2015-16 concert season - The Grand River Chorus
Transcription
2015-16 concert season - The Grand River Chorus
y r t e Pion ong S 2015-16 CONCERT SEASON 2015 2016 CONCERT 1 Viennese Connections SUNDAY OCTOBER 18,2015 3:00 pm concert Vienna was home to many famous composers of classical music. Come enjoy a sampling of music by Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, J. Strauss, and more! CONCERT SEASON CONCERT 2 Ring the Christmas Bells! SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2015 7:30 pm concert SPECIAL GUESTS Brantford Collegiate Men’s and Women’s Choruses Bring your bells again, and ring in the Christmas season with the Brantford Symphony’s famous Christmas show. music is CONCERT 3 Strings—picked, plucked, and bowed BR A N T FORD SYMPHONY ORCHE S T R A P SATURDAY, APRIL 9, 2016 7:30 pm concert A variety concert of music for string orchestra and harpsichord, with music by Vivaldi, Bach and more. Our special guest is local guitar celebrity Patrick Feely. 519.759.8781 www.brantfordsymphony.ca [email protected] Dave Levac MPP Brant 101-96 Nelson St. Brantford, ON N3T 2N1 Phone: 519 759-0361 Fax: 519 759-6439 TTY: 519 759-4953 Email: [email protected] Website: Davelevac.onmpp.ca Congratulations in continuing your tradition of excellence. 2. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME Welcome to the 2015 – 2016 Season of the Grand River Chorus There is a delightful, energetic song that starts, ”Here we go again!” That is what is happening this year. The members of the Grand River Chorus are preparing to present to our audiences, a colourful series of musical selections. Some of you may have received pamphlets which explain the music to be presented this year. If not, take the time to read through this terrific programme to find out what is being prepared for you. This is my seventh year with the Grand River Chorus, and the seventeenth year for the choir. The programme and planning committee in co-operation with Richard, have continued to organize diverse and interesting musical selections for our programmes. Working with this talented group of people, and presenting fine music for you, our patrons, gives me a great deal of satisfaction. The Grand River Chorus, is a “Not for profit” organization, which was started to provide a special type of music to Brantford, and the surrounding area. Without the support of Arts Grants, community partners, and you our audience, we could not survive. In the season pamphlet there is an explanation of the Sponsorship plan. It is not too late to purchase season’s tickets, which guarantee a lower cost than four individual tickets. If you enjoy our music, please tell your friends, and help us spread the word. Thank you for coming out and supporting this choir. John Howe, President, Grand River Chorus A Greeting from our Artistic Director Welcome to the seventeenth great year of fabulous music making by The Grand River Chorus. We know that you will revel in the soaring sounds of Handel’s Messiah, Rheinberger’s Cantus Missae, the 5 Mystical Songs by Vaughan Williams and the searing angular sounds of Stravinsky’s Mass. We also have a mixed media performance for you in June, with Ojibway storyteller Aaron Bell and his White Pine Dancers performing with us as we highlight the poetry of Tekahionwake, - E. Pauline Johnson, sung to the music of mostly local composers. Clearly this is a year where you don’t want to miss a single concert … Great choral music, sung by our fabulous choir, from six different centuries and with a huge variety of styles … wonderful soloists … great orchestral players joining us … spectacular First Nations dance. What are you waiting for? Order your season’s pass today. I love to meet you too. Please feel free to approach me and chat at the end of each concert. Richard Cunningham, Artistic Director 3. Richard Cunningham, Ann-Marie MacDairmid, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR ACCOMPANIST Through his long career as a musician, Richard Cunningham has travelled throughout North America and Europe. Performing as a countertenor soloist, Richard has sung in Bulgaria, Germany (including both sides of that once divided country), Holland, Sweden, France, and Great Britain as well as coast to coast in the U.S.A and Canada. He has also travelled widely as a chorister, performing with the Elora Festival Singers, the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir, La