CHORDIAL NOTES - DECEMBER 2014

Happy Holidays!

It’s that time of year again when music making gears up for concerts and events galore! There are not many silent nights here at the Conservatory right now, and, there are a lot of community events to take in this season that feature our students and faculty as well as our friends in the musical community. There are a couple of things that we want to make sure you don’t miss. The first is tickets for the illustrious André Laplante on March 15 at 2:30 at the Port. December 18 is the deadline for booking your NCM $15 tickets. Second is sponsorship. The Conservatory will benefit from a matching grant from Business for the Arts for all sponsorships that are confirmed before the end of January. More on both of these opportunities can be found in this newsletter!

Our office closes at 6:00PM on Thursday December 18 and reopens on Monday January 5 at 11:00 AM. However, lessons may be scheduled even when the office is closed, so please make sure to check in with your instructor!

All of us at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music wish you a very happy holiday season and a wonderful, musical new year.

ANDRÉ LAPLANTE Solo Piano – NCM Student Pricing ends December 18 – ONLY $15

We have heard that it is a real coup that we have been able to secure André Laplante for our Solo Piano Recital and Master Class in March! Student tickets are available at the greatly reduced rate of $15 each for a maximum of 2 per registered student. That means if you have two members of the family attending lessons you can purchase up to 4 tickets at the $15 rate. BUT, the last day for this opportunity is Thursday December 18. After that the student price goes up to $25 and the adult price is $38, plus applicable fees. So don’t delay, book your tickets now and save!!

André Laplante, Solo Piano, Sunday, March 15^th, 2:30pm Port Theatre

Over the last decade, Canadian pianist André Laplante has firmly established himself as one of the great romantic virtuosos. He garnered international attention after winning prizes at the Geneva and Sydney International Piano Competitions, then capturing the silver medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow . Critics have compared him with Ashkenazy, Horowitz and Rudolph Serkin, placing him in the elite circle of virtuoso pianists who do not hesitate to take risks. In 2005, Mr. Laplante was honored to be named an Officer of the Order of Canada. In that same year, he was awarded the Prix Opus for Best Performer of the Year. In 1999, he received two Opus Awards for live performances: "Best Concert in Montréal" and "Best Concert in Québec Province." Most recently, in 2010, he received another Prix Opus, this time for Best Concert of the Year. In recent years, Laplante has appeared as orchestral soloist with the Montréal and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Sir Neville Mariner, on tour in Europe with the Toronto Symphony under Andrew Davis, and with the Royal Philharmonic under the baton of the late Sir Yehudi Menuhin during their extensive North American tour. M. Laplante’s Nanaimo program will include selections by Schubert and Liszt. His master class will be held the following morning (Monday March 16 at 9:00 AM) at the Conservatory, observer tickets are available with a minimum $10 donation.

SPONSOR THE CONSERVATORY - MATCH YOUR CONTRIBUTION!

We need your help! A few months ago, our Executive Director, Kathleen Darby attended an ArtsVest meeting at the library. ArtsVest is an initiative of Business for the Arts that offers a sponsorship matching program that has been operating across Canada for several years. This year ArtsVest is putting their efforts into the Nanaimo community! After that meeting Kathleen made application for the Conservatory to be accepted into the program and the process began. The Conservatory was approved for up to $10,000 in matching funds if we can raise $10,000 in business sponsorship. So far we have more than $5,000 raised which means matching funds of about the same (there are different levels for different types of sponsorship). If we meet our $10,000 goal then ArtsVest will send us matching funds! So we want to encourage you to consider sponsoring the Conservatory through your business to help us reach our goal and meet our matching fund target. Our goal for these funds is to make some much needed repairs to our building and offer increased bursaries for needy students. So please consider supporting music education in our community through sponsorship. We are looking for partners who we can work with to offer business partnerships that make sense for both of us. We can offer incentives like tickets to performances, advertising in our program brochures, signage at our events and more. We will look at the best possible package that works for you!

UPCOMING SPECIAL PROGRAMS

KINDERMUSIK – Ongoing Classes

Kindermusik classes are ongoing but students can register any time. We offer two classes one on Wednesday mornings at 11 AM and one on Thursday afternoons at 4 PM. Classes are open to students from birth to 5 years old. Many families at the Conservatory have started their musical training with these classes taught by Miss Nicky. Tuition and materials $60 per month.

