Saskatchewan Orchestral Association, Inc. NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 SOA February 2012 Newsletter Inside this issue Welcome Message 1 Regina Mandolin Orchestra Classical Strings Workshop Conducting Workshop 4 P.A. Strings Orchestra 4 RSO Marketing 4 SOA CD available 4 SCPS Words and Music Concert S SK Youth Orchestra 6+7 Friendly Folk 8 SOA Info 9 SOA acknowledges the generous support of: Saskatchewan Orchestral Association, Inc. NEWSLETTER Welcome Message February 2012 Welcome to readers of the SOA Newsletter. The SOA board of directors would like to extend a warm welcome to Tara Dawn Solheim, in the newly created position of Executive. Ms. Solheim also works as an arts organizer, educator and artist. She has been commissioned to create original poetry and music for the CBC, dance and music organizations, and the MacKenzie Art Gallery. She recently spent five years in Japan where she sang with and wrote for a number of bands. Tara has a long history with music organizations in Saskatchewan. Kathryn leaves her position to pursue other interests and has been a great help in the transition. Following the success of the SK Music Conference held in Nov. 2011, the five music PCOs (Provincial Cultural Organizations) of the SK Music Alliance are now in the process of planning a Summer Music Camp. This is a five way partnership program encouraging at risk children, and children with social and economic challenges, living in inner city neighbourhoods, to participate in an introduction to music. This exciting new project is set to take place in Saskatoon and Regina this summer. The new SK Music Alliance website is now online. You will find the site at: The organizations of the SMA are compiling the FIRST EVER comprehensive directory of music programming in Saskatchewan! We are asking members to complete a survey to outline their programming which can be found at: More information will follow by . Effective immediately please see below for updated SOA contact information: Saskatchewan Orchestral Association # th Ave. Regina, SK. S4T 1P9 Ph: (306) info@saskorchestras.com SOA Annual General Meeting March 11, 2012, 11:00am 1870 Lorne Street, Regina, SK Representatives from each SOA member group are encouraged to attend the AGM and report on their group activities. If no one is able to attend the meeting in person, please submit a written report by to info@saskorchestras.com Nominations for the SOA Board of s are most welcome! Please submit names to info@saskorchestras.com

2 SOA February 2012 Newsletter 2 Regina Mandolin Orchestra Submitted by Susan McLaughlin RMO celebrated Christmas with its annual offering of winter and holiday musical selections on December 11th, 2011, at the Shumiatcher Theater in the MacKenzie Art Gallery. Our special guests, vocalist Candice Armstrong and her accompanist, Carter Powley, wowed the audience with their professionalism and polish! The entire concert was recorded by Sasktel Max and aired til mid-january. On January 21st, we held registration for our second semester of adult mandolin lessons. Currently we have 24 students registered. We continue to offer one of the most affordable opportunities for adult music lessons, with lessons costing $100 per semester. We also have mandolins for rent if the student does not own one. In eighteen months time, in October of 2013, RMO will be hosting a convention of the Classical Mandolin Society of America. Mandolinists from across North America will converge in Regina to engage in four days of workshops and concerts highlighting the mandolin. To give students and orchestra members a better idea of what happens at an average mando convention, RMO held an information session on January 28th. We watched a powerpoint presentation outlining what to expect each day at an average mandolin convention, and what the benefits to our members would be. Video clips showed the teachers and techniques workshop, the concerts put on by the professional guest mandolinists, as well as rehearsals of the En Masse orchestra. This was followed by a Q & A period. A large number of folks signed up to participate on the Convention Organizing Committee. As well, a large contingent of RMO members signed up to show their interest in attending the convention for the current year (2012) in Minneapolis. We were pleased to have Tara Dawn Solheim, SOA s recently appointed Executive, drop by to sit in on the presentation and meet some of our members. Hosting a mandolin convention and bringing together string musicians from across the continent to participate in an orchestral experience of this size will be a significant accomplishment for RMO. We look forward to partnering closely with SOA as we embark on the planning process for this exciting event. RMO continues to be a popular entertainer at Regina s seniors homes and nursing homes. On January 30th, we played out at Mutchmor Lodge. In February we will be playing at Wintergreene Estates, and in March we have been booked into the Regina Lutheran Home. We anticipate more bookings throughout the winter and spring. On Sunday, April 22nd, RMO looks forward to its annual Spring concert. Location TBA. Please visit us on for more information.

