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!
Praised for “pure and unadulterated virtuosity”, Aljoša Jurinić has established himself on the international stage at the world’s preeminent piano competitions. Aljoša appeared as a soloist and with orchestras, at Carnegie Hall, major European concert halls, as well as important festivals in the United States and Europe. He has worked with many of the worlds most esteemed conductors, and toured China and Japan. In 2019 he was awarded the Order of the Morning Star by the president of Croatia for outstanding achievements in culture and the international promotion of his country.
A keen chamber musician, Aljoša Jurinić performs in duos with world-renowned musicians. His collaboration with Luka Šulić (cello) earned the prestigious Orlando Award at the 70th Dubrovnik Summer Festival. His discography includes a solo album, Chopin Alive, a CD box set of highlights from the 2016 Queen Elisabeth Competition, Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor, and a live album featuring Schumann’s Fantasy, and Chopin’s 12 Etudes.
Aljoša Jurinić holds a Concert Diploma from the University of Music Franz Liszt Weimar, where he studied under Grigory Gruzman, and a Master’s Degree from the Academy of Music of the University of Zagreb, where he studied under Ruben Dalibaltayan. Other teachers who have contributed to his artistic development include Eliso Virsaladze, Noel Flores, and Jasna Reba. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Toronto with James Parker.
Aljoša is hailed as “a startlingly subtle and visionary pianist” with “a rare blend of charm and mastery”. He has been praised as nothing less than sublime, with flawless and formidable technique, demonstrating full command of the technical challenges. He is also known for his beautiful and expressive interpretations with well-built dynamics, and “yet sometimes whisper-soft touch.” His clear commitment to the composers, indicating he deeply understands their language and speaks it in a natural and fluid way allows the glory and spiritual richness of the melody to shine.
“The magnificence of his artistry and pianistic genius astonishes us each time. He has something truly special but is set apart from the rest by his meticulous attention to the compositional and theoretical aspects, as well as the historical context. He also devotes himself completely to the emotional aspects, without the slightest premeditation. As a listener, when you begin to absorb the music, note by note, you leave the physical realm and glory in the beauty and spiritual richness of the melody, from the first tone to the last.” – Sound Report
“One listens to a concert by Aljoša Jurinić breathlessly, without fatigue, in constant anticipation. His performance is simultaneously contemplative and dynamic, exceptionally disciplined, although there are surprising twists of a nearly rhapsodic character, historically informed but with almost a futuristic perspective of transcendental scope.” – Klasika
Opening the concert will be Salmon Arm’s Teslyn Bates. Teslyn has been playing piano for 12 years and is studying for her ARCT exam. Teslyn comes from a very musical family – both her sisters play piano and her parents are in a garage band. Music also connects Teslyn to her community, including playing every other week at a retirement home and for fundraisers for her ski team.
Come hear these two wonderful pianists – Teslyn Bates and Aljoša Jurinić!
Click on the image/link below to view a video of Aljoša Jurinić:
SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS Adults – $40 22 and Under – $20 Guest of a subscription member $35
Janelle Fung & Marina Thibeault Friday January 21, 2022 7:30 pm **** Gala Evening **** BUY TICKETS
The North Okanagan Community Concert Association is delighted to present Marina Thibeault on viola and Janelle Fung on piano on Friday January 21, 2022, at 7:30 pm at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre. This Gala opening concert of our new season marks our return to presenting live music. Marina and Janelle will be presenting works by Haydn, Mozart, Clara Schumann, and Beethoven.
Named Radio-Canada’s classical “Revelation” for 2016-2017, Marina has delighted audiences across Canada, the United States and Europe with her elegant, spellbinding performances and engaging presence. An accomplished concerto soloist, she has performed with orchestras throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
Marina’s first album, Toquade was released in 2017. Her 2020 Juno-nominated album, Elles, honours groundbreaking women composers from Clara Schuman to the present day. A passionate advocate for women’s rights, Thibeault has utilized the broad-ranging Elles project in various iterations to reach out to at-risk women and raise awareness for organizations that support this important cause.
