Orchestras Canada

Our apologies to the Victoria Symphony, whose media release about the world premiere of a new violin concerto by former resident composer Rodney Sharman, featuring violinist Jonathan Crow, earlier this month didn’t reach us in time. Fortunately, the work was reviewed in the Globe and Mail and you can read about it here.

On April 1 and 2, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony will give the world premiere of Whirling Dervish by Canadian composer Brian Current. The new work features Raqib Brian Burke, a Canadian Sufi Mevlevi whirling dervish who began practicing this form of meditation through movement over forty years ago. He is the only Canadian to have toured with the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey.  kwsymphony.ca

AUDITIONS
National Arts Centre Orchestra
Principal Timpani (National)
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 25 mars 2011

COMPOSERS/COMPOSITEURS
Victoria Symphony
Composer-in-Residence
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 7 mars 2011

CONDUCTORS/DIRECTEUR MUSICAL
Guelph Youth Music Centre
Youth Symphony Orchestra Conductor, 2011–2012 Season
Application Deadline/Date limite : March 4 mars 2011

ADMINISTRATIVE/ADMINISTRATIF
New Brunswick Youth Orchestra/Orchestre des jeunes du Nouveau-Brunswick
Provincial Director Sistema NB/Directeur provincial de Sistema NB
February 11 février 2011

AUDITIONS
Orchestre symphonique de Montréal
Percussion (National)
February 25 février 2011

Victoria Symphony
Principal Cello (International)
April 4 avril 2011

YOUTH AND TRAINING / ÉDUCATION ET APPRENTISSAGE
National Arts Centre Orchestra/Orchestre du Centre national des Arts
NAC Summer Music Institute/Programme des jeunes artistes 2011
February 8 février 2011

The holiday programming announcements continue this week – and here are some highlights, from coast to coast:

The Victoria Symphony, led by Brian Jackson, will give five performances (in Duncan, Victoria and Qualicum) of My Funny Christmastime, featuring soprano Mary Lou Fallis, a guest appearance by soprano Anna Madgett, new arrangements by Howard Cable, Scott Good and Roy Kaighin, an assortment of holiday classics and a singalong. www.victoriasymphony.ca

The Lethbridge Symphony combines a pair of beloved holiday traditions by performing Bach’s Magnificat and Part I of Handel’s Messiah in a pair of performances this weekend. The featured choir is the University of Lethbridge Singers. www.lethbridgesymphony.org

The Saskatoon Symphony, led by new Music Director Victor Sawa, will present a holiday concert that features the Saskatoon Children’s Choir, John Rutter’s Brother Heinrich’s Christmas, a host of local celebrities, and a Christmas sing-along. www.saskatoonsymphony.org

The Winnipeg Symphony, led by resident conductor Richard Lee, hits the road for five holiday concerts in Steinbach, Winkler,Pinawa, Gladstone and Portage la Prairie from December 7-15. Soloist for the program is tenor Conrad Siebert, and “a local celebrity in each town will also have an opportunity to perform with the orchestra and play the bells or whip during Sleigh Ride, as the audience gets a surprise visit from St. Nick himself!” www.wso.ca

Orchestra London, led by guest conductor Daniel Warren, presents a dramatic reading of A Christmas Carol on December 15. The concert is a benefit for the Unity Project, an organization dedicated to providing shelter and services to the homeless, and Orchestra London. London’s legal community features prominently in the festivities, as five London lawyers will all take part. One week earlier, the orchestra will perform parts 4, 5 and 6 of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio under the leadership of music director laureate, Timothy Vernon. www.orchestralondon.ca

Last week, the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony made news by traveling to Toronto to take part in a pair of performances of Barbie at the Symphony – a family friendly progam focused on the cultural adventures of the iconic doll. You can read about it in an article in the Toronto Star. www.kwsymphony.ca

The Guelph Symphony Orchestra, led by music director candidate David Bourque, presents a blend of classics and festive seasonal music at its December program. Featured works include Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, with the Grand River Chorus and pianist Amy Wark, along with carols and opportunities for audience sing-along. www.guelphorchestra.ca

