Chordial Notes - October 2010
Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.
~Victor Hugo
GORDON STOBBE In Concert
Thursday, October 7th at 7:00 p.m.
7220 Royal Avenue, Lantzville BC
Master fiddler Gordon Stobbe is a dynamic and charming performer with a lively, buoyant and danceable feel and an encyclopaedic knowledge of North American fiddle traditions. He plays music from a variety of backgrounds and is also a renowned composer of fiddle tunes. Gordon is in constant demand across Canada as a performer, instructor, adjudicator, dance caller, and all-night jam session instigator. He has taught at the Emma Lake Fiddle Camp, Canadian Grand Masters Camp, Pacific Fiddle College, the John Arcand Fiddle Fest, Kenosee Kitchen Party, and countless other camps and workshops. Don’t miss this rare chance to share an evening of music with one of Canada’s most well-loved fiddlers! Seating is limited so get your tickets today. Email kelli@etheridgephotographic.com or phone 250-390-8170 to reserve your tickets.
WORLD PREMIER FOR CONSERVATORY INSTRUCTOR
On October 23, 2010, the Vancouver Island Symphony will perform the world premiere performance of the haunting The Long Road Back by the Conservatory’s own James Mark, created in memory of his grandfather. http://vancouverislandsymphony.com/
ANDRE LAPLANTE – SOLO PIANO
Monday, February 7, 2011, 7:00 PM, Port Theatre
We are pleased to announce that André Laplante will be the guest artist for our annual Solo Piano Fundraising Concert. Tickets go on sale this month at the Port Theatre. Mr. Laplante will play works by Franz Lizst in honour of Liszt’s 2nd centenary. Check for more information about Franz Liszt at the Conservatory over the coming months!
FACULTY CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED
Please mark these on your calendars! These will be short (45 minute) concerts by groups of faculty, slanted towards an educational treatment of the pieces selected. The faculty will talk a bit about each piece, play them, and answer questions. Admission is by donation at the door.
Friday Oct 29 5 PM; Friday November 26 5 PM; and more dates to come in the new year
CALENDAR
Please make sure to update your calendars…
Oct 11 Thanksgiving – office closed
Oct 23 Sharlene Wallace, Harp Concert, St. Paul’s 7PM
Oct 29 Faculty Concert @ NCM
Nov 11 Remembrance Day – office closed
Nov 18 Suzuki Piano Recital
Nov 26 Faculty Concert @ NCM
Dec 24-Jan 3 Winter Break – office closed
Jan 29, 2011 Winter Recital – Location TBA
Feb 7 André Laplante in Concert
Mar 25-27 Vancouver Island Fiddle Camp
April 22 Good Friday – office closed
April 25 Easter Monday – office closed
May 15 Showcase 2011 at the Port with Silent Auction
May 23 Victoria Day – office closed
May 27 Last day of Suzuki classes
June 4 Spring Recital and Awards Ceremony – Location TBA
June 24 Last day of classes
WELCOME KIM PLUMLEY, Our New Publicist!
The illustrious Kim Plumley of Publicity Mavens is now helping the Conservatory get the word out! We are pleased to have her expert support in this area and we are looking forward to her help in generating a little more buzz about the Conservatory. If you have a story about the Conservatory, its faculty or students that you think is newsworthy, please let us know!
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE
If you have a Facebook account why not consider joining our Facebook page. Help us grow the interest in the Conservatory too, by inviting your friends!
NEW PROGRAMS!
The Musician's Body with Marilyn Rummel – Does your body ache in the places you’d STILL LIKE to play? You are invited to participate in a 6 week session of gentle but important exercises for musicians, focusing on the back and the arms - where it all happens. How to prevent injury, how to support yourself and your instrument without pain, and how freedom of movement becomes an aid to expressing yourself as a musician. 6 Thursdays from October 14th - Nov. 25th 11:30 am - 12:10 pm. 6 classes for $40.
Prelude Orchestra with Veronica Wagner – Starting on October 2, the Prelude Orchestra will meet biweekly on Saturdays from 1-2. The Prelude Orchestra is for beginners and children up to Grade 2 or 3 level. Although we will be using written music, note-reading is not mandatory initially. We will be starting with musical games, rhythmic counting, listening and a lot of open strings. Specially arranged parts will allow the least experienced students to contribute at a basic level while challenging the more advanced students.
