Classical

London-based chamber music ensemble Trio Moyen is the brainchild of Nova Scotia clarinettist and conductor Scott A. MacDonald. In the summer of 2017, MacDonald invited friends and fellow Don Wright Faculty of Music alumni Jeffrey Komar (viola) and Ethan Lacey (piano) to form the group, which gave its inaugural performance in September 2017 at Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church. All three musicians are heavily involved in the London classical music scene, collaborating with such groups as Magisterra Soloists, Little London Community Opera, London Community Orchestra, and the Forest City Wind Quintet. Through Trio Moyen, they aim to shed light on some hidden gems of the chamber music repertoire that were written for their particular instrumental combination. They would like to acknowledge the guidance and inspiration provided by Dr. Jana Starling, Prof. Sharon Wei, and Dr. John Hess of Western University. Special thanks also go out to the Don Wright Faculty of Music String Bank for the generous loan of the Nurnberger bow used in this performance.

Hommage à Tarrega ....................................... Joaquin Turina (1882-1949)
I. Garrotin
II. Soleares

Variations sur un thème de Scriabine ............ Alexandre Tansman (1897-1986)

Libra Sonatine ................................................. Roland Dyens (1955-2016)
I. India
II. Largo
III. Fuoco

London based guitarist Andy Cloutier has been performing music in a variety of styles for over 15 years. As a performer of classical music, he studied guitar with Robert Kubica at the University of Western Ontario, where he also focused on studies in music theory and composition. He has received awards and scholarships from the University of Western Ontario, the London Kiwanis Festival, and the OMFA provincial competition. He has also participated in public master classes with world-renowned artists, including Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Roland Dyens, Pavel Steidl, and the Assad Brothers.

As a performer of popular music, Andy has been actively involved in London’s music scene since the early 2000’s, playing and recording with numerous bands and ensembles. Honours include awards from the London Music Awards, and the Jack Richardson Music Awards. Andy currently resides in London, where he maintains an active private teaching studio, and works as organist and music director at Strathroy United Church. Andy performs on a guitar built by Canadian Luthier Bruno Boutin.

PROGRAM:

Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78 "Regensonate"....................................... Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
I. Vivace ma non troppo
II. Adagio - Più andante - Adagio
III. Allegro molto moderato

Violinist Hua-Chu Huang, a youthful and versatile musician, brings a wealth of experience in solo, chamber, and orchestral playing. As a passionate performer of new works in addition to the canonized repertoire, Mr. Huang recently collaborated with flautist Carol Wincenc in the Canadian premiere of Yuko Uebeyashi’s Misericordia at the Banff Centre, and also presented Andrew Norman’s Gran Turismo at Toronto’s New Music Festival, 21C. Mr. Huang has appeared in concert with Philippe Djokic, Lynn Stodola, Denise Djokic, Barry Shiffman, and the new music ensemble suddenlyLISTEN; he is also the founder of Asterisk*, a Toronto-based conductorless chamber orchestra. In April, Mr. Huang was a recent winner of the 2017 Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition placing first in the duo category with Chu-Yi Duo, and was awarded a performance with the Montrose Trio in their debut in Koener Hall. Mr. Huang also placed second and third in the chamber category with the Louise String Quartet and the Eastern Trio.

An alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company Academy. Mr. Huang performed in the Canadian Opera Company's 2016 season premiere of Wagner's Siegfried. He performs regularly with Symphony Nova Scotia, an orchestra with which he has also appeared as soloist. Mr. Huang has also been featured as soloist with the Chebucto Symphony Orchestra, Dalhousie Symphony Orchestra, and Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra. The second prize winner of the 2015 Canadian Music Competition and the 2013 Kiwanis Rosebowl, Mr. Huang has also won numerous national competitions in Taiwan. In the Dalhousie Universiry Concerto Competition and the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra Competition, he won top prizes.

Mr. Huang has recently received his Artist Diploma as a Temerty Family Fellow at The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, studied with Paul Kantor and Barry Shiffman; having previously earned his Bachelor of Music from Dalhousie University under the tutelage of Philippe Djokic.