3 'Magpie Strings' Holding One-Day Workshop Submitted by Marg Hein-Wiebe SOA February 2012 Newsletter 3 Inviting violins, violas and cellos to a one day: Classical Strings Workshop Saturday, February 18, 2012! Registration: 8:30 to 9 am Closing concert: 4 to 4:30 pm At Augustana Lutheran Church 1201 Broadway Ave. S, Saskatoon Participants will enjoy the workshop most if they have: 1) taken some lessons, played in groups, or both 2) played in keys up to 3 sharps and 2 flats 3) done some sight reading Please indicate your interest as soon as possible, number of participants will be limited. The cost will be $55 per participant. Includes: copies of the music distributed prior to event, snacks, drinks and a light lunch. Please send $20 to hold your spot to: Marg Hein-Wiebe R.R.#4, Box 107 LCD Main, Saskatoon S7K 3J7 For more information or if you would like to register for this workshop please Marg at: meheinwiebe@sasktel.net or call We acknowledge and thank the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association for their sponsorship!

4 SOA February 2012 Newsletter SOA Conducting Workshop Submitted by Wayne Toews The 2012 Saskatchewan Orchestral Association International Conducting Workshop with Wayne Toews will be held July 21 to 28 in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan musicians are invited to apply for a substantial bursary. Requests should be sent to admin@conductorschool.com. Participants in the workshop will conduct duo pianists and a string orchestra. By the end of February details about the workshop will be posted at Prince Albert Strings Orchestra Inc. Performances Submitted by Dean Bernier Thursday March 8th - 7:00 p.m. performance at the Prince Albert Kiwanis Music Festival. Sunday, April 29th - PASO Annual Spring Concert with special guests; Quinn Cappelletto (vocals and upright bass), Arthur LaVertu (piano), and Lauren Cambell (Vocal). 7:00 p.m. Rivier Academy Auditorium. Tickets available from PASO members or at the door. Rush Seating. For more information, contact Dean Bernier (306) Marketing Revolution Podcast, Episode 3 Taron Cochrane, creative marketing and promotions manager of the RSO, part of a popular podcast: In Episode 3 of the Marketing Revolution Podcast, Jeph Maystruck talks to Taron Cochrane (@taron_cochrane), the self proclaimed music fanatic is the creative marketing and promotions manager of the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO). Taron loves music, it s his passion and just talking to him for a few minutes you can see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice, music is a major part of his life. Other than working for the RSO, Taron is a freelance writer for the Leaderpost, Horizon s magazine and also is a graphic designer SOA Prairie Harvest CD Prairie Harvest, the SOA s CD project, features twelve ensembles consisting of 330 performers from Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina, Saskatoon, Swift Current and Tisdale. Copies of the CD are available from participating groups and the SOA office for $10.00.

5 SOA February 2012 Newsletter 5 Saskatoon Composers Performance Society Inc. Monte Keene Pishny-Floyd, President 521 Albert Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 1G4 (306) January 31, 2012 Press Release The Saskatoon Composers Performance Society presents "Music and Words", at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 11th at Cornerstone Church, 315 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon. The concert will feature new music by Matthew Becker, Cheryl Buddecke, Ewen Coxworth, Naomi Friesen, Janet Gieck and Wayne Toews. The Gala Trio, consisting of french horn, piano and voice, will perform three of Janet Gieck's pieces, one with text by Gerald Hill and two others on texts by A. A. Milne. Special guest poet Gerald Hill will give a reading of his work. "Succession", another of Gieck's compositions, is a programmatic work based on the events in the life of Biblical King David. Matthew Becker's composition Collage Suite is his thesis work for his Master's Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. Regina composer Cheryl Buddecke's composition is Three Pieces for Horn and Piano. Ewen Coxworth's piece Look to this Day is for voice and piano. The text is from a poem attributed to Kalidasa. Naomi Friesen s composition Instress for solo violoncello is the first movement of a work in progress. "Structures" by Wayne Toews, is a set of five short movements for woodwind quintet in homage to Eli Bornstein, Saskatoon's distinguished structurist artist. Performers for the concert are John Payzant and Martine Drew cello, Erin Brophey oboe, Brenda Moats flute, Alyssa Thompson clarinet, Stephanie Unverricht bassoon, Arlene Shiplett French horn, Janet Gieck, Ewen Coxworth and Audrey Bayduza piano, Gaye-Lynn Kern soprano, and Terry Heckman Trumpet. For additional information contact Janet Gieck, , ljgieck@sasktel.net 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 the SOA office at or saskorchestras@yourlink.ca. If you know of someone in your community who you would recommend to receive the newsletter, please let the SOA office know as well.

