Nov 2010 Newsletter - Saskatchewan Orchestral Association

SOA November 2010 Newsletter
Saskatchewan Orchestral
Association, Inc.
NEWSLETTER
President’s Message November 2010 -
Inside this issue:
President’s message
1
Awards:
2-3
John & Lillian Payzant
Rebecca Hankins-Vopni
Tisdale & District
Strings
3
Regina Mandolin
Orchestra
4
Honour Orchestra
5
Saskatoon Youth
Orchestra
5
South SK Youth
Orchestra
6-7
Funding structures
8
SMFA award changes
9
SOA CD compilation
9
SOA info:
Grants available
10
SOA acknowledges the
generous support of:
Hugh Wood
Welcome everyone to this issue of the SOA Newsletter. The SOA Board of
Directors has just finished the review of your annual applications for Operating
and Project funding and we expect to be able to begin dispersing funds soon to
assist you in serving your members. The Operating grants are based on the same
formula as last year linked directly to your total membership numbers. We had to
trim most of the Project applications in order to meet our budget
limitations. Even then we are budgeting for a deficit of several thousand dollars,
financed by reserves built up during better years.
We are always looking for new sources of revenue, and to make personal and
corporate donations more attractive, we have filed an application with Canada
Revenue to be recognized as an official Charitable Organization able to issue tax
receipts for donations. Some of our member organizations are already Charitable
Organizations and we recommend that each of you consider the possibilities of
this strategy for your groups.
We celebrate a very successful Saskatchewan Music Conference earlier this month
where the SOA participated fully with the other 4 music PCOs to present an
excellent variety of workshops and performances, especially those performances
of the Honour Orchestra sponsored by the SOA. We were happy this year that
Brandon University participated with their String Orchestra lead by Leanne
Zacharias. This added a strong string component to go along with the choral and
band programs, and we wish to thank Brandon for their participation with us. We
encourage more SOA members to attend this annual conference held in early
November and focusing on inspirational talks and workshops to help each of us
grow in our musical understanding and careers. Next year we plan to explore ways
that strings instruction and participation can gradually be introduced back into the
school system to help serve the many students who seek to grow in their strings
experience.
Congratulations to Lillian and John Payzant who were recognized by the SOA at
the Music Conference for their many contributions to Strings teaching and
performance in Saskatoon, especially with the Suzuki Strings, and the Saskatoon
Symphony.
The SOA Board continues to work cooperatively with SaskCulture and the other 4
Music PCOs to form a new, more vibrant Music organization for the future.
Kathryn Peters and our Vice President, Yvonne Redant, are representing the SOA
in this multi-year process to build a stronger music community in
Saskatchewan. They would be happy to hear your ideas and suggestions as we go
forward.
Best wishes for the festive season.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 2
Recognizing the people in our communities . . .
John Payzant and Lillian Jen-Payzant:
The SK Orchestral Association was proud to present two ‘String Development’ awards – one to Lillian Jen-Payzant and one to John
Payzant- at the SK Music Conference Awards Banquet in Saskatoon
on November 5, 2010. The awards were given in recognition of dedicated work to develop string players in Saskatchewan.
Lillian and John have been instrumental in the development of many
string players in Saskatoon and area. Both have been directors and
teachers with the Saskatoon Suzuki String program, and together
they founded the Saskatoon Suzuki Summer String Experience.
Both continue to play with the Saskatoon Symphony - Lillian began
in 1982 (violin) and John in 1984 (cello). The Saskatoon and area
community has greatly benefitted from their dedicated teaching and
performance.
Lillian Jen-Payzant grew up in Toronto. She graduated from
York University with a Fine Arts degree with a major in music. Her violin teachers were Sydney Humphreys and Eugene
Kash. She has her licentiate from the Victoria Conservatory
of music.
Before moving to Saskatoon in 1982 to play with the Saskatoon Symphony, Lillian
Niagara Symphony and the Victoria Symphony.
played with the
For over 30 years, Lillian has taught both Suzuki and traditional violin method. Many of her
students have become professional musicians. Some have played in the Saskatoon Symphony. Among
Lillian’s former students are included composers, an opera singer, doctors and lawyers.
Lillian has been director of the Saskatoon Suzuki Strings program. She has served on other workshops, which brought in such great Suzuki teachers as William Starr and James and Jaqueline
Maurer. Currently she is still an associate teacher in The Saskatoon Suzuki String Program and
has been the founding co- director of the Summer String Experience with her husband John Payzant
and later added James Legge. Lillian still plays first violin in the Saskatoon Symphony, where
she serves as orchestra librarian.