First prize winner at the International Competition "Franz Schubert" in Rousse, pianist Petya Stavreva is working on her DMA at Western with Prof. Leslie Kinton. She finished her Master's Degree with Prof. Anton Nel at the University of Texas at Austin, where she received full scholarship and grant support from Canada Arts Council and the Webb Trust Fund from the Glenn Gould School. Before that, she was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for ten weeks. At Western, she is a two-time recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship, as well as the Don Wright Graduate Entrance scholarship, and the Sherwood Fox Music scholarship.

Petya has been an active solo and collaborative pianist in Toronto over the last decade. She completed her Artist Diploma with James Anagnoson at the Glenn Gould School on full scholarship, and obtained a Bachelor's degree at the University of Toronto with James Parker and Marietta Orlov. She also attended the Taylor Performance Academy in Toronto with full scholarship, studying with Arshalouis Nersessian. As an educator, Petya has been an adjudicator for the Kiwanis Festival in Toronto in 2014, as well as the Ontario Music Festival Association in Hamilton in 2017. She will be joining the Royal Conservatory College of Examiners in 2018. She currently maintains an active teaching studio in both London and Toronto.

Petya has been a prize winner of numerous competitions in Canada and Europe, and has performed concertos with the Toronto Sinfonietta Orchestra. Her upcoming projects include concerts in London, as well as a recording project to be completed by 2019. She also collaborates with pianist Todd Yaniw for duo concerts.

She has played in masterclasses for artists such as Vadym Kholodenko, John Perry, Mark Steinberg, Christian Tetzlaff, Andre Laplante and Jon Kimura Parker, among others. Past festivals include Bowdoin Music Festival as a collaborative Fellow, Young Artist Program in Ottawa, the Banff Chamber and Solo Residencies, Nice Academy in France, and Toronto Summer Music Festival.

PLEASE NOTE THIS SHOW IS AT THE AEOLIAN EDUCATION CAMPUS AT CRONYN (formerly known as Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church).

Start your New Year with a new experience from Charlotte Abbott and Michael Pare. Experience the sound of classical music in three amazing concert venues. Southern Ontario Serenade is their debut tour together as professional musicians. Initially inspired by Canada’s 150th Anniversary, their program features music of Canadian culture and has grown to include some of the best music composed for guitar and voice. Together they continue to expand the acoustic boundaries of their instruments to new limits. Brave the cold, venture outside your door and participate in an intimate setting of live sound.

Michael Pare

Michael Pare is one of Canada’s young and aspiring classical guitarists, performing regularly in festivals and competitions throughout North America and Europe. Located in London, Ontario, Michael performs regularly at the London Club, Centennial Hall, Von Kuster Hall, and the McIntosh Art Gallery.

In 2015 Michael was the winner of the highly regarded Rose Bowl Competition in London, Ontario, and is scheduled to play with London Symphonia as a guest soloist.

Michael performs concerts, weddings and private events as a soloist and with soprano, Charlotte Abbott. His repertoire ranges from renaissance art songs to contemporary solo and duo pieces. Michael also teaches a variety of styles to beginner and advanced students.

Charlotte Abbott

Charlotte Abbott is a Masters of Music graduate from Western University. She is singer with a passion for teaching and performing. She is an active member in London’s musical theatre community. Last winter Charlotte played the role of Lily in Secret Garden with London’s Palace Theatre Community Players and in the spring she was the vocal coach for Link Theatre’s musical production of Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens.

Her opera credits include Rowan in Benjamin Britten’s Little Sweep and Le Feu/Le Rossignol in Maurice Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges. Currently, she is working on a production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah for the Fall of 2018.

Charlotte continues to study with mezzo-soprano, Patricia Green and maintains her own private studio. Charlotte occupies the rest of her time working at Lululemon, sweating in the gym and cosying up with a good book.

Home for the Holidays: former students of Richard Lawrence (and spouses) gather for a musical bash featuring Brahms G major Sextet, Korngold 3rd Quartet and an “anyone can join in” Brandenburg Concerto no. 3. Bring your violin, viola, cello or bass!

