Parsons Dance presents World Premiere collaboration with EVOC - Jan 6 - 18

PARSONS DANCE presents a World Premiere collaboration with the lead vocalists and music of the Grammy Award-nominated EAST VILLAGE OPERA COMPANY The Joyce Theater, January 6 �� 18, 2009

PLEASE JOIN US:

Tuesday, January 6th at 7:30pm (Program B)

Wednesday, January 7th at 7:30pm (Program B)

Thursday, January 8th at 8pm (Program A)

Friday, January 9th at 8pm (Program A)

RSVP to Michelle Brandon Tabnick, (646) 765-4773, michelle@michelletabnickcommunications.com

Parsons Dance presents the World Premiere of an as-yet-untitled collaboration with the lead vocalists of East Village Opera Company (EVOC), featuring the music of the acclaimed rock opera band. Program A premieres the new evening-length work with EVOC��s two lead vocalists live onstage with Parsons Dance. Program B will feature Parsons Dance favorites: the jazzy Fill the Woods with Light, Swing Shift, Ebben, My Sweet Lord, Shining Star, and the stroboscopic Caught.

David Parsons, Tyley Ross (lead male vocalist and co-founder of EVOC) and AnnMarie Milazzo (lead female vocalist) have created a storyline that connects EVOC��s signature operatic arias (fifteen songs from the band��s albums) with David Parsons�� original choreography. untitled is a thoroughly modern re-telling of a classic story of a tragic love triangle. With contemporary dance, aerial dance, live and recorded music, video projections, complex digital lighting and visual effects, untitled is the most ambitious production created by Parsons Dance in its 22 year history.

��Nearly two years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting the members of East Village Opera Company. We realized that a great deal of artistic synchronicity existed between our companies, and we began to discuss the possibility of creating a work together. Peter Kiesewalter��s brilliant arrangements have proven to be incredibly inspirational. Now we are about to present this World Premiere in January,�� said David Parsons, artistic director of Parsons Dance.

��David Parsons�� choreography marries tradition and renewal in a way that physically represents what we try to evoke as a band. It��s exciting to see our music take a three dimensional kinesthetic shape in his hands,�� said Tyley Ross. EVOC recently received a 2008 Grammy Award nomination, Best Classical Crossover Album, for their album Olde School (2008, Decca Records).

��This piece is a strong departure from David Parsons�� signature themes, representing a paradigm shift in the work of a legendary choreographer, showcasing David��s maturation as an artist and expressing the breadth of his enormous creative range,�� said David Harrison, executive director of Parsons Dance.

EVOC��s signature works re-imagine opera arias as popular songs, including pieces by Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and Schubert. These classics collide with electric sounds from the golden era of rock and roll, pop, R&B, and soul, exploding into a mosaic of sound in a triumphant musical celebration. They have received commissions to pen new works from both the New York Public Theatre and New York City Opera, with whom they have also performed at Lincoln Center. EVOC alternately headlines in prestigious classical concert halls and rock clubs, and records exclusively for Decca/Universal records. They have released three CD��s, and are currently on tour supporting their newest release Olde School.

Parsons Dance creates American works of extraordinary artistry that are engaging and uplifting to audiences throughout the world. It is the goal of Parsons Dance to make contemporary dance accessible to the widest possible audiences. In addition to choreography and performance, Parsons Dance positively impacts children, students, and communities through student performances, lecture-demonstrations, master classes, post-show discussions and more. Parsons Dance has a company of eleven full-time dancers and maintains a repertory of more than 70 works choreographed by David Parsons, twenty of which feature originally commissioned scores by leading composers and musicians, including Dave Matthews, Michael Gordon and Milton Nascimento. Parsons Dance has collaborated with many other leading artists, including Julie Taymor, William Ivey Long, Annie Leibovitz, Donna Karan and Alex Katz (to name a few). The New York Times called David Parsons ��one of the great movers of modern dance.�� New York Magazine referred to him as ��one of modern dance��s great living dance-makers.��

Parsons Dance dancers are Julie Blume, Eric Bourne, Sarah Braverman, John Corsa, Kevin Fitzgerald Ferguson, Patty Foster, Zac Hammer, Natalie Lomonte, Miguel Quinones, Abby Silva, Billy Smith, apprentice dancer Steven Vaughn, and understudy Trista Jennings.

The two programs follow:

Program A:

Thu 1/8, Fri 1/9 and Sat 1/10 at 8pm; Sun 1/11 at 2pm and 7:30pm; Wed 1/14 at 7:30pm;

Thu 1/15, Fri 1/16 and Sat 1/17 at 8pm; Sun 1/18 at 7:30pm

World Premiere of untitled featuring the music of EVOC: Overture, La Danza, Maria, Mari!, Habanera, Che Gelida Manina, Flower Duet, La Donna E Mobile, Ave Maria, O Mio Babbino Caro, Una Furtiva Lagrima, Un Del Di, Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana, When I Am Laid in Earth, Butterfly Duet

Program B:

Tue 1/6 and Wed 1/7 at 7:30pm; Tue 1/13 at 7:30pm; Sat 1/17 and Sun 1/18 at 2pm

Family Matinee: Sat 1/10 at 2pm

Swing Shift, Ebben (an excerpt from Program A), My Sweet Lord, Fill the Woods with Light, Caught, and Shining Star

Swing Shift, created for four couples and featuring compelling solos for female dancers, explores the human journey toward self-discovery through social interaction, as dancers ��swing�� and ��shift�� in order to couple, uncouple and couple again with another. Ebben is an excerpt from untitled. My Sweet Lord is based on the song of the same title by George Harrison and was originally choreographed for American Ballet Theatre. Fill the Woods with Light was inspired by David Parsons�� love of jazz music and dramatic lighting effects. This ensemble piece features a commissioned score by Phil Woods, recorded by the Phil Woods Little Big Band. The dancers occupy the nocturnal world of jazz music, lighting each other with a variety of hand-held lighting instruments. Caught is an internationally renowned stroboscopic dance masterpiece that features a solo dancer performing more than 100 leaps in less than six minutes. Each leap is ��caught�� by the flash of a strobe light, to create a breathtaking illusion of flight. Caught has been performed thousands of times, worldwide, for more than 27 years. Shining Star is an upbeat, high-energy romp set to a series of disco-era hits by Earth, Wind & Fire. The choreography blends social dancing with a jazzy, smooth style that celebrates the party scene of the 1970s.