Chappelle de Quebec, the Taverner Consort, Winchester Cathedral Choir and St George’s Chapel Choir of Windsor Castle. Ann-Marie MacDairmid is a native of Thornbury, Ontario. She has an Honours Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master of Music degree in organ performance from the University of Western Ontario. As well as being an organist, she is an accomplished pianist, percussionist and choral conductor. Ann-Marie is the founder, director and accompanist for the Shoreline Chorus in Owen Sound, Ontario. Shoreline Chorus presents three concert programs a year – fall, spring and summer - working in a wide variety of musical genres including Classical, Spiritual, Gospel, Jazz, Mo-town, Doo-wop, Big band, World folk music, African music, Disco, Broadway and Movie music. In April 2012 the choir went to Havana on a Canada-Cuba cultural exchange. Richard earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from the University of Toronto. He has studied choral conducting with Derek Holman, Edgar Hanson, William Wright, Douglas Bodle, and Jon Washburn. As a concert artist, Richard’s studies began at U of T with Lillian Weichel and Edgar Hanson. The grateful recipient of three scholarship grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, Richard traveled to England to study with Timothy Penrose and James Bowman, two of the finest practitioners of the countertenor’s art. Ann-Marie is the accompanist for the Owen Sound based vocal jazz group Cricket and is part of “The Retreads” an instrumental jazz group that plays at regular meetings of the Thornbury-Clarksburg Rotary Club. She has served as accompanist for a number of other groups, including the Georgian Bay Concert Choir in Owen Sound and the Schneider Male Chorus in Kitchener. In the last 15 years, Richard has spent more of his time as a choral conductor, passing on the skills of singing individually and in a choir to musicians in Kitchener, Hamilton, Brantford and Toronto. As well as conducting the Grand River Chorus for the last ten years, Richard has taught courses in vocal methods and conducting at McMaster University. He is also one of the vocal teachers on staff at McMaster. The Grand River Chorus gives him the opportunity to perform the masterworks in the choral repertoire with a group of talented and dedicated singers who share his joy of tremendous music. Ann-Marie serves as assistant organist at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Kitchener. She performs solo recitals and accompanies instrumental and vocal performers at St. Andrew’s regular noon hour concerts throughout the year. Her programming reflects an eclectic musical taste, the most noted being her “Hallowe’en Special”. Other solo organ programs feature themes ranging from dazzling pedal solos to ragtime to gospel preludes. In the fall of 2012 Ann-Marie helped start a youth choir in Thornbury; the Apple Valley Youth Choir. She is the conductor and accompanist. The program is being co-sponsored by a local business and the Rotary club. When he is not directing a choir, singing or teaching, Richard may be found composing music (mostly vocal or choral with piano or orchestral accompaniment) or driving between rehearsals. As a supply organist, Ann-Marie has played for many church services throughout Southern Ontario. Ann-Marie is dedicated to community service. In December 2010 she was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the ThornburyClarksburg Rotary Club for service in Rotary and other community organizations. In October 2011 Ann-Marie was nominated for an Owen Sound and Area Cultural Award in the Music category. 4. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME Cara Blackwood, Choristers 2015-2016 ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR Cara Blackwood, a long-time chorister with the Grand River Chorus, earned her Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Toronto. She spent many years teaching high school instrumental music with the Grand Erie District School Board before switching to teaching her other love, English. She discovered her love of choral music later in life, singing with the Norfolk Singers and the Bach Elgar Choir. This is her seventh season as assistant conductor of the Grand River Chorus. SOPRANO Kristen Bouwhuis Helen Button Lois Deneau Heather Franklin Susan Howe Pat Lenz Mary-Lou