Jennifer Orchard, violin
Scott St. John, violin
AnneMarie Moorcroft, viola
Sharon Wei, viola
Mikhail Istomin, cello
Mischa Meyer, cello

The Complete Piano Works of Claude Debussy: Part V

As the final tribute to Debussy’s solo piano works, this concert features his most mature compositions.  The second book of Préludes date from 1911-12 and continue Debussy exploration of nature, literary works, pagan history and memorable events.  Be prepared to explore diverse cultural references from America to England, France to Spain and Egypt to India.

The second book of Études contain Debussy’s final major works and were written during the First World War in 1915.  Dedicated to Chopin, they continue the exploration of technical wizardry and tone painting.  Unlike the Préludes, these works are giving titles based on their technical or musical explorations and are much more abstract in content.

This recital completes the entire cycle of solo piano music by Claude Debussy, one of the most influential composers of all time.

“But music, don't you know, is a dream from which the veils have been lifted. It's not even the expression of a feeling, it's the feeling itself.” 
-- Claude Debussy

CLARK BRYAN

As an award-winning concert pianist, Clark Bryan has performed internationally, recorded 14 CD’s and has been featured on radio and television.  As a teacher, Mr. Bryan has taught thousands of students, adjudicated more than 60 music festivals coast to coast in Canada, given dozens of workshops and written a book “Gateways to Learning and Memory”.

The founder of The Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, Clark believes that everyone should have universal access to music, art and culture.  Because of this belief, he launched El Sistema Aeolian in 2011.  This free, intensive music program has offered hundreds of children and youth an opportunity to experience the joy of a rich musical experience.  In 2016, Mr. Bryan secured Bishop Cronyn Memorial Place, a second facility to develop an education centre.   Shortly after securing this facility, he co-founded two new programs.  Pride Men’s Chorus London is a choir open to men of all backgrounds and identities. Rebelheart Collective is a conductor-less chamber orchestra that offers mentorship to young apprentices and offers free tickets to every concert.

Mr. Bryan is engaged in community activism and speaks regularly at events, on radio and television and has given a TEDx talk about the power and joy of music study.

He has been awarded Musical Personality of the Year (2005), Jack Richardson Award for Community Contribution (2011).  In 2017, Mr. Bryan was awarded the Western Alumni Award of Merit and inducted into the Don Wright Faculty of Music Wall of Fame.

Mr. Bryan looks forward to a future when everyone has access to the arts and he is committed to making the changes necessary to accomplish this!

The Complete Piano Works of Claude Debussy Part IV

Claude Debussy is considered the most influential composer of the 20th and 21st centuries.  He was born in 1862 and studied with one of Chopin’s students.  His early works reflect these studies and are neo-romantic in flavour.  Debussy died in 1918, the year that marked the end of the first global conflict.

From Ancient Greece to the Italian Hills of Anacapri, from Scottish Landscapes to the American Minstrel show, from Breton legends to Shakespeare’s Puck, this program will sweep you away into the exotic, humourous and meditative realms of Debussy in his prime.

This program will feature the first book of Debussy Preludes.  Interwoven between these landscapes you will hear Debussy at his most experimental stage.  Escaping from intense physical and mental suffering during middle of World War I (1915) Debussy worked on an edition of the complete works of Chopin.  In the tradition of Chopin, Debussy followed his reverence for this composer by writing twelve piano etudes.  There are no words to describe these works…works that continue to inspire and challenge composers today.  They are Debussy at his most experimental.  From fierce command to gentle, fast to slow, quiet to bombastic, you will hear a gamut of emotion captured in canvases meant to challenge both the technique of the performer and the ears of the listener.

CLARK BRYAN

As an award-winning concert pianist, Clark Bryan has performed internationally, recorded 14 CD’s and has been featured on radio and television.  As a teacher, Mr. Bryan has taught thousands of students, adjudicated more than 60 music festivals coast to coast in Canada, given dozens of workshops and written a book “Gateways to Learning and Memory”.

