Festive high energy performances, sprinkled with humour and spiced with narrative.
Oktopus is a major presence on the Canadian music scene, with over 250 performances to its credit at home and abroad. The group is primarily devoted to klezmer – the musical heritage of Eastern European Jews – distinguished by a novel approach that incorporates various components of classical, Québecois, and Jazz repertoires.
The group’s eight virtuoso musicians offer festive, high-energy performances, at once melancholic and profound, sprinkled with humour and spiced with narrative, in which original compositions and finely crafted arrangements combine with improvisation. Its members’ complicity, shared passion, and hard work are what makes each of their performances so memorable – whether on stage, in the street, on a ship, in a hot air balloon or in your living room, Oktopus is simply … spectacular!
Jaeden Izik-Dzurko with his parents & NOCCA president, Paul Maynes
On September 12, NOCCA’s ‘23-24 concert season was opened by Hadley Lanaway. Ms Lanaway treated the audience to three beautiful piano pieces. As she played, she relaxed into her chosen repertoire allowing concert goers to create images within each selection. Hadley ended her performance with a lovely Sea Dragon lilt by Ina Dykstra.
The featured artist, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, is no stranger to NOCCA. He graced our stage as a youth performer playing on the “Dowager Steinway” in 2016. Tonight he enthralled audience members with his exquisite performance on NOCCA’S ‘lucky’ Steinway.
Jaeden welcomed the patrons into the evening’s offerings by opening with selected Moments Musicaux, D.780 by Franz Schubert. He played with seamless precision. He was one with his instrument and one with the music, gifting the listeners with a performance full of heart and passion.
His interpretation of Nikolai Medtner’s Sonata, Romantica, in B flat Min. Op 53 No.1 was a stunning rendition that showcased his profound technical ability and deep engagement with the music. The audience was spellbound and spontaneously rose in their appreciation of Jaeden’s immense musicality.
After a much needed intermission for both the audience and Jaeden, no doubt, we were once again left breathless by his performance of Ravel’s Miroirs. This technically challenging piece appeared easy under Jaeden’s fingers. It evoked images of moths flitting in the night to the movement of sparkling ocean water and brought concert goers to their feet yet again.
It was with immense pleasure that we were treated to his final selection, Scherzo No.1 in B minor, Op.20 by Frederic Chopin. This work was followed by Jaeden’s first encore leaving patrons thoroughly sophonsified. However, Jaeden offered us one more warm musical nightcap to send us on our way. When he concluded his concert, a collective sigh of absolute appreciation could be heard echoing throughout the theatre.
There are simply not enough superlatives to describe this magnificent performance and performer.
Review by Shannon Marsh, Emily Fraser and Gerry Sholomenko
Nocca’s next concert will feature Oktopus on Wednesday October 11, 2023. Tickets can be purchased atticket seller.ca or phone (250) 549-7469. For more information visit our website at nocca.ca
The 2023/24 NOCCA concert season begins with one of the North Okanagan’s great sources of musical pride, pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko. Over the past ten years, Jaeden has opened for NOCCA presentations as well as performed for the North Okanagan Youth Showcase of Excellence (NOYSE). After graduating from high school in Salmon Arm, he went on to the Juilliard School of Music and graduated in 2022 with his Bachelor of Music. Jaeden recently completed his master’s degree at UBC under Dr. Corey Hamm.
Celebrated by the CBC in 2021 as one of “30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30” Jaeden Izik-Dzurko is earning a reputation as a promising young artist. Recognized by audiences, conductors, composers and critics alike for his exceptional communicative power and the thoughtfulness of his interpretations “… he projects a distinctive musical personality that imbues even the most routine passagework with character and individuality” (Calgary Herald). In 2022 Jaeden won piano competitions both in North America and in Europe, and his road to success continues here in Vernon as he entertains us with works by classical masters as well as, at least, one of his own compositions. Come out and enjoy the talents a rising star.