SUZUKI HEAD START – Starts January 7th

Cindy Speelman is offering Suzuki Head Start for 3 to 5 year olds to prepare them for Suzuki method lessons. This class will run January 7 to March 11 at 1:00 PM. This class is a great way to start your child in music lessons. Tuition is $100.

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC for Children

We've had a pretty full class for the current adult session of Elements of Music - much fun, wrapped around deep learning, is occurring and Marilyn Rummel, the instructor, is raving about how great the students are doing!  The version of the course for kids, called Move Into Music, begins in Jan 2015. Eight sessions of 30 minutes each, 6:30 pm, for 8 - 12 year olds.  Students will use their bodies and their minds and their voices to learn about counting, rhythm patterns, subdivisions, pitches, phrases and expressive playing. It is an ideal introduction to music for those who are planning to start lessons, and will be very helpful for those who are using the Suzuki method, and may not yet be reading. No books. No instruments. Just the joy of movement and music!

BRASS/JAZZ BAND – Expressions of Interest

We have had some interest expressed in settin up a Jazz/Brass Ensemble. If this also interests you please get in touch! When we have 6-10 students interested we will look at setting up a program!

NEWS FROM YOUR STUDIO – Holiday performances and more!!

Marilyn Rummel - Harp

Three Harp Students to Perform with Island Bel Canto – Dec 6&7

Christmas is a harpers busy season, and this year is no exception. Here some of the things we're up to: Dec. 6, and 7, four of the Conservatory's fine senior students are special guests at the Bel Canto Choir's Christmas performance. Hayley, Kaleigh and Ava will accompany the choir for John Rutter's Angel Carol, and then perform a set of harp only Xmas music. Cassidy will join them for a couple of the pieces on Sunday. Tickets are advised to hear beautiful singing - and harping!
Winter Harp Duncan December 13 12:45
Winter Harp comes to town the following weekend, and the entire Island Youth Harp ensemble will be playing their Xmas recital in the lobby of the Island Savings Centre in Duncan before the 2 pm show on Sat. Dec. 13th.  If you're planning to attend the show, come early and hear the best of the Youth Harpers - all in costume in honour of Winter Harp. Students begin to play at 12:45.
Adult Harp Group at Malaspina Gardens Senior’s Centre Dec 11
The adult harp ensemble is performing at the Malaspina Gardens Senior's Centre, Thursday, Dec. 11. If you know any of the residents there, do let them know so they don't miss the music - or visit them yourselves so you can get them there!

Teresa Borek - Piano
Teresa Borek's PIANO STUDENTS will play CHRISTMAS RECITAL - Saturday, December 6, 2014 at 2 p.m. (St Andrew's Presbyterian Church) all welcome!

Karl Rainer/Leslie Krull – Suzuki Violin

Suzuki Violin Winter Recital will take place on Tuesday December 9 at 4:15 PM (regular class time) all welcome!

NANAIMO YOUTH CHOIR - SHARE THE JOY!

December 13, 2015 @ 7:00 PM St. Andrews United Church

This holiday season, there's  a great way to get into that Christmas feeling of joy and that is with the youthful sounds of Nanaimo Youth Choir as they share a concert with the Camerata Singers. This is a concert that has become a tradition for many in Nanaimo. An added delight this year will be a  Nanaimo native and long-time chorister with the Nanaimo Youth Choir who is home for the season. Vanessa Croome  is studying music and opera at the Oberlin Conservatory in the US.  She will be soloist with the choirs at the Share the Joy concert.  Vanessa has won many awards in her years in Nanaimo as a vocal student of Marian Smith and she was seen in many roles in theatrical performances here. In fact if you saw Les Miserables in Chemainus this past summer, you will have heard her beautiful voice as Vanessa played the role of Cossette. The Nanaimo Youth Choir has joined with the Camerata Singers for their Christmas Concert for many years now and it is known as a highlight of the season.  There are voices from 4 years to 70 years plus. A wonderful addition to this program will be some of the Alumni of Nanaimo Youth Choir who will be returning to sing together as well.  The program will end with all of the singers as they perform the beautiful O Holy Night with soloist Vanessa Croome.  Also featured as accompanist and soloist will be Liam Pistor and  Cliff Clemotte will pay violin with one of the shared choir selections. The Nanaimo Youth Choir is directed by Marian Smith and is a program of the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music.  The choir is in now in its 22nd year with Marian as its founder and director. 'Share the Joy'  will be held on Dec. 13th at 7:00 in St. Andrew's United Church in the Old City Quarter. Tickets at the door $12.00; children under 12, no charge.  Reception to follow.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

