Thank you, London!
Youth4Music kicked off March with a trip to London, Ontario for two fabulous events! On March 1 we had the chance to connect with local educators and get their perspectives on music education in London at our Wise Voices for Music meeting. On March 2 we spent the day hearing from local youth at our first ever Youth4Music event in London! We had lively, engaging discussions on what’s happening in London’s music scene, and learned about how our program can support young musicians in London.
|
|
|
This event featured live music from local singer-songwriters Sarina Haggarty and Ben Heffernan, and an inspiring keynote address from Western Music alumna Katy Clark. Katy, who is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at the University of Toronto and a member of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus, shared stories about growing up in London, opening her own voice studio, and founding an opera company “by accident.” A big thanks to everyone who joined us at these events and shared their stories and ideas!
|
|
NUFSICISUM Award Nominations
Last call to nominate your students for the 2019 NUFSICISUM Youth Leadership Award! This year’s winners will be announced via live webcast on May 6 during the nationwide Music Monday celebrations. There is still time to submit a nomination if you haven’t done so already, but don’t delay - the nomination period closes on March 31!
|
|
Welcome, Jennifer!
The Coalition is pleased to introduce you to our new team member, Jennifer Brown! Jennifer joined the Coalition team earlier this year as Research Assistant, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience in statistical research for the arts, culture, and media industries. Jennifer is also a percussionist, and has been having fun making music by hitting things for over 20 years.
|
|
Music Monday Announcements
The 2019 Music Monday Anthem arrangements are here! To gain access to multiple arrangements of Oscar Peterson’s Hymn to Freedom, including a brand new, bilingual choral version, be sure to register your Music Monday event. And stay tuned for the official Music Monday video, coming soon! In the meantime, check out the Coalition’s Instagram account for a behind the scenes look at the video recording, featuring Cantiamo Choirs of Ottawa, Youth4Music artists Ben Macdonald (piano), Irene Harrett (bass), and Worrell McFarlane (drums), and jazz all-stars Robi Botos (piano), Dave Young (bass), and Jim Doxas (drums).
|
|
|
Interprovincial Music Camp
Registration for Interprovincial Music Camp is open! IMC offers programs in band, orchestra, choir, musical theatre, rock, songwriting, and more! Participants have the opportunity to work with industry professionals while developing their skills and making connections with other young musicians.
|
|
|
Musicians@Ryerson
On March 29 the Musicians@Ryerson student group presents their 7th annual Battle of the Bands. Head on down to the Ryerson Mattamy Athletic Centre (the former Maple Leaf Gardens) to support some local, up-and-coming bands and celebrate the art of music. This is an all-ages event. Everyone is welcome!
Calgary Pro Musica
On April 29 the Young Artists Debut Concert presented by Calgary Pro Musica will introduce local audiences to three young classical musicians involved in the Young Artists Development Program. This program aims to “discover, nurture, and promote” young musicians in Calgary, and offers specialized training in chamber music with visiting artists.
|
|
|
March is Women’s History Month. Join Youth4Music in celebrating the achievements of female musicians, composers, and leaders in Canada.
|
|
|
|
|
Women's Empowerment Through Music
Women’s Empowerment Through Music (WEM) is an initiative of the Youth4Music program, honouring Canadian women who were empowered by, or empower others, through music. WEM’s objective is to connect youth with Canada’s heritage of women’s suffrage, social justice, leadership, and civic engagement. The two major components of this initiative are the WEM Learning and Teaching Modules, and the WEM Catalogue, now available in both English and French. The WEM Catalogue will be updated periodically throughout the year; send your ideas and suggestions to youth4music@coalitioncanada.ca
|
|
|
|
Two Canadian Composers on the Rise
Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland and now based in Toronto, Ontario, Bekah Simms is a dynamic young composer whose music has been heard across Canada, the United States, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In 2016 Bekah was named one of the CBC’s 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30. She received the 2017 Toronto Emerging Composer Award, the 2018 Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music, and she was nominated for a 2019 JUNO Award for Classical Composition of the Year.
Erica Procunier has composed for a variety of media, including film, television, and theatre productions, as well as advertisements and video games. In 2017, her work DAM! The Story of Kit the Beaver (commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra) toured across the country as part of Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations. Erica has received awards and recognition for her work, including from the SOCAN Foundation, and was chosen to be one of 250 participants (out of over 3400 applicants) in the 2019 Berlinale Talents, a development programme run by the Berlin International Film Festival.
|
|
Q&A with Shari Porter of Lock and Keynote Productions
|
|
Since 2006, Lock and Keynote Productions has provided youth with exceptional musical theatre training through its annual summer camps. Lock and Keynote’s two-week intensive camps in Cochrane, Timmins, and Sudbury, Ontario, and Corner Brook, Newfoundland offer budding performers the chance to mount a full-scale musical while honing their singing, dancing, and acting skills in a safe and caring environment. This summer’s production will be the classic musical Bye, Bye Birdie! (Head over to Instagram to check out LKP’s official summer show announcement.) We spoke to Shari Porter, Lock and Keynote’s founder and musical director, about why she formed this company and the opportunities it provides to youth in Northern Ontario and Western Newfoundland. Continue reading here.
|
|
Spotlight On... Musique 3 Femmes
Musique 3 Femmes is a non-profit organization and ensemble that aims to “foster emerging talent in operatic creation and to develop new works by all-female creative teams through workshops and performances across Canada.” In 2018, they launched the Mécénat Musica $25 000 Prix 3 Femmes, an award for Canadian female composers and librettists ages 36 and under. Five composer/librettist teams were selected from applicants across the country and tasked with the creation of five new short operas. Musique 3 Femmes will premiere these new works in a March 2019 workshop at Tapestry Opera in Toronto. Click here to learn more about this groundbreaking project.
|
|
Thank you • Merci • Miigwech • kinana'skomitina'wa'w
We are able to do all of this awesome work because of the support from many groups. For a full listing of this support go to Coalition, Youth4Music and Music Monday.
|
|
|
|