Knechtel Maria Lloyd Kaitlyn Mahoney Erica Martisius Carole-Anne Persall Melodie Phillips Audrey Roorda Thelma Silverthorne Karen Taylor Penny Telfer Susan Zakamarko 2015-2016 GRC Board of Directors John Howe, President, Fund Raising Tim Marsden, Past President Susan Zakamarko, Vice President, Chair Programme and Planning Committee Mike Wyatt, Secretary David Johnston, Treasurer Mary Lou Knechtel, Chair Choir Committee Pat Eyzenga, Choir Committee, Correspondence Lynda Field-Newhouse, Advertising and Marketing, Front of the House Donald Young, Fund Raising Kathryn Millward, Chair Front of the House Rachel Franklin, Front of the House Jeanne Taylor Alex Morris, Acting Past President Ex Officio: Richard Cunningham, Artistic Director ALTO Cara Blackwood Emily Dakers Betty Decker Brendalee Engelhardt Pat Eyzenga Rose Janson Brenda Kerr Audrey Lee Kay MacPherson Deirdre Marsden Joyce Morris Elfrieda Neumann Anne Saunders Cathy Taylor Jeanne Taylor Mary Van Delft Pamela Van Weelden Karen Young Volunteers Theresa MacDougald, Tickets Pat Duern, Grants Kristen Bouwhuis, Grants 5. TENOR Andy Blackwood John Mark Deneau Anna-Maria Gardin Peter Harmsen John Howe Jim Jones Marianne Kraft Andy Michalchuk Michael Payne Reynold Winter BASS Sean Adams David Anderson Stuart Bergstra Don Brown Ron Danbrook Ian MacPherson James Mahon Tim Marsden Alex Morris Peter Scovil Herman Sinke John Van Maanen Alan Van Weelden Donald Young MEMBER DONORS 2014-2015 Patrons (over $1000) Donor Organizations Patricia Lenz Brant Community Foundation City of Brantford City of Brantford - Community Cultural Investment Program Samuel W. Stedman Foundation Benefactor ($500- $999) John & Susan Howe Mary-Lou & Robert Knechtel Dan & Theresa McDougald Jeanne Taylor Business/Corporate Sponsors Contributing Donor ($350 – $499) In Kind Donors Marvin & Melody Daboll Barry & Cheryle Hill Nora Langley Wayne & Kathryn Millward Boston Pizza, Market Street The Brantford Expositor Al Newhouse - Graphic design Nicol Florist - Concert flowers Celine Garneau - Photography Supporting Donor ($250 - $349) Maria S.C. Harmsen Email us: [email protected] for information on how you can become a sponsor/supporter. Associate Donor ($175 -$249) Member Donor ($25 - $174) Joan Butcher Elsie Hankinson Edward & Agnes Laughlin Spence Printing Ad 6. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME Solving Organizational Problems for over 30 years Est. 1921 RANDVIEW FEED & SEED Sandor & Theresa French Pet Food • Lawn and Garden Products • Salt Bird Seed • Chlorine • Feed 7. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL MATT JONICE 519-753-0414 8. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME 1982 Banquets, Meetings, Weddings 2015 JOIN US FOR LUNCH - DINNER SEAFOOD • STEAKS CHOPS & MORE RESTAURANT AND PIANO BAR EST 1982 GROUP MENUS ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT John Moorhouse at the piano! Call 519-753-3131 Paris Rd. West and 687 Powerline Rd., BRANTFORD OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK www.TheOldeSchoolRestaurant.ca TS1930222 SUNDAY BRUNCH Piano Bar • Wedding Chapel • Patio • Gift Certificates • Wheelchair • Elevator Celebrate the World at Your Doorstep! July 6-9, 2016 Come, experience the Villages this summer. An evening of hospitality, food, fun and great entertainment awaits you. www.brantfordvillages.ca Pat Eyzenga: 519-753-9217, 519-752-6222 9. Concert 1 MUSICAL GEMS OF THE 20TH CENTURY Saturday November 7th, 7:30 p.m. St Andrew's United Church 95 Darling Street, Brantford From the beautiful lushness of the romantic harmony of Vaughan Williams to the angular sounds of Stravinsky and the sweet tunefulness of Rutter, this concert has something for everyone to enjoy. Guest Soloist: Baritone - Jordan Scholl Concert 2 HANDEL'S MESSIAH Sunday December 20th, 3:00 p.m. St Pius's Roman Catholic Church 9 Waverly Street, Brantford This timeless masterpiece will include four outstanding soloists and the Grand River Baroque Orchestra. This is a concert not to be missed. Guest Soloists: Soprano - Virginia Hatfield Countertenor - Peter Mahon Tenor - Charles Sy Bass/Baritone - Andrew Mahon 10. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME Concert 3 A CAPPELLA SPLENDOUR Sunday April 10th, 2016, 3:00 p.m. St Basil's Roman Catholic Church 50 Palace Street, Brantford The Grand River Chorus will fill this glorious acoustic venue with the pure sounds of the human voice - and just the human voice. Music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, William Byrd and Josef Rheinberger will resonate in the building and in your soul. Concert 4 CELEBRATING TEKAHIONWAKE The genius of E. Pauline Johnson Saturday June 4th, 2016, 7:30 p.m. W. Ross MacDonald School 350 Brant Avenue, Brantford The Grand River Chorus welcome Ojibway Storyteller - Aaron Bell and the White Pine Dancers as our featured guests to this programme of music written by local composers to the poetry of this wonderful Six Nations poet. Choir photos courtesy of Celine Garneau. 11. 12. SOLOISTS Jordan Scholl - baritone Jordan has been an active member of the professional music community for over a decade. He has performed as a soloist with a wide variety of groups in a wide range of genres from Baroque to Broadway. It is always a distinct pleasure to sing with the Brantford Grand River Chorus, and past credits include Messiah, Brahm’s Requiem, Mass of the Children, and Saul with the group. In addition to performing with GRC, Jordan is a member of Grammy- and Juno-nominated Elora Festival Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Arcady, and he has sung as a chorus member with Opera Atelier. In addition to being a performer, Jordan holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science and Music as well as a Master of Science in Anatomy and Physiology both from the University of Guelph. Most recently, Jordan completed his studies at the University of Toronto to become a Speech-Language Pathologist. As a vocal advocate, Jordan teaches masterclasses and lectures throughout Southwestern Ontario on the anatomy and physiology of the voice and has taught singing privately and at music academies. In 2012, Jordan presented a TEDx talk at the University of Guelph titled “Anyone Can Sing,” which prompted the creation of his own website TheVoiceNotes.com. Virginia Hatfield - soprano Virginia Hatfield is known for her radiant voice across a wide variety of repertoire. A native of Campbellford, Ontario, critics have raved about Virginia’s “clear, bell-like tone” (Opera Canada) and “warmth and radiance combined with commanding coloratura” (Halifax Herald).Opera roles for this captivating artist include Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Marzelline (Fidelio), both with the Canadian Opera Company, as well as Italian Singer with Pacific Opera Victoria (Capriccio) and. Virginia starred as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro with Saskatoon Opera. A highly-sought after soloist with many of Canada’s leading ensembles, Virginia has appeared with Guelph Chamber Choir in Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Christmas Oratorio with Kingston Symphony and Haydn’s Creation with Vancouver Bach Choir as well as performances of Messiah with Elmer Iseler Singers, Thunder Bay Symphony and Windsor Symphony Orchestra. In 2015/16, Virginia looks forward to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Symphony Nova Scotia, and shares her love of Broadway and Big Band songs in “High Standards” with Talisker Players, followed by her debut with Opera Lyra Ottawa as Marzelline in Fidelio. Peter Mahon - countertenor Educated at the University of Toronto, countertenor Peter Mahon has had a long and busy career in recital and chamber repertoire, as well as oratorio and opera. Over the past 35 years he has appeared on concert stages across Canada and abroad with Tafelmusik, Toronto Consort, Studio de musique ancienne de Montreal, The Theatre of Early Music, Toronto Masque Theatre, Aradia Ensemble, Opera Atelier, Montreal Early Music Festival, Montreal Chamber Music Festival, Pax Christi Chorale, Bach-Elgar Choir of Hamilton, and the Grand River Chorus. In addition to singing, he has a busy career as a choral conductor. Since 2003 he has been the Artistic Director of the Tallis Choir of Toronto. He is also the Director of Music at Lorne Park Baptist Church in Mississauga and St. Thomas More CSP Catholic Church in Toronto as well as being a Rehearsal Conductor and Voice Coach at St. Michael’s Choir School in Toronto. He also still finds to time to satisfy his love of choral singing, as a member of La Chapelle de Quebec, Tafelmusik Chamber Choir and the Theatre of Early Music. He has recorded for CBC Records, Atma Classique, Marquis Classics and Naxos. 