Symphony Hamilton presents a seasonal medley at its December 12 concert, led by Music Director James Mackay and featuring mezzo soprano Sophie Roland. The program, a blend of Christmas and Viennese New Year’s favourites, will include arias by Handel, Strauss waltzes and selections from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. www.symphonyhamilton.ca

In Ottawa, the National Arts Centre Orchestra Players’ Association presents a free Christmas FanFair concert on December 12 in support of the Snowsuit Fund and the Food Bank. The program will feature the musicians of the NAC Orchestra conducted by David Thies-Thompson, the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir, violist Emilie Grimes (a NACO bursary winner), and the KidSingers from the Ottawa OrKidstra program. Mayor Jim Watson will also make an appearance on the podium. Christmas FanFair organizer and NACO assistant principal double bass Marjolaine Fournier says, “For many of us in the orchestra, playing the Fanfair concert has become the highlight of our holiday season. The kind and generous spirit shown by everyone, the kids, the singing, the music and the surprises just make the whole day exceptional. It saddens me that fundraisers such as this one are still needed in a beautiful city like Ottawa, but this is the best way to give: concretely, of course, by giving money and time, but more importantly, giving with our hearts and caring for one another.” www.nac-cna.ca

And if a Messiah performance is a vital part of your holiday preparations, fear not! In addition to the performances that we referenced last week, they’re also popping up in Edmonton, Calgary, Regina, Toronto (in at least three versions – by the Aradia Ensemble, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra), Kingston, Trois-Rivieres, and Halifax.

Meanwhile, in Halifax, Symphony Nova Scotia presents its 20th annual production of The Nutcracker, with Halifax Dance and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, in eight performances. As ever, the production features “giant puppets, bright costumes, huge sets, and breathtaking music” – and if you haven’t seen it yet, you really must. (We speak from experience.) www.symphonynovascotia.ca

With Hallowe’en falling on a weekend this year, a remarkable number of Canadian orchestras are scheduling programs that celebrate the scary side of orchestral music – for thrill-seekers of all ages. Here’s a round-up (with our thanks to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra staffer who updates the TSO’s Facebook page for the photo!):

The Winnipeg Symphony opens its Concerts for Kids series on October 31, with celebrated children’s performer Frank Oden. Oden, a resident of Denver CO matches original poetry, humour, education and theatrical production values with a live symphonic performance. And, of course, young audience members are encouraged to dress in costume for a chance to win prizes.

Also on Sunday afternoon, Symphony Nova Scotia presents a program of “the most ghoulish classical music ever written”, led by resident conductor Martin MacDonald. The program is preceded by treats and a musical instrument petting zoo, and will also feature an onstage costume contest.

The Victoria Symphony, led by Music Director Tania Miller, will present a pair of performances October 30 and 31 of reliably spooky music: Saint-Saens’ Danse Macabre, HK Gruber’s Frankenstein!! (with narrator Douglas MacNaughton), and Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique. Maestra Miller and members of the orchestra will be in costume and invite the audience to come dressed for the occasion too.

Also on October 30 and 31, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra presents a concert of “hair-raising” orchestral music, including The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, selections from Symphonie Fantastique, and Bach’s Toccata in D Minor. And they’re offering chocolate, post-concert!

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and conductor Jack Everly present a program called “Mysterioso” tonight (October 29) and tomorrow – and it focuses on the “magical” side of Hallowe’en, with illusionist Joseph Gabriel, the comic magic duo Les Arnold and Dazzle, quick-change artists David & Dania, singer Christina Bianco, and “hypnotic orchestral gems that will leave you spellbound!” The media release also notes that “guests are also invited to bring and display their own creatively carved pumpkins in the Winspear Centre lobby for the duration of these Halloween weekend concerts.”