Marina Thibeault holds numerous honours and distinctions, winning first prize in the string category of Prix d’Europe (2015), the McGill concerto competition (2015), the Radio-Canada “Young Artist” prize (2007) as well as a special prize at the Beethoven Hradec International viola competition (2008).
Marina received her Master’s degree from McGill University and is currently completing her doctoral degree. She is an Assistant Professor of Viola and Chamber Music at the UBC School of Music.
Canadian pianist Janelle Fung has performed in concert from coast to coast in Canada. Winner of the “Artist of the Year” from the BC Touring Council in 2014, her international concerts have taken her to over twenty countries on five continents.
Janelle has been a prize winner in numerous national and international competitions, including the Joanna Hodges International Piano competition, the Concours OSM-Standard Life, and the Canadian Music Competition. She has been featured on radio stations nationally and internationally.
Janelle’s interest in opera has led to collaboration with Nicole Cabell, Teresa Stratas, and William Warfield, and is currently on faculty at Highlands Opera Studio.
Born in Vancouver, Janelle began her musical studies at the age of Four. Her principal teachers have included Nelita True, Julian Martin and Marc Durand. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, her Master of Music degree from the Julliard School and her doctorate for L’Universite de Montreal.
Opening the concert is lyric Soprano Sophia Friesen. Born and raised in the Okanagan, she is excited to be back singing at home after spending the last four years completing a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Victoria. With her combined repertoire of showtunes, arias, and art song, along with her work on and off the stage, Sophia is one of the most versatile emerging artists performing today.
Click on the image/link below to view a video of Janelle Fung & Marina Thibeault:
Janelle Fung, piano and Marina Thibeault, viola
SINGLE CONCERT TICKETS Adults – $40 22 and Under – $20 Guest of a subscription member $35
Charles Richard-Hamelin (right) and Noah Wessels (seated)
Review by Jim Leonard
The concert began with 17 yr. old Noah Wessels – a student at Vernon Christian School. He began the concert with 3 Chopin pieces; the most dazzling being the “Revolutionary” Etude by Chopin. The piece has a difficult passage for the left hand that surges up and down the keyboard while the right hand issues fanfare like chords. Noah was certainly up to the task even though he began studying piano in 2015!
After hearing Charles Richard-Hamelin play only the first few passages of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No.13 in Eb major (In a fantasy style), I knew I was in the presence of one of the world’s great pianists. To quote Robert Harris of the Globe and Mail (January 17, 2016) “His sense of time, harmony, above all, his structural originalities, are immensely sophisticated and daring. He seemed to be aware of the total Chopin by exposing inner voices and harmonic twists in both left and right hands.” I agree whole heartedly with Robert. All these accomplishments at the age of 30! His virtuosity never got out of hand nor did his playing become grotesque during loud passages.
During the Moonlight Sonata ( which was named such after Beethoven’s death) opening Adagio, I heard the real intention of the music with the rising sounds of sadness and despair brought forward by Richard-Hamelin’s skill. A furious Presto ensued, possibly representing anger or despair. This man gets you thinking by the way he plays!
Before intermission, Richard-Hamelin played a little known Fantasia in F sharp minor by Mendelssohn. I know why the piece was not played often – it is so difficult. No problem for our soloist. He breezed through the 3 movements with total abandon. His playing was so steady and confident throughout the piece.
After intermission we were treated to 12 Preludes, from opus 28 by Chopin. There was lots of variation in the length and character of each. They were played close together like a Suite. To finish the program, Richard-Hamelin played Chopin’s Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise op. 22. The latter of the two was a stunning close to the concert; with cascading octave runs played with great confidence and skill; giving the effect of two players. After a short encore (I couldn’t hear the title as it was announced off mic) and a second standing ovation, Charles Richard- Hamelin bid his audience adieu. What a wonderful evening indeed!
The next NOCCA concert will be on Saturday March 28, 2020 at 7:30 pm. It features a cellist, harpsichordist and archlutist. More information can be found at nocca.ca.
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:
North Okanagan Community Concert Association 