13. SOLOISTS Charles Sy - tenor Toronto native Charles Sy has been recognized locally and nationally as a promising young artist with a “softly lyric sound, a natural sense of phrasing coupled with a rare willingness to project beyond the apron” (National Post). He is described as “vocally and dramatically mature with a delicious dark tenor sound that [stretches] easily into shining high notes” (Schmopera). After receiving both First Prize and Audience Choice in the Canadian Opera Company (COC) 2014 Centre Stage Competition Gala, he has joined the COC Ensemble Studio for the 2015/2016 season and sings Gastone in Verdi’s La Traviata, The Rooster in Burry’s The Bremen Town Musicians, and performs Britten’s Les Illuminations as a part of their Free Concert series in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre. A recent graduate of the University of Toronto (MMus.), Charles is also an alumnus of several prestigious training programs including Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, the Gerdine Young Artist Program at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, the Art of Song Fellowship at the Toronto Summer Music Festival, the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy (COSI), and the Opera as Theatre program at the Banff Centre. Recent operatic credits include: Tamino (Die Zauberflöte), Prunier (La Rondine), Remendado (Carmen), Ralph Rackstraw (H.M.S Pinafore), Mr. Owen (Postcard from Morocco), Lechmere (Owen Wingrave), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) Andrew Mahon – bass/baritone Andrew Mahon has appeared with many ensembles in Canada, the UK, and around the world, performing both concert and operatic repertoire. His past solo engagements have included performances with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Theatre of Early Music, Les Voix Baroques, Toronto Consort, Tallis Choir, Aradia Ensemble, Toronto Masque Theatre, Opera Atelier, Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart, NDR Sinfonieorchester, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Tilford Bach Festival, London Handel Orchestra, Mid Wales Opera, and the choirs of St Paul’s Cathedral and Wells Cathedral. He has collaborated with such conductors as Christopher Hogwood, Adrian Butterfield, Andrew Parrott, Nicholas Cleobury, Christoph Eschenbach, Helmuth Rilling, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Ivars Taurins, Daniel Taylor, and David Fallis. Recent performances include Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in the north of England, and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with the Augsburger Domsingknaben in Germany. In 2016 he can be heard singing Bach’s St John Passion with the Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square in Oxford, England, and in Canada, Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. A frequent song recitalist, he has performed on the stages of Wigmore Hall and the Forge in London, England. Andrew is a graduate of the University of Toronto and now resides in the UK. Aaron Bell – Ojibway storyteller From a very early age, Aaron Bell, Ojibway Storyteller displayed many talents in the arts. Throughout his young life, Aaron put to paper everything he could which eventually led to Sheridan College for Classical Animation as well as Mohawk College for Graphic Arts Production. Aaron soon realized that drawing was not what he wished to do with his life. After leaving college, he gained employment at many First Nations organizations from the Woodland Cultural Centre to Kanata Native Traditional Village in Brantford, Ontario. This is when his journey began to lead him into other forms of art, from acting to set design and eventually to the gifts of First Nations Storytelling… Aaron has shared his gifts of First Nations storytelling to critical acclaim from both teachers and students. His engagements are entertaining as well as educational. His presence captures the imaginations of all audience members, young and old, through his use of voice, stage awareness and confidence. The true art form of the First Nations Storyteller is realized within his presentations. One thing that distinguishes Aaron from other performers is his true caring within what he is doing. From the moment Aaron takes to the stage, audience members are immediately aware something special is going to happen. His travels have led him on many paths throughout his life, but this is what he loves to do… which is share the teachings and the culture of the First Nations people of Southern Ontario with those who wish to learn through the magic of the spoken word, drama and humour. 14. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME BRIAN D. COCHRANE CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT 8 MAGNOLIA STREET, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO N3R 1P7 TEL: 519-756-1565 FAX: 519-756-7876 15. SPONSORSHIPS The Grand River Chorus invites you to become a member of our organization and join us in supporting quality choral music in our community. A variety of contribution levels offers you several choices with rewards that show our appreciation. Please circle the number corresponding to your desired level of support. Make your cheque payable to the Grand River Chorus to help us build a strong organization. The GRC is a registered charity and will provide tax receipts for any donation. For further information or inquiries, contact: [email protected]. CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP 1. Concert....................................................................................................................... $8000 2. Podium....................................................................................................................... $4000 3. Musical Score............................................................................................................ $2000 4. Soloist......................................................................................................................... $1000 5. Musician..................................................................................................................... $500 To show our appreciation, for these levels you will receive: • Concert sponsors - 8 season tickets and 8 tickets for the Grand Fête Du Vin. • Podium sponsors - 4 season tickets and 4 tickets for the Grand Fête Du Vin. • Musical Score sponsors - 2 season tickets and 2 tickets for the Grand Fête Du Vin. • Soloist sponsors - 1 season ticket and 1 ticket for the Grand Fête Du Vin. • Musician sponsors - Choice of 1 season ticket or 1 ticket for the Grand Fête Du Vin. All corporate sponsors will also receive public recognition on concert advertising and at the concert performance. PRIVATE SPONSORSHIP 1. Patron......................................................................................................................... $1000 + 2. Benefactor ............................................................................................................... $500 – 999 3. Contributing Donor ............................................................................................. $350 – 499 4. Supporting Donor ................................................................................................ $230 – 349 5. Associate Donor .................................................................................................... $175 – 229 6. Member Donor ...................................................................................................... $25 – 174 To show our appreciation, for these levels you will receive: • Patron – season tickets for up to 4 people • Benefactor /Contributing Donor – Season tickets for up to 2 people • Supporting Donor – season ticket for 1 person • Associate Donor – a pair of tickets to the concert of your choice 16. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME 17. Nicol Florist Limited Wholesale - Retail Flower Shop and Garden Centre 846 Colborne St. - Brantford N3S 3S9 Phone: (519) 752-3142 Fax: (519) 752-3545 www.nicolflorist.com 18. 2015 - 2016 PROGRAMME PHIL McCOLEMAN MP Brant 108 St George Street, Suite 3, Brantford, ON N3R 1V6 519-754-4300 www.philmccolemanmp.ca Plan to attend... THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL Grand Fête Du Vin Gala Wine Tasting Event with Dinner, Auctions, Live Entertainment Saturday February 27, 2016 Best Western - Brant Park Inn, Brantford This years featured winery: To ensure prompt paym include the following in on your invoice: ine: Oct 1/12 For details and tickets call bution date: Oct & Dec 2012 rand River Chorus 3.875D 519-753-6758 19. Phil McColeman, MP 108 St George Street, Brantford, ON N3R 1 519-754-4300 www.grandriverchorus.com 201 - 245 King George Rd. Brantford, ON N3R 7N7