September 12, 2006 Source: :
http://www.brandonu.ca/news/article.asp?A_ID=1089 All-star faculty performers launch 8th year of School of Music Celebrating its eighth year, the Brandon University School of Music''s pro series will feature seven concerts this year. Returning for a second season is the dean's series, with four concerts, and to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, a two-concert mini series has also been added to the schedule. Coming to Brandon for these concerts are a host of well-established musicians and ensembles like the Gryphon Trio, the Lafayette Quartet and the Canadian Chamber Choir. Along with faculty members whose talent will be showcased in five concerts this year, there are also rising stars on the national classical music scene making an appearance, like 'cellists Denise Djokic and David Eggert as well as singer James McLennan. "We have an excellent balance this year between local and guest performers, emerging and established performers, soloists and ensembles, and familiar and unfamiliar repertoire. I enjoy coming up with our concert schedule and to see the wide array of concerts we are able to provide to the community each year," says Dr. Glen Carruthers, the Dean of Music at Brandon University. Kicking off this year's season is a concert introducing the School of Music's two newest faculty members - baritone David Playfair and pianist Megumi Masaki. David Playfair takes over voice instruction at the School, bringing 25 years of performing experience that includes dozens of operatic roles as well as roles in several productions of The Phantom of the Opera. Prior to his arrival at BU, he was assistant professor of voice at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. A pianist, teacher, conductor, musicologist and administrator, Megumi Masaki was one of the featured performers in the film documentary, Appassionata: The Extraordinary Life and Music of S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté. As a performer, her career has taken her to venues throughout North America, Europe and Asia since the mid-1980s. Most recently, she was the artistic director of the ESF Orchestra in Germany. Also noteworthy in this first concert are collaborations that involve other faculty members, namely violinist Kerry DuWors, 'cellist Mark Rudoff, and pianists Alexander Tselyakov and Tom Van Seters. The two pianists will conclude the concert with their duo debut as they perform excerpts from West Side Story for two pianos, by Bernstein. Third year music student, drummer Graydon Cramer, will also take part in the concert. "Whenever we appoint new performance faculty we enjoy showcasing them to the public. Meg and David are two superb musicians who will be a real asset to the School of Music and the wider Brandon community," says Dr. Carruthers. Along with the Bernstein duo, the evening's program includes works by Thomson, Warlock, Sondheim and Liszt. The first pro series concert, featuring baritone David Playfair, violinist Kerry DuWors, 'cellist Mark Rudoff, pianists Megumi Masaki, Alexander Tselyakov and Tom Van Seters, and drummer Graydon Cramer takes place Tuesday, September 26, at 8 p.m., in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall, in the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building. The next concerts at the School of Music take place October 10 and 12. This two-evening Mozart series features The Jarvis Quintet – including local musicians Kerry DuWors, Nancy Nehring and Mark Rudoff – performing all of Mozart's string quintets. Future performances including the Canadian Chamber Choir on October 18, 'cellist Denise Djokic with pianist David Jalbert on October 31, the Murley/Braid Quartet on November 2, the 2006 winner of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition - 'cellist David Eggert with pianist Walter Delahunt on November 14, the annual faculty concert on January 16, tenor James McLennan with pianist Peter Tiefenbach on February 6, The Gryphon Trio on February 23, saxophonist Greg Gatien with pianist Tom Van Seters on March 6 and the Lafayette String Quartet on April 15. Tickets for all pro series and dean's series concerts are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, alumni and students, and $6 for Conservatory students, and can be bought at the door or in advance at the School of Music. Admission to the Mozart series concerts is free. Seating is limited in the Lorne Watson Recital Hall. Programmes are subject to change. The School of Music gratefully acknowledge the generous support of The Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and of the Province of Manitoba, through a Consolidated Arts Programming Grant from Culture, Heritage and Tourism. For more information, please contact: School of Music
Brandon University
Phone: (204) 727-9631 or visit: http://www.brandonu.ca/music/events/events.asp for updated events listings. - 30 -
| 