She still teaches many students ranging from beginners to ARCT level and beyond.
John Payzant grew up in Toronto, where he received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance on
the cello in 1978. John received his Master of Music Degree in Performance on the cello in 1982
from the University of Arizona where he studied with Gordon Epperson. John completed the Orchestral Training Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music in 1984. He has also taken training at
summer Suzuki institutes.
John has played in the Saskatoon Symphony and taught in the Saskatoon Suzuki String Program since
1984. John is currently serving as Director of the Saskatoon Suzuki String Program.
John took on the role of acting principal cellist of the Saskatoon Symphony for the past two
years. He also performed, along with his wife Lillian, at the Juno Awards when they were in
Saskatoon. John’s studio includes cello, bass, recorder, viola and violin students.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 3
Rebecca Hankins-Vopni
Director, Tisdale and District Strings was presented with a certificate in appreciation of her work in Tisdale
and area with string students at a banquet in Tisdale on Nov. 24, Honouring the Heart of Our Community.
Other instructors and coaches honoured included two Skate Tisdale coaches, The Tisdale Track Club coach,
two Tisdale Minor Hockey Coaches and the Commanding Officer of Tisdale Air Cadets.
Tisdale and District Strings
Submitted by R. Hankins-Vopni
Remembrance Day String performance in Tisdale
For the first time Tisdale and District Strings was
asked to participate in the Tisdale and area Remembrance Day Services. Young string players
from this area played the Tisdale and District
Strings arrangement of Warrior’s Lament.
The Tisdale recorder said "several young
fiddle students played "The Warrior's Lament” as part of the service. It was a beautiful memoriam for all those in attendance.”
Warrior’s Lament was originally performed by Sierra Noble (from Manitoba)
at the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France for
the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy
Ridge in 2007. Warrior’s Lament was
also performed on April 9, 2010 at the
‘End of an Era’ ceremony at the Canadian
War Memorial in Ottawa. And has now
also been performed in Tisdale.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 4
Regina Mandolin Orchestra
Submitted by K. McCaw
The RMO presents
"A Merry Little Christmas"
Concert on Friday December 3rd
The RMO directed
by Yvonne Redant,
features a wide
range of traditional Christmas
music as well as
international music to lift your
spirits in the
busy time before
Christmas.
The concert takes
place Friday, 3
Dec 2010, 7:00
pm, at the Royal
Saskatchewan Museum Auditorium
College Avenue
and Albert Street
Regina, Saskatchewan.
Ticket are available at the door
Adults $12 Seniors and Students
$10 or from Bach
and Beyond.
Call Yvonne at
(306)522-3985, or
Harvey Linnen at
(306)537-4140,
for more information.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 5
2010 Saskatchewan Honour Orchestra
Submitted by B.Arscott & W. Toews
Some of Saskatchewan’s finest junior and high-school musicians met November 4-6th in Saskatoon for the Honour
Groups events organized and sponsored by the SK Music Educators Association and the SK Orchestral Association.
The 2010 Honour Groups concert was presented at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, November 6 th at the Circle Drive Alliance
Church, Saskatoon.
,
Members of the three Honour Groups, Honour Band, Honour Choir and Honour Orchestra, are chosen on the basis of
individual recorded auditions submitted by their teachers. The 2010 Honour Orchestra included players from the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra and the South SK Youth Orchestra who were joined by other string players from across the province who auditioned to participate.
The 2010 Honour Orchestra consisted of 40 string players who rehearsed and performed under guest conductor Martin
MacDonald from Halifax, Nova Scotia. The players represented five Saskatchewan communities. Rehearsals were held
at Bethel United Church, 1141- 5th St. E, Saskatoon. On the morning of November 5th, sectional rehearsals were instructed by Robert Klose (violin I), Joan Savage (violin II), Wayne Toews (viola), Bernadette Wilson (cello) and David
Humphrey (bass). Bethel Church Women provided meals and snacks for the orchestra members.
The orchestra’s repertoire included The Holberg Suite, Opus 40 by Edvard Grieg, Adagio for Strings, Opus 11 by Samuel Barber and Divertimento in D Major, K.136 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Together, the players and conductor
tackled the challenging music and gave a fine performance. Martin MacDonald’s leadership and musicianship made this
an enjoyable and educational event for the players.