Parsons Dance will perform January 6 �� 18, 2009 at The Joyce Theater, with performances Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7:30pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8pm; and Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. There is a Family matinee performance on Saturday, January 10 at 2pm. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19^th Street), NYC. Tickets are $59, $35, and $19 (Joyce Members $44, $26) and are available by phone at 212-242-0800 or joyce.org.

Parsons Dance is committed to building new audiences for contemporary dance by creating American works of extraordinary artistry that are engaging and uplifting to audiences throughout the world. The company tours regionally, nationally and internationally. Since 1985, Parsons Dance has toured an average of 32 weeks per year, to a total more than 235 cities, 30 countries, six continents and millions of audience members. Many others have seen Parsons Dance on PBS, Bravo, A&E Network, and the Discovery Channel. Millions watched Parsons Dance perform live in Times Square as part of the internationally broadcast, 24-hour Millennium New Year��s Eve celebration. In New York City, Parsons Dance has been featured at The Joyce Theater, City Center, New Victory Theater, Central Park Summerstage, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art and The World Trade Center.

David Parsons (Artistic Director/Founder) has enjoyed a remarkable career as a performer, choreographer, teacher, director and producer of dance. Mr. Parsons was born in Chicago and raised in Kansas City. He was a leading dancer with The Paul Taylor Dance Company, where Mr. Taylor created many roles for him in works such as Arden Court, Last Look and Roses. He is a recipient of the 2000 Dance Magazine Award, as well as the 2001 American Choreography Award, for his work as a co-producer of AEROS, a production featuring the Romanian Gymnastic Federation that was featured on Bravo. Mr. Parsons has created more than 70 works for Parsons Dance. He has received commissions over the years from The American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, Jacob��s Pillow, the Spoleto Festival and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, to name a few. His work has been performed by Paris Opera Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nederlands Danse Theatre, National Ballet of Canada, Hubbard Street Dance and BatSheva Dance Company of Israel, among many others. In June 2007, Mr. Parsons was honored to be the very first contemporary choreographer ever to stage work at the centuries-old Arena di Verona, in Verona Italy, where he choreographed Verdi��s Aida. The Arena is one of Italy��s most respected operatic venues. In September 2007, he directed and choreographed Gotham Chamber Opera��s production of Mar��a de Buenos Aires, which made its world premiere at a sold-out engagement in New York, at NYU��s Skirball Center for the Arts.

East Village Opera Company was formed in New York City��s East Village in 2004 by Canadians Peter Kiesewalter and Tyley Ross. The East Village Opera Company turned the heads of New York��s music community with a series of electric genre defying shows at Joe��s Pub, the intimate venue housed by the Public Theatre. Initially meant as a one-off project, they were quickly signed to Decca/Universal records and met with universal praise from both classical and rock critics and fans. The Washington Post proclaimed that ��Opera crossover acts are becoming a veritable cottage industry, but the East Village Opera Co. is markedly different.�� They have toured the world with a unique live show, combining a seemingly incongruous classical string section with a powerhouse rock band. Time Out New York stated that the group ��electrifies the classics for a new generation.�� The Associated Press mused the band was ��dramatic�� and ��mesmerizing�� while the Wall Street Journal agreed, noting ��The band rocks hard, and deranges the opera stuff with savvy skill.�� In a rare feat not many artists can claim, EVOC headlines around the world in both eclectic rock clubs as well as some of the most prestigious classical concert halls. The band��s appeal is evident in both cases. The Chicago Tribune raved ��Nobody puts a fresher, friskier contemporary spin on opera��s greatest hits than the East Village Opera Company.�� The band has also performed at esteemed events such as the Sundance Film Festival, the Miss USA pageant (nationally televised on NBC), and the world-premiere of ��The Da Vinci Code�� in Hong Kong. EVOC��s PBS Special ��EVOC LIVE�� was celebrated with an Emmy at the 2006 Emmy Awards. Their most recent Decca album entitled Olde School was nominated for a Grammy in the Classical Crossover Album category.

Tyley Ross (Male Vocalist / EVOC co-founder) A native of Ottawa Canada, Tyley started performing professionally in his early teens while still a student at Canterbury��s school of the Arts. In the years since then, has been a street busker, a cartoon and voice artist, acted for the small and large screen, written and recorded two solo albums (his composition You Take My Breath Away was featured in the film Woman Wanted directed by Kiefer Sutherland and starring Holly Hunter), and he has performed as a guest soloist with orchestras across Canada and in the USA. After being discovered by Pete Townshend of The Who in 1994, Tyley was cast in the title role of the Canadian premiere of the Who��s Tommy. For his work in that show, he was honored with the Dora Award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical. He spent the next ten years on musical stages across North America, including starring roles at the Shaw and Stratford Festivals, and on Broadway. In 2001, Tyley was introduced to Peter Kiesewalter and they began experimenting with recording opera arias in a variety of modern contexts. This project led to the release of the CD La Donna and the unveiling of the East Village Opera Company in 2004 with a series of acclaimed performances at New York��s Joe��s Pub. Within a year the band had signed a multi-record deal with Decca/Universal, and has since released two CD��s: East Village Opera Company (2005) and Olde School (2008). Tyley has his master��s degree in voice studies from London��s Central School of Speech and Drama.

