Buzz Brass Sunday April 26, 2020 7:30 pm CANCELLED
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak NOCCA’s Buzz Brass concert on April 26th, 2020 has been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Ticket seller will be contacting all patrons with information on how to obtain a refund or credit.
Instead we offer you some samples of Buzz Brass to enjoy from the comfort of your home. Not the same as a live performance, we know, but the best we can do for now. Stay safe and healthy.
Please click on the images/links below to view the videos:
Unfortunately due to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and other presenters in BC cancelling their concerts, Il Violincello Italiano! have had to cancel their whole BC tour. So the NOCCA concert on March 28th, 2020 has also been cancelled. We are sorry for any inconvenience. Ticket seller will be contacting all patrons with information on how to obtain a refund or credit.
Charles Richard-Hamelin Saturday February 29, 2020 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
Charles Richard-Hamelin – Impressively credentialed, award winning Quebec-born pianist returns to Vernon, bringing the sheer beauty of his playing; mesmerizing audiences with passion, sensitivity and dynamic performances.
“Playing of this insight and maturity is rare. The pianist always displays sterling technique and agility.” Geoffrey Newman.
NOCCA is very pleased to welcome back Charles Richard-Hamelin to our Performing Arts stage on Saturday, February 29 at 7:30pm. Silver medalist and laureate of the Krystian Zimerman award of the best sonata at the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, Charles Richard-Hamelin stands out as one of the most important pianists of his generation. He also won the second prize at the Montréal International Musical Competition and the third prize and special award for the best performance of a Beethoven sonata at the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea. Charles was recently awarded the Order of Arts and Letters of Quebec and the prestigious Career Development Award offered by the Women’s Musical Club of Toronto.
Originally from Lanaudière in Québec, Charles Richard-Hamelin studied with Paul Surdulescu, Sara Laimon, Boris Berman and André Laplante. He is a graduate from McGill University, the Yale School of Music, the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal and now works on a regular basis with pianist Jean Saulnier.
Charles Richard-Hamelin’s 2018 -2019 season was marked by three tours in Asia (Japan, Korea and China), the recording of the second volume of Beethoven’s complete sonatas for piano and violin with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal concertmaster Andrew Wan, the recording of Chopin’s two concertos with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal conducted by Kent Nagano, a solo recording of Chopin’s Ballades and Impromptus and over 75 concerts in Canada, Asia, Europe and the United States. In 2019 both the 2018 Beethoven sonata and the 2019 Chopin concerto recordings were awarded ADISQ (Quebec Association for the Recording, Concert and Video Industries) Felixes. The 2019 Chopin concerto recordings is listed at #2 and the Ballades and Impromptus recording at #6 on the CBC’s 20 favorite classical music albums for 2019.
For a young pianist (he turned 30 in July), Richard-Hamelin already has deep experience with Chopin’s Ballades and Impromptus, having played them the world over since winning the silver medal and Krystian Zimerman Prize at the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition. “It’s really a blessing,” he explained to CBC Music when this album appeared. “This way I get to continue my lifelong exploration of his music, which still fascinates me so much. Chopin is usually all about grey areas.” His engagement — intellectual and emotional — with these pieces is palpable, and while he covers a huge dynamic range, his interpretation is never exaggerated or flamboyant. Some of the credit goes to producer/recording engineer Carl Talbot, who found the perfect balance between proximity and space to allow Richard-Hamelin’s pristine, bell-like tone to ring out. www.charlesrichardhamelin.com
Opening the performance is pianist Noah Wessels, a 17 year old grade 11 student who attends Vernon Christian School. He started playing piano in November 2015 after watching virtuosic music performance videos online. Noah studies piano with Daisy Penner at VCMS where he also takes violin lessons with Imant Raminsh, and he plays second violin in the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Click on the image/link below to view a video of Charles Richard-Hamelin:
Even More NOYSE Concert – Saturday February 1, 2020 @ 2 pm
Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre
The North Okanagan Community Concert Association (NOCCA) is very pleased to be presenting the third North Okanagan Youth Showcase of Excellence entitled “Even More NOYSE” on Saturday, February 1 at 2:00pm at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. This gala performance showcases young musicians from the North Okanagan and Shuswap.
