MAY 19 - 21

OUR POETS
CAROL TEAL
Carol has been writing songs
since her teen year and lost
count hundreds of songs ago.
Her passion for songwriting
has won her two Honor Awards in the Great
American Songwriting Competition. Her
writing reflects a broad range of topics, from
hilarious views of the trials and tribulations of
relationships to serious environmental concerns.
She and her partner, David Joyce, have released
three independent CD's of original songs and
perform across Canada as the duo "Teal &
Joyce". She has conducted many song-writing
workshops with students in Ontario and
Labrador and for the audience at the Mariposa
Folk Festival for the last six years. In all her
workshops participants are engaged in
hands-on writing and art experiences with
a focus on letting the creative spirit soar,
facilitating self-expression and empowering
the artist in us all.
JOIN US AND SHARE
YOUR CREATIVITY!
The Blue Bridge Festival Retreat begins a creative
Doug Owen is a published
author who specializes in
writing Teen Fiction. He also
has developed a series of
creative workshops for young authors, which he
leads all over Ontario. The written word has
sparked his imagination and will continue to do
so for years to come. His works range from
Science Fiction to Fantasy, and include Young
Adult fiction as well.
“At the Blue Bridge Retreat, people who think they
can’t write realize they can. Exposed to great
surroundings they are able to invoke the poet within as they de-stress they produce such wonderful pieces
of art.” David R., Writer, College Student, Markham
CREATE
PLAY MUSIC
journey for over 50 young musicians and writers. For
THE JOURNEY
RETREAT
May 19 - 21
Camp Wahanowin, Orillia
three days, these enthusiastic young people retreat to
Departing PETHS at 12 pm on Monday, returning to
PETHS at 6 pm on Wednesday
Camp Wahanowin near Orillia to work intensively with
professional musicians, award winning poets and
community members. Together they co-create poetry
Cost ~ $265
and concert music for performance at the Blue Bridge
Price is dependant on number of participants
Price includes transportation, meals,
accommodations and workshops
Festival.
Three weeks later at the Festival, with their workshop
leaders on stage with them, they confidently present
their own material, building bridges of poetry and
We would like to invite you to be part of this journey.
DRESS REHEARSALS
May 28 & June 4
7-9pm
Musicians perform concert music repertoire for choir
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, Newmarket
and orchestra, attend workshops, rehearsals, and
Mandatory rehearsal, call time 6:30 pm
music between the northern and southern districts of
York Region.
become the core Blue Bridge Festival Orchestra.
Bus transport. Bus leaves PETHS at 4 pm
and costs $10 for both buses
Chamber music groups prepare repertoire for daytime
events at the festival. Poets participate in writing
circles, poetry walks and workshops with three
DOUGLAS OWEN
WRITE
leading writers/teachers from across Canada, reading
material for performance at the festival, either by
MUSICIANS & WRITERS CREATE
YOUR WORK AT THE BLUE
BRIDGE FESTIVAL RETREAT:
themselves or with the musicians.
We hope you will join us in this exciting venture, and
help us build a Bridge of Music and Poetry among the
arts in York Region
MAY 19 - 21
CAMP WAHANOWHIN
PERFORM AT THE FESTIVAL
ON JUNE 7, NEWMARKET
Artistic Director
Brenda Muller
performs with
students at the
Festival Gala
Information and registration for the
retreat is available from your teachers
or at www.bluebridgefestival.com
BLUE BRIDGE ON MAIN
June 7
11 am - 3 pm
Daytime Events on
Main Street Newmarket
Afternoon chamber music & poetry, multiple venues
BLUE BRIDGE GALA
June 7
8pm
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian, Newmarket
6 pm call time for all performers of music & poetry
OUR MUSICIANS
WILLIAM SHOOKHOFF, CONDUCTOR
CHARNA MATSUSHIGE, VIOLIN
William Shookhoff has
served on the music
faculties of the
Universities of Toronto,
Alberta, Wilfred Laurier
as well as the Banff
Centre for the Arts.
Mr. Shookhoff was the
Associate Conductor of the inaugural
Canadian production of Les Misérables,
and of the Canadian Tour and Toronto
productions of Phantom of the Opera. He
has also devoted his efforts to
development of the Massed Piano or
Monster Concert, and has conducted
events in New York; Toronto; Washington,
DC; and Rome. He is also the Director and
founder of Toronto based repertoire
company, Opera by Request.
