Editorial

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It’s incredible how much music and song can convey emotion and romance. This Valentine’s Day, La Scena Musicale helped spread romantic cheer over the telephone through our second annual Singing Valentines fundraiser. Seven singers, including the Atelier lyrique of the Opéra de Montréal's Karine Boucher, Frédérique Drolet, Emma Parkinson, Isaiah Bell and Jean-Michel Richer—who all took time out of their busy rehearsal schedule for this month’s production of Rossini and his Muses: The Big Banquet—Priscilla-Ann Tremblay, and yours truly serenaded 25 valentines over the phone. Thanks again to our volunteer singers (see the ad on page 37 and visit their websites).

This year, each singer chose their own songs. Selections included O mio babbino caro and Che gelida manina. Most of the songs were delivered with piano accompaniment by pianist Tina Chang, Claude Webster and Marie-Ève Scarfone of the Atelier lyrique and Rachel Martel (Tremblay). I can tell from the four calls I made that this was a special experience for the valentine. We are also offering greetings for birthdays as well as for Mother’s Day. To order a song or to be volunteer singer, please email donation[at]lascena.org

We also want to thank those people who generously contributed to the February 26th Tea and Trumpets Fundraiser hosted by Margaret Lefebvre and Ronald Walker, featuring Paul Merkelo, first trumpet of the OSM and pianist Alexandre Vovan. Watch for pictures in the April issue.

Violin, piano, voice: they're the holy trinity of classical music, and La Scena Musicale has kept you informed about the masters of these instruments. Such stars to look forward to in this issue include Lara St. John and Louise Bessette.

We're pleased to also shine a spotlight on under-discussed classical instruments in this edition with a cover feature on Sixtrum, one of Canada's most inventive percussion ensembles.

Young musicians and their parents will find handy info in our Annual Summer Music and Arts Camps Guide. There are also inspiring pieces on the Association des orchestres de jeunes du Québec music festival and Garage à musique, a music education organization based in Montreal.

Add to this mix a calendar cover profile of the talented Jean-Michaël Lavoie, a pianist as well as conductor who will take the podium with the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and much more, including all of our recurring jazz, calendar, and review features, and you have a jam-packed read ahead of you.

Have a great musical March!