We are very pleased to be presenting Teslyn Bates, piano; Angela Zeng, cello; Gus Hansen, guitar; Noah Wessels, piano; the Vernon Community Music School (VCMS) Youth Ensemble made up of Zaela and Alex Thiessen, Julia Atkins and Ulyana Doerksen; Craig Matterson, piano; Holly McCallum, cello; and Anna Konrad, violin with Jackson Buller, ukulele and drum. We are also very grateful to Paul Rossetti for agreeing to be Master of Ceremonies.
Please join us in celebrating these amazing young musicians!
Teslyn Bates has been playing piano since age 5, and completed her grade 10 RCM exam in June 2019 with First Class Honours. Teslyn comes from a very musical family and enjoys playing in numerous ensembles, at festival, and has been invited to complete at Piano Provincials. Teslyn plays trumpet in her school jazz band and ukulele as a hobby. She also competed at Ski Nationals in Quebec and her soccer team recently won the Provincials title.
Angela Zeng
Angela Zeng has been playing cello since age 7, is now working on her ARCT with Morna Howie at VCMS, has been a member of the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra (OSYO) for 6 years, and loves the opportunities the cello gives her to play alongside other musicians. She competes at festivals, has placed highly at Provincials, has been invited to audition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and hopes to pursue cello as a career. Angela also enjoys competitive swimming.
Gus Hansen
Gus Hansen has always been inseparable from music. At age 5 Gus performed with his brother at the Vancouver Folk Festival, and can be found infiltrating performance venues, community theatres, and coffee houses across the province enjoying early jazz, soul and funk. Gus is delighted to be taking lessons with Neil Fraser, and has worked with several musical groups, and musical theatre bands, when he is not portraying a character himself! Gus enjoys composition and is working with other musicians on a feature-length album.
Noah Wessels
Noah Wessels started playing piano in November 2015 after watching virtuosic music performance videos online. He studies with Daisy Penner at VCMS where he also takes violin lessons with Imant Raminsh. He plays second violin in the OSYO, enjoys listening to recordings by great pianists, studying compositions, is always striving to better understand the music he is playing, and builds violins in his free time!
VCMS Youth Ensemble
The VCMS Youth Ensemble is guided by Kim van Wensem, and accompanied by Neta Petkau.
Zaela Thiessen is passionate about classical music, and along with voice, plays cello in the OSYO. She is writing a historical fiction novel, enjoys writing poetry, reading, crocheting and salsa (although she is not fond of tomatoes!)
Alex Thiessen loves harmony and prefers to sing those challenging lines that aren’t the melody. In addition to voice Alex studies music theory, piano, and plays viola in the OSYO. She will be taking exams in piano (grade 8), voice (grade 7), and theory (grade 9) this year, and is writing a fantasy novel.
Julia Atkins has been taking singing lessons with Kim van Wensem since grade 5, has a passion for musical theatre, and currently has a lead role in the VSS musical theatre production. Julia enjoys listening to alternative and pop music, musical theatre including production, calligraphy and hair styling.
Ulyana Doerksen began music in Quebec City singing in a school choir, and playing violin, piano and guitar. Since moving to Vernon in addition to studying singing with Kim van Wensem and violin with Imant Raminsh at VCMS, she sings in the Seaton show and honour choirs. Ulyana enjoys classical music and jazz, drawing, and dreams of becoming a Japanese comic artist.
Craig Matterson
Craig Matterson has been studying piano since a very young age, studies with Geoff Barker at VCMS, and is currently auditioning for university at UVIC in piano and composition. In addition to classical piano Craig has been successful with jazz and rock, touring Canada, the US and Europe several times with his former band daysormay, and winning silver with his group at the BC Interior Jazz Fest. Craig believes each musical style helps one understand the others.