6 SOA February 2012 Newsletter 6 South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra Update Submitted by Nigel Salway On December 18, the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra (SSYO) presented its annual Christmas Musical Brunch. The event was held at the Conexus Arts. Patrons were entertained by the string quartets Les Expressions Musicales and the ZANDO Quartet prior to brunch. The musicians in the quartets are members of the SSYO. His Honour the Honourable Dr. Gordon L. Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, was in attendance. Dr. Barnhart is the patron of the SSYO. After the Lieutenant Governor s arrival, the audience enjoyed a delicious brunch. Following the meal, the orchestra LG addresses audience: His Honour the Honourable Dr. Gordon Barnhart, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, addresses the audience at the SSYO Christmas Brunch. presented an exciting program including A Christmas Festival by Leroy Anderson, Star Wars Suite, by John Williams, and Le Cid Ballet Suite by Jules Massenet. Immediately following the formal program, the orchestra played a number of well-known Christmas Carols while the audience sang along. During the concert four orchestra members were presented with scholarships in recognition of their leadership and musicianship. The four winners were: Tim Vuksic, Jakob Greifenhagen, Ashley Patoine, and Alaina Majewski. The musicians are currently practicing for their concert with the Youth Ballet Company of Saskatchewan (YBCS). This unique event will be presented on Feb.12 at the Conexus Arts Centre. The musicians are currently practicing for their upcoming concert with the Regina Symphony Orchestra on March 10. The two orchestras will combine to play Wagner s Overture to his opera Rienzi, der Letzte der Tribunen. Upcoming concerts include the Spring Fete with the YBCS on Saturday March 24, 7:30 p.m. at F.W. Johnson Collegiate in Regina; and the year-end Concert on Sunday June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Metropolitan Church in Regina. The year-end concert will feature last year s winner of the SSYO concerto competition, Laura Hillis, playing Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, by Camille Saint-Saens with the orchestra. Tickets for these concerts are available from any SSYO board member.

7 SOA February 2012 Newsletter 7 String Quartet: (Left to right) The quartet, Les Expressions Musicales. Pictured here are: (Left to right) Hannah Weger, Faye Wu, Alaina Majewski, and Geena Salway. (photo by Nigel Salway) ZANDO Quartet: (left to right). The ZANDO Quartet. (Left to Right) Samantha Leech, Jayden Dreher, Charlee Wielgoz, Santana Gravelle. (photo by Kathy Dreher)

8 SOA February 2012 Newsletter 8

9 SOA February 2012 Newsletter Events Calendar Date Event Location Feb 18 Classical Strings Workshop Saskatoon Feb 19 SSYO with SK Youth Ballet Co. Regina Feb 27 RSO Symfunny Cartoons Regina Mar 8 PASO at Prince Albert Kiwanis Music Festival P.A. Mar SYO to Brandon Brandon Mar 4 Tommy Banks Trio Regina Mar 11 SOA Annual General Meeting Regina Mar 11 SOA Board Meeting Regina Mar 11 Music and Words Saskatoon Mar 24 SSYO Spring Fete Regina Apr 22 RMO Spring Concert (p.2) Regina Apr 28 SYO Spring Concert Saskatoon Apr 29 PASO Annual Spring Concert P.A. May 11 SFO spring concert Saskatoon June 12 SSYO Year End Regina July 4-8 Regina Summer Strings Regina July 8-13 Suzuki Summer String Experience Saskatoon July SOA Conducting Workshop Saskatoon Contact Info Saskatchewan Orchestral Association Tara Dawn Solheim Executive # th Ave. Regina, SK., S4T 1P9 Ph: (306) info@saskorchestras.com Newsletter Info Next newsletter: Deadline: April 16, 2012 Publication: April 23, 2012 Deadlines April 16, 2012 September 21, 2012 November 18, 2012 Publications April 23, 2012 September 28, 2012 November 25, 2012 SOA Board of s THE SOA PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING MEMBER GROUPS Conservatory of Performing Arts Friendly Folk Magpie Strings Moose jaw String Orchestra Moose Jaw Youth String Orchestra Poltava Ensemble Orchestra Prince Albert Strings Orchestra Regina Community Orchestra Regina Mandolin Orchestra Regina Symphony Orchestra Sakewewak 1st Nations Artists Collective Saskatoon Fiddle Orchestra Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra Saskatoon Suzuki Strings Program Inc. Saskatoon Youth Orchestra Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra Swift Current Strings Tisdale and District Strings President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Hugh Wood Birgitta Heidt Wayne Toews Ray Pacholek Rebecca Hankins -Vopni Chris Harrington John Payzant Yvonne Redant Nicole Shaw Curtis Scheschuk Rudy Sternadel Magda Szajcz