AnnMarie Milazzo (Female Vocalist) is a singer, arranger, composer and lyricist living in NYC. She has done the vocal arrangements for Spring Awakening, the Broadway musical at the Eugene O��Neill Theater; Next To Normal, which premiered Off Broadway at Second Stage Theatre; Bright Lights, Big City at New York Theatre Workshop; and the Paramount feature film ��The Marc Pease Experience�� starring Ben Stiller. Some of her most recent work includes a new musical Pretty Dead Girl, which premiered at The Sundance Film Festival and is now being produced by the Araca Group in New York City, book by David Henry Wang. Also currently in progress is the musical Sea Change based on the Lois Gould novel, book by Karen Hartman. AnnMarie is the lyricist for Franco Dragone��s Carmen, which premiered at The Jolla Playhouse and will open in Madrid, 2009. She is currently writing lyrics for Cirque du Soleil��s, Le Reve, at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. AnnMarie��s singing credits include working with artists such as Angelique Kidjo on her Black Ivory Soul Tour also singing with Carlos Santana. She also toured with Jonatha Brooke and performed on her DVD Back In The Circus, shot live in NYC.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, has proudly served the dance community and its audiences since 1982. The founders, Cora Cahan and Eliot Feld, acquired and renovated the Elgin Theater in Chelsea, which opened as The Joyce Theater in 1982. The Joyce is named in honor of Joyce Mertz, beloved daughter of LuEsther T. Mertz. It was LuEsther��s clear, undaunted vision and abundant generosity that made it imaginable and ultimately possible to establish the theater. One of the only theaters built by dancers for dance, The Joyce Theater has provided an intimate and elegant New York home for more than 290 domestic and international companies. The Joyce has also commissioned more than 130 new dances since 1992. In 1996, The Joyce created Joyce SoHo, a dance center providing highly subsidized rehearsal and performance space to hundreds of dance artists. New York City public school students and teachers annually benefit from The Joyce��s Dance Education Program, and adult audiences get closer to dance through pre-engagement Dance Talks and post-performance Humanities discussions. The Joyce Theater now features an annual season of approximately 48 weeks with over 340 performances for audiences in excess of 135,000. Additionally, for the last five years The Joyce has co-produced Evening Stars as part of the River To River Festival in Battery Park.

The World Premiere production is made possible by lead commissioning support from The Ellsworth Kelly Foundation; and Dr. and Mrs. Edward Prostic, in honor and memory of their daughter Elizabeth Anne Prostic.

For more information, visit parsonsdance.org and eastvillageoperacompany.com.

PARSONS DANCE

The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19^th Street), NYC

January 6-18, 2009

Tue, Wed and Sun at 7:30pm; Thu, Fri and Sat at 8pm; and Sat and Sun at 2pm

Family matinee performance on Saturday, January 10 at 2pm.

Tickets: $59, $35, $19 (Joyce Members $44, $26)

JoyceCharge: 212-242-0800

joyce.org

Labels: canadian opera company, east village opera company, parsons dance

Free concerts: New Music, Classics, Jazz

Chamber Music America (CMA)��the national service organization for the chamber music profession��will present the following free events in conjunction with its 2009 National Conference, in New York City, January 16-18:

Date: Friday, January 16, 2009

Event: New Music Concert

Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: St. Luke��s Lutheran Church, 308 W. 46^th St.

Charge: FREE

Performers : Jazz pianist Vijay Iyer and the Vijay Iyer Quartet; the Minnesota-based male vocal ensemble Cantus; and Opus 21, the Michigan new-music ensemble, performing its Frederic Rzewski commission, Natural Things.

Contact: Marc Giosi (212) 242-2022 ext.14 or mgiosi@chamber-music.org

Date: Sunday, January 18, 2009

Event: American Masterpieces: Chamber Music Concert

Time: 4:00 p.m.

Location: St. Luke��s Lutheran Church, 308 W. 46^th St.

Charge: FREE

What: The Parker Quartet (Corigliano String Quartet No. 1); String Trio of New York

Contact: Marc Giosi (212) 242-2022 ext.14 or mgiosi@chamber-music.org

Adam Reifsteck
Director of Marketing and Member Services
Chamber Music America
Office: 212.242.2022 ext. 28
Fax: 212.242.7955
areifsteck@chamber-music.org

re-imagining our future
C H A M B E R M U S I C A M E R I C A
31st A N N U A L C O N F E R E N C E
J A N U A R Y 15 �� 18, 2 0 0 9
www.chamber-music.org/events

Labels: concert, free, jazz, new york

Annonce de publication CMBV

Choral Masses and No��ls at the time of Louis XV: Louis Gr��non, a composer rediscovered at Le Puy-en-Velay

These four amazingly modern masses by Louis Gr��non, presented by the ��ditions du CMBV and edited by Jean Duron, are the first pieces to be published from the music collection recently discovered at Le Puy-en-Velay Cathedral. The most original of them is probably the Christmas Mass, which parodies popular tunes, as well as themes by Rameau and Mondonville. The Mass in G major and the Petite messe in A major, both in concerted style, and the quite short and more austere Missa quinti toni, also hold some interesting surprises. These masses are all for choir and continuo, and sometimes two concerted bassoons are required.

For further information, see http://editions.cmbv.fr/achat/new.php?langue=en

Messes et No��ls pour ch��ur au temps de Louis XV : Louis Gr��non, un compositeur red��couvert au Puy-en-Velay

Les partitions des 4 messes de Louis Gr��non, ��dit��es par Jean Duron au Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, viennent compl��ter notre connaissance du r��pertoire sacr�� du temps de Louis XV. Ces ��uvres, dont on d��couvrira la grande qualit�� musicale et la modernit��, sont les premi��res publications issues de la d��couverte r��cente d'un fonds musical au Puy-en-Velay. La Messe en No��l, parodiant notamment des th��mes de Rameau et de Mondonville, est probablement la plus originale. La Messe en sol majeur, la Petite messe en la majeur, toutes deux en style concertant, ou la plus aust��re mais br��ve Missa quinti toni r��servent ��galement de tr��s belles surprises. Toutes se chantent en ch��ur avec basse continue, parfois avec deux bassons concertants.