(Photo from the TSO’s Young People’s Concert)

We admit it: in the transition to our summer publication schedule, we missed listing some summer concerts offered by member orchestras and others. Our apologies to the Winnipeg Symphony (which presented a series of free concerts in Winnipeg and Kenora, June 25 to July 4 – culminating in a
performance for Her Majesty the Queen, with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Juno Award-winner Chic Gamine, Sierra Noble and Chantal Kreviazuk); the Windsor Symphony (which kicked off Summerfest Uptown at the Windsor Armouries on June 26 – and will be continuing with its “Quintets and Sunsets” series July 10 and 11); and the Niagara Symphony (which gave a Canada Day performance on – you guessed it – July 1).

Here’s what we can tell you about other upcoming events!

The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra presents the six-concert Symphony Under The Sky festival, September 3 – 6, at the Heritage Amphitheatre in Hawrelak Park. It’s a varied program, with (as the media release says) “everything from Bach to Billy Joel.” Guest conductor Bob Bernhardt will lead the orchestra in five of the six concerts, and soloists include violinist, Karen Gomyo the Knock School of Irish Dance, pianist Jim Witter, and the guns of the Royal Canadian Artillery. For more information, please visit here.

There’s been an encouraging update from the Victoria Symphony about their annual Symphony Splash event, scheduled for August 1, 2010. Absent a major title sponsor this year, the Victoria Symphony team set about to create another kind of giving opportunity for patrons interested in ensuring that Symphony Splash went ahead. In late June, the orchestra announced that its new fundraising initiative, titled Victoria Symphony Splash Band of Heroes, has already generated $50,000 in new support for the marquee event. In response to the loss of its title sponsor, the Victoria Symphony invited numerous companies and individuals to lend their support. The Victoria Symphony Splash Band of Heroes, asks for $1,000 contributions in exchange for specific recognition benefits. According to Mitchell Krieger, executive director of the Victoria Symphony, “It’s wonderful to see these Heroes stepping up to support Victoria Symphony Splash, especially as so many are new to the Symphony family. Making more connections to the community will not only keep Splash vibrant, it will help the Symphony’s long-term sustainability. We are nearly halfway to our goal of 100 Heroes, and we hope that more will step forward between now and August 1st.” Band of Heroes has proven to be a success as 45 businesses and individuals have already joined Band of Heroes, and more are signing up every week. Band of Heroes gives companies of all sizes and individuals the opportunity to support the event in a way not previously available. See here for more information.

The Victoria Symphony has launched a contest to find the design for this year’s limited edition Victoria Symphony Splash t-shirt. These T-shirts will be sold to the public to commemorate Symphony Splash – the orchestra’s massive annual summer concert performed on a floating stage in Victoria’s Inner Harbour – with proceeds benefitting the event. “We are introducing The Splashy T-shirt contest to create a special commemorative keepsake of this year’s event. This is a community event, so it seemed only fitting that a member of the community create this limited edition T-shirt. We hope the winning design will represent all the great things about Splash, be a coveted memento of Victoria Symphony Splash 2010 and be the beginning of a new Splash tradition,” said Bethany Wilson, Director of Marketing & Sales of the Victoria Symphony.

The contest is now open, and the deadline for entries is Sunday, June 13, 2010. The winner and their design will be revealed at the Victoria Symphony Splash launch event that will be held at the end of June. The winner receives two contest T-shirts, two Victoria Symphony Splash Grandstand Seats, recognition at Victoria Symphony Splash, recognition in a media release announcing contest winner, a Victoria Symphony 2010/2011 Subscription package and bragging rights!

Victoria Symphony Splash takes place on August 1st this year. The day begins at 1pm with activities for kids on the Provincial Legislature lawn and ends with Victoria Symphony’s performance of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture at 10pm accompanied by fireworks and cannons. For more information about the t-shirt contest or any aspect of Victoria Symphony Splash, you can visit the website, here.

A number of remarkable (and remarkably varied) concerts by Canadian orchestras are coming up this spring, and here are some of the highlights.

April 14-22, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is presenting a 3-program Sibelius festival that includes performances of all seven of the Finnish master’s symphonies in chronological order, under the direction of conductor Thomas Dausgaard.  Each TSO Sibelius Festival programme also includes a selection of the composer’s lesser heard works for violin and orchestra, performed by Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.  To learn more, you can download a Sibelius festival podcast at the TSO’s website here.