Betty Ann Arscott of Saskatoon co-ordinated the 2010 Honour Orchestra activities. Her dedication to organizational
detail provided an exceptional experience for the young musicians.
The 2011 Honour Group will meet the first weekend in November 2011 in Regina. Updates for the Honour Orchesta will
be posted on the SOA website at www.saskorchestras.com. Rudy Sternadel from Regina will co-ordinate the 2011 Honour orchestra.
Congratulations to all 2010 Orchestra players for representing your communities so well and for providing a memorable
performance.
Saskatoon Youth Orchestra
Submitted by R. Carnegie
The SYO has had one of its busiest fall seasons yet. With 66 members the orchestra is thriving and keeping very
busy. Highlights include a performance with the Saskatoon Symphony of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger Prelude. The
SYO’s junior ensemble, the Saskatoon Strings directed by Bernadette Wilson has been busy as well with a post
concert performance at the Saskatoon Symphony and a workshop with cellist Leanne Zacharias.
The orchestra also travelled to Banff to participate in a youth orchestra symposium. There they worked with
guest conductor Dr. Glen Gillis who had this to say of the orchestra, “their attention and hard work was an inspiration to me and made my time working with them, not only satisfying but a sincere pleasure.”
The orchestra is looking forward to a busy spring semester with the annual Fundraising Gala February 12 th and a
much anticipated collaboration with the Saskatoon Children’s Choir on March 19th.
This is the first semester of the SYO’s partnership with the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music. All
SYO rehearsals and many performances now take place at the U of S . The SYO expresses deep gratitude to department head Dr. Gerald Langner and all of the U of S Department of Music.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 6
South Saskatchewan Orchestra November Update
Submitted by Jeanne Leech
All photos taken by Jeanne Leech.
On November 11, 2010, 53 South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra members, accompanied by a group of chaperones and parent volunteers, set out for Banff, Alberta to attend the annual Youth Orchestra Symposium
(YOS). The Banff Centre was filled to capacity with members from the Calgary Youth Orchestra (CYO), the
Edmonton Youth Orchestra (EYO), and the
Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO) taking part in
the events of the four day long Symposium.
Set among the beautiful and inspiring Rocky
Mountains, the Banff Centre was the perfect location to host such an event for the musicians, with
various rehearsal halls, sectional rooms, practice
huts, performance theatres, areas set aside for
leisure time, fully equipped gymnasiums, a
swimming pool, and various cafés and bistro locations. The orchestra members ate their meals
in the Vistas dining room, with buffet-style meals
served three times a day, and with individual
attention paid to those with special dietary
needs.
Some of the breathtaking scenery at the Banff centre
The Symposium schedule was filled with a good balance between full rehearsals with Music Director Al
Denike, sectionals with well-known international professional musicians working at the Banff Centre, and
social time with each other as well as with the participants from the other three orchestras. Although the musical experience was the focus of the Symposium, the participants managed to fit in a few leisure activities
which included an early morning hike up the Tunnel Mountain Trail, a walk around the town of Banff, a
movie night to watch the documentary, “Knowledge is the Beginning” in the newly built state-of-the-art Kinnear Centre for Creativity, and a pizza social with improv and board games on the last evening.
On Saturday afternoon, participants attended a performance by the SYO lead by guest conductor Dr. Glen
Gillis; Academic Festival Overture by Brahms and Marche Slave by Tchaikovsky were on the repertoire list. The
much-anticipated culmination of the Symposium for the remaining orchestras was the Final Concert on Sunday afternoon. The SSYO opened this concert; the audience was treated to a well prepared performance of The Merry Wives of
Windsor Overture by Otto Nicolai, and The
London Symphony No. 4 by Franz Joseph
Haydn, followed by a few words from Al
Denike, including an inevitable “Go Riders!”
EYO Music Director Michael Massey introduced their performance repertoire next,
Symphony No. 3 by Brahms and The Firebird
Suite by Stravinsky. The unquestionable
highlight of the concert was the CYO’s performance under the direction of Edmond
SSYO first violins with Music Director Al Denike
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 7
Agopian, particularly their final selection, Happy Hanukkah – Let’s Rejoice arranged for orchestra by Edmond
Agopian, which brought the entire audience to a standing ovation. This last performance was the topic of
conversation by the SSYO members for the remainder of the trip. The SSYO musicians were inspired and
motivated to hear such musicianship and talent in a group of their own peers that they spent the weekend
getting acquainted with.
