FInd Your Music!

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

Friday, October 16, 2015

Chordial Notes- October 2015


Kerilie McDowall NCM

The colourful warm shades of the autumn leaves are now emerging from the majestic deciduous trees in our impressive Vancouver Island neighbourhoods. Nanaimoites are cozily nesting at home in the returning rainy West Coast weather and are attempting tasks around the house now that the cooler temperatures are here. With the end of month scary monster, goblin, witch, ghost and vampire costumes that will be roaming Nanaimo on Halloween night it is sure to be a fun and spooky haunted night of candy gifts with the very fun tradition of trick or treating and Halloween house parties. Our Nanaimo Conservatory of Music students will be having a blast making the rounds of houses on Halloween Eve and we will be sure to have some yummy Halloween candy treats for students and faculty in the office closer to Halloween!

One of Nanaimo’s favorite spots in autumn is McNab’s Corn Maze and Farm. With the 12 foot tall corn maze, roasting of marshmallows/hot dogs, farm animals, roadside veggie stand and pumpkins and hayrides it is THE place to be in the fall. If it rains bring gum boots it gets muddy! Spooky Huard's Haunted House will be open once again this year for October 21-31st but they are now located at the wonderful McNab’s Corn Maze at 4613 Yellowpoint Rd.

The most wonderful aspect of our lovely fall weather is that it is now comfortable again to practice for many hours inside on your favorite musical instrument of choice! This is a great time to settle down for some score study, popular songwriting or serious orchestral composing while having fun practicing your instrument with some spontaneous creative improvisation.

NEW FUN BEGINNER’S GUITAR GROUP CLASSES!
To inspire you on a new creative path, the Nanaimo Conservatory is now offering a new beginner guitar group class with guitar instructor Patrick Olmsted on Tuesdays from 6- 7pm! Tuition is $80.00 for 8 classes, plus the annual NCM registration fee. If you have always wanted to study guitar in a fun and relaxed environment, now is your chance. Sign up now while spaces are still available!

THE NCM IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE CONCERT & MASTER CLASS WITH JANINA FIALKOWSKA FOR OUR UPCOMING 2016 CONCERT SEASON & FUNDRAISER  MARCH 13TH, 2016 AT 2:30 PM
 Indeed, lesser mortals may well weep with envy at such unfaltering authority. She has done her one time mentor, Arthur Rubinstein, proud”- Bryce Morrison, Gramophone August 2010 ... “Fialkowska was always one of those "best-kept secret" pianists, loved by connoisseurs for her tonal refinement and exquisite musical taste…the playing is sheer bliss. If you buy one Chopin selection this year, make it Fialkowska's.”-Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times (London) May16th, 2010.

The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is very pleased to announce that highly esteemed concert pianist Janina
 Fialkowska will perform for our 2016 season annual fundraiser at the Port Theatre! The rave reviews are
 endless. Beloved the world over for her exquisite pianism, Janina Fialkowska has enchanted audiences for almost forty years with her glorious lyrical sound, her sterling musicianship and her profound sense of musical integrity. Blending her vast experience with her refreshingly natural approach "Fialkowska has become an artist of rare distinction as well as retaining all the virtuosity of her youth". (La Presse, Montreal).

Celebrated for her interpretations of the classical and romantic repertoire, Janina is particularly distinguished as one of the great interpreters of the piano works of Chopin and Mozart. She has also won acclaim as a champion of the music of Franz Liszt as well as of twentieth-century Polish composers, both in concert and on disc.

The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music is proud to present Fialkowska for this year’s 2016 Nanaimo Conservatory of Music concert fundraiser. Students will receive a discount at a special price of up to two tickets at $15 each. Tickets will not be on sale at the Port until December 1st, but you can order your NCM tickets at any time. Order your preferred tickets now to get a good seat to enjoy this special concert while supporting the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and helping to raise funds for Nanaimo’s community non-profit charitable music school.