The founder of The Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, Clark believes that everyone should have universal access to music, art and culture.  Because of this belief, he launched El Sistema Aeolian in 2011.  This free, intensive music program has offered hundreds of children and youth an opportunity to experience the joy of a rich musical experience.  In 2016, Mr. Bryan secured Bishop Cronyn Memorial Place, a second facility to develop an education centre.   Shortly after securing this facility, he co-founded two new programs.  Pride Men’s Chorus London is a choir open to men of all backgrounds and identities. Rebelheart Collective is a conductor-less chamber orchestra that offers mentorship to young apprentices and offers free tickets to every concert.

Mr. Bryan is engaged in community activism and speaks regularly at events, on radio and television and has given a TEDx talk about the power and joy of music study.

He has been awarded Musical Personality of the Year (2005), Jack Richardson Award for Community Contribution (2011).  In 2017, Mr. Bryan was awarded the Western Alumni Award of Merit and inducted into the Don Wright Faculty of Music Wall of Fame.

Mr. Bryan looks forward to a future when everyone has access to the arts and he is committed to making the changes necessary to accomplish this!

The Complete Piano Works of Claude Debussy Part III

Claude Debussy is considered the most influential composer of the 20th and 21st centuries.  He was born in 1862 and studied with one of Chopin’s students.  His early works reflect these studies and are neo-romantic in flavour.  Debussy died in 1918, the year that marked the end of the first global conflict.

Works on this program span his early period to the Great War period.  Many of the works on this program are little-known to the public and even many musicians.

The most famous collection of pieces on this program is the Children’s Corner.  This suite of charming pieces was composed in 1908 for Debussy’s daughter Claude-Emma known as “Chou-Chou”.  They evoke childhood and some of the toys in Claude-Emma’s toy collection.

Another interesting collection is a suite of six pieces originally for piano duo composed in 1914 entitled Six épigraphes antiques.  Over 100 measures of music from these works is taken from the musical accompaniments Debussy wrote for his friend Pierre Louÿs erotic lesbian poems “Les Chansons de Bilitis”.   Debussy transcribed these works for piano solo in 1915.  The inspiration for these works is extremely exotic. Ancient gods and rituals are woven into their fabric.  Titles such as “To invoke Pan, god of the summer wind” and “For the Egyptian woman” elude to this exoticism.

The performance will include multi-media images and descriptions to help entice you into the mystery of each work played.

Program:

Danse Bohemienne (1880)
Valse Romantique (1890)
Page D’Album (1904)
Morceau De Concours (1904)
L’isle Joyeuse (1904)
D’un Cahier D’esquisses (1904)
Children’s Corner (1908)
Hommage à Haydn (1909)
La Plus Que Lente (Valse)  (1910)
Berceuse Heroique (1914)
Six Epigraphes Antiques (1914-1915)
Elegie (1915)
Les soirs illumines par l’ardeur du charbon (1917)

CLARK BRYAN

As an award-winning concert pianist, Clark Bryan has performed internationally, recorded 14 CD’s and has been featured on radio and television.  As a teacher, Mr. Bryan has taught thousands of students, adjudicated more than 60 music festivals coast to coast in Canada, given dozens of workshops and written a book “Gateways to Learning and Memory”.

The founder of The Aeolian Performing Arts Centre, Clark believes that everyone should have universal access to music, art and culture.  Because of this belief, he launched El Sistema Aeolian in 2011.  This free, intensive music program has offered hundreds of children and youth an opportunity to experience the joy of a rich musical experience.  In 2016, Mr. Bryan secured Bishop Cronyn Memorial Place, a second facility to develop an education centre.   Shortly after securing this facility, he co-founded two new programs.  Pride Men’s Chorus London is a choir open to men of all backgrounds and identities. Rebelheart Collective is a conductor-less chamber orchestra that offers mentorship to young apprentices and offers free tickets to every concert.

