Chordial Notes - February 2015
Winter Notes
The winter weather is a time for
cozying up in front of the fireplace and the season is just the perfect time
for brushing up on music skills at the Nanamo Conservatory of Music. Winter is
also the time for participating in the concert season. There are many exciting
community performances and concert events to enjoy that feature the wonderful Nanaimo
Conservatory of Music students, faculty and community friends. With so many
phenomenally impressive shows coming up, you will want to get involved and
attend all of the exciting fine concerts and events. Another wonderful way to
get involved with community and to support the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music
has been with your generous sponsorship and community donations. The
Conservatory is thrilled to announce that thanks to your support and the
efforts of the Concert Committee and, in particular, Concert Committee Chair
Christine Whitelaw, we have raised a grand total of $9,750.00! The Nanaimo
Conservatory will benefit from a matching grant from the Business for the Arts’ Artsvest program of
$9750.00. With much appreciative thanks
going out to the Business for the Arts ArtsVest program that helped us achieve
this tremendous success. It is time to
venture forth from winter nesting and support the exciting upcoming winter
performances and take in some fabulous entertainment.
ANDRÉ LAPLANTE Solo Piano
Renowned virtuoso pianist André Laplante performs at the Port Theatre in mid March and will be featured for our Nanaimo Conservatory Solo Piano Recital and Master Class! The student price is $25 and the adult price is $38, plus applicable fees. So don’t delay, book your tickets now!! 250-754-8550
André Laplante, Solo Piano,
Sunday, March 15th, 2:30pm Port Theatre, Nanaimo
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, Beethoven, Francoise Morel and Liszt. His master class
will be held on Monday March 16 at 10:00 AM at the Conservatory, observer
tickets are available with a minimum $10 donation.
UPCOMING
SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MUSIC THEATRE SPRING BREAK WORKSHOP WITH LINDSAY
SUDDABY
–MARCH 23-27 2015 10 AM-4 PM TUITION
$350
EARLYBIRD
SPECIAL: SAVE $100 OFF PRICE AT ONLY $250 IF YOU REGISTER BY MARCH 9, 2015
Experience and learn
about the art of musical theatre. Build confidence and co-operation with
others. This workshop will allow students to express themselves creatively
through singing, drama, and stage movement. Learn crucial performance skills
like vocal technique, speaking on the stage, choreography, and performance
etiquette.The theme is the dreamer in all of us. Songs that are themed around
rainbows, stars (and reaching for them), the sky, dreams, hoping, and the art
of striving for your goals. It will be exciting and fun, and give our young students
lots of room for their imaginations! Soprano, assistant director of the Nanaimo
Youth Choir, choral director and performer Lindsay Suddaby’s experience and
educational path includes two years of musical theatre training at the Randolph
Academy of Performing Arts in Toronto and a
Bachelor of Music in voice from the University
of Victoria. She has
performed with Bard to Broadway, The Nanaimo Theatre Group and Arts Alive Youth
Musical Theatre. Lindsay sang for many years in the Conservatory’s own Nanaimo
Youth Choir, eventually moving on to the BC and National Youth Choirs and
countless other choral groups and brings her wealth of experience to this
special spring break workshop designed for exploring creativity and enhancing
your performance skills!
JEAN APLAND SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
Student scholarship applications
are now available to all student residents of School
District 68 and homeschooled children for aspiring up and coming
performers. This scholarship is available to singers, dancers, or other artists
who present their art through their person to an audience. The award is to be
used for post secondary education in the performing arts at a University,
University-College, College or Performance Conservatory. Applications are available
at the Nanaimo Conservatory Office. Deadline for submission of applications is
February 27th, 2015.
ACCOLADES TO OUR TALENTED CONSERVATORY STUDENTS!
Bravo and a special thank you to
all participating students, friends and
family who took part in the Nanaimo Winter Recital. The performers were Wyatt
Bouchard piano, Grace Karreman piccolo, Neil Pakrasi paino, Daniel Mottahedeh
violin, Hayley Hiles piano, Jocelyn Maguire flute, Laura Mace piano, Tianna
Jack piano and also flute, Jack Mace piano, Anya Mikes piano, Jakob McDermid
flute, Tate Robinson piano, Robin Arun piano, Elaine Tschofen flute, Quinn
Foster piano, Hannah Maughan violin, Alexandra Bonkowski piano, Laura Stachow
piano, Uei-Young Jung flute, The Prelude Orchestra: violinists: Rohin Arun,
Chloe Hardbattle, Hannah Maughan, Ethan McDermid, Kipling Szasz, Ella Wyndlow and
Daniel Taylor, viola.