When: Tuesday September 12, 2023 at 7:30pm Where: Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre
Help us celebrate NOCCA’s Seventy-First anniversary with the homecoming to the NOCCA stage and the North Okanagan’s gift to the international world of music, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko.
After a successful year of competitions in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, Jaeden brings a focused passion and intensity to the art of the piano. Jaeden will be playing NOCCA’s Steinway Concert Grand and this is one concert you do not want to miss!
On April 19th, NOCCA presented its last concert of the season that showcased a young local trio and a more mature Canadian duo.
Just minutes before the show was to begin, a power outage affecting a wide swath of Vernon postponed the concert. In fact, we were all ushered into the foyer where we waited with bated breath, crossed fingers and toes in hopes that the powers that be, aka, B.C.Hydro, could remedy the situation before too long. If not, the concert would have been cancelled. To the great relief and delight of everyone, the electricity was restored and we were treated to a truly exquisite presentation well worth the extended delay.
The opening by the Barbaza Trio of siblings, was well received. Henry, on cello, Benjamin, on cello, and Lenna, on violin, are accomplished young musicians who are composed and highly focused. They treated the audience to four works that showcased their combined talents ending with a flowing and vibrant interpretation of Ravel’s Allegra from Trio No.1 played beautifully with harmonious blends of the instrumental voices. These young musicians have established themselves and will make a mark on future musical endeavours in Vernon and beyond.
The featured artists, Meagan Milatz, on piano and Amy Hills on violin, offered a magnificent performance that awed concertgoers. Their offerings were coupled works; classical pieces contrasted by modern pieces inspired by the classical work in the coupling. The performance opened with a Mozart Sonata followed by the commissioned work of Winnipeg composer, Jocelyn Morlock. “Alba” which means dawn or sunrise and also represents the Alberti Bass of Mozart’s Sonata, where bass notes of the chord are broken, “creating a carpet foundation to the piece.” The music was evocative and created imagery of the early morning as the world awakened. Both musicians were dynamic and one with the music and their instruments completing the piece with a full sunrise.
Amy and Meagan were both energetic and sensitive in their presentation. The interplay between the duo was delightful to behold. Their body language was dramatic and was demonstrative of their passion for both classical and contemporary music that held together across their entire performance. Their technical expertise was in alignment with the difficulty of the music. This promises that they are and will be a duo who commands respect and place on the world chamber music stage.
We would like to thank NOCCA for their role in recognizing, promoting and bringing such incredible music to Vernon. We look forward to next season’s concert series and encourage everyone to attend.
Review by Gerry Sholomenko and Shannon Marsh.
Classical Valley Concerts in May 2023:
Meagan Milatz (piano) will be returning to the Okanagan in May to play a selection of piano quartets from France and Spain with Violaine Melançon (violin), Marina Thibeault (viola) and Nicholas Denton Protsack (cello). The Venue is Vernon Community Music School’s Carriage House at 7:30 pm Tuesday May 16th. Tickets are $30 each (students $15). More information on this and other concerts in the Classical Valley series can be found at https://classicalvalley.com/concerts-2023.
Correction:
We would like to make a correction to an ad that appeared in the concert’s printed programme which stated the Vernon Community Band presents “Sounds For Spring” on Saturday May 12th, 2023 at 2pm. This is incorrect, May 12th, 2023 is a Friday! The concert is actually being held 2pm Saturday May 13, 2023 at Trinity United Church, admission by donation. There will be an onsite bake sale, coffee and tea.
2023/24 NOCCA Season:
Tickets will go on sale soon for NOCCA’s 2023/24 concert series for those wishing to become new season subscribers or wanting to purchase single concert tickets. Links to purchase season subscriptions or single concert tickets will be provided from our website as soon as they are available on ticketseller.
Existing season ticket subscribers will be receiving renewal notices directly from ticketseller, and all renewals need to be confirmed by May 31st, 2023.
Information about the 2023/24 season can be found on NOCCA’s website NOCCA.ca.
The first concert is on Tuesday September 12. 2023 featuring pianist Jaeden Isak-Dzurko. We look forward to seeing you there!
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 