Adult Recital Group

About

The Adult Recital Group was created in the spring of 2009 to give Victoria Conservatory of Music adult students a safe place to practice performing. It has grown to have a mailing list of 78 people with 7 regular sessions and 7 long repertoire sessions over each year. The sessions are 2 hours long and generally take place in Wood Hall. The regular sessions have the performances and then a social component where the participants share ‘goodies’ and talk. To keep it as ‘safe’ as possible for the performers, no audience other than the performers is allowed except the last session of the year. Some years the Conservatory has provided space for an extra self-organized Christmas session in December, making a total of 15 sessions October to June.

Instruments represented have been Piano, Voice, Flute, Horn, Sax, Bassoon, Guitar, Violin and Viola. Accompaniment was provided by both paid and volunteer accompanists.

The regular sessions have an average of 14 performers and 51 minutes of repertoire per session. The long repertoire sessions average 5 performers with 45 minutes of repertoire and are mostly pianists.

In 2019 we did an evaluations survey of group members. Of the respondents, 100% would recommend the program and 88% found the program very valuable or extremely valuable.

There is no charge for the sessions which are coordinated through the Dean’s office by Micki Stirling. For further information, email Micki here.

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Guidelines

Our members represent an informal group of adult Victoria Conservatory of Music students playing any instrument and with any level of ability. Non-Conservatory people will not be included.

  • The participants wish to perform in a friendly, supportive, non-threatening venue.
  • The group will meet once a month in October, November, and January to May: regular sessions on Sundays from 1:00-3:00pm; long repertoire sessions on Tuesdays from 10:00-Noon.
  • Participants need to register by the Wednesday before the event with Micki Stirling, Animateur.
  • A participant will host the group at each event. This group is self-run. All participants are expected to share in volunteer duties.
  • For the social time following the performances at the regular sessions, each participant will bring a ‘goodie’ to share, a thermos of beverage for themselves and ensure that the room is left clean and tidy after the social. Currently, the long repertoire sessions are no host and no refreshments.
  • In the interests of those who have yet to become completely comfortable with public performance, friends, family members or teachers of our group members are not invited to the performances.
  • Collaborative or supportive people are allowed: accompanists, ensemble members, group directors, support people for handicapped performers, etc. All non-Conservatory guests/performers will be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Animateur.
  • Participants must be ‘performers’, but no one is required to perform at every recital, just bring a ‘goodie’. New members may watch once before performing the next month. After that, members perform only when they feel ready to do so and at their own discretion. Active or watching, participants need to register.
  • Participants are encouraged to try out works in progress; performances do not need to be ‘polished’ if the performer is eager to give a work a first airing. Pieces may be played more than once, if time allows.
  • Participants are expected to have their instruments tuned-up and be ready to perform at their turn.
  • Regular sessions allow for a maximum of 6 minutes stage time per performer. Participants are expected to stick to the total on-stage time they stated when they registered. Members wanting more time must register for the long repertoire sessions.
  • It is hoped that accompanists, when required, will be found within the group. This is not mandatory: just encouraged. Scheduling is done to allow professionals to leave as early as possible after performing.
  • There is no charge for these sessions.