Pour en savoir plus : http://editions.cmbv.fr/achat/produit_details.php?id=861

Labels: composer, compositeur

Music China 2009 - International Trade Fair for Musical Instruments and Services

December 2008

Music China
International Trade Fair for Musical Instruments and Services
13 �� 16 October 2009
Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Shanghai, China

Music China acknowledged as Asia��s largest music industry event

Music China, Asia��s most recognised musical instrument show will take place 13 �� 16 October 2009 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), Shanghai, China. The show is the Asian sister to Musikmesse in Frankfurt, and the largest music industry event in the Asia-Pacific region.

Music China 2008 attracted 43,238 visitors from 92 countries. Six halls, covering an exhibition area of 65,000 sqm were filled with 1,106 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions showcasing a broad mix of products include traditional Chinese to western instruments, sheet music and accessories.

��We had a record number of visitors and exhibitors doing business at Music China 2008 and despite the current global economic climate we are confident that our 2009 show will continue to attract those wanting to do business in the world��s biggest and fastest growing consumer marketplace,�� said Evan Sha, Deputy General Manager, Messe Frankfurt Shanghai.

Big brands to be showcased for 2009 event

Several well-known international brand names and industry leaders have indicated their interest in returning to Music China 2009. These include AXL, Roland, Steinway, Warwick and Yamaha. In addition, negotiations are underway to secure a large number of group pavilions. At Music China 2008 there were eight pavilions representing Austria, Britain, Czech, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Taiwan.

��Early bookings confirm our recent survey findings which showed that more than 97% of past exhibitors said they will consider exhibiting at Music China again,�� adds Evan Sha. ��There is no bigger or better showcase in Asia where exhibitors can capture such a big slice of the musician and music lover market.��

High quality products are in demand

While increasing numbers of Chinese buyers are searching information about musical instruments through internet, demand is also being fuelled by Chinese government policies that are accelerating educational reform, including music education.

With domestic and overseas economic conditions deteriorating sharply in recent months, the real growth of industrial output of China has been trending downward. Only retail sales still held up strongly, growing by 16.6% in real terms in October.

During the past three years, the 11^th Five Year Plan (2006 �� 2010) developed by the government has increased expenditure in science and education. As a result, the China Music Instrument Association believes this is helping to grow the number of young musicians, which in turn is boosting market demand and stimulating consumption of music products. What��s more, Western and Asian music crossover influences are adding to the demand for instruments in the global market.

Music China 2009 is organised jointly by the China Music Instrument Association (CMIA), INTEX Shanghai and Messe Frankfurt, runs concurrently with Prolight and Sound Shanghai, an International Exhibition for the Event and Communication Technology, AV-Production and Entertainment industries. For information, see www.musikmesse.com or email music@hongkong.messefrankfurt.com

Labels: china, musical instruments

WSO's 12 Reasons to Celebrate!

WSO Enters the Holiday Season with 12 Reasons to Celebrate

December 22, 2008 - In this festive season, even with the economic challenges Canada currently faces and the arts community perpetually faces, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra has many successes to celebrate for 2008.

Ticket sales have been strong for the first half of the season and there is a positive outlook for the remaining concerts, including the presentation of Beethoven��s 9^th symphony on April 11, which is already projected to sell out.

1. Alexander Mickelthwate commits to 3 more years with the WSO

Our Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate, currently in his third season with the WSO, has signed on for a second three-year term.

��We are thrilled to have engaged Maestro Mickelthwate for a second term. His positive energy and enthusiasm inspire everyone who comes into contact with him. We are looking forward to building on the warm relationship he has with the orchestra and the community."

- WSO Board Chair Dorothy Dobbie

2. WSO Winnipeg education & outreach programs will continue thanks to a generous contribution from the Richardson Foundation

The Richardson Foundation has confirmed a lead role in supporting the WSO��s Up Close and Orchestral program. The program takes the full WSO into seven high schools annually to perform for and interact with high school students in their own environment.

��The WSO concert at our school was a watershed moment for many of the students in attendance because a good proportion of them had never seen (due to social or financial barriers) an orchestral performance before. Our students�� silence during the music and raucous applause after the music was a ringing endorsement of the WSO and the Up Close and Orchestral program.��

- Dan Steinhilber, Music Director, Transcona Collegiate.

3. Richardson Foundation supports new Rural Outreach program

The Richardson Foundation has committed to a lead role in supporting a new Rural Outreach program. This program, to be launched in the spring of 2009, will see the WSO take its Adventures in Music and Up Close and Orchestral programs to a rural community each year.

��The Richardson Foundation is proud of its history with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and we are confident that our continuing partnership will assist in sustaining the WSO as a world-class orchestra and community outreach innovator,��

- Hartley Richardson, President & Chief Executive Officer, James Richardson & Sons, Limited

4. WSO Accepted into Arts Stabilization Manitoba

The WSO has been officially accepted into the Arts Stabilization Manitoba program. This program provides support to arts organizations committed to maintaining effective administrative strategies. The program will contribute $500,000 to the WSO over five years, provided that the Orchestra remains in the black and is engaged in accomplishing its business objectives. The first allocation of $100,000 was presented to the WSO board of directors on Wednesday, December 17.

5. Wawanesa helps to fund new chairs for WSO musicians

Wawanesa Insurance is making an important contribution to the health and optimal playing ability of the WSO musicians by donating funds to replace the orchestra chairs. The new chairs are specifically designed for orchestra musicians and include a number of ergonomic refinements for posture and back support. Audiences will see the new chairs early in the new year.

6. Advance Electronics donates cameras and televisions

Advance Electronics has made a very generous donation of digital cameras, flat-screen televisions, and other electronic equipment to assist with the WSO��s promotional and educational programs.