Holly McCallum
Holly McCallum is currently working on her ARCT in cello and piano. She has won countless honours, scholarships and awards, and was the first in history to win best of the fest in two instruments at the Shuswap music festival. She has qualified to compete in the Canadian national finals. Holly is principal cellist of the OSYO and a member of the OSO cello section.
Jackson Buller & Anna Konrad
Anna Konrad and Jackson Buller have formal training in both classical and contemporary music, and enjoy playing bluegrass, classical, folk, classic rock, pop, and more. With Anna’s sister Simone they form Roots&Strings which will release their debut album of original songs and arrangements this January. They play at farmers markets, sponsored gigs, church and school events, senior’s homes, and earned second place at the IPE youth vocal exhibition.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for NOCCA subscribers
$10 for 18 yrs and under, and $5 on the 8-12 program (grades 8-12 with student ID)
Available through Ticket Seller at Vernon’s Performing Arts Centre
ph: 250-549-7469 www.ticketseller.ca
Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio Sunday December 1, 2019 7:30 pm BUY TICKETS
Sords-Severn-Duvall Trio – American violinist Andrew Sords, Australian cellist Luke Severn, and Canadian pianist Cheryl Duvall present ‘An Evening Celebrating Beethoven’ in honour of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth. They will be performing Beethoven’s Archduke trio, as well as works by Brahms, Ravel, and Severn. Old, new, varied, timeless, stellar!
Violinist Andrew Sords has a celebrated career as one of the most prolific soloists of his generation. Having appeared on 4 continents as a concerto soloist and with his piano trio, Sords has been cited for combining visceral virtuosity with a ravishing tone, while international critics endorse Sords as “a fully formed artist” (Kalisz-Poland News), “utterly radiant” (Canada’s Arts Forum), and “exceptionally heartfelt and soulful” (St. Maarten’s Daily Herald). Sords has received numerous awards and distinctions reflecting his career trajectory, including the 2012 Pittsburgh Concert Society Career Grant and the 2005 National Shirley Valentin Award. Andrew Sords
As a cellist, composer, and musical director, Luke Severn possesses a musical voice of great versatility and passion. Noted for his expressive performances and dynamic and engaging personality he is emerging as an artistic tour de force in the Australian musical landscape. As a soloist, Luke is a champion of both the standard concerto literature and new exciting works for cello and orchestra. A highly sought-after chamber musician, Luke has performed in festivals and chamber music series throughout Australia, Europe and North America. Performing alongside duo partner and pianist Elyane Laussade, he performs across Australia throughout the year. He completed a Piano Trio tour of Canada in 2017 with North American virtuosi Andrew Sords, violin, and Cheryl Duvall, piano. He engages in many other chamber ensemble performances as a freelance artist in Victoria, including appearances with the Blackwood Ensemble, Casey Chamber Musicians, and Allotropy String Quartet. Luke Severn
Cheryl Duvall is a multifaceted pianist with a penchant for musical risk taking and adventure. Equally comfortable in many different musical roles, she regularly appears as a soloist, collaborative pianist, adjudicator, teacher, producer and panelist, and has toured and performed throughout Canada, Europe, Argentina, the U.S and Japan. Cheryl’s strong affinity for boundary-pushing and innovative music making led her along with friend and violinist, Ilana Waniuk to co-found the Toronto-based Thin Edge New Music Collective, “One of Toronto hottest and bravest new music collectives” (Michael Vincent – Musical Toronto). Under the leadership of both Cheryl and Ilana, TENMC has commissioned and premiered over 60 new works for chamber ensemble to date with 9 more slated for their upcoming season and have garnered an exceptional international reputation through tours to Japan, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Argentina and across Canada. Cheryl Duvall
Concert Program:
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
Hungarian Dance No 6 in D Flat Major
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Trio in C Minor, Op 1 No 3
Luke Severn
When the world was young
Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)
Tzigane
Intermission
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Piano Trio in B Flat Major, Op 97
“Archduke Trio”
Click on the images/links below to view short videos of the artists performing:
Il Violoncello Italiano!
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 