“NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY”
Summer music opportunities for amateurs and the uninitiated
School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that musical learning has to be put on hold. Educational opportunities feature heavily in this year’s summer music festival programming, and in many cases, have been fashioned especially for non-professionals who are hoping to refresh an old musical skill or pick up a new one.
Among the city’s larger music presenters, the Toronto Summer Music Festival leads this push for amateur music-making opportunities with its brand-new Community Academy. Developed for adult advanced amateurs, the Community Academy is set up to complement the festival’s programming and academy for young professionals, offering participants a chance to hone their musical skills with coachings, rehearsals, masterclasses and an academy-wide morning choir. Piano participants will study under Glenn Gould School dean James Anagnoson, chamber musicians will work with guests from the Toronto Symphony and COC orchestras and choir participants will sing under the direction of Matthias Maute and Laura Pudwell. There are still spaces available for the chamber choir and chamber music workshops, both of which run August 2 to 9. For details, visit http://www.torontosummermusic.com/index.php/community-academy/.
Also happening this summer is Music from Scratch, an annual workshop for young composers run by Contact Contemporary Music and the Canadian Music Centre. The week-long workshop for ages 18 to 25 (this year July 13 to 17) is totally free of charge, and emphasizes that there is no composing experience required to participate. Students will study with guest composer Christien Ledroit, as well as the Contact ensemble. If you or someone you know are interested in learning about composition, it’s a good place to start -- details at http://www.contactcontemporarymusic.ca/musicfromscratch/.
There is, of course, a wealth of other educational workshops throughout the city and beyond this summer, for everyone from professionals to first-time musicians. If you’re looking for a musical camp, course or workshop to participate in but don’t know where to start, try browsing through the Resources tab at www.thewholenote.com, where we have directories for summer music education opportunities as well as for summer festivals, many of which offer lectures, masterclasses and other music ed components.
Finally, looking forward beyond the summer -- Long & McQuade’s New Horizons Band, a community band project that invites seniors of all levels of experience to pick up a new instrument or practise an old one, has just started a new group at the store’s North York location. Rehearsals will begin this September; you can visit http://www.newhorizonsbloor.ca/ to get a feel for the organization, and email newhorizonsny@long-mcquade.com to get more info on the North York group.
Enjoy the summer weather and keep your eyes peeled for music-making and concertgoing opportunities -- the city is as musically rich in this season as at any other time of the year!
RECORDINGS RELEASED
There are a number of album launch events on the horizon from Toronto artists -- here are a few to watch for in the coming days.
Teng Li: 1939
Coming this Monday is a new project from TSO principal violist Teng Li. “1939” features viola works by early 20th-century composers Jongen, Ullmann, Hindemith, Hua and Klein, with Li collaborating with pianist Meng-Chieh Liu and violinist Benjamin Bowman. Li is an unerring musical interpreter with a history of top-notch new music chops (you may have heard her more soloistic work last fall in her appearance with Esprit Orchestra), so this album is likely to be a noteworthy one. For updates on the release, check out Teng Li’s website (http://www.tengliviola.com/) or keep tabs on her Twitter account @violaflying.
Quartetto Gelato: All Original, 100% Canadian
This upcoming release from Toronto’s Quartetto Gelato has a title that is somewhat self-explanatory -- the CD features contemporary commissions by Canadian composers, all recorded here in Toronto. The disc’s track list includes pieces by Rebecca Pellett, Michael Occhipinti, Hilario Duran, Jossy Abramovich, Charles Cozens and Howard Cable. Quartetto Gelato is hosting a CD release party for this disc on Tuesday June 23, at The Reservoir Lounge -- for more info, check out their website at http://quartettogelato.ca/.
Elaine Keillor: Poetic Sketches
Pianist Elaine Keillor will perform works from “Poetic Sketches,” her latest Centrediscs release, at the Canadian Music Centre on Wednesday June 24. The disc, named after a 1991 set of Five Poetic Sketches by Canadian composer Oskar Morawetz, will also feature piano works by Patrick Cardy, John Weinzweig, Alexina Louie, Kelly-Marie Murphy and Elma Miller. The launch event is free to attend, but requires an RSVP -- please see https://www.musiccentre.ca/node/132282 for details.
CORELIX: Be Free
Mike Romaniuk, of Lemon Bucket Orkestra fame, releases a debut EP with fellow Torontonian Jason Cho tomorrow for free download. While the duo, named CORELIX, is not necessarily classical -- and in fact, definitely falls more under an indie or alternative folk classification -- it might pique your interest. Details at http://corelixmusic.com/.