With 26 new members joining the SSYO this season,
the 2010 Youth Orchestra Symposium proved to be
invaluable in helping the orchestra learn to work together as a cohesive group, regardless of the age difference of the members. Hours of rehearsing and input
from sectional leaders throughout the four days served
SSYO principal violist Geena Salway
to advance the orchestra in what
would normally take months of
preparation. The calibre of the
SSYO performance in the final
concert was a testament to the
advantage that participating in
the YOS experience gave to the
South Saskatchewan musicians.
The SSYO horns and trumpets in performance.
The rest of the SSYO season
promises to be as exciting as the
beginning. The Year End Concert on June 12, 2011 will be a very exciting conclusion to the year as it will feature the winner of the SSYO’s 2010 concerto competition, violinist Jessica Ramsay. This final performance will
be preceded by two wonderful performances and significant fund-raising events that provide the Orchestra
with a chance to perform in a concert. These events are the annual Christmas Brunch concert on December 19,
2010 at the Conexus Arts Centre and the Spring Fête concert on April 2, 2011 at Campbell Collegiate. SSYO
concerts always provide a lively atmosphere and a great opportunity for the Orchestra to showcase what they
have learned. Tickets to all concerts
can be obtained by
contacting members
of the South Saskatchewan Youth
Orchestra board of
directors.
Music Director Al Denike with the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra in the Eric Harvey Theatre at
the Banff Centre
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 8
Funding structures
submitted by K.Peters
Because the SK Orchestral Association has been under a funding and eligibility review over the past few years, questions have been raised about the relationship of the SOA to its funding partners – Saskatchewan Arts Board (SAB),
SaskCulture and SaskLotteries. The chart and descriptions below attempt to clarify the structure. Arrows indicate the
flow of funds.
SK Government Department of Tourism,
Parks, Culture & Sport
 determines which organizations can receive lottery funds. These are placed on
the Minister’s Eligibility List
 funds the SK Arts Board
Saskatchewan
Arts Board
People who buy Saskatchewan
Lottery tickets


SaskLotteries
collects lottery money
distributes money to SaskSport, SaskCulture, and
Sask Parks & Recreation
SaskCulture
Sask Parks &
Recreation
SaskSport
SaskSport, SaskCulture, & Sask Parks & Recreation fund about 1,200 organizations on the Minister’s Eligibility List and through them more that
12,000 organizations receive some kind of support
Saskatchewan Orchestral Association
Essentially, the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association receives its money from people who buy Saskatchewan Lottery
Tickets. The money is first collected by SaskLotteries and distributed to three organizations—SaskCulture, Sask Parks
and Recreation, and SaskSport. The funds allotted to SaskCulture are then distributed to over 140 member groups of
which the SOA is one.
To be eligible to receive lottery funding, organizations must be on the Minister’s Eligibility List. The List is determined
by the Government Department of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport. Eligibility criteria are listed in a Community Resource Guide at http://www.saskaboriginalresources.ca/pdfs/Lotteries.pdf
Approximately 12 of the SaskCulture member groups, those related to the arts (SOA included), have their grant applications adjudicated by the Saskatchewan Arts Board. SaskCulture provides funding to the Sask Arts Board for the adjudication process. The Arts Board creates an adjudicating panel to whom the arts cultural groups make their grant applications. Based on the application presentations, the panel provides funding recommendations which are then ratified by the
Arts Board and the lottery sector.
Five of the provincial arts cultural groups are related to music—SK Band Association, SK Choral Federation, SK Music
Educators Association, SK Music Festival Association, and the SK Orchestral Association. Following a funding review,
SaskCulture determined that the five groups could benefit from working together in one organization. As a result, these
five groups are now in the process of forming the Saskatchewan Music Alliance.
More information about the funding organizations can be found on their websites at SaskLotteries, SaskCulture and the
Saskatchewan Arts Board.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 9
Saskatchewan Music Festival String Awards:
. . . Can now be used for SOA member group registration fees
Submitted by K .Peters
The Saskatchewan Orchestral Association (SOA) provides awards for string players at nine different music festivals in
the province—Battlefords, Humboldt, Melfort, Moose Jaw, Naicam, Nipawin, Prince Albert, Swift Current and Yorkton.
Awards consist of $25 cheques for performers at the Beginner and Elementary level, and $150 vouchers for performers
at the Junior, Intermediate and Senior levels. The criteria for the awards is that they be presented to winning performances in string classes at the festival. Local festival awards committees administer the awards.
