The “up here” in this month’s column is (mostly) Timmins, where Angela Garwood-Touw has a busy schedule. The New Brunswick born violinist is Concertmaster for the Timmins Symphony Orchestra, regular First Violinist for the Sudbury and North Bay Symphonies, and is an active contributor to the chamber music scene with an array of ensembles – as well as teaching students from across the region and raising a family. We talked about her musical journey north, and the joys (and challenges) of playing classical music (and beyond) in WholeNote’s “Zone 10” region.
WN: You grew up in New Brunswick, and your bio lists a huge number of different ensembles, large and small. Can you talk a little bit about the musical community you grew up and developed within?
AGT: My beginnings in music were relatively humble. Money was tight and we moved around and I had to change schools several times but the two elementary schools I attended did offer a great introduction to classical music, singing, movement, and eventually musical notation. [...] each had a school funded music program where you could learn a stringed instrument. I finally had my chance to join, relatively late at the age of 10, but thanks to some magical combination of my exposure to music up to that point, my love for music and the violin, and a very nurturing teacher, Mr. McCausland, I was able to learn very quickly.
I was not able to afford regular lessons, except for a few with an older student one year, however there was always something to strive for: the school orchestras, the provincial youth orchestra, the music festival and eventually the symphony. [...] Again with Mr. McCausland, supporting me and encouraging me all along the way.
Can you tell me a little bit about the decision to move to Northern Ontario?
[...] My teacher, (who I’ll just call Bob now since he keeps coming up), first told me about the job. The timing was perfect as I’d recently moved home after being away at university, I had a day job, and my only work in music was teaching a few private students through a local conservatory and the occasional gig. So I was very eager to take on what seemed like a once in a lifetime opportunity – concertmaster and teacher at the music school. [...] I later met my husband here and started my own family.
Can you talk a little bit about what it’s like being based out of Timmins, and what your regular “commutable distance” looks like?
It takes about three and a half hours to travel to Sudbury and four to get to North Bay. Those aren’t commutes I make all of the time and more often than not, I’m carpooling with my friends and colleagues Joanna [Millson] and Yu [Pei] who also freelance.
We keep ourselves quite busy in town with teaching, gigs and so on. Joanna, Yu and I also recently started a crossover group called Bella Corda. We’ve been having a ton of fun planning and playing shows that feature a blend of classical and pop arrangements. Admittedly, getting to wear fancy dresses that AREN’T concert black is one of the highlights.
Any advice for Northerners of all ages who want to learn to play? Especially those who live in smaller communities?
Each community is a little different. Both the North Bay and Sudbury Symphonies have music schools affiliated with them. Although, I think North Bay might have recently changed their set up. Then there are other professionals in the community who have their own private studios and set ups.
My advice to anyone living in a remote area wanting music lessons would be to start by reaching out to anyone you know in your community that has any ties to music, whether it be a school teacher, family friend, church member, and so on. While they may not be able to teach you, they might be able to point you in the right direction. Next, I would suggest nearby cities who have community orchestras. Lastly, online lessons can be a really great option. While they might not be perfect for everyone (and I suggest having in-person lessons whenever possible) you can get pretty far with the right teacher online. The best part is, you don’t need to limit yourself geographically: if you hear of a great teacher in the US for instance, there’s nothing stopping you from studying with them.
I have had students from as far away as Smooth Rock Falls and Cochrane which are just over an hour away. I’ve had online students from two hours away in Chapleau, who then came to Timmins to play in the music festival.
A big adjustment?
Yes, because the landscape here is just so different. In a place like Toronto, there’s a teacher on every corner. If you don’t jive with your teacher, there’s 100 more to choose from. If a teacher quits a job, there’s a line up of people waiting to take that job. A remote community is very different. When there’s a vacancy, you might have only a handful of applicants and even fewer of them are qualified, willing to move here and a good fit.
A student could get lucky and find a great music teacher in a remote community. Maybe that teacher moved there because they followed their spouse who works in another field. Maybe that person stays for 50 years and passes on a love of music to several generations. Or, maybe they stay for just one year before moving on. My late friend Sue Steel, who passed away too young of cancer in recent years, was the perfect example of someone who had a tremendous impact on the musical community here. She dedicated her life to raising a family here and permeating every corner of the music landscape here. She was truly one of a kind, a phenomenal musician and just a truly special person. Her impact here is still felt though she left some really big shoes to fill.
Any final thoughts? Things you’d like to share with a primarily southern Ontario audience, who may not be aware of the classical music landscape north of the Festival of the Sound?
When you’re one of the few professionals in town, as I am, there are so many amazing opportunities that you just wouldn’t get elsewhere because there’s too much competition. I love being able to teach, play solos, chamber music and orchestral music with amateurs and professionals alike and still have an amazing husband and two beautiful children. Did I mention I can get pretty much anywhere I need to go in town in under ten minutes? You can’t do that in Toronto!
Adventures in Zone 10
Want to catch Angela in performance? You might find yourself visiting some of these venues.
Sun Jan 26, 2pm at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Timmins. Chamber Voices, featuring the Timmins Symphony Choir and the TSO Chamber Ensemble. Joshua Wood, conductor. $25 / $15
Sat Feb 15, 8pm at École Secondaire Catholique Thériault, Timmins. Flowers & Romance featuring Chloe Weston, piano & the Timmins Symphony Chorus. Joshua Wood, conductor. $45 / $18
Sat Mar 29, 8pm at École Secondaire Catholique Thériault, Timmins. Dancing Queen, the Music of ABBA (Jeans ‘n Classics) Joshua Wood conductor. $45 / $18
Sat Feb 1, 2pm at Sheridan Auditorium, Sudbury Secondary School. A Knight of Mozart, SSO with Geoff McCausland, violin. William Rowson, conductor
Sat Mar 1, 2pm and 7:30pm at Sheridan Auditorium. SSO Goes to Italy with Joey Niceforo, tenor, William Rowson, conductor. $45 / $25
Sat Feb 22, 6:30pm at The Capitol Centre, North Bay. MEET THE ORCHESTRA: An NBSO Family Concert with a 5:30pm Instrumental Petting Zoo. Conductor Joshua Wood $45 / $18 | CHILD - FREE*
Sophia Perlman grew up bouncing around the jazz, opera, theatre and community arts scene in Toronto. She now eagerly awaits the arrival of her regular WholeNote to Hornepayne, Ontario, where she uses it to armchair-travel and inform her Internet video consumption.