PRIZES, PRIZES - TD Toronto Jazz Festival
In this issue: The TD Toronto Jazz Festival is nearly here! Win tickets to hear special festival performances by the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, Kurt Elling and Al Di Meola. Just click on the following links for a chance to win -- feel free to enter all of the contests!
Tickets to the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra: June 21
Tickets to the Kurt Elling: June 23
Tickets to Al Di Meola: June 25
JUST IN: CORRECTED AND NEW LISTINGS
FEATURED LISTING: Regent Park School of Music with the TSO
First, a few quick corrections -- we made a few small errors in our listings from the print magazine, and have now corrected them on our website:
We listed Opera By Request’s upcoming performance of A Chair in Love at Arrayspace as June 17 in error -- it takes place on July 17. The corrected listing is as follows:
Friday July 17 7:30: Opera by Request. Tremblay: A Chair in Love. Abigail Freeman, soprano(A Chair); Michael Robert-Broder, baritone(Truman); Kim Sartor, mezzo-soprano(Doctor); Gregory Finney, bass-baritone(Dog); William Shookhoff, piano. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. 416-455-2365. $20.
We also listed the Toronto Concert Orchestra’s “Symphony in the Gardens” summer series at Casa Loma as free of charge in error -- the regular Casa Loma admission rates apply for this concert series. The corrected listing for the next concert in this series, on Tuesday, June 23, is as follows:
Tuesday June 23 7:30: Toronto Concert Orchestra. Symphony in the Gardens: Piaf Encore. La vie en rose; Sous le ciel de Paris; Milord; Hymn à l'amour. Pandora Topp, vocalist. Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace. 416-923-1171. $24; $18(sr/st); $14(4-13); Free (under 4).
We listed the June 27th Gordan Murray Presents Piano Soirée as taking place at St. Paul's church in Dundas. This event is taking place at Gordon Murray's usual venue Trinity St. Paul's United Church in Toronto.
Jun 27 8:00: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Soirée. A Tribute to the Music of Sigmund Romberg (arr. G. Murray). Romberg: Will You Remember? (from Maytime), The Desert Song & One Alone (from The Desert Song), I Bring a Song of Love. Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity St. Paul's United Church, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-631-4300. $15; $10(st).
Finally, the following Metropolitan United Church events were listed in our June listings when they are in fact taking place in July as listed below.
Jul 09 7:00: Metropolitan United Church. Summer Carillon Recital Series. Amy Johansen, carillon; Robert Ampt, organ. 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
Jul 16 7:00: Metropolitan United Church. Summer Carillon Recital Series. Koen and Florian Cosaert, carillon. 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
Jul 23 7:00: Metropolitan United Church. Summer Carillon Concerts. Margaret Pan, carillon. Metropolitan United Church, 56 Queen St. E. 416-363-0331. Free.
FEATURED LISTING: Regent Park School of Music with the TSO
This Saturday, June 20, 12pm-4pm, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra will be joining forces with over 200 students from the Regent Park School of Music for a free outdoor concert in the park. Alongside student performances, the TSO will be playing works by Copland and Moncayo, and Toronto’s newchoir will make a special guest appearance. The Regent Park School of Music has provided high-quality subsidized music education to over 1,700 students in the Regent Park and surrounding communities since 1999. Join them for the concert to show your support and hear some truly outstanding music-making, from students and professionals alike. Details at rpmusic.org.
Please find below other new/corrected June concert listings added online since this month’s print issue.
Jun 19 11:30am: Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Summer Music in the Park with The Locos. Village of Yorkville Park, 115 Cumberland St. Free, weather permitting.
Jun 19 1:00: Artscape/The Daniels Corporation. The Journey – A Living History of the Regent Park Revitalization. A musical covering the history of Regent Park. Ada Slaight Hall, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. E. 416-656-0707 x104. Free. June 19: Community Presentation; June 20: Public Event.
Jun 19 8:30: Zula Presents. Something Else! Festival. An evening of jazz and improvisation. OSWALD/MALONE/LEE/FRASER(John Oswald, composer; Terry Fraser, percussion; David Lee, bassist; Mike Malone, trumpet); ALDCROFT/THOMSON(Ken Aldcroft, guitar; Scott Thomson, trombone); Ellwood Epps, trumpet. Artword Artbar, 120 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 289-993-1993. $15/$12. Tickets and passes can be reserved by phone or email cem@zulapresents.org.
Jun 19 9:00: Small World Music. Bruno Capinan. Solo release of Brazilian samba-inspired album, Tudo Está Dito. Bruno Capinan, vocals. Small World Music Centre, Artscape Youngplace, 180 Shaw St. 416-536-5439. $20(door). Doors open 5pm.
