Category: Review
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Octet Gives Twice the Sonic Pleasure!
Review by Jim Leonard October 26th’s NOCCA concert began with Angela Zeng; a 14 year old grade 9 student at Kalamalka S.S. and a member of the OSYO since the age of 9. She showed confidence and skill as she produced a large bold tone on her cello for three unaccompanied Bach pieces – Prelude,…
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Stunning Victoria Choir Gives Flawless Concert!
Review by Jim Leonard This concert was held over from the original date in April. The choir wasn’t able to leave Vancouver Island because of high winds at that time. They actually spent some terrifying hours on a ferry that was tossed about, and managed to return to port. The concert began customarily with some…
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Review: Three Pianists Negotiate One Piano Keyboard – Beautifully!
Review by Jim Leonard In spite of the concert being on a Monday night in April, spirits were not dampened! The recently formed quintet comprised of members from 13-20 years of age called “Appassionato,” owned the stage with their enthusiastic version of a Schumann piano quintet.The pianist Henry Baker provided a stable and virtuosic line…
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Review: Sparks Fly Off Our Steinway Grand!
Review by Jim Leonard This Valentine Day’s concert began with an appropriate song by Salmon Arm singer Heather Harker; ably accompanied by Alex MacArthur, titled “Les Chemins de L’Amour” (The ways of love) by Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Heather had a lovely lyrical tone while singing this song. Heather, a french immersion kindergarten teacher, then showed…
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Review: Trio Delivers Virtuosic Concert
Review by Jim Leonard As is customary, each concert features a local artist to begin the program. This time it was Katherine Flaherty; a lovely soprano who offered two familiar and most enjoyable song selections. She had a perfect clear tone for Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and gave a lovely gentle version of Puccini’s “O Mio…
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Dynamic Montréal Vocal Quartet Delivers High Octane Evening
Review by Jim Leonard NOCCA’s gala concert evening on October 27, 2018 began with the stunning violin solos of 13 year old child prodigy Marcus Coetzee. Marcus began playing the violin at age 4! A student of Bev Martens since 2014, Marcus plays in the Okanagan Youth Symphony. He was ably accompanied by local concert pianist Alex MacArthur. Apparently…
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Review: Pianist gives highly refined concert
By Jim Leonard The program began with a tribute to longtime NOCCA board member and past president Paul Maynes. Board member Cathie Stewart presented Maynes with a beautiful painting of an Okanagan valley scene. Then, as is the custom, a young musician is featured onstage. For this concert, Jenny Sutherland, a student at Seaton Secondary,…
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Review: Now For Something Completely Different!
By Jim Leonard The concert began with pianist Craig Matterson; an 18 year old graduate of W.L.Seaton Secondary School. Craig offered his own version of Errol Garner’s “Misty.” It started in a meditative style and picked up the pace part way through. Matterson changed the harmony with chord substitutions and created excitement with virtuoso runs. Well done! The second…
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Review: Season’s Opening Concert Delights Audience
By Jim Leonard The NOCCA season started off very well with Christopher Dlouhy playing two wonderful piano selections.(Christopher is a student of Marjorie Close. He has taken a year off from school to achieve the ARCT diploma.) The first was Arabesque No. 1 by Debussy; it was full of transparent, colourful harmonies and carefree melodies.…
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Review: duo provides a worthwhile rendezvous
By Jim Leonard Some well-played Chopin from Vernon pianist Alex MacArthur was a good start to NOCCA’s final concert of the season Saturday at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre. The piece, Scherzo in B-flat, was played brilliantly by MacArthur, who recently joined the faculty at the Vernon Community Music School. He has also played with…
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 