KINDERMUSIK
Village – Dream Pillow (birth to 18 months)
Starts November 10 – This class is a continuation of the Kindermusik Village class that started in September, but it is a new unit, so we can take a few more registrations. Tuition is $80 plus $40 for materials. The title “Dream Pillow” alone brings images of rocking, cuddling, singing, and lulling to sleep. But leading up to sleepy time are many upbeat and playful activities. Babies and adults will swirl to a dreamy cloud dance “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland.” They’ll also play baby appropriate instruments to “Aiken Drum,” and “Sarasponda.” Favourite nursery rhymes like “Wee Willie Winkie,” and “Diddle, Diddle, Dumpling,” are sprinkled throughout the classes. It’s easy to weave many of the class songs and activities into your families’ daily routines.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Andrea, Laura and Cassidy Stachow – piano students of Teresa Borek, performed in the Conservatory’s Open House on September 18, 2010.
Congratulations to the guitar students of Patrick Olmsted who spent some of their summer preparing for and completing their RCM exams. Martin Haaf for successfully completing Grade 9, David Macleod and Nicolas Hatfield for achieving Honours and Sam Firouzli, Maxime Therrien and Cameron Craig for receiving first class honours in their respective levels, well done!
Brittany Hannah, voice student of Christine McMahon, received First Class Honours with Distinction in her Grade 9 practical voice exam in August, with a mark of 90%. Brittany also recently received a Book Award from the B.C. Registered Teachers of Music for completing all the theoretical & practical requirements for her Grade 8 voice exam last year.
Ianna Folkes and Micaela Pereira each did RCM violin exams in June. Ianna got 82% on her Grade 4 practical and Micaela got 88% on her Grade 3 practical. Way to go!
NCM FACULTY NEWS
Teresa Borek’s adult piano student Sayuri Kabota gave a Chopin Piano Recital on October 2, 2010. She donated all proceeds from this concert to the Nanaimo Conservatory Piano Fund.
Teresa Borek is heading to Warsaw, Poland to observe the 16th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition. Between 3 and 22 October, 2010, 81 young pianists from 24 countries will compete in this one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. One of Teresa’s former students at the Nanaimo Conservatory – Akari Kai is studying currently in Warsaw at the F. Chopin Academy of Music.
Christine McMahon and accompanist Donna Falconer, will be offering two Studio Workshops in November where students are invited to present a new work in progress and to receive coaching and feedback on it from Christine & Donna, as well as their peers. These are fun Saturday afternoons; a chance to meet and hear the other singers in the Studio in a safe and supportive environment.
INSTRUMENTS FOR SALE
2007 3/4 Gliga violin. Excellent condition. Paid $600 (bought through Art Petrie). Asking $550. 250-247-8434.
Young Chang “Weber” 6 ft Grand Piano. Excellent condition 1982. Asking $5800 OBO, call 250 722 2013.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Harp Concert – Sharlene Wallace, Canada's foremost lever harpist in Concert at St. Paul's Anglican Church October 23rd @ 7:00 PM. Sharlene Wallace is a classically trained harpist who in addition to her orchestral work, is a performing and recording artist with a lever harp style all her own. In a repertoire ranging from Celtic to South American, to her own, often rhythmically stunning compositions, she will bring her mastery of the instrument to the pleasure of your ears! Members of Marilyn Rummel’s Nanaimo Youth Harp Ensemble will accompany her on one special piece, and will play as the audience arrives - here's an opportunity to hear both the youngest harp talent in the city, and the finest in Canada. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for students and kids. Tickets are limited, get yours at the Conservatory office. More information about Sharlene can be found at www.sharlenewallace.com.
Island Consort Performs – England has, for centuries, been a bountiful source of choral music both sacred and secular. The Island Consort celebrates the spectrum of English composers, illustrating the changes in style across four centuries, in a program entitled, “Passetyme Wythe Goode Company”, to be performed November 27th at 7:30 pm at the Ladysmith Art Gallery and November 28th at 7:30 pm at Brechin United Church (admission $15 at the door). Guest performers are the Sonora String Quartet: Karl Rainer, Hannah Wilson, James Mark and Trish Clair. For more information phone 729-8910.
Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra – The magic of the flute is featured in the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra’s upcoming concert at 7:30 pm November 12th at Brechin United Church. The Orchestra, headed by Karl Rainer, is now in its seventh year of operation and continues to explore new and diverse repertoire. Guest artist is flautist, Cindy Speelman who will perform the Concerto in E Minor by Mercadante. Tickets are: adults $20, students $10 at the door.
THANK YOU
A new scholarship has been donated to the Conservatory this year. Many thanks to Arla Jean Murch who has made it possible for the Conservatory to give a scholarship of $100 annually in perpetuity to a deserving Conservatory student. The first “Joie de Vivre” Scholarship, in honour of Ms Murch’s late daughter will be awarded in June 2011 at the end-of-year recital.
Isabel Albrecht for the donation of a piano for our new studio and Tom Lee Music for arranging the moving of the piano!
Everyone who attended this year’s Open House! It was a great way to celebrate our new studio.