7. 2^nd annual WSO Conducting Symposium attracts international participants

The WSO��s new Conducting Symposium is a ground breaking program to develop the skills and approaches needed for professional orchestral conductors. The program has attracted over 50 applicants from around the world, and 12 participants have been selected. The program will run January 16 to 19 and will include opportunities to work with conducting and dramatic coaches, meet with orchestral agents, the press, and conduct the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. One of the participants in the Symposium will be considered for the position of WSO assistant conductor, to replace Rei Hotoda who is moving to an assistant conductor position with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.

8. Women��s Committee makes generous contribution to WSO Endowment Fund, in honour of 60^th Anniversary

At a recital on November 23, 2008, the Women��s Committee of the WSO presented a cheque for $10,000 in honour of the Orchestra��s 60^th Anniversary last year. These funds are to be contributed to the WSO Endowment Fund which is held in the Winnipeg Foundation. The Women��s Committee has been an active supporter of the WSO for generations, and they annually contribute $30,000 toward WSO operations, through sales of merchandise at WSO concerts, and through special events.

9. WSO brass ensemble performs at Canadian Museum for Human Rights groundbreaking ceremony

WSO brass musicians and students from Mulvey and Dufferin schools performed O Canada and a specially-composed piece One People for the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on December 19^th. These students, along with the brass ensemble participated in a multi-faceted arts outreach program over the fall months in conjunction with the National Arts Centre.

10. NAC Orchestra Benefit Concert a Great Success

The National Arts Centre Orchestra benefit concert and special event held at the Concert Hall on November 10, 2008, was extremely well received by those in attendance and contributed $30,000 toward Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra operations.

11. WSO looks forward to a first-of-its-kind Indigenous Festival

From April 27 to 30, 2009, the WSO presents a celebration of Indigenous cultures from around the world including Australia, Europe, South America and North America. The 4-day festival includes performances by local aboriginal artist Corey Campbell and internationally acclaimed band Eagle & Hawk and is curated by composer Andrew Balfour.

12. WSO to present World Premiere of Holocaust memorial work I Believe

Last week, Arnold Frieman hosted a launch party to raise awareness for the World Premiere of I Believe by Winnipeg composer Zane Zalis, which the WSO presents on May 21, 2009. Selections of the work have already received standing ovations at sold-out WSO community performances over the past three seasons.

For additional information, photos or to schedule interviews please contact:

Sheena Stemler
Marketing & Communications Coordinator

(204) 949-3970

(204) 290-7484

sstemler@wso.mb.ca

The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is the celebrated hub of Winnipeg's rich cultural life, delighting more than 100,000 audience members each year with innovative programming and musical excellence. The WSO presents educational programs for more than 25,000 students annually and tours outside the city reaching out to communities across Manitoba.

Labels: orchestra, winnipeg

Harbourfront Centre Courses & Workshops

Make time for you! A world of contemporary culture is waiting for you at Harbourfront Centre's Courses & Workshops!

TORONTO, Monday, December 22, 2008 �� Travel to Harbourfront Centre, the most memorable and economical destination ever, to escape the winter cold and uncrate the spring sun with the city's best Courses & Workshops! Harbourfront Centre is pleased to offer a diverse and exciting line-up of contemporary culture courses throughout the winter and spring months. Adults can learn to paint; create their own website; explore the world of circus arts; tour the city's culinary neighbourhoods; go gallery hopping; make delicious candies and chocolates just in time for Valentine's Day; attend tea socials; join a book club; take a glass blowing course; and much more! Harbourfront Centre's Courses & Workshops are affordable and provide a perfect environment for adults to learn or improve skills, and expand their social circle with like-minded individuals at Toronto's leading arts and cultural centre.

Courses & Workshops begin on January 18, 2009 at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West. Register early as class size is limited. To register or for more information, the public can call 416-973-4093, e-mail learning@harbourfrontcentre.com or visit harbourfrontcentre.com/learn.

Winter/Spring 2009 Courses & Workshops

Visual Arts & Design

�ĢExpressive Arts (Sunday, January 18)

�ĢDrawing for Fashion Design (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)

�ĢIntroduction to Botanical Drawing (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)

�ĢSewing 101 (5 Mondays, January 19 to February 16)

�ĢFashion 101 (5 Tuesdays, January 20 to February 17)

�ĢPainting (6 Tuesdays, January 20 to February 24)

�ĢParent Workshop: Engaging Kids with Contemporary Arts (Saturday, May 9)

�ĢToronto Island Watercolour Sketchbook (4 Sundays, May 24 to June 14)

Media Studies

�ĢCreating your own Website (6 Mondays, January 19 to February 23)

�ĢDemystifying the Digital Camera (Sunday, January 25)

�ĢDigital Photography Manipulation (Saturday & Sunday, February 21 & 22)

Performing Arts

�ĢDjembe Drumming (4 Thursdays, February 5 to 26)

�ĢCircus (6 Mondays, Session 1: May 25 to June 29; Session 2:6 Wednesdays, May 27 to July 8)

Seasonal

�ĢCandy-Making Workshop (Sunday, February 1)

�ĢFrom Beer to There (3 Thursdays, April 16 to 30)

Literary Arts

�ĢAuthors at Harbourfront Centre Book Club (Ongoing, 3rd Tuesday of every month)

Urban & Cultural Studies

�ĢFilm & Food Club (3 Fridays, February 6 to 20)

�ĢTea 101 (4 Saturdays, February 21 to March 14)

�ĢGallery Hopping (6 Wednesdays, April 21 to May 25)

�ĢUrban Portraiture (6 Tuesdays, April 21 to May 25)

�ĢArtistic Architecture in the Public Space (6 Wednesdays, April 22 to May 26)

�ĢExplore Toronto's Culinary Neighbourhoods (Saturday, April 25: Little India; Saturday, May 2: Kensington; Saturday, May 9: Chinatown;

Saturday, May 16: Little Italy)

Craft Studio Courses

�ĢGlass Blowing (Runs through May)

�ĢCeramics (Runs year-round)

�ĢIntroduction to Jewellery (Runs year-round)

�ĢIntermediate Jewellery (Runs year-round)

�ĢTextiles (Runs year-round)

FOCUS: Pause

Harbourfront Centre wants you. to. slow. down. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information and images, what happens when someone really takes the time to reflect? Through May, Harbourfront Centre wants you to pause and make a connection to art, recreation, the world. Find time for yourself by taking one of our Courses and Workshops; reflect while you wait for the World Stage curtain to rise; enjoy while you skate on the Natrel Rink. Harbourfront Centre��time well spent.