April 7-11, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra is celebrating Earth Day with a multimedia concert presented in collaboration with Earth Day Canada.  Tafelmusik violinist Julia Wedman conceived this programme as a “journey with our Earth through the course of a single day” and the program includes music by Rameau, Vivaldi, Geminiani, Haydn, Telemann, Bach and Zelenka performed against a backdrop of visuals by local photographers.  As well, there’s a pre-concert talk, a photo exhibition, and a “green room” with interactive displays and information booths on an environmental theme.  Other features:  you can bring your own mug and receive a free organic coffee at intermission; or, if you’re so inclined,  – Trinity-St. Paul’s Centre (Tafelmusik’s home venue) is hosting a range of Earth Day themed events, including a church service, workshops, a local food lunch, and a “blessing of the bikes”.

Next Thursday, April 8, the Orchestre symphonique de Longueuil, led by music director Marc David, is presenting a concert version of Mozart’s Magic Flute. The cast includes tenor Sarkis Barsemian (Tamino), soprano Emanuelle Coutu (Pamina), baritone Marc Boucher (Papageno), soprano Amelia Watkins (Queen of the Night), and bass Taras Kulish (Sarastro).  For more information on what’s bound to be a wonderful evening, please visit here.

In Victoria, the Victoria Symphony is teaming up with the Canadian College of Performing Arts to present excerpts from seven Tony Award-winning musicals, conducted by Brian Jackson and co-directed by Jacques Lemay and Janis Dunning.  The program features the full orchestra, 63 CCPA students on stage, over 150 costumes, and set designs.  The Canadian College of Performing Arts is the only programme in Canada offering the full complement of studies in acting, singing, dancing and musical theatre.  (Does that make its graduates quadruple threats?)  Since its inception, co-founders Janis Dunning and Jacque Lemay, plus a renowned faculty, have trained performing artists who consistently go on to establish careers on stage and screen.  For more on this exciting program (running tonight through Saturday), please visit the orchestra’s website here.

Earlier this week, CanWest newspapers in Western Canada reported that the Victoria Symphony’s artistic leader, executive director, staff and musicians have all agreed to wage cuts in preparation for the expected $250,000 drop in provincial funding for the 2010-2011 season.

“Pretty much everybody paid by the Victoria Symphony has agreed to rescind some of their salary or lower expected raises,” said executive director Mitchell Krieger, who is also taking a pay cut.  As well, he noted that “everyone in the organization — particularly the musicians — recognized the significance of the looming $250,000 shortfall from the B.C. Arts Council and lottery grants.  They were very much part of the family, and discussions were very much ‘how do we solve our problems?’.”

According to the article, “the orchestra’s 34 core and 11 part-time players agreed to a 1.5 per cent increase rather than the five per cent negotiated under their three-year union contract. They also agreed to drop one week of paid services, which Krieger said amounts to a further two per cent pay cut.”

For more information on the Victoria Symphony, you can visit their website here.

The Victoria Symphony has announced that Music Director Tania Miller has renewed her contract with the Victoria Symphony for another three years. Beginning immediately this contract will extend to 2013 bringing her to a total of 10 years as Music Director of Vancouver Island’s largest performing arts organization.  The celebratory media release containing this announcement notes that “Maestra Miller has been the Music Director of the Victoria Symphony since 2003, and has been instrumental in raising the bar of the Orchestra. She has initiated many new programs with the Victoria Symphony in the last seven years. Highlights of the past seasons include the Beethoven Festival, three Mozart Festivals, the New Currents Festival of new music, and the Odyssey Series and Royal Tea Series. Education initiatives include: the Young Musicians Concerto Showcase concerts, the Rink Cycle concert performed with 1000 Greater Victoria students, the addition of K-3 education concerts, and vsNEW, the program for young composers. Her commitment to new music has presented many world premieres for the Orchestra, garnering special praise from the Canada Council for Arts, and has supported the tenures of four composers in residences while in Victoria.”