THE NYC IS GOING TO NYC!! Nanaimo musicians seem to knock it out of the park on an ongoing basis, and the Nanaimo Youth Choir seems to be hitting another home run! That’s right, the Nanaimo Youth Choir has been invited to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall as one of the international choirs in a children's choral premiere performance! But to make this happen we are going to need the help of our community. There will be all kinds of ways to support this initiative which will cost close to $60,000 to achieve. The choir will be raising funds through special events, the business community will be asked for their support, and we hope to encourage individuals to see the value in showcasing our small, but mighty, youth choir in their efforts to get to New York by making a personal donation. Won’t it be great to see our Nanaimo Youth Choir take the Carnegie Hall stage? The Nanaimo Youth Choir is the only Western Canadian choir as one of two Canadian choirs out of seven North American choirs to be invited! To make a donation or a pledge, please call the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music at 250 754 4611. You can also donate through Nanaimo Conservatory of Music’s Canada Helps site, just make sure to mention it is for the Nanaimo Youth Choir NYC trip.

NANAIMO YOUTH CHOIR IMPORTANT OCTOBER DATES AND CONCERTS
Sat. October 3, 2015- Garage Sale- 8:30 am 3648 Departure Bay Road
Sat. October 3, 2015-Mass Choir Rehearsal with Clinician for Nanaimo Sings- 2:15-4:45 at Christ Community Church on Bowen Rd.
Wed. October 14, 2015- Civic Merit Awards- 6:30 pm at Beban Park Social Centre
Fri. October 16, 2015-Sunday October 18th Nanaimo Sings at St. Andrew’s United Church 311 Fitzwilliam St.
Sat. October 18, 2015-Nanaimo Sings Tech Rehearsal at Port Theatre for Mass Concert (Time is to be announced.)
Sun. October 18, 2015-Nanaimo Gala Performance and Mass Concert-7:00 pm at the Port Theatre

DISCOUNTS FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND SYMPHONY All students up to grade 12 can buy Eyego tickets at $5 each in person at the Port Theatre box office with student ID. University students are $18 per ticket by telephone ONLY with school name & student ID number on the ID card. All other Nanaimo Conservatory of Music students and faculty will get a 50% off ticket price by quoting ‘Conservatory’ for regular season only, 5 classical & 3 Pops shows as ordered by telephone ONLY. Three Extra special shows (Nov 20, Mar 12, Mar 21 & 22) do not apply to the 50% discount. Call the Port Theatre Box Office at 11:00- 5:30 pm at 250-754-8550 for more information.

OPEN HOUSE 2015 FOR CULTURE DAYS - A SUCCESS!
On September 26, 2015 the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music invited everyone in Nanaimo to an afternoon of wonderful musical discovery at our annual Open House during Culture Days 2015. The Nanaimo community was welcome to try out a musical instrument in the petting zoo hosted by Tom Lee Music and to join the Conservatory’s faculty for some mini music lessons. There were performances, demonstrations, prizes and refreshments and it was such a wonderful day of joyous fun! The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music offers instruction to the serious music student as well as to the student looking for an enjoyable hobby as taught by top instructors. All ages from birth to seniors are welcome. We are always accepting new students. To learn more about the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music call 250-754-4611 or visit the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music website at www.ncmusic.ca.               

REMINDER: BRAND NEW NANAIMO CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC PROGRAMS AT THE CITY OF NANAIMO!
For your convenience the City of Nanaimo is now offering numerous Nanaimo Conservatory of Music lesson programs! The programs that are available now through the City of Nanaimo are Kindermusik (birth-5 years) Pajama Class,  Headstart Suzuki classes (3-5 years), lessons in introductory harp (adult beginners), ukulele (adult beginners), voice (all adults) , violin (beginners ages 11-14 years), musical theatre (ages 11-14 years) and group flute (ages 12-16 years). Be sure to take advantage of the City of Nanaimo numerous program schedules and sign up for the year and register online at the website www.IReg.nanaimo.ca! All lessons will be held at 375 Selby Street.
OPERA WORKSHOP’S MENOTTI CHRISTMAS CONCERT
The Nanaimo Conservatory of Music's exciting upcoming Opera Workshop with Director Carol Fetherston and Assistant Director Mary Jackson is now in session! Director Carol Fetherston has been asked to be the Musical Director of Opera Nanaimo's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti this Christmas. Students enrolled in the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music's Opera Workshop will learn the chorus of Shepherds and Shepherdesses so that they can be part of this wonderful and exciting Christmas production. Join us at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music and work on your vocal technique and hone and develop your performance skills with our top instructors. 10 classes are $200. Visit us and learn more online at www.ncmusic.ca.

COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
VANCOUVER ISLAND SYMPHONY The season opens with an exotic and virtuosic concert! Purchase tickets for the upcoming exciting Port Theatre’s Timeless Treasures Series #1, Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 pm, Music & Literature: GUEST ARTIST • Devon Joiner. The evening will include TCHAIKOVSKY • Romeo and Juliet, De FALLA • Nights in the Gardens of Spain and RIMSKY-KORSAKOV’s • Scheherazade. Each work tells a nocturnal story of its own, from Shakespeare to the One Thousand and One Nights tales. Nanaimo pianist Devon Joiner joins us for this lush celebration of words through music. Join us for the pre-concert Talk with Pierre Simard.   
                                                                                                                                                  
DEVON JOINER PERFORMS AT THE PORT WITH THE VANCOUVER ISLAND SYMPHONY
Nanaimo raised multi-award winning 26 year old pianist, Devon Joiner, was the Nanaimo Youth Choir’s piano accompanist for several years. The NCM and the Nanaimo Youth Choir miss his regular spectacular performances with the choir at the Conservatory. Devon Joiner performs at the Port Theatre Oct 24th, 2015 at 7:30 pm.

NCM: Tell us about your current projects.
DJ: I’m going to be playing Nights in the Gardens of Spain and this is my debut with the Vancouver Island Symphony. I’m very excited about that and right now I am actually in medical school at Columbia and have just started my second year. In medical school I am one of the leaders of the Musician’s Guild  and we have monthly performances for other students and we also perform in the hospital for patients. My goal is to be both a doctor and a musician.         
NCM: What is coming up next for you in the future?                                                                                                       
DJ: I have almost three years of medical school left and I hope to perform as much as possible. I’ve met several great musicians at Columbia and I enjoy performing with them at various events. It’s always great to come back to my hometown and see everyone and I’m really looking forward to this upcoming performance.
                                
CLASSICAL COFFEE CONCERT SERIES WITH SARAH HAGEN & FRIENDS AT THE PORT THEATRE
Tuesday Mornings on Oct 20 | Nov 17 | Feb 2 | Mar 8 | Apr 12- Intimate Lobby Performances, 10:30am
Internationally acclaimed classical pianist Sarah Hagen brings her amazing gift and talent to this series of conceptually innovative chamber music performances where Hagen collaborates with special guests François Houle (clarinet), Anne Grimm (soprano), Søren Bebe (jazz piano), Ann Elliott-Goldschmid (violin), plus a solo performance in October. Join us for coffee, treats, and a wonderful start to your morning where you will no doubt be infected by Sarah's passion, enthusiasm and sense of humour. Tickets are on sale now at the Port Theatre Box Office at 11:00- 5:30 pm 250-754-8550.

CALL TO ARTISTS From Chris Barfoot at the Culture & Heritage Coordinator at the City of Nanaimo: The city is currently seeking proposals for temporary outdoor art for display in public places. All artists are invited to submit their proposals through "CALL FOR ARTISTS FOR TEMPORARY OUTDOOR ART NO. 1677", which is available on the City's website.The deadline for proposals is November 17, 2015. Visit: http://www.nanaimo.ca/bid_opportunities/bid_opptunities.aspx.The call is open to all artists who live in Canada. Participants do not have to be a professional artist to submit a proposal.             

BULLETIN BOARD-PIANO SALE- Petrof Upright Grand Piano, Limited edition, 1:150 made. Patent construction, Gran Prix Barcelona, Bruxellers Paris Diplox D' Honer Bruxellers 1958- serial #453264, comes with piano chair, Beautiful Sound New $16,000 Sale price $4,000. In excellent, new condition. Beautiful Instrument hardly played on. Walnut colour. Frederic Chopin loved to play on Petrof Pianos. Moving sale. If interested, please call or email. It is a great piano for children to start lessons, they will grow with the piano Please feel free to email at ingeborg.harr@outlook.com or call Ingeborg Reive-250-585-6378.  
                                                                                                                                             
FREE ORGAN- Great for beginning organ students. Call Loyd Sherry at 250-729-7323.