Labels: harbourfront centre, workshop

Programmes de subventions du CALQ 2009-2010

Montr��al, 19 d��cembre 2008 - Les programmes de subventions pour le fonctionnement et les projets pour l'ann��e 2009-2010 du Conseil des arts et des lettres du Qu��bec (CALQ) sont disponibles sur son site Web, �� ses bureaux �� Montr��al et �� Qu��bec. Les dates limites d'inscription pour la plupart d'entre eux sont les 1er et 15 mars 2009.

Ces programmes sont destin��s aux organismes artistiques et litt��raires afin de soutenir leur fonctionnement, leurs projets de production, de promotion, de diffusion, de tourn��es au Qu��bec ou hors Qu��bec, d'accueil de spectacles ��trangers, ainsi que l'organisation d'��v��nements nationaux et internationaux. Ils appuient ��galement les associations professionnelles, les regroupements nationaux et les organismes de services oeuvrant dans le domaine des arts de la sc��ne, des arts m��diatiques, des arts visuels, des m��tiers d'art, de l'architecture et de la litt��rature.

Pour 2009-2010, le Conseil a adopt�� trois orientations qui le guideront dans l'attribution des subventions au fonctionnement aux organismes m��ritants. Pour l'ann��e 2009-2010, il consid��rera en priorit�� les organismes ��mergents ou de la rel��ve, ceux qui proposent des initiatives structurantes (services collectifs, mise en commun de ressources, fusion, etc.) ou ceux qui apportent une contribution compl��mentaire au d��veloppement de la discipline, de la r��gion ou de publics.

Depuis 1994, le Conseil des arts et des lettres du Qu��bec soutient dans toutes les r��gions du Qu��bec la cr��ation, l'exp��rimentation et la production dans les domaines des arts de la sc��ne, des arts visuels, des arts m��diatiques, de la recherche architecturale, des m��tiers d'art et de la litt��rature et en favorise le rayonnement au Qu��bec, au Canada et �� l'��tranger. Il soutient ��galement le perfectionnement des artistes professionnels.

En 2007-2008, le Conseil avait vers�� des subventions totalisant 63,4 M$ �� 582 organismes.

Labels: montr��al

La nuit de No��l �� l'��glise Saint-Jean-Baptiste

La nuit de No��l �� l'��glise Saint-Jean-Baptiste
lorsque le Myst��re s'exprime aussi en musique

C'est par un r��cital de l'organiste Jacques Boucher que s'amorcera la nuit de la Nativit��, le 24 d��cembre �� 21 h 30, en l'��glise Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Montr��al.

Voir le COMMUNIQU�� en pi��ce jointe.

Chantal Poulin
Coordonnatrice des ��v��nements culturels
��glise Saint-Jean-Baptiste,
4237, avenue Henri-Julien, Montr��al, Qc, H2W 2K7
T��l��phone : 514 842-9811, T��l��copieur : 514 842-8450
www.eglisestjeanbaptiste.com
info@eglisestjeanbaptiste.com

Afficher les images

Labels: montr��al

Young opera singer gets coaching from two retired divas, January 27

Tuesday, January 27 at the Markham Theatre

TENOR MICHAEL CIUFO PERFORMS IN RISING STAR SERIES

AND TAKES AUDIENCE BEHIND SCENES WITH COACHING

FROM CANADIAN OPERATIC DIVAS

How does an opera singer need to prepare for the world stage?

Michael Ciufo is a young tenor from the GTA, already on his way to a career in music.

On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 7 p.m. tenor Michael Ciufo performs Italian operatic arias, stirring Neapolitan songs, English folksong arrangements and more with pianist Peter Tiefenbach at the Markham Theatre for Performing Arts, 171 Town Centre Blvd., Markham (Hwy. 7 just west of Warden). Tickets are $25; $5 high school students and $20 post-secondary students (with student ID). To order, call 905-305-SHOW (7469) or visit www.markhamtheatre.ca. For information, visit www.sumarts.com/ircpa or call 416 362 1422.

The event is the third in the Rising Stars series, presented by the Markham Theatre in conjunction with emcee Maestro Kerry Stratton and the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists (IRCPA).

In the second half of the evening, on January 27, Mr. Ciufo will receive a coaching session with two of Canada��s most celebrated former opera singers �� sopranos Clarice Carson and Lois McDonall. Both are board members of the IRCPA, an organization that helps performing artists turn their potential into a career. The experience will give concert-goers insight into the behind-the-scenes preparation that young performing artists must undertake in order to maximize the success of their goals.

Only 22, tenor Michael Ciufo has already appeared as a soloist in operatic and orchestral performances. His first album, Vieni Sul Mar �� A Collection of Italian Songs was released in 2004 and has already sold over 2,000 copies. A second CD, launching in 2009, will feature his original songs. A gifted arranger as well, in 2007 he performed his own orchestral arrangements of Christmas repertoire with the York Symphony Orchestra.

Soprano Clarice Carson retired from performance in 1986 after many years with the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden (London), Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Fenice (Venice), the Montreal, Vancouver and Canadian Opera Companies, and many others in Europe, the U.S. and Latin America. The Montreal native was inducted in The Opera Hall of Fame at Place des Arts by L��Op��ra de Montr��al in 1998. For the past 22 years, Ms. Carson has lived in Toronto.