A native of Newmarket,
Ontario, Charna
Matsushige began
studying the violin with
Sonia Klimasko at age 6.
She has been a member
of various symphony
orchestras such as the
National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Charna
received her Bachelor of Music in Performance
at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music
under the tutelage of Mark Fewer. She is
currently enrolled in Graduate Studies at the
University of Toronto, studying with Yehonatan
Berick.
COREY GEMMELL, CONCERT MASTER
Corey Gemmell, violin,
is also concert master
of Symphony Hamilton
and the Scarborough
Philharmonic, associate
concert master of the
Toronto Philharmonic,
a member of the Royal
College of Examiners for
the RCM, and is also a
soloist and recording artist with several
CD’s to his credit of the rich violin sonata
repertoire.
“What better-a-thing is there in life, than a gathering
of writers and musicians, who come together as a
collective to make something wonderful and
inspiring? Something that other teenagers, other
artists can look up to, or hold as an example?” Sai C.,
Musician & Writer, University Student, Markham
"The Blue Bridge Retreat is an amazing experience. You
meet new people of different ages: writers, musicians even actors. You grow bonds with new people as you all
do what you enjoy the most in life. You get to explore your
work, your mind - putting it into beautiful pieces of art."
Amber R.P., Writer, Graduate, Sutton
ANNA ANTROPOVA, VIOLIA
Anna Antropova is an
international soloist,
chamber musician, and
artistic director of the
Chamber Music Gallery.
Anna holds a Master’s
Degree from Glinka State
University in Russia. She
has toured throughout
Europe and Russia,
playing with the Russian
Ballet and Opera. She has taught internationally
for 17 years and has been a devoted clinician
and teacher of many of our students.
“Imagination, creativity, music, and laughter sums up my
experience in the Blue Bridge Festival. What a perfect way
to show off art, music, and start off the summer season."
Yvonne B., Music Student Graduate, Markham
BRENDA MULLER,
CELLO & OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CATHERINE MAGUIRE, VOCAL
COACH & CHOIR DIRECTOR
Brenda Muller is a graduate
of the University of Western
Ontario in Music Performance,
and the founder/director of
the Blue Bridge Festival.
Brenda is known as an
outstanding, innovative
musician, poet, songwriter
and inter-disciplinary
performer. Her excellence as a cellist and her
original artistic voice as a poet and songwriter
have been acclaimed both nationally and
internationally. Brenda has toured as a chamber
musician throughout Canada and the United
States, has been broadcast on the CBC and
other radio stations, and has 6 recordings to
her credit.
Catherine Maguire, a
graduate of the University
of Western Ontario and
the prestigious Guildhall
School in London, England, and holds the
title of "Repetiteur" from
the University of Toronto
Opera School. She is much
sought-after in this
capacity, having accompanied some of
Canada’s premier opera singers including
Lilac Cana, Nancy DeLong and Robert
Owen. She has accompanied and performed
with the Brampton Lyric Opera Society and
coaches opera singers in a variety of
operatic roles, and is the Director of the
Blue Bridge Festival Choir.
LECH STRACZYNSI, DOUBLE BASS
Lech Straczynski earned a
Master of Music from the
Academy of Music in Poland.
Lech has performed with the
Toronto Philharmonia,
Hamilton Philharmonic,
Mississauga Opera, Niagara
Symphony, Toronto Sinfonietta, Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra, Ontario Philharmonic,
Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Scarborough
Symphony Orchestra, Sudety Philharmonic
Orchestra and Silesia Opera Orchestra (Poland),
International Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), and
many others.
NOTE: Professional brass and wind players will be available
for coaching as necessary including:
ROY FEURHARDT, TRUMPET AND BRASS
DAWN MOBBS, FLUTE
ERICA RAO, OBOE
RACHEL STEWART, BASSOON
LYNN SMYTHE, FRENCH HORN
We’re currently accepting:
WRITERS, STRING PLAYERS,
SINGERS, BRASS
This year’s featured work:
Haydn’s “Mass in the Time of War”
Srul Irving Glick’s “The Hour Has Come”
Vaughn Williams’ “Variation on a Theme
by Thomas Tallis”
For an up-to-date list of players needed please
check our website. www.bluebridgefestival.com