Jun 20 1:00: Artscape/The Daniels Corporation. The Journey – A Living History of the Regent Park Revitalization. A musical covering the history of Regent Park. Ada Slaight Hall, Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St. E. 416-656-0707 x104. . June 19: Community Presentation; June 20: Public Event.
Jun 20 1:00: Toronto Public Library. We Keep The Stories: Writer in Residence Concluding Celebration. Join Drummers, Dancers, Elders, Storytellers as they share stories, songs and dances and bid farewell to Toronto Public Library’s first Aboriginal writer in residence. North York Central Library, Concourse, 5120 Yonge St. 416-395-5639. Free. Must call to register.
Jun 20 1:30: Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Summer Music in the Park with the Atilla Fias Duo. Village of Yorkville Park, 115 Cumberland St. Free, weather permitting.
Jun 20 2:00: Toronto Symphony Orchestra/Regent Park School of Music. Free Outdoor Concert. Students of the Regent Park School of Music join the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the students' year-end celebration recital. Moncayo: Huapango; Copland: Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo; Regent Park School of Music student performances. Earl Lee, conductor; students of Regent Park School of Music. Regent Park Aquatic Centre, 640 Dundas St. E. 416-593-7769 x267. Free. In case of rain, event will be at Sts Cyril & Methody Macedonian-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, 237 Sackville St.
Jun 20 8:00: Rough Idea. Summer Snow. Two sets of absolutely improvised music. Michael Snow, piano, Cat analogue synth; Ken Vandermark, baritone and tenor saxophones, clarinet, bass clarinet; John Oswald, alto saxophonee. Array Space, 155 Walnut Ave. . $20/$33(patron reserved).
Jun 20 8:30: Zula Presents. Something Else! Festival. An evening of jazz and improvisation. Not The Wind, Not The Flag(Colin Fisher, guitar, bouzouki, ney, tenor sax, guzheng, hulusi, misc. percussion; Brandon Valdivia, trapset, mbira, slit-drum, percussion); Brodie West, alto saxophone; Ellwood Epps, trumpet. Artword Artbar, 120 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 289-993-1993. $15/$12. Tickets and passes can be reserved by phone or email cem@zulapresents.org.
Jun 20 8:30: Zula Presents: Something Else! Festival. Free-Improvisation Workshop. Discussion of technical and practical aspects an instrumentalist or an improviser would want to know... Led by Ellwood Epps. Artword Artbar, 120 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 289-993-1993. Free.
Jun 20 9:00: Beaches BBQ & Father's Day Bash. Julian Taylor Band. With 54:40. Woodbine Park, 1681 Lake Shore Blvd. E. 416-922-3620. Free.
Jun 20 11:00: Ted Evans Band feat. Teagan McLaren. In Concert. A night of live music, summer celebration, and two giveaways with two of Kingston's budding artists. Rock & Roll, Acoustic, Alternative Blues, Folk. Musiikki Cafe, 73 Brock St., Kingston. 613-542-2233. Free.
Jun 21 8:30: Zula Presents. Something Else! Festival. Multi-instrumental free improvisation. See Through Trio(Tania Gill, piano; Karen Ng, saxophone; Pete Johnston, bass); Chris Palmer, guitar; Dale Morningstar, guitar, keyboards, amplified stationary bicycle, etc. Artword Artbar, 120 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 289-993-1993. $15/$12. Tickets and passes can be reserved by phone or email cem@zulapresents.org.
Jun 22 8:30: Zula Presents: Something Else! Festival. Eric Boeren 4tet & Ellwood Epps. Proponents of the Amsterdam creative music scene combine the New Dutch Swing sound with Dutch-jazz adaptations, followed by a short solo set by Ellwood Epps. Eric Boeren Quartet(Eric Boeren, cornet; Michael Moore, alto saxophone, clarinets; Wilbert de Joode, bass; Han Bennink, percussion); Ellwood Epps, trumpet. Artword Artbar, 120 Colbourne St., Hamilton. 289-993-1993. $18/$15. Tickets and passes can be reserved by phone or email cem@zulapresents.org.
Jun 24 9:00: Somewhere There/Rough Idea. The Eric Boeren Quartet. Eric Boeren Quartet(Eric Boeren, cornet; Michael Moore, alto saxophone, clarinets; Wilbert de Joode, bass; Han Bennink, percussion). Burdock, 1184 Bloor St. W. 416-546-4033. $25/$20(adv).
Jun 25 5:00: Roy Thomson Hall/East Coast Music Week. Live on the Patio: Ten Strings and A Goat Skin. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4822. Free. Food & drinks available.
