FInd Your Music!

YOUR COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL: OVER THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY MUSIC EDUCATION. FIND YOUR MUSIC!

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Chordial Notes - January/February



a cultural legacy in nanaimo

Young Conservatory cellists, 1979
As of this September, Nanaimo Conservatory of Music will have served the Central Island community as a nonprofit provider of the very best in musical instruction for 35 years. Expanding on our origin as the local classical music specialists, we now offer musical theatre, Kindermusik, and jazz camps. We also instruct in international instruments such as the Chinese pipa and Celtic harp. Through our annual gala solo piano concert and Vancouver Island Chamber Music Festival, we bring the world's best to our local theatres.

Music forms a vital part of who we are and what gives Central Vancouver Island its quality of life. Three and a half decades of service demonstrates our conviction that this is true and worth fighting for. As we reach this milestone, the City of Nanaimo has also come to the same conclusion. Recent municipally hosted events have included meetings with cultural sector leaders, public forums, and an online survey designed to gage public interest and priorities involving art and culture in the region. This is a critical time to support the Conservatory and make your voice heard about the importance of music and quality music instruction. Please consider attending a  Nanaimo Cultural Plan Community Visioning Forum, and be sure to complete the public survey, available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NanaimoVisionForCulture


KRZYSZTOF JABLONSKI         Solo piano     2:30pm March 17th, 2013 at the Port Theatre

Mr. Jablonski is an internationally award-winning pianist who has appeared professionally both on recordings and in concert for most of his life. We are thrilled to bring this virtuoso back to the Port and invite you to also attend his master class for advanced students (observers may attend for an additional $10 fee), which takes place on March 16th at 2:00pm here at NCM.  For tickets and more information, please call the Port Theatre at (250) 754-8550.

THEORY CLASSES TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
Are you taking exams? Are you interested in the history of classical music? Ever caught yourself wondering, what's the use of knowing all the triads in a major scale, anyways? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, theory is for you. The class takes place Tuesdays, January 29th to May 7th at 6:30pm - 7:30pm. The cost is $300, with a $30 material fee for the textbook. The course is designed to finish in time for the Royal Conservatory rudiments exam in May.

WINTER RECITAL 
Students and faculty are now urged to sign up for our Winter Recital, taking place Saturday, January 26th. A sign-up sheet has been posted and it's filling up quickly. There will be afternoon (3pm) and evening (7pm) performances with public admission by donation and a reception to follow. If you use Facebook, or know someone who does, please make sure you share the event! It's posted at http://facebook.com/NanaimoConservatoryofMusic

SPRING BREAK MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOP
We are very pleased to announce that we are offering our long-anticipated musical theatre program March 18th-22nd, 2013. Led by renowned performing artist Joëlle Rabu, classes will concentrate on vocal technique, performance training, movement for the stage, teamwork, exploring creativity, and problem solving. Although the workshop is designed primarily for children ages 7 – 12 years, keen learners who fall outside of this group are welcome to apply. Each day will run from 10am to 4pm, although working parents may drop off as early as 8:30am and pick up as late as 5:30pm. The final performance will be a musical revue at Nanaimo Centre Stage!

The cost is $350 for the week, plus script fees. Partial bursaries may be available to current Conservatory students! For more information, please contact NCM at 250 754 4611.

NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHT:  KEN LISTER, DOUBLEBASS
Ken Lister has been a professional jazz bassist since 1983. His performing career has taken him across Canada, Australia, the British Isles, Cuba, and South America. As a member of the Phil Dwyer Orchestra, Ken won a Juno Award for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year in 2012, as well as the Juno Award for Best Mainstream Jazz Album of the Year in 1997 with the Hugh Fraser Quintet. Ken has performed with many great musicians, including Joshua Redman, Herb Ellis, Charlie Byrd, Ingrid Jensen, Misha Piatagorsky, Terrell Stafford, Slide Hampton, Kenny Wheeler, and Ernie Watts.

In addition to his recording and pedagogical work, Ken enjoys an active touring career. His upcoming engagements include performances in Portland, Seattle, Calgary, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Rochester, NY,  and Hartford, CT, as well as at the famous Smoke Jazz Club, in New York, NY, with many stops in between. He is a well loved instructor at Vancouver Island University and we are pleased to have him on board!
 
COMMUNITY EVENTS

Strathcona  Symphony Orchestra - "Espana"
January 26th at 7:00 PM and January 27th at  2:00 PM  – Native Sons Hall, Courtenay

The Strathcona Symphony Orchestra proudly presents "España" an orchestral concert featuring a musical feast of the diverse and complex orchestral sounds of Spain.

Bard to Broadway Theatre - General Auditions

January 27th & February 2th at 1:30 PM to 5:00pm – St. Paul's Hall, Nanaimo

Singing and non-singing roles for males and females ages 13-70. Please prepare a monologue and song. For more information, contact Eileen Butts at ebutts@shaw.ca

Ken Lister  - with Miranda Sage & Ron Hadley

 February 9th at 7:00 PM – The Old School House, Qualicum

NCM faculty member Ken Lister performs old standards and rare favourites with Victoria-based jazz singer Miranda Sage and pianist Ron Hadley.

Upper Island Music Festival - Strings
February 15th to 17th at various times, see www.nanaimomusicfestival.com – St. Paul's Anglican Church

Young string musicians' performances are observed by qualified and highly respected adjudicators, who provide encouragement and advice for improvement. This is your chance to suport tomorrow's big talent!

CALENDAR

Jan 26          Winter recital
Jan 29          Theory classes begin
Feb 6            Nanaimo Youth Choir resumes
Feb 13          Kindermusik resumes

             
Mar  9                     NCO: Prelude to the Ides  
Mar 17                    Krzysztof Jablonski