Mr. Bryan is engaged in community activism and speaks regularly at events, on radio and television and has given a TEDx talk about the power and joy of music study.

He has been awarded Musical Personality of the Year (2005), Jack Richardson Award for Community Contribution (2011).  In 2017, Mr. Bryan was awarded the Western Alumni Award of Merit and inducted into the Don Wright Faculty of Music Wall of Fame.

Mr. Bryan looks forward to a future when everyone has access to the arts and he is committed to making the changes necessary to accomplish this!

A Benefit Concert for the Aeolian’s El Sistema Program with Pianist Queena Liu!

Works performed on this program are considered amongst the best ever composed in their genres.  Bach’s Well Tempered Clavier (WTC) is like the “Old Testament” of music.  The Prelude and Fugue in b minor is one of the most challenging works in this collection!

Beethoven’s 32 Sonata’s are like “The New Testament” of music.  This particular Sonata has been given a “storm” or “tempest” theme.

Chopin’s Ballade No. 1 is an epic poem of fantastical character and one of the most demanding works Chopin wrote.

Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in g minor has a powerful and muscular section followed by a luscious and lyrical melody.  It is one of the most performed works of Rachmaninoff.

The French composer Pierre Sancan wrote his famous Toccata following the tradition of virtuosic music.  This work includes a touch of jazz in its harmonies.

François Morel was born in Montréal Canada in 1926 and died this year.  He contributed many masterworks to the Canadian repertoire and is celebrated internationally.  The second étude is another tour de force for the pianist has many impressionistic influences.

Bach:  Prelude and Fugue in b minor Book I WTC
Beethoven: Sonata Op. 31, No. 2 (The Tempest)
Chopin:  Ballade No. 1, Op. 23
Rachmaninoff Prelude Op. 23 No.5
Sancan:  Toccata
Morel:  Etude de Sonorité No. 2

Claude Debussy (1862-1918) is a composer most often associated with Impressionistic Music.

He is one of the most influential composers of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries and continues to have a big influence on modern day composers. Debussy was greatly influenced by the exotic and found great delight in the music and culture presented at the International Exhibition Universelle in Paris (1889). Debussy heard Javanese Gamelan music during this Exhibition and incorporated gamelan scales, melodies, rhythms and ensemble textures into some of his compositions.

Sharon Kahan, flute
Marion Miller, piano
with Guest Kevin O’Donnell, flute

Sharon and Marion have delighted London audiences for eight years with heartwarming January recitals, and this year's will be another gem. Subtitled “warm music for a cold afternoon” this program guarantees to do just that, with music from the world of opera (Taffanel’s Fantaisie on Themes from Der Freischutz and the Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes) as well as Malcolm Arnold’s Flute Sonata, this varied program will certainly lift the winter blues.

Acclaimed London composer Jeff Smallman will be represented as well, with the performers premiering two of his works for flute and piano, Les Rodeurs de Nuit and the aptly named l’Hiver a Cesse (winter is over!)

Sharon and Marion are delighted to be welcoming guest flutist Kevin O’Donnell from Kitchener-Waterloo where he performs with the orchestra and can frequently be heard in the National Ballet Orchestra in Toronto. In addition to Doppler’s Andante and Rondo, Ian Clarke’s Maya for two flutes and piano is an evocative and haunting piece of music.

Sharon Kahan performs regularly with orchestras throughout Ontario and performs at the Stratford Festival, where she can be heard in the 2018 production of The Music Man.

Marion Miller is one of London's most versatile musicians. Trained in Canada, France and the United States as a classical pianist, she has nevertheless covered the musical spectrum from playing in a swing orchestra to composing for musical theatre. At 18 she was on faculty at the Banff School of Fine Arts. She has been musical director of the Grand Theatre and pianist for the Aria International Summer Academy for Advanced Music Studies, played Chopin on CBC Radio and vaudeville tunes at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre. She taught at UWO shortly after graduating there with a Master’s degree in musical performance and the president’s gold medal for academic excellence. Today she maintains a large class of private students ranging from young and adult beginners to university-level aspiring concert performers.