25 & under come for free
to
Awaken Spring!

Vox Humana joins forces with the Victoria Conservatory of Music Chorale, University of Victoria Chamber Singers, Brentwood College School Concert Choir, Pacific Christian School Chamber Choir, and members of Ensemble Laude, to present an exquisite program of choral music for all ages!

Featuring Three Songs of Faith by 2012 Grammy winner, Eric Whitacre, and the premiere performance of a new work by Canadian composer, Aaron Jensen, don’t miss this opportunity to experience over 150 of the finest voices on Vancouver Island!

Conductors: Matthew Howe, Elizabeth MacIsaac, Brian Wismath

Date: February 25th, 7:30pm
Duration: 1.5 hours
Tickets: free (25 and under), $10 (65+), $15 (regular)
Available at: Long & McQuade Music, Ivy’s Bookstore and online
Location: Alix Goolden Performance Hall

For more information visit www.voxhumanachoir.ca

The following is courtesy of CBC Manitoba SCENE:

“I love what I do for various reasons,” relates Marcelline Moody, a long-time performer, composer, arranger and teacher in Winnipeg. “Mostly because I believe that the classical arts provide beauty and elegance in our lives and no one could say that there is too much of these in the world – quite the contrary – so by introducing kids to ‘classical’ music, dance, art, drama, and encouraging them to make the arts part of their lives, we make the world a better place.”

Moody’s been called “The mother of music in Manitoba” by the Winnipeg Free Press. Having worked for decades in the Winnipeg school system, the teacher has spear-headed large-scale collaborative works involving children from many schools. This diminutive bundle of energy and creativity has touched the lives of tens of thousands of students in Winnipeg.

Read the entire article…

Dualling Pianos

Were you at the show? Share your thoughts on the evening in our comments below.

Enjoy just a few of the incredible musical moments from ‘Dualling Pianos’

If you have not had a chance to attend our VCM Presents series there are two more incredible shows left in this years schedule. VCM Faculty Spotlight (April 28th) and Sara Davis Beuchner (May 26th).

A great supporter of our children’s programs/concerts is ChatterBlock. Have you visited them yet? They’ve done an excellent job creating a very user friendly website that seems to have all of the great children’s activities and events going on in Victoria. Get on their mailing list so you’re always up-to-date and don’t miss their great contest opportunities.

SOLD OUT SHOW!  ‘The Magic Flute’ was another sold out concert in our Wood Recital Hall. Music Corner had the crowd laughing, singing and growling to scare away a ferocious dragon. See what I mean:

Are next and final concert in this series is ‘The Little Prince’ on May 12th – 3pm, Wood Hall.

For more than 50 years, Eric Charman has dedicated himself to raising funds on behalf of the arts in Victoria. Now it is time for Victoria to honour its greatest arts champion with a gala celebration of Eric’s 80th birthday on March 4, 5pm at the McPherson Playhouse.

Press:
Vic News Article

Clip courtesy of CTV Vancouver Island:

The Gala event features a champagne reception, silent and live auctions, and a spectacular grazing supper prepared by the chefs of the Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour. There will also be a concert with the Victoria Symphony, conducted by Maestro Timothy Vernon, featuring outstanding musicians and soloists from Pacific Opera Victoria, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and the Victoria Children’s Choir.

Venue: McPherson Playhouse
Gala Tickets $250/person
Generous Tax Receipt
Concert Tickets $75/person
Opening reception & concert only
For more information:
250.382.1641
charmanbirthday@gmail.com

Eric Charman 'Chair Art'
And there’s a fabulous twist! To honour Chairman Charman, 15 prominent BC artists have created unique works of art, all made out of chairs, for auction at the event.
Proceeds of the gala will benefit the Victoria Symphony, the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and Pacific Opera Victoria. Absentee online bidding will be available on our website soon so please check back in for your chance to bid on these incredible works of art!