NEWS FROM YOUR STUDIO
The
Conservatory will be holding a violin masterclass with Trio Dinicu’s Louanne
Homzy on Sunday March 8th, at 2 pm, held at St Paul’s church. Observers and participants
should contact Karl Rainer at the Nanaimo Conservatory for details.
OVATION CORNER:
·
Congratulations
to Nicole Arendt’s student Teyha Clegg ,who received Honours on her recent
grade 5 piano exam! Well done!
·
Much
applause to Teresa Borek's piano students
Laura and Jack Mace, who performed in the concert An Evening with
Canadian Composer Christine Donkin on January 23, in Nanaimo. The concert
featured piano, vocal and chamber works by composer Christine Donkin. The
following day our students Laura, Jack and Neil Pakrasi participated in the
composition workshop led by Christine Donkin. This wonderful 2-day event was
organized and presented by the local branch of the BC Registered Music Teachers
Association.
·
Patrick
Olmstead’s classical guitar student Ian Perry has the impressive honour of
opening for Loverboy at the Port Theatre on February 26th at 7:30 pm-
congratulations on this fantastic accomplishment!
·
Congratulations
to Uei-Young Jung, a flute student of teacher Cindy Speelman, who won the
Concerto Competition with the NCO. Uei-Young Jung will be performing the Bach
Suite in B minor on June 6 & 7 with the orchestra under the direction of
Karl Rainer. This is another fine example of the talent and dedication from our
impressive gifted students at the Conservatory.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
VANCOUVER
ISLAND SYMPHONY
2ND ANNUAL NANAIMO BAR NONE VARIETY SHOW
Join the Vancouver Island Symphony Saturday March 14th
at the Port Theatre for a concert of outstanding local talent including The
Fabulous Five Choir, Conservatory violin teacher Calvin Dyck playing the always
entertaining ”Nine Blind Mice” on the accordian, senior dancers from the Tempo
Dance Academy, Clarinetist Christopher Lee, the Vancouver Island Symphony
Quartet, jazz pianist Patrick Courtin, Entertainer Rick Scott, Nanaimo’s Poet
Laureate Naomi Beth Walkan and much more! Supreme, scrumptious Nanaimo talent March 14 at 7:30 pm at the
Port Theatre tickets 250-754-8550
VANCOUVER
ISLAND SYMPHONY
TONIGHT PIAF WITH JOELLE RABU
Chanteuse extraordinaire Joelle Rabu performs the work
of well known artist Edith Piaf. 21 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm at the Port Theatre
tickets 250-754-8550
LOVE SONGS: MUSIC OF CANADIAN COMPOSER ANA SOKOLOVIC
Chemainus Classical Concerts features Canadian composer
Ana Sokolovic’s works performed by Kristin Hoff on February 22 at 2:00PM.
Dazzling vocal and theatre fireworks offer up the full range of expression in
this opera as performed a capella by mezzo soprano Kristin Hoff. A compelling
work, at one point in the opera, the words “I Love You” are sung in over 100
languages. This will be a 45 minute performance with an interactive question
and answer period and a meet the artist reception. Group rate discounts of 5
people of $60 call 250-748-8383 for more information.
TRIO DINICU
Classical Virtuosity meets Gypsy soul and passion
Lightening fast and passionate violinist Louanne Homzy
works with a virtuoso guitarist and bassist. This trio is bridging the gaps between
classical, jazz and folklore produced in co-operation with the Nanaimo
Conservatory of Music Friday March 6, 2015 at 7:30 pm at the Port Theatre.
EXPRESSIONS OF THE HEART Concert
Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra
Warm up from the rainy drizzle and cozy up to the joyful
music of Holst, Gemigniani,Vaughan-Williams, Mahler and Mozart with guest
clarinetist Liam Pistor with the Nanaimo Chamber Orchestra. Concerts will take
place March 14th at 7:30 pm at Brechin
United Church
and March 15 at 2:30 pm at St. Edmunds in Parksville. Tickets are $20 and $5
for students at the Port Theatre Box Office or at the door.
.