Jun 25 6:30: Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Big Drum Social. Part of National Aboriginal History Month festivities. 16 Spadina Rd. 416-964-9087 x308. . Every Thursday evening in June.
Jun 26 11:30am: Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Summer Music in the Park with David Leask. Village of Yorkville Park, 115 Cumberland St. Free, weather permitting.
Jun 26 4:00: Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. Movie Screening: The Great Museum. Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor St. W. 416-637-3123. $9.73 plus taxes. Additional screenings Jun 26-Jun 30.
Jun 27 1:30: Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Summer Music in the Park with the Brendan Cassidy Trio. Village of Yorkville Park, 115 Cumberland St. Free, weather permitting.
Jun 30 9:00: Massey Hall. City Cinema. Featuring Live at Massey Hall Season 1 Film: Coeur de pirate. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. 416-872-4255. Free. Begins at sunset.
Jul 01 1:00: University of Toronto. Canada Day Carillon Recital. Hear the 51 bells of the historic Soldiers' Tower war memorial for a one-hour recital. Roy Lee, carillon. Soldiers' Tower, 7 Hart House Circle. 416-978-3485. Free. Outdoor event. Seating will be provided.
Jul 03 1:10: Gordon Murray Presents. Piano Potpourri. Featuring classics, opera, operetta, musicals, ragtime, pop, international and other genres. Gordon Murray, piano. Trinity St. Paul's United Church - Chapel, 427 Bloor St. W. 416-631-4300. PWYC. Lunch and snack friendly. Also on Jul 10, 17, 24, 31, Aug 07, 14, 21, 28 and Sep 04.
Jul 07 9:00: Massey Hall. City Cinema. Featuring Live at Massey Hall Season 1 Film: The Rural Alberta Advantage. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. 416-872-4255. Free. Begins at sunset.
Jul 07 9:30: Curtis Nowosad Quintet. Canadian Tour. In support of their sophomore album Dialectics. Selections from Dialectics, original compositions by Nowosad, selected interpretations of music by Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter, Mercer/Schertzinger. Curtis Nowosad Quintet(Curtis Nowosad, drums; Derrick Gardner, trumpet; Steve Kirby, bass; Will Bonness, piano; Jon Gordon, alto saxophone). The Emmet Ray, 924 College St. 514-591-5406/514-276-6870.
Jul 24 7:30: Alessandra Paonessa. Songs from the Screen. Classical crossover arrangements from film and theater. Includes songs from 'Disney', 'The Godfather', 'Tangled', 'Lord Of The Rings' and more. Alessandra Paonessa, soprano; Daevyd Pepper, tenor; Joshua Tamayo, piano; Samuel Bisson, cello; Sharon Lee, violin. Columbus Centre, 901 Lawrence Ave. W. 647-505-2537. $20.
Jul 28 8:00: Massey Hall. City Cinema. Featuring Live at Massey Hall Season 1 Film: Basia Bulat. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. 416-872-4255. Free. Begins at sunset.
Aug 14 5:00: Roy Thomson Hall/Small World Music Society. Live on the Patio: Nano Stern. Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4822. Free. Food & drinks available.
Aug 18 8:00: Massey Hall. City Cinema. Featuring Live at Massey Hall Season 2 Film: Zaki Ibrahim. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. 416-872-4255. Free. Begins at sunset.
Aug 25 8:00: Massey Hall. City Cinema. Featuring Live at Massey Hall Season 2 Film: Dan Mangan & Blacksmith. Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E. 416-872-4255. Free. Begins at sunset.
Aug 27 5:00: Roy Thomson Hall. Live on the Patio: The Massey Hall Band. Performing Queen's It's a Kinda Magic, starring Giles Taylor. 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4822. Free. Food & drinks available.
Aug 28 5:00: Roy Thomson Hall. Live on the Patio: The Massey Hall Band. Performing Queen's It's a Kinda Magic, starring Giles Taylor. 60 Simcoe St. 416-593-4822. Free. Food & drinks available.
NEW ON OUR WEBSITE
Ever wanted to immediately hear exactly what our CD reviewers are talking about? The WholeNote is in the process of launching a brand-new online Listening Room, where you can take advantage of enhanced reviews with added features, including the option to listen to sample tracks from reviewed discs.
→ continue to the Listening Room
THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING
Even though the next print issue of our magazine will arrive on the stands in September, HalfTones will keep you informed throughout the summer! Here are the next issues of HalfTones coming up:
Vol 2 No 11: Tuesday July 7
Vol 2 No 12: Tuesday August 11
Please contact halftones@thewholenote.com with any HalfTones inquiries.