Artists:
Judy McLaren             Elka Nowicka
Timothy Hoey             Randolph Parker
Robert Amos               Nathan Scott
Maarten Schaddelee  Deborah McKinley
David Hunwick          Anthony Balzer
Andy Wooldridge      Michel DesRochers
Grant Leier, Nixie Barton

This is Eric’s ‘Call To Attend’ whether you’ve been invited or not. Everyone is Welcome!

You can honour Eric’s lifelong support of the arts through your donation, your sponsorship, or your attendance at this event. Donors of $500 or more may also extend a personal birthday greeting to Eric in the commemorative programme.

Download your Invitation

Download your Reply Card

Recording NOW! … no. 1 on February 17, 2012, 7:00
Recording NOW! … no. 2 on February 18, 2012, 3:00

Both concerts take place at Gibson Auditorium on Camosun Lansdowne Campus. Admission is by donation. Concerts are 60-75 minutes without intermission. There will be an opportunity to meet the musicians and technicians after each concert.

Recording NOW! … no. 1 will feature classical music performed by students of the Diploma in Music and Certificate in Music Foundations programmes of Camosun College, and from the Victoria Conservatory of Music Collegium Programme for Young Musicians. Featured performers are violinists Brenna Hartmann, Caleb Guenette, and Nelly Kim; violist Stephanie Galipeau; cellist Elise Cassidy; pianists Sungmin Jeong, Deborah Baynes, and Oliver Moneo; flutist Kathryn Thomas; and clarinettist Rebecca Webster, with members of the VCM/Camosun faculty. Performances include some of the most spellbinding selections from the solo and chamber repertoire by Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, Francis Poulenc, Deborah Baynes, and Jules Massenet.

Recording NOW! … no. 2 will feature jazz music performed by students of the Diploma in Jazz Studies and Certificate in Music Foundations programmes of Camosun College. Saxophonist Jay Jenning, Jory Campbell on bass, Kyle Brickell on drums, vocalist Nataschaa Chatterton, and guitarist Troy Haws will be joined by friends in presenting some of the finest tunes from the traditional jazz repertoire.

“I cannot overstate how much I look forward to these concerts every year! To have these students – usually separated by camera lens or microphone – working together, conversing, and marvelling at the other’s art is so inspiring for me as a teacher. This is Camosun at its best: hands-on collaboration between budding experts in symbiotic disciplines. What the students take away from these collaborations is surprising for them but important beyond measure. Audiences quickly get swept up in the momentum and become a part of this extraordinary step in the journey for these young professionals. It takes a ton of planning, coaching, and cajoling, but I wouldn’t trade this for the world!”

Mary Byrne, Chair of the Music Department

For more information contact:
Andrew Bryce at (250) 370-3394
Mary Byrne at (250) 386-5311, ex. 2360

Interested in Flute Lessons?

She was in town for a concert, and took the time to share her knowledge with our students.  It was an honour to have her with us, and a big thrill for our students to have a chance to sing for one of the world’s best known sopranos.

For more information about Emma Kirkby

Highly committed to teaching and outreach, the CSQ have held teaching duties at Austin Chamber Music Festival (Texas), San Diego State University (California), McGill University (Québec), QuartetFest at Wilfrid Laurier University (Ontario), and Indiana Summer String Academy. During their Victoria stop they not only delivered an amazing  performance but gave a master class for our very appreciative students.

With their approval, we are excited to share both rehearsal and concert footage of them performing the third movement of Shostakovich.

Each of the ladies shared a music tip for our Monday Morning Music Tip series. Below are links to the ones we’ve posted so far:

Sarah Nematallah – ‘Nerves’
Min-Jeong Koh – ‘Know the Score’  
Rachel Desoer – ‘Work’

Visit their Official Site

We’ve got a ton of great events happening in Feb but still managed to find time to ask our acting Keyboard Department Head – Linda Low what she believes advanced players need to remember when practicing:

Interested in taking piano lessons?