ISLAND CONSORT Concert

December 14th, 7:30 pm at Brechin United Church

The Island Consort Chamber Choir presents its first ever Christmas program, “What Sweeter Music”, along with that sparkling youth choir, The Sinclair Singers – with a wonderfully varied package of Christmas repertoire.  The two choirs will each perform separately but will combine forces for the last two pieces.  Admission is $18, adults; $9 students; under 12 free, at the door.  For more information call 250-729-8910.  www.islandconsort.ca   

VICTORIA BAROQUE PLAYERS -'War, Folly and Leisure'

Fri Jan 23rd 7:30pm  with renowned Violinist Kati Debretzeni (UK)

St Andrew’s United Church 311 Fitzwilliam Street, Nanaimo 

Kati Debretzeni is bringing her ravishing sound and inspired leadership in presenting dramatic and imaginative orchestral works for flutes, horns and strings, by Graupner,Telemann, and others, including Biber's theatrical 'Battalia'

Tickets: Regular $27, Senior $24, Student/Child $5 From: Fascinating Rhythm, Arbutus Music, and at the door

Ticket info: 250-590-0452; victoria-baroque.com

The VANCOUVER ISLAND SYMPHONY presents

A Festive Brassy Christmas Guest Artists: The Festive Brass

Symphonic Choir, VI Symphony Children’s Choir - Patricia Plumley, Choral Director; Pierre Simard, Conductor

Saturday, December 13, 7:30 p.m. Port Theatre, 125 Front Street, Nanaimo Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com

COMMUNITY CAROL FESTIVAL - Wednesday, December 3, 7:30 p.m.  at St. Andrew’s United Church, 311 Fitzwilliam St.  Catch the Christmas spirit as eight Nanaimo community choirs entertain and inspire with the sounds of the season at the 19th annual Community Carol Festival.  Listen to beautiful music and join the choirs in singing favourite carols.  Following the festival, plan to attend the reception in the church hall.  Admission by donation with proceeds going to St. Andrew’s United Church and the Salvation Army.

QUINTESSENCE IN CONCERT - Sunday, January 25 @ 2:00 PM Advance Tickets $30/$20 Available at the Conservatory

QuintEssence dazzles audiences with vocal pyrotechnics, melts hearts with beautifully sung poetry, and stretches the musical frontier to the limit with adored music from around the worldWhile audiences delight in their charm and entertaining antics, this remarkable vocal quartet also invites audiences to become fully engaged participants in the concert experience via the inclusion of theatrical and narrative twists within their performances.
YELLOWPOINT CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR
Produced and directed by former faculty member Katy Bowen-Roberts with current faculty member James Mark as the music director, this show is a delight for audiences every year! The show runs well through December and tickets are available at the Port Theatre.
 

IN MEMORIAM

JUDY FRASER (nee Lamb)

Sadly, Judy Fraser, well-known to many in Nanaimo, passed away in October. Judy was an educational leader in the community, becoming Director of Instruction for the District after several years teaching at both elementary and secondary levels. She also played an important role in the cultural evolution of Nanaimo. She served as a board member and Board Chair for the Vancouver Island Symphony, and was a founding member of the Port Theatre, and a supporter of the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music. As well, she served as a director on the board of the Coastal Community Credit Union for twenty years. She leaves a large void among her loving family, her multitude of friends, and the many cultural organizations who benefitted from her efforts.

Judy’s family asked that donations be made to the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music in lieu of flowers. Thank you to all of those who have remembered Judy with a gift of music education. Judy Fraser in Memoriam funds will be used to support students in need.