In previous years, the $150 vouchers could only be reimbursed for registration at SOA sponsored string or orchestra
workshops. For 2011 and following, the vouchers can also be reimbursed for the registration fees with any SOA member
group.
The SOA asks that SOA member groups accept the vouchers as payment towards registration and submit the vouchers
to the SOA office. The SOA will reimburse its member groups for the vouchers submitted.
Vouchers can be use for registration at the following:
SOA member groups
SOA workshops
Earlybird Ensembles (Regina)
Regina Summer Strings
Moose Jaw Youth String Orchestra
Saskatoon Suzuki Summer Experience
Poltava Ensemble (Regina)
Swift Current Fiddle Workshop
Prince Albert Strings
Tisdale and District fall and spring workshops
Regina Community Orchestra
Regina Mandolin Orchestra
Saskatoon Fiddle Orchestra
Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra
Saskatoon Suzuki Strings
Saskatoon Youth Orchestra
South SK Youth Orchestra (Regina)
Swift Current Strings
Tisdale and District Strings
Please note that the SOA Chamber Orchestra Workshop (Saskatoon) has been discontinued for 2011.
An SOA CD compilation . . Submit a recent recording of your group . .
The SOA would like each member group to submit one recording of approximately 5 minutes
recorded during the past 12 months. Individual recordings will be compiled onto one CD
to be used to promote the groups and the SOA.
Arrangements can be made to have the recording received via the internet. The deadline
for receipt of the recordings is February 1, 2011.
Any groups who would like to participate should contact Wayne Toews at [email protected] as soon as possible if you have not already done so.
SOA November 2010 Newsletter 10
Contact Info
2010 –11 Events Calendar
Saskatchewan Orchestral Association
Dec. 3
Regina Mandolin concert (p. 4)
Regina
Dec. 19
SSYO Christmas Concert (p.7)
Regina
Jan. 9
SOA Board meeting
Teleconference
Feb. 4
Concert Maurice Taylor Theatre
Tisdale
Feb 12
SYO Fundraising Gala (see p 5)
Saskatoon
TBA
P.A. Strings at Music Festival
Prince Albert
Mar. 12
SSYO with RSO (see p 7)
Regina
Mar.19
SYO & Children’s choir (see p 5)
Saskatoon
Apr. 2
SSYO Spring Fete (see p 7)
Regina
Jun.12
SSYO Yr End concert (see p7)
Regina
SOA Grants Available:


Professional Development Grant
(for individuals)
New Initiative Grants
(for groups)
Professional Development/Teacher Training Grants:
Professional Development (Teacher training) Grants are available for individuals wishing to upgrade their qualifications in
the teaching of orchestral String Instruments . Applications for
these grants can be found on the SOA website at
www.saskorchestras.com under the Grants section. See the
teacher application section. Applications are due March 31st.
New Initiative Grants:
New Initiatives Grants are for groups. Grants can be up to
$500 and applications can be submitted at any time during the
year. Please use the Project Grant Application form on the
website if the New Initiatives Grant Application form is not yet
available. Applications are reviewed by the board at quarterly
meetings. All requests must be submitted in time to be reviewed before the start of the project. (Please note that the
SOA Board meets 4 times a year, generally in January,
March, August and November.)
Why am I receiving this newsletter?
You are receiving this newsletter because you or someone in your family has
been a member of an orchestral group under the umbrella of the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association in the past year..If you wish to be removed from
our list, please contact Kathryn by phone at 306.544.2230 or email at [email protected]
Kathryn Peters
Administrator
Box 87
Hanley, SK S0G 2E0
Ph: 306-544-2230
Fax: 306-544-2718
[email protected]
www.saskorchestras.com
Newsletter Info
Next newsletter:
Deadline: Feb. 1, 2011
Publication: Feb. 8, 2011
Deadlines
Publications
February 1, 2011
February 8, 2011
April 8, 2011
April 15,2011
September 18, 2011
September 25, 2011
November 18, 2011
November 25, 2011
SOA Board of Directors
President
Hugh Wood
Vice President
Yvonne Redant
Secretary
Birgitta Heidt
Treasurer
Ray Pacholek
Director
Ellen Handford
Director
Chris Harrington
Director
Paddie Hulshof
Director
John Payzant
Director
Curtis Scheschuk
Director
Rudy Sternadel
Director
Magda Szajcz
Director
Wayne Toews