Soprano Lois McDonall enjoyed an operatic career spanning more than 40 years and three continents. While living in Vancouver, the Alberta native was discovered in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions. She has sung for British Royalty, by an invitation to Buckingham Palace, and recorded rare operas and bel canto repertoire including works by Donizetti, Handel, Liszt, and Delius, as well as Wagner��s Ring Cycle for the BBC, Opera Rara and EMI. Ms. McDonall is committed to not just the development of the singers�� voice, but also to the singers�� complete preparation.

Both Lois McDonall and Clarice Carson share their vast stage experience through private consultations and mentoring singers from Canada and abroad.

Labels: michael ciufo, opera

Opera America Announces Opera Fund Director-Designer Showcase Finalists

New York, NY��OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, announces that four finalist teams have been chosen for its first Director-Designer Showcase.

As part of a continuing effort to foster emerging opera artists, the bi-annual Director-Designer Showcase seeks to benefit promising stage directors and designers interested in breaking into the world of opera. It is intended to bring new talent to the forefront and connect promising artists with those who are in a position to hire them. To be administered as part of OPERA America��s Opera Fund, the inaugural Director-Designer Showcase is supported by a special grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Working from a diverse list of American operas, applicants were asked to complete a production concept, including an explanation of the staging; ideas and initial research for scenery, props and costumes; required personnel; and suggestions for adaptations and/or editing, if any. A total of 41 director-driven teams submitted proposals for consideration; four of these were selected as finalists.

Each finalist team will be given $1,000 to be used toward the production of renderings and models. Up to two representatives from each finalist team will be flown to OPERA America��s Opera Conference 2009 in Houston to present their proposals to general and artistic directors at a special session.

��The Director-Designer Showcase supports talented emerging artists by providing them with unparalleled access at the Opera Conference to the field��s decision-makers,�� stated Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. ��The production proposals displayed the remarkable range of talent and creativity of these young directors and designers. By highlighting these artists at the Showcase, OPERA America is proud to assist in furthering their careers.��

The four finalist teams were selected by a panel that included Peter Dean Beck, designer; John Duykers, singer/teacher; Christopher Mattaliano, stage director/general director of Portland Opera; Diane Paulus, stage director and Darren K. Woods, general director of Fort Worth Opera.

��I was astounded at the level of preparation and creativity of the applicants,�� declared Mr. Woods. ��Most all of them had done mounds of research and then translated them into incredible images and drawings. I think the winning teams�� projects could go directly from the page to the stage �� they were that good.��

OPERA America Director-Designer Showcase Finalists

Mourning Becomes Electra �� Andrew Eggert, director; Anka Lupes, set and costume designer; Aaron Black, lighting designer
Florencia en el Amazonas �� Lawrence Edelson, director; Martin T. Lopez, set and costume designer; Josh Epstein, lighting designer; Lauri Stallings, choreographer
Ainadamar �� Mike Donahue, director; Anya Klepikov, set and costume designer; Ji-Youn Chang, lighting designer; Sara Erde, choreographer; Daniel Vatsky, projection designer
Einstein on the Beach �� Elise Sandell, director; Liz Freese, set and costume designer; Gordon W. Olson, lighting designer; Keturah Stickann, choreographer

As a core tenet of OPERA America��s mission to support North American works, The Opera Fund and its precursor funding programs have awarded more than $10.5 million in grants to companies throughout the U.S. and Canada since 1983. The Opera Fund supports three areas: Repertoire Development �� production of new operas; Audience Development �� building appreciation of American works; and Artist Development �� support of artists who create and interpret the repertoire. The Director-Designer Showcase is a component of The Opera Fund��s Artist Development program.

The Opera Fund has been supported thus far by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Canada Council for the Arts, the George Cedric Metcalf Charitable Foundation, Lloyd and Mary Ann Gerlach, Lee Day Gillespie, the Helen F. Whitaker Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The Opera Fund was launched in 2001 and the Director-Designer Showcase is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art.

In addition to selecting finalists, the panel recognized four additional noteworthy proposals:

Four Saints in Three Acts �� Michael Rau, director; Sara Walsh, set designer; Jessica Pabst, costume designer; Derek Wright, lighting designer
Einstein on the Beach �� Gregory Keller, director; Dipu Gupta, set and lighting designer; Melissa Schlactmeyer, costume designer; Brady Paul, choreographer
Ainadamar �� Joseph Cermatori, director; Michael Locher, set designer; Paul Carey, costume designer; Burke Brown, lighting designer; Stephanie Ybarra, producer
X �� The Life and Times of Malcolm X �� Eric Einhorn, director; Kathryn Kawecki, set designer; Candida K. Nichols, costume designer

Labels: director-designer showcase, opera, opera america

Monterey Jazz Festival Voted "World's Best Jazz Festival"; MJF All-Stars Receive Two Grammy Nominations

Monterey Jazz Festival Wins "World's Best Jazz Festival" Award

In 2008 JazzTimes Readers' Poll For Third Consecutive Year

Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars Receive Two Grammy Nominations For Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival

MJF Veterans Terence Blanchard And James Moody Nominated For

��Best Jazz Instrumental Solo�� Grammys

Grammy Nominations Are Historic First For Monterey Jazz Festival Records

MJF Commissioned Work, Appearing Nightly At The Black Orchid

By Carla Bley Also Nominated For Grammy

December 18, 2008; Monterey, California; The Monterey Jazz Festival, a leader in jazz education and presentation since 1958, is proud to announce that the 2008 JazzTimes Readers�� Poll has named the Monterey Jazz Festival as the top jazz festival in the world for the third consecutive year.

The JazzTimes Readers' Poll win reflects MJF��s commitment to presenting the best cross section of creative artists in the jazz world, showcasing the genre's most promising emerging talents, and presenting the country��s top student jazz bands. Highlights of the 51st Festival, held September 19 - 21, 2008, included stellar debuts from Cassandra Wilson, the Derek Trucks Band and Jamie Cullum, with highly anticipated returns of jazz legends and NEA Jazz Masters Nancy Wilson, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter. MJF/51 Artist-In-Residence, bassist Christian McBride was in full form with a number of his ongoing electric and newly-minted acoustic endeavors, and the Monterey fans were treated to several special projects that were crowd-pleasers: Willow Lake from the Maria Schneider Orchestra (her second commissioned composition for the Festival); the polished Tribute to Cannonball Adderley with Tom Scott, Terence Blanchard and Nancy Wilson; the Kurt Elling Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane homage, Dedicated to You; and Cuban Lullabies from Maraca. In 2008, 43,000 people attended MJF/51.

