Blue Pages | 19th Annual Directory of Music Makers - October 2018

The band’s 2018/2019 subscription series begins
with “A Christmas Fantasy” on December 8, and
continues with “Last Night at the Proms” on
March 2, in collaboration with the King Edward
Choir. “150 years – Let’s Celebrate!” is the last in
this series during which previous conductors
share the baton with Mr. Voisey, internationally
acclaimed tuba player, Mark Tetrault, makes a
guest appearance, and the band proudly premieres
a specially commissioned work by Rick
Pauze.
Beginning with its 16th annual “Veterans’
Salute” on October 16, the band presents various
concerts throughout the year, in Barrie
and across Simcoe County. In addition, it hosts
the CBA Community Band Weekend June 14 to
16, 2019. The band looks forward to supporting
charitable causes and sharing its passion for
music with enthusiasm and excellence with Barrie
and beyond.
Derryl Johnston, president
705-252-3484
barrieconcertband@gmail.com
www.barrieconcertband.org
●●Bel Canto Singers
BelCanto Singers is an auditioned community
SATB choir with singers of various ages. Our
director is Leanne Piller, and our piano accompanist
is Jacqueline Mokrzewski. Members enjoy
the challenges of a varied repertoire including
Broadway show tunes, folk songs, spirituals,
opera choruses and classics. Rehearsals are 7pm
Tuesdays from early September through April at
Scarborough Bluffs United Church, 3739 Kingston
Rd. at Scarborough Golf Club Road. We perform
concerts the first Saturdays of December
and May and we give community outreach concerts
at seniors’ residences and nursing homes.
The best time to join is early September or early
January. We especially need tenors and basses.
Bel Canto Singers is a non-profit organization
financed by ticket sales and annual memberships.
Friendships and fun are woven through
all of our activities. We occasionally hold workshops
for improving our singing skills. Members
find these to be stimulating and helpful. Social
events include our annual banquet. We support
the worthy Kids Phone Charity.
Come sing beautiful music! Contact Ed at the
number below, or Cindy at 416-737-1475.
Edwin Perrin
416-265-7586
laured@sympatico.ca
www.belcantosingers.ca
●●Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts
Bravo Niagara! is a not-for-profit registered
charity dedicated to presenting the
world’s leading Canadian and international
artists, as well as rising young stars, in
innovative, inspiring concert experiences in Niagara-on-the-Lake
and the surrounding wine country.
CANADIAN CHILDREN’S OPERA COMPANY
The 2018/19 season launches October 12
with Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes.
On November 3, Bravo Niagara! presents
the “Voices of Freedom Concert” curated
by Céline Peterson featuring Molly Johnson,
Jackie Richardson, Robi Botos, Mike Downes,
Larnell Lewis, and Joseph Callender. The
season continues February 15 to 17, 2019
with the second edition of the Oscar Peterson
International Jazz Festival which promises to
bring another stellar lineup of jazz giants to the
Niagara Region. The 2019 spring series features
internationally-acclaimed classical and jazz artists:
Cheng² Duo (April 12), “Nat Cole: A King’s
Centennial” featuring Paul Marinaro and Ben
Paterson Trio (April 13), Grammy-nominated
Cuban jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez, a protégé
of Quincy Jones, with percussionist Pedrito Martinez
(May 11), and Jamie Parker and The New Gen
(May 12). The series concludes with the inaugural
“Gala Concert for Piano Six: Next Generation”
(May 25).
Alexis Spieldenner
289-868-9177
alexis@bravoniagara.org
www.bravoniagara.org
●●Canadian Arabic Orchestra
The Canadian Arabic Orchestra is a nonprofit
organization committed to reviving
fine Arabic music, and to promoting
multicultural understanding in Canada.
In addition to performing and presenting fine
Arabic music, the CAO is committed to building
bridges, and presenting music and art of different
cultural backgrounds on stage. Past productions
included a concert of Indigenous and
Arabic music “Origins,” presented at the Aga
Khan museum and Stratford Summer Music
Festival; “Jazzy Arabia,” and “Flamenco Arabia.”
In 2017, we launched the inaugural Festival
of Arabic Music and Arts in Ontario, over two
weeks an array of local and international artists
performed to more than 7000 spectators in
the GTA and beyond; FAMA 2018 and consecutive
editions will continue to grow and bring the
best of Arabic & other cultural music to Ontario.
In addition to an active board of directors, the
CAO continues to build an impressive board of
advisers which includes Member of Parliament,
the Honourable Marwan Tabbara, George Sawa,
professor of music at the University of Toronto,
and John Miller, the former music director of
Stratford Summer Music Festival, among others.
Omar Najjar
647-400-0979
omar@caomusic.ca
www.canadianarabicorchestra.ca
●●Canadian Children’s
Opera Company
The Canadian Children’s Opera Company occupies
a unique position as the only permanent children’s
opera company in Canada, and one of only
a handful in the world. It commissions, produces,
records and tours new operas and choral
music, with children as both the principal performers
and main audience. The company also
regularly collaborates with other leading arts
organizations, including acting as the children’s
chorus for the Canadian Opera Company.
The group includes six divisions plus an
outreach arm (OPERAtion KIDS), involving hundreds
of children and youth ages 3 through 19.
Now celebrating its 51st season, the CCOC
is led by CEO Stan Klebanoff, managing director
Ken Hall and music director Teri Dunn.
The CCOC offers children and youth a unique
experience, giving members unparalleled performance
opportunities and life skills along
with age-appropriate vocal and dramatic training.
Opera is simply storytelling with music, and
those are two things that kids and youth love!
The 2018/19 season will feature a new production
of John Greer’s The Snow Queen originally commissioned
and premiered by the company in 1993.
theWholeNote 2018/19 PRESENTER PROFILES | B5