINDERMUSIK VILLAGE
Last class of the year!
The next Village (Birth to 18 months) unit begins Monday, May 3rd at 11:15am. Here is a description: DewDrops -- Stop and smell the roses — and lily of the valley, and tulips, and pansies. In this class, parents and babies will play and move together to songs about flowers, such as “Jasmine Flower,” “How Does Your Garden Grow?,” and “White Coral Bells.” You’ll also hear traditional Irish music, dance a jig and move to the “Irish Trot.” Home Materials: CD of beautifully arranged songs from class, a board book of colourful flowers—DewDrops, a set of Art Banners for the nursery wall, and a Flower Bells instrument for music-making at home.
CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars.
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
¨ Brittany Hannah, voice student of Christine McMahon, received four first place awards in the 18-and-under division at the Upper Island Music Festival. Brittany was selected as local representative (Classical Voice) to the Provincial Competitions to be held May 23 - 26 in Duncan this year. Fellow singers, Elizabeth Herman and Kirsten Blondal, delivered commendable performances as non-competitive participants in the Adult Open & the Novice 19-and-over classes.
¨ Violin teacher Art Petrie had ten students participate in the strings section of the Music Festival: Chelsea Letourneau, Emma Carr, Jasmine Mather, Carly Grabher, Jamie Cullon, Alex Retzer, Elise Cullon, Dakota Farenholtz, Nicolas Gunn, Madeleine Whiting. All competed in at least two classes and everyone received a first place! Thanks to Pippa Williams for accompanying all of them. In addition, Carly Grabher and Nicholas Gunn have been chosen to play at the Honours Concert April 17th at 2:00PM.
¨ Students of Patrick Olmsted achieved significant recognition at the Music Festival: David Macleod - Gold; Alex Kolodinski - 2 Gold; Maxime Therrien – Gold; Sam Firouzli - Gold and Silver; Cameron Craig – 2 Gold; Nicolas Hatfield – 3 Gold; Connor Reid – 2 Silver; Martin Haaf - 3 Gold. Martin has also been invited to the Provincials and will be performing at the honours concert! Jackson Phillips, in his Festival debut, was awarded two marks in the 80's and received a bronze. Congratulations to all for their fine performances and thanks for all the hard work of the Festival volunteers!
¨ Two of Cindy Speelman’s flute students, Andrea Stachow and Ryley Hounsome were complimented by the adjudicator at the Music Festival for doing very well considering their age and the short time they have been studying! Andrea received marks of 85 and 88; and Ryley received marks of 82 and 84. Congratulations on a great performance and way to go!
NCM FACULTY NEWS
¨ Hannah Wilson and Karl Rainer are thrilled to announce the birth of Daniel and Jeremy, born late March 7th and early March 8th , respectively. Along with older brother Benjamin, we now have enough players in the family for a string quintet! Everyone is in good health, and Hannah looks forward to resuming teaching cello soon, and to accepting new cello students in the fall.
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
¨ Island Bel Canto Singers present
What A Wonderful World!
In tune with the Olympic theme of 2010, the choir presents a concert of wonderful music from around the world. The concert will be performed twice, on Saturday, May 1 at 2:30pm in St. Paul’s Anglican Church,100 Chapel St and on Sunday, May 2 at 7:30pm in the Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre, 6234 Spartan Rd. Proceeds of the Saturday concert will be shared with The Haven Society. Our guest artist is the brilliant young pianist Saehae Bae, well-known to the Conservatory as the former accompanist for the Nanaimo Youth Choir. And a Conservatory student, Kelly Mathews, will be featured playing flute obligato in one of the pieces. Tickets ($15 adults, $10 children 12 and under) are available online at islandbelcanto.com, from Anne Tanod (Studio 8 or 722-0232) or at the door.
THREE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE CONSERVATORY
1. Put an ad for your business in our Showcase Program – deadline April 23
2. Donate an item or service to the Silent Auction – tax receipt provided
3. Sell raffle tickets – prize for the most tickets sold!
Thank you for considering supporting our school!