The Festival is also proud to announce that NEA Jazz Master and longtime MJF veteran, saxophonist James Moody, and 2007 MJF Artist-In-Residence, trumpeter Terence Blanchard, have both been nominated for Grammy Awards in the ��Best Jazz Instrumental Solo�� category for their improvisations from the Dizzy Gillespie-penned classic song, ��Be-Bop�� off the Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival recording on Monterey Jazz Festival Records.

Collectively known as the ��Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars,�� this stellar group of three generations of jazz masters included James Moody on saxophone; Terence Blanchard on trumpet; Benny Green on piano; Nnenna Freelon on vocals; Derrick Hodge on bass; and Kendrick Scott on drums. The band made two appearances at MJF/50 in 2007 and appeared in a nationwide, 52-date tour across twenty-two states in the first quarter of 2008, performing for over 43,000 fans. The Monterey Jazz Festival Records Grammy nomination will be Mr. Moody��s fourth; Mr. Blanchard has been nominated for eleven Grammys and has won the award three times.

Since the label was launched in 2007, the not-for profit Monterey Jazz Festival Records (an imprint of Concord Records) has released thirteen historic records, including never-before-released live sets from Art Blakey and the Giants of Jazz, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Shirley Horn (her Live at the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival was recently named by the web magazine Slate as the #2 jazz album of 2008), Thelonious Monk, Tito Puente, Cal Tjader, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Sarah Vaughan. The 50th Anniversary All-Stars�� Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival represents the label��s first non-archival recording, and is the first of the ongoing series to be nominated for Grammys. The Grammy winners will be announced on February 9, 2009 on CBS.

In a related development, the Festival is also proud to announce that the Carla Bley recording for the WATT/ECM label, Appearing Nightly, has been nominated for a Grammy in the ��Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album�� category. The title track, ��Appearing Nightly at the Black Orchid�� was commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival and made its premiere at MJF/48 on September 17, 2005 on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena. In addition, the web magazine Slate has named Appearing Nightly as the #5 jazz album of 2008.

The 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival will take place September 18 - 20, 2009 and will feature a roster of jazz legends and talented newcomers alike. For MJF/52, the Festival has named as Artists-In-Residence the New Orleans-born trumpeter and multiple Grammy Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize recipient, Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. The full roster for the 52nd Monterey Jazz Festival will be announced on March 30, 2009; tickets will go on sale the same day. Updates can be found on the web at www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Labels: jazz, monterey, monterey jazz festival

D��claration de la FCCF �� l'annonce du nouveau Cabinet Charest : La responsabilit�� envers la francophonie canadienne serait-elle remise en question?

Communiqu��

D��claration de la FCCF �� l'annonce du nouveau Cabinet Charest : La responsabilit�� envers la francophonie canadienne serait-elle remise en question?

Ottawa, 18 d��cembre 2008 - La Pr��sidente de la FCCF, Mme Raymonde Boulay-Leblanc a ��mis la d��claration suivante suite �� la nomination de M. Jacques Dupuis �� titre de Ministre responsable des Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes du nouveau Cabinet Charest. �� La FCCF adresse toutes ses f��licitations au nouveau ministre mais avoue ��tre tr��s inqui��te car ce portefeuille perd le titre de ministre responsable de la Francophonie canadienne. �� l'heure actuelle, alors que les milieux artistiques et culturels qu��b��cois et franco-canadiens �� travers le pays vivent une crise sans pr��c��dent, la solidarit�� au sein de notre francophonie canadienne est non seulement de mise mais se doit de rester prioritaire. Dans la l��gislature pr��c��dente, le poste de Ministre des Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes et ministre responsable de la Francophonie canadienne occup�� par M. Pelletier a toujours jou�� un r��le essentiel voire crucial dans la recomposition d'une francophonie pancanadienne unie et solidaire. La FCCF se pose des questions : en ces temps de crise ��conomique, existe-t-il toujours une v��ritable volont�� politique vis-��-vis de la francophonie canadienne, et finalement que va-t-il advenir des ��nonc��s de la Politique en mati��re de francophonie canadienne du gouvernement du Qu��bec? ��

Dans ce contexte particulier, la FCCF veut rencontrer prochainement le Premier Ministre du Qu��bec et le Ministre responsable des Affaires intergouvernementales canadiennes et entend obtenir des r��ponses claires. Pour Mme Boulay-LebLanc �� Il est ��vident que la FCCF va continuer de collaborer avec le gouvernement du Qu��bec. Nous partageons une vision commune de notre avenir francophone. Il faut consolider voire augmenter les ��changes avec la communaut�� artistique et culturelle qu��b��coise ; nos artistes, nos organismes, nos cr��ations apportent une pluralit�� de voix �� la francophonie internationale et lui donnent une image plus riche. Aujourd'hui, nous devons rester solidaires et travailler ensemble pour favoriser l'essor de notre espace culturel francophone qui reste unique tant au Canada que dans le monde !

Labels: ottawa

Parsons Dance presents World Premiere collaboration with EVOC - Jan 6-18

Parsons Dance presents the World Premiere of an as-yet-untitled collaboration with the lead vocalists of East Village Opera Company (EVOC), featuring the music of the acclaimed rock opera band. Program A premieres the new evening-length work with EVOC��s two lead vocalists live onstage with Parsons Dance. Program B will feature Parsons Dance favorites: the jazzy Fill the Woods with Light, Swing Shift, Ebben, My Sweet Lord, Shining